Top players and championship teams: Here are 34 athletes who made the biggest impact during the fall high school sports season

Posted by Admin December 4, 2024 Sports

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As we transition to the winter season in high school sports, here are 34 athletes who made headlines this past fall in the Post-Crescent coverage area.

Carter Appl, Xavier football

Was the Bay Conference defensive player of the year and the league’s linebacker of the year. Finished with 115 total tackles, including 23 for loss, with seven sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown. Was honorable mention on the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association all-state team (Large schools).

Vivie Auth and Adel Schneider, St. Mary Catholic girls tennis

The dynamic Zephyrs duo captured the WIAA Division 2 state doubles title with a 6-0, 6-3 sweep of Stevens Point Pacelli’s Natalie Cooper and Lauren Loesl in the championship match at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison. Auth and Schneider finished 31-0 for the season and earned the school’s first state title in tennis since Tess Reddin’s three D2 singles titles from 2003 to 2005.

Peyton Carlson, Waupaca girls volleyball

The 5-foot-11 outside hitter/libero is the top-ranked junior in the state by prepdig.com and will play collegiately at Creighton University. She totaled 502 kills with a .328 hitting percentage along with 244 digs and 63 aces for the Comets (24-10), who advanced to the regional finals in Division 2. She was a unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference selection and a first-team Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association all-state pick in Division 2.

Teegan Charapata, Appleton North girls volleyball

The 5-9 senior outside hitter was named the Fox Valley Association player of the year and finished with 519 kills with a .279 hitting percentage along with 276 digs and 50 aces. She was also a second-team WVCA all-state pick in D1 for a Lightning squad that advanced to the regional finals in Division 1.

Charlie Clinefelter, Kaukauna girls golf

The senior was a third-team Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin all-state pick in Division 1. She was also a first-team all-FVA pick. Helped the Ghosts reach the state tournament, where they finished seventh. She finished 10th overall at state with a two-day total of 159 (79-80).

Madison Daley, Xavier girls volleyball

The 5-10 senior outside hitter was a unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference selection and totaled 50 kills with 227 digs and 55 aces for the Hawks (26-16), who advanced to the sectional semifinals in Division 1. Was honorable mention on the WVCA all-state team in D2.

Grant Dean, Neenah football

The University of Wisconsin commit was named the Fox Valley Association offensive and defensive player of the year. The senior rushed for 1,135 yards on 127 carries (8.9 average) with 16 touchdowns. Also had 12 catches for 255 yards and two scores, a kickoff return for a score and totaled 40 total tackles and two interceptions. Was a first-team WFCA all-state pick at running back (Large schools) and honorable mention as a defensive back.

Braedon Ellefson, Kimberly football

The 6-3, 215-pound senior quarterback/linebacker was named the league’s co-linebacker of the year and finished with 67 total tackles with six for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Also passed for 1,022 yards with 11 touchdowns and rushed for 410 yards and 10 more scores in leading the Papermakers to a three-way tie for the FVA title with Neenah and Kaukauna. Was honorable mention on the WFCA all-state team (Large schools).

Jaelyn Feller, Appleton East girls golf

The senior was honorable mention on the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin all-state team in Division 1. She was a first-team all-FVA player for the fourth consecutive season.

Ana Flanagan, Appleton North girls swimming

The senior won the Division 1 state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03.20 and also placed seventh in the 50 freestyle. She was chosen FVA swimmer of the year and was a first-team all-FVA selection in the 200 medley relay, 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and 100 breaststroke.

Braeden Jansen, Kaukauna football

The 6-3, 290-pound senior was a first-team WFCA all-state pick (Large schools), a unanimous first-team all-FVA pick and the league’s offensive lineman of the year. He helped the Ghosts reach the WIAA Division 2 state quarterfinals and earn a share of the FVA title.

Elsa Gruber, Neenah girls cross-country

The junior was a first-team all-FVA selection and helped the Rockets claim the WIAA Division 1 state title with a fifth-place time of 18:44.6 in team competition and seventh place overall.

Julia Gurholt, Kimberly girls tennis

The senior was an all-FVA selection at No. 1 singles. She surpassed 100 career wins this season and reached the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season, earning the No. 7 seed in Division 1 singles. She will play collegiately at Minnesota State-Mankato.

Aiden Humphreys, Wrightstown football

The 6-1, 195-pound senior was the North Eastern Conference defensive player of the year and a unanimous first-team all-NEC selection at running back and linebacker. He was also the NEC offensive back of the year. Helped lead the Tigers to the Division 5 state championship game. Ran for 1,421 yards on 204 carries (7.0 average) with 24 touchdowns. Also had 112 total tackles with two sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and a safety. Was honorable mention on the WFCA all-state team (Small schools) at linebacker.

Hannah Huza, Hortonville girls cross-country

The junior was a first-team all-FVA selection and placed 11th in the WIAA Division 1 individual state meet competition with a time of 18:51.9.

Michael Janssen, Kimberly boys volleyball

The 6-6 senior middle hitter was a first-team all-FVA selection and led the Papermakers to a 38-7 record and an FVA title. He finished with 268 kills (42% hitting percentage). Was a first-team Badger Region/Frisco Mo all-state selection.

Drew Kortz, Freedom football

The 6-1, 177-pound senior was a first-team WFCA all-state selection at quarterback and defensive back. He was the North Eastern Conference offensive player of the year, defensive back of the year and a unanimous first-team all-NEC pick at both positions.

Owen Krause, Kimberly boys volleyball

The 6-5 senior outside hitter was a first-team all-FVA selection and totaled 255 kills with 147 digs in helping Kimberly to the FVA title. He was a second-team Badger Region/Frisco Mo all-state pick.

Avery Lang, Freedom girls volleyball

The 5-10 senior outside hitter had 426 kills with 215 digs and 45 aces for the Irish (25-10), who reached the sectional semifinals in Division 2. Was a first-team all-NEC selection and the league’s player of the year. Was a first-team WVCA all-state pick in D2.

Owen Lencki, Waupaca boys cross-country

The Comets senior finished second at the WIAA Division 2 state cross-country meet with a time of 15:51.6. He was the runner of the year for the North Eastern Conference.

Maddie Loken, Appleton North girls swimming

The freshman was a first-team all-FVA pick in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and the 100 breaststroke. She placed fifth at the Division 1 state meet in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.36) and also swam on three North relay teams at state.

McKenna Lowe, Kaukauna girls cross-country and girls golf

The senior competed in two sports in the fall and finished first-team all-FVA in golf and second-team all-FVA in cross-country. She was a second-team all-state pick in golf and finished 17th at state with a two-day total of 163 (85-78). Will play golf collegiately at the University of Southern Indiana.

Mazie Olkowski, Neenah girls cross-country

The senior finished third in the team competition with a time of 18:35.3 and was fourth overall to lead the Rockets to the WIAA Division 1 state title. She was also the FVA’s runner of the year and a first-team all-FVA selection. Will compete collegiately at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

Liam Paradiso, Kimberly boys soccer

The junior forward was a unanimous first-team all-FVA selection and finished with 19 goals and 10 assists. He also earned honorable mention all-state from the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association.

Mason Peitersen, Neenah boys soccer

The standout junior midfielder was a unanimous first-team all-FVA selection and was chosen the league’s player of the year.

Nathan Ramus, Appleton North boys volleyball

The 6-2 junior outside hitter had 496 kills and 235 digs in leading the Lightning to the WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinals. He was a first-team all-FVA selection and was also a first-team Badger Region/Frisco Mo all-state pick.

Ava Reis, Kimberly girls volleyball

The 5-9 senior outside hitter had 286 kills, 179 digs and 39 aces for the Papermakers, who reached the sectional finals in Division 1. Was a first-team all-FVA selection and honorable mention on the WVCA all-state team in D1.

Brody Schaffer, Winneconne football

The junior was the Bay Conference’s offensive player of the year, back of the year and a unanimous first-team pick at quarterback and defensive back. He was also the league’s defensive back of the year. Led the Wolves to the Division 4 state semifinals. Finished with 1,800 yards passing on 153 of 216 attempts with 17 touchdowns. Also rushed for 1,774 yards on 184 carries (9.6 average) with 31 touchdowns. Had 52 total tackles on defense with four interceptions. Was honorable mention at quarterback on the WFCA all-state team (Large schools).

Riley Schmitz, Fox Valley Lutheran girls volleyball

The 5-4 junior libero had 447 digs for the Foxes, who advanced to the regional finals in Division 2. Was a unanimous first-team all-NEC pick and honorable mention on the WVCA all-state team in D2.

Ava Strassburg, Appleton East girls diving

The senior was the FVA’s diver of the year and a first-team all-FVA pick. She competed at the WIAA state swimming and diving meet in Division 1 and holds the school record in the event.

Madi Tripp, Kaukauna girls volleyball

The 5-9 senior setter had 885 assists, 301 digs, 143 kills and 104 aces for the Ghosts, who made it to the Division 1 sectional semifinals. She was a unanimous first-team all-FVA selection and honorable mention on the WVCA all-state team in D1.

Miles Weaver, Neenah boys volleyball

The 6-2 senior outside hitter led the conference with 344 kills and also had a .351 hitting percentage. Was a first-team all-FVA selection and the league’s player of the year. Also had 160 digs. Was a second-team Badger Region/Frisco Mo all-state selection.

Ashley Wilson, Little Chute girls cross-country

Wilson, a senior, placed fifth in the WIAA Division 2 state meet team competition with a time of 18:50.2 and was eighth overall. The Mustangs finished sixth in the D2 team standings. She was named the NEC runner of the year.