By Jacy Zollar sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Bonduel High School had the chance Monday to honor athletes who participated in fall sports.
The banquet included highlights from the season, with the cross-country, football, volleyball and girls golf teams all making the postseason.
Football
The Bears football team ended second in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large, losing only to top teams Amherst and Stratford.
Bonduel (8-2, 8-1 CWC) clinched the No. 4 seed in the WIAA Division 5 playoffs, but fell to Stratford in the first round.
“When you play very talented and well-coached teams like Amherst and Stratford, you have to go play four quarters of solid football,” head coach James Westrich said. “In both games we gave up too many momentum plays and we couldn’t come back from them.”
The teams 11 seniors were a special group for Westrich.
“They’ve been a fun group to coach and very talented,” he said. “We were excited for this season for a long time as they were coming through. I wish we could have had a couple more games together. They have the whole mix with offense, linemen, skill. They all had their roles and complemented each other well. It was exciting to see the dynamic of the team. They had all the pieces to be successful.”
Senior Eli Mastey earned the team’s most valuable player award and defensive player of the year award after finishing second in the conference in rushing with 1,312 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Senior Jordan Boldt earned offense utility player of the year and junior Jacob Giese earned defensive utility player of the year.
Juniors Parker Bohm and Isaac Garside were awarded the most improved player awards. Bohm led the conference’s passer rating with a 61 percent completion rate.
Senior Colin Wussow earned lineman of the year. Most valuable special teams player went to senior Lucas Nolan. Junior James Reyes was awarded the best scout team player.
Cross-country
The team’s season was filled with personal records and individual medalists at several meets. Together, the girls and boys teams won their respective sectional championships. The girls took seventh place at the WIAA Division 3 state meet and the boys placed 15th.
The girls team was led by five freshmen, including Kara Troxel, Madison Kurey, Katlin Thompson, Breanna Schnell and Erin Timler. Seniors Ashlyn Schnell and Abby Owen rounded out the state team.
On the boys team, state runners included junior Colin Ewing, junior Jared Wondra, senior Jacob Moede, senior Craig Rusch, sophomore Carter Kurey, senior Charlie Mews and sophomore William Beaumier.
The girls team’s most valuable player, Troxel, served as the Bears’ No. 1 runner and placed fifth overall at the state meet.
Other awards included Grace Tubutis, who earned most improved runner on the girls team. Charlie Mews and Derrick Folkman earned most improved runners on the boys team.
Jared Wondra was awarded the boys most valuable runner for the second consecutive year.
Captains awards went to Ashlyn Schnell, Elena Shest and Jacob Moede.
Coach Diane Schnell said she hopes this year’s success will attract more runners next season as the team loses 17 members.
“We’re losing those seniors, so the depth that really helped us this season will be gone next season,” Schnell said. “Having depth makes the runners push each other and that’s what got us to state. So now my goal is recruiting. We have some younger students who are interested in running. Hopefully they’ll be more enthusiastic now.
“I’m excited for the girls team to be bringing back five freshmen. We already have goals for state next year for girls and boys and if we stay healthy and work hard it’s within reach, especially since they’ve had a taste of it now.”
Volleyball
The Bonduel volleyball team (16-19) clinched a sixth-seed and advanced to the WIAA Division 3 regional quarterfinal match before falling to Wittenberg-Birnamwood.
The team had four seniors, including Christine Sell, Amber Zernicke, Althea Berry and Brynn Reinke. Berry and Reinke earned captain awards for their leadership and reliability.
McKenzie Wollenberg earned the most valuable player award for “excelling in every position,” according to head coach Kim Strayer.
Kylie Guenter joined the team this season and became a varsity starter. She earned the most improved player award.
Halea Sporisky was given the coach’s award.
Girls golf
Seven girls rounded out the small girls golf team. Even still, the Bears were successful at regionals and qualified for the sectional meet in Milwaukee.
Mariah Diemel earned the coach’s award. Jessie LaBerge was awarded the most valuable golfer.