Jason Arndt, jarndt@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Recipients of softball awards at the Shawano Community High School spring athletic banquet Monday were, from left, Brianna Zook, rookie of the year; Allison Raddant, defensive MVP; Nicki Ainsworth, defensive MVP; Courtney Ainsworth, MVP and Heart of the Hawk.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Recipients of baseball awards at the Shawano Community High School spring athletic banquet Monday were, from left, Chase Henning, MVP and offensive player of the year; Grant Wainio, defensive player of the year; and Nate Laude, rookie of the year.
Multiple Shawano Community High School student-athletes took home hardware at the spring athletic banquet Monday at The Gathering in Shawano.
The event, sponsored by the Shawano Athletic Booster Club, also included a retirement announcement.
Athletic Director Charmaine Schreiber said Tom Webster was retiring after 27 combined years as head coach of the girls and boys tennis program.
Webster had an enthusiastic announcement of his own, stating the tennis courts will be repaired in time for next season.
“I am so happy that it is happening … after I retire,” Webster joked.
Courtney Ainsworth and Cole Huntington took home the most hardware Monday.
Ainsworth was named Female Athlete of the Year, received two softball awards and earned a 12-sport participation award. She and Braden Mueller also received the Neuman Memorial Award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship, for achievements in the classroom and community and on the playing field.
Ainsworth and Huntington were honored as the Scholar Athletes of the Year. Huntington was class valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA; Ainsworth finished with a 3.9 GPA. Huntington was also a 12-sport participant and was named to the Academic All-State team by the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin.
“It is not an easy task balancing school and golf,” coach Dean Kugler said. “This year we have four academic all-state. Sometimes I ask (Cole), are you sure you want to miss three days of class for golf?”
The SCHS golfers last week advanced to the WIAA Division 2 state championship.
Zack Sousek won three awards: Male Athlete of the Year, a Don Martzke Award, given to a student who demonstrates dedication to a number of sports, and 12-sport participant.
Senior Courtney Vomastic also received the Martzke Award, which includes a $500 scholarship.
GIRLS SOCCER
Junior Sarah Dickman was named the team’s most valuable player after leading the team in assists (13) and finishing second in goals (nine). Junior Morgan Klitzke, who had 15 goals and six assists, received the award as the team’s top offensive player. Sophomore Colleen McFarlane won the defensive award.
BOYS GOLF
Senior Braden Mueller, who was the Bay Conference Player of the Year, was named the team’s most valuable golfer. Sophomore Josh Mueller was the most improved golfer. Huntington was honored as the team captain, and was joined on the Academic All-State list by senior Casey Clark and the Muellers.
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Two of the five track and field award winners — seniors Daniel Boivin and Jake Klister — will compete in the WIAA Division 1 state track meet in La Crosse this week.
Boivin received awards as the most valuable player and as the most valuable in the field events. He was also named to the All-Bay Conference first team (pole vault) and second team (300 hurdles).
Klister received the MVP award for the running events. He and 3,200-meter relay teammates Andrew Cardish, Austin Lhotka and Brandon Pagel were first-team All-Bay Conference. Klister received second-team honors in the 800.
Cardish was named the relay teams’ MVP, and Lhotka was honored with the coaches award.
Zeke Gueths, who advanced to sectionals in the discus, received the award for most improved player. The junior was second-team All-Bay Conference in the event.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
School-record holders Kristina Kurtz and Averi Vomastic each received two awards.
Kurtz, who holds the pole vault record, was honored as the team’s most valuable player and as the most valuable relay team member, an honor she shared with Vomastic, who also was named the most improved player. Vomastic, a freshman, broke the school record in the 300-meter hurdles.
Kurtz was named first-team all-conference in the pole vault and honorable mention in the 800-meter run. Kurtz and Vomastic earned All-Bay Conference second-team honors as members of the 800-meter relay team with Jewel Carey and Sara Hokenstad. Kurtz also received honorable mention in the Bay with 1,600-meter relay teammates Carey, Hokenstad and Hannah Wendorff.
Junior Erika Dunnum was the most valuable player in the field events, and Wendorff was given the coaches’ award.
BOYS TENNIS
Webster noted the 2015 season was challenging as participation declined from 30 last season to 13 this year.
Theodore Mickelson and Zach Soper were the team’s most valuable players. Sajen Knuepel and Shawn Klemens were honored as the Hawks’ most improved players. Jacob Schoenike received the Team Player Award, and Kyle Easter was selected as the most dedicated player.
SOFTBALL
The Ainsworths received three of the five softball awards. Courtney received the MVP award and the Heart of the Hawk for her leadership of a young squad. Nicki Ainsworth shared the defensive MVP honor with Allison Raddant. Brianna Zook was honored as the team’s top rookie.
Coach Kevin Isaacson said Raddant’s defensive skills at second base enabled the Hawks to create a new defensive scheme.
BASEBALL
With eight home runs and a team-leading .487 batting average, senior Chase Henning was named the team’s most valuable player and its offensive player of the year. The outfielder was one vote short of being named Bay Conference Player of the Year, coach Robert Wolff said. “For an athlete to hit eight in a year, that is impressive,” Wolff said.
Grant Wainio was named the team’s top defensive player, and junior Nate Laude was named its rookie of the year.
12-SPORT PARTICIPANTS
Courtney Ainsworth, Brendan Cummings, Cole Huntington, Jake Klister, Braden Mueller, Dalton Parson, Cole Reuter, Zach Sousek.