Bay all-conference teams revealed

The spring sports season in now in the rear view mirror for Shawano Community High School student-athletes.

To wrap up the spring, conferences around the state have started announcing all-conference teams to honor the best athletes across each sport. While Shawano did not claim any Bay Conference team titles during the spring, a handful of athletes earned spots on all-conference teams.

Here are the Hawks’ athletes that were named to all-conference teams this spring:

Softball

The Shawano softball team battled through an up-and-down season in the Bay Conference. Despite the inconsistency, the Hawks still earned an 8-6 conference record to take third-place.

A big reason behind the team’s finish was the strong play of Brandi Gueths and Brianna Zook, who were each named unanimously to the all-conference first team.

Zook finished the conference portion of the season with a .459 batting average, collecting 17 hits and scoring 13 runs. She belted six home runs and drove in a team-leading 14 runs.

“Senior year getting first team all-conference, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Zook said. “Throughout the past 12 years, I have worked really hard to get to this point. Playing travel ball all year around, spending many hours batting with my dad, it all just came together and it’s extremely rewarding after all my hard work.”

Gueths batted .250 during conference action, tallying nine hits while scoring seven runs. The senior clubbed a homer and drove in seven runs.

“It means a lot to me, but it all comes from having a strong team behind me,” Gueths said. “I was kid of surprised (to make the first team) because I didn’t have as strong a year as I hoped to. I’m really grateful.”

Sophomore Gracyn Habeck and senior Kristina Wynos each earned spots on the second team.

Habeck, who was selected as an infielder, posted a .343 batting average, collecting 12 hits while driving in six runs. She also pitched 9 1/3 innings during the conference season, allowing four earned runs while striking out six strikeouts.

Wynos, an outfielder and team leader, scored eight runs and posted 10 hits for a .250 batting average. She drove in four runs and also walked five times.

Baseball

The baseball team also took third-place in the Bay Conference, playing plenty of doubleheaders to make up for postponed games. Shawano, which rostered nine seniors, finished with a 7-5 conference record.

Infielder Cole Nelson, one of the seniors, was honored with a spot on the all-conference second team. Nelson batted .343 and drove in eight runs during conference play.

“I was definitely surprised to make the second team,” Nelson said. “I knew I was hitting leadoff and hitting the ball pretty well but I didn’t really expect to be that high up in the conference rankings. It means a lot. It shows that all my hard work paid off. I want to thank all my teammates that helped me along the way.”

Junior outfielder Nick Grignon also made the second team. He posted a .424 average against Bay Conference opponents, driving in 10 runs along the way.

“Honestly, I’m just happy to be a part of the team, but I was really surprised to make the list,” Grignon said. “It’s really amazing to finally get yourself to think you’re one of the better players in the conference and be confident in what your ability is.”

Girls soccer

The Hawks’ girls soccer team dealt with injuries during most of the season. Shawano earned its two conference wins across the first four conference clashes.

A big reason for the team’s strong start to conference play was the play of junior forward Lindsey Roloff, who was named to the all-conference second team.

“I feel honored that other coaches noticed the hard work I was putting in, even if we didn’t always win the game, I was still in my best effort,” Roloff said. “Making second team gives me a lot of motivation for next season, to hopefully make second team again and maybe move up to first team all-conference. I also have motivation to continue being a leader on and off the field within my own team.”

TRACK

Track all-conference teams are determined by athlete and relay team finishes at the conference meet.

The boys 4x200 relay team of Parker Pues, Payden Buck, Crede Timm and Atty Wagner earned a spot on the first team all-conference with their first-place finish at the Bay Conference Meet in Appleton on May 12. Wagner also took first in the high jump with Buck claimed first in the pole vault. Pues made the second team with a second-place finish in the long jump and the honorable mention team after taking third in the 100-meter dash.

On the girls’ side, Tori DePerry and Lydia Beyer snagged second team spots after their placing second in the high jump and 800, respectively. Beyer was also on the honorable mention team after taking third in the 1,600.

BOYS GOLF

The all-conference teams for boys golf are also determined by athlete’s finishes at the Bay Conference Tournament. On May 15, Shawano golfers played 18 holes at Brown County Golf Course for the conference tournament, placing fifth as a team.

Alex Mueller shot a round of 94 to lead the Hawks and earn a spot on the all-conference second team. Trent Strebel fired a round of 96 while Karsten Anderson tallied a 98 to each land on the honorable mention team.

BOYS TENNIS

Several Shawano boys tennis players landed on all-conference teams after earning points by winning matches during the regular season and during the Bay Conference Tournament.

No. 1 singles player Harrison Sturycz landed on the all-conference first team singles list. Shawano’s doubles teams of Carter Peplinski and Cesar Ramirez and Chris Black and Levi Johnson each were named to the all-conference second team doubles list. The duo of Wyatt Theiss and Rhain Rodenbeck landed on the honorable mention doubles list.