Clay Matthews, prep stars share spotlight
GREEN BAY – Lambeau Field is known for having star athletes in the building. On Friday night, high school stars at the Wisconsin High School Sports Awards took center stage.
Even Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, who appeared as a special guest, was impressed.
“This is an unbelievable accomplishment for all these student-athletes out there,” Matthews told the crowd of about 1,00
0. “Myself, I’d probably be in the parking lot, because I wasn’t as good as you guys are at this point in your career. What an amazing accomplishment for everyone here, even those who don’t go home with medals today.”
Matthews was asked about the importance of high school sports. He was a late bloomer while at Agoura High School in California and was a walk-on at USC.
“Even if sports didn’t work out for me, I feel the values that I learned — respect, discipline, time management, you can really go down the line,” Matthews said. “It really makes these high school student-athletes become contributing members of society.”
The Wisconsin High School Sports Awards is a red carpet event that honored standout athletes, coaches and teams from the Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Manitowoc, Marshfield, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, Stevens Point, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids markets for their achievements during the 2016-17 school year.
The event was sponsored by Bellin Health and Festival Foods, supported by Mills Fleet Farm, Forefront Dermatology, Nicolet National Bank and Eastbay and presented by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
REPLAY: Wisconsin High School Sports Awards
RELAY:Red carpet arrivals of Wisconsin High School Sports Awards
Sports planning editors and sportswriters from the 10 USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin markets determined the nominees in all but one category. Nominees for the I Am Sport Award, presented by Nike were solicited and then determined through an online voting process.
Here are some of the notable winners from Friday:
Boys athlete of the year
Danny Vanden Boom, Kimberly
The senior star quarterback completed 146 of 218 passes for 2,166 yards and 31 touchdowns and was the Gatorade Wisconsin High School Player of the Year in 2016. He will be a preferred walk-on at Wisconsin.
He also averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists and shot 52 percent from the field in basketball and has continued to have a huge impact in baseball this spring, one year after hitting .346 with six home runs and 28 RBI.
Girls athlete of the year
Tess Keyzers, Little Chute
The University of Minnesota track and field recruit is a three-sport star.
She helped the Mustangs’ volleyball team win the Northeastern Conference title and reach a sectional championship in the fall. The senior averaged 20.4 points and 9.5 rebounds and shot 62 percent in basketball while being a unanimous first-team all-NEC selection.
She also is the two-time Division 2 defending state champion in the shot put and recently had a personal-best throw of 49 feet, 3.5 inches at the Gil Frank Track and Field Invitational.
Girls team of the year
Appleton North basketball
The Lightning had a perfect season in 2016-17, going 28-0 and winning the Division 1 state championship in March. It was the city’s first girls basketball title.
Boys team of the year
Kimberly football
The Papermakers’ remarkable run didn’t stop in 2016. They won their fourth straight state title and extended their winning streak to a nation-best 56 games. Along with Vanden Boom taking home both boys athlete of the year and football player of the year, Kimberly coach Steve Jones was named coach of the year.
USA TODAY NETWORK also announced during the program that it has created the state’s first High School Sports Hall of Fame to honor and recognize the most noteworthy in high school sports.
“High school sports is the essence of our pride here in Wisconsin,” said Pamela Henson, regional president of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. “It is where we first develop our love and passion for sports, and how individuals, families, organizations and businesses ultimately unite to become a community.”
The Wisconsin High School Sports Hall of Fame will launch in 2018, and will feature high school athletes from the early 1900s to present time. Formal inductions will take place at the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin High School Sports Awards ceremony, which are held every year in May. The initial phase of the Hall of Fame will be virtual, but will have the potential to develop into a permanent, physical facility.
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin in currently developing an advisory committee, which will determine the nomination process for future inductees. Information on the progress of that process will be provided in the coming weeks and months.
Athlete of the year award winners
Football: Danny Vanden Boom, Kimberly
Girls cross-country: Annika Linzmeier, Pulaski
Boys cross-country: Tannor Wagner, Ashwaubenon
Girls volleyball: Maria Whalen, Newman Catholic
Boys volleyball: Cooper Diedrich, Kaukauna
Girls golf: Katie Warpinski, Green Bay Preble
Boys soccer: Jack Mittelsteadt, D.C. Everest
Girls tennis: Emily Luetschwager, Stevens Point
Girls swimming and diving: Jenna Silvestri, Kohler/Sheboygan Falls/Sheboygan Lutheran
Boys basketball: Joey Hauser, Stevens Point
Girls basketball: Sydney Levy, Appleton North
Wrestling: Kam Bornbach, Stratford
Boys hockey: Hunter Schwehr, Fox Cities Stars
Girls hockey: Morgan Zirbel, Bay Area
Boys swimming and diving: Maxwell Boehnlein, Neenah
Gymnastics: Tia Dorshorst, Wisconsin Rapids
Boys golf: Matt Tuman, Wausau East
Baseball: Gus Turner-Zick, Stevens Point
Softball: Aubrey Drohner, Stevens Point
Girls soccer: Grace Shaw, Notre Dame
Boys tennis: Casey Johnson, Kohler
Boys track and field: Josh Pillath, Coleman
Girls track and field: Brooke Jaworski, Wausau West
Premier award winners
Courage Award: Branen Gordon, Menasha
Girls team of the year: Appleton North basketball
Boys team of the year: Kimberly football
Coach of the year: Steve Jones, Kimberly
I Am Sport Award, presented by Nike: Cassie Foytik, Green Bay Preble
Girls athlete of the year: Tess Keyzers, Little Chute