Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School volleyball team members honored Tuesday at the fall athletic banquet are, from left, Kaitlyn Bohr (captain), Emily Sorenson (captain), Kailee Pedersen (captain and most valuable player) and Brynn Reinke (captain and most improved player). Not picture is Jarrette Czarapata (coach’s award).
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School football team members honored Tuesday at the fall athletic banquet are, from left, Jacob Banker (best defensive player), Eli Mastey (most valuable player), Brent Pieper (best lineman), Jordan Boldt (best special teams player) and Wyatt Erb (most improved player). Spencer Inman (best scout team player) is not pictured.
Bonduel High School took the time Tuesday night to recognize the athletes who participated in the five fall sports. The ceremony, in the high school’s commons, allowed coaches to hand out awards and recap their seasons.
The cross-country team, which was the only sport to send an athlete to state (sophomore Jared Wondra), had the second-largest team behind only football.
Wondra was named the boys team’s most valuable runner, and Ashlyn Schnell was named the girls’ most valuable runner. Charlie Mews was selected the boys team’s most determined runner, and Arianna Factor received the girls award.
Head coach Diane Schnell also presented awards to the two runners who dropped the most time over the course of the season: Craig Rusch and Elena Shest.
The Bears will lose just one senior, Austin Kurey. Coach Schnell asked the returning runners to continue working out in the offseason to be in shape for next season.
“We’re going to be competitive next year,” Schnell said. “However, we are in one of the most competitive conferences. Amherst and Rosholt are in our conference, and they have a lot of sophomores and juniors as well. They’re going to be competing against them all the time.
“If we can edge one of them out, we can hopefully go to state with the boys team next year. Time will tell.”
Football
The Bears were second in the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 in both total offense and total defense, but hurt themselves through penalties and turnovers.
Bonduel (7-3, 4-2 CWC-8) fell in Level 1 of the WIAA Division 5 playoffs to Spencer/Columbus Catholic.
The lone senior honored was Brent Pieper, who was named the team’s top lineman.
Awards also were presented to juniors Eli Mastey (most valuable player), Jacob Banker (best defensive player), Jordan Boldt (best special teams player), Wyatt Erb (most improved player) and Spencer Inman (best scout team player).
Volleyball
Yet again, the Bonduel volleyball team (14-19) advanced to the WIAA regional title game before falling to Oconto.
The Bears had eight seniors on the roster, including outside hitter Kailee Pedersen, who was named the team MVP. Junior Brynn Reinke, who took over the setting duties for the Bears this season, was the most improved player.
Jarrette Czarapata earned the coach’s award for filling in defensively when needed.
Captain awards were given to Pedersen, Reinke, Kaitlyn Bohr and Emily Sorenson.
Girls golf
The girls golf team had its best showing in many seasons, placing fourth out of seven teams in the Bay Conference and finishing two strokes away from advancing as a team to sectionals.
The Bears, who had a senior-heavy roster, were led by sophomores Jessie LaBerge and Kylie Guenther. LaBerge had the season-best average of 54.7, while Guenther averaged 59.
Guenther shot a 106 at the WIAA Division 2 regional to advance to sectionals, as did Mariah Diemel, who posted a 107.
Diemel was named the team’s most valuable player and most improved golfer.
Seniors Allissa Tilleson and Morgan Cornette were co-captains.
Girls swim
The Bonduel MVP award for the Shawano/Bonduel co-op team went to Megan Fischer.
Alexis Beschta and Abigail Palmer were co-captains of the team, which will compete in a WIAA sectional meet Saturday in Neenah.