Wisconsin’s Top 32 Scholar Athletes to Be Recognized
Stevens Point, WI—Sixteen senior girls and 16 senior boys from Florence to Racine have been selected as finalists to receive the prestigious 2023 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic
Association’s (WIAA) Statewide Scholar Athlete Award, presented by We Energies Foundation and Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. More than 1,181 Scholar Athlete finalists have been recognized since the program began in 1984.
Three area student-athletes have been named as finalists:
- Davin Stoffel of Mosinee
- Cristin Casey of Assumption
- Caden Healy of Colby
- Jackson Ormond of Stratford
(Bios and background info at end of article)
To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were selected (based on both athletic
and academic achievement) from each of the four WIAA divisions. “Each of these remarkable student athletes has excelled in academics and athletics,” said Tom Shafranski, Assistant Director of the WIAA. “Fifteen of this year’s 32 WIAA Scholar Athlete finalists have a grade point
average of 4.0 to date. All 32 scholar athlete finalists have already earned a total of 294 varsity
letters during their first 3-1/2 years of high school. That’s an average of 9 letters per athlete, and
we have not yet completed our spring sports season.”
This year more than 841 seniors were nominated for the 2023 WIAA Scholar Athlete Award by 454
high schools throughout the state.
The 2023 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony Sunday, May
7 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wausau. Keynote speaker will be Anne Marie Anderson, Emmy
award winning sports broadcaster and one of the most experienced female play by play
announcers in the country.
Of the more than 841 high schools submitting nominations this year, three schools had a finalist
for the first time in the 38-year history of the WIAA Scholar Athlete program, including: Mya
Hartjes, University School of Milwaukee; Joey Perry, Winneconne High School, and Lucy Strey,
Sun Prairie East High School.
A Webcast of the awards ceremony will be available at www.wiaawi.org after the ceremony on
May 7.
2023 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists
This list includes Scholar Athlete’s name, hometown and the high school they attend.
DIVISION 1 – BOYS
Dylan Dettloff, Sheboygan, Sheboygan North High School
Griffin Empey, Stoughton, Stoughton High School
Drew Regnier, Waunakee, Waunakee High School
Tripp Walsh, Hartland, Arrowhead High School
DIVISION 1 – GIRLS
Grace Grocholski, North Prairie, Kettle Moraine High School
Paige Miller, Kaukauna, Kaukauna High School
Lucy Strey, Cottage Grove, Sun Prairie East High School
Dasha Vorontsov, Fitchburg, Oregon High School
DIVISION 2 – BOYS
Rhett Koenig, Prairie du Chien, Prairie du Chien High School
Davin Stoffel, Kronenwetter, Mosinee High School
Tanner Kaufman, Poplar, Northwestern High School
Brett McConkey, Mindoro, West Salem High School
DIVISION 2 – GIRLS
Madilyn Dogs, Kewaskum, Kewaskum High School
Mya Hartjes, Grafton, University School of Milwaukee
Joey Perry, Larsen, Winneconne High School
Rachel Ulrich, Dresser, Osceola High School
DIVISION 3 – BOYS
Landon Deneen, Shell Lake, Shell Lake High School
Caden Healy, Athens, Colby High School
Jackson Ormond, Stratford, Stratford High School
Mitchell Thompson, Kewaunee, Kewaunee High School
DIVISION 3 – GIRLS
Molly Heidorn, Colfax, Colfax High School
Lindsay Steien, Taylor, Blair-Taylor High School
Sophia Lawler, Racine, The Prairie School
Reese Rogowski, Wittenberg, Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School
DIVISION 4 – BOYS
Augustus Fink, Three Lakes, Three Lakes High School
Evan Johnson, Florence, Florence High School
Evan Payne, Eastman, Seneca High School
Dylan Powell, Norwalk, Brookwood High School
DIVISION 4 – GIRLS
Cristin Casey, Wisconsin Rapids, Assumption High School
Lilly Geary, Viola, Kickapoo High School
Carleigh Kaczmarek, Oconto Falls, Gillett High School
Kallie Volk, Three Lakes, Three Lakes High School
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Cristin Casey, Assumption High School – 3.88 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Casey has participated in cross country, basketba
ll and softball. She has earned 10 letters, including four in cross country, four in basketball and two in softball. Casey ran to all-conference honors three times in cross country for a three-time league team champion. She was a member three conference championship teams in basketball. She was a two-time conference team champion in softball and a two-time all-conference selection.
Academic Activities
Casey is a two-year member of the National Honor Society and a three-year participant in the Pro Like Club.
Essay
Performing as a multiple sport high school athlete has taught me many valuable life lessons. My participation has pushed me to be hardworking, have good time management skills, and most importantly to persevere. I learned perseverance by facing hardships that included several injuries. Two of these injuries, which affected several of my athletic seasons, even required surgery. I continued to work hard for myself and my teammates in spite of the obstacles. Ever since I was a child I wanted to be the most accomplished athlete and perform on the biggest stages alongside my fellow players. In order to achieve these goals, I made sure to work hard and manage my time so I would continue to do well in the classroom. I was the first to arrive at practices and the last one to leave. My off days included time at the gym doing my own workout. Years of hard work have allowed me to compete at the state level in all three of the sports that I am involved. Athletics have helped me build confidence in my abilities and to be patient while working to achieve my goals. The lessons that I have learned will not only help me with my college studies, but will also guide me in my future career and relationship.
Post-Graduation Plans
Casey plans to study pre-med and play softball at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Davin Stoffel, Mosinee High School – 4.0 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Stoffel has earned 10 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He helped the baseball team to a sectional championship and was named all-conference his junior year, and the four-time letter-winner in basketball was named all-conference his junior and senior seasons. Stoffel was a four-time letter-winner in football and named all-conference his junior and senior years.
Academic Activities
Stoffel ranks first in his class academically. He was a member of the student senate four years and was a two-year member of the National Honor Society, Math Club and “M” Club.
Essay
Throughout high school I’ve put a lot of work into my education and finding the classes that fit me the best that will steer me towards my future career field. Balancing this active improvement in knowledge has taught me the ability to prioritize and multitask, as well as improve my time management. The academic side of my high school career has taught me the importance of focus and putting in the effort to finish work in order to improve in a subject. I’ve also spent a great deal of my time dedicated to athletics, improving my abilities in both the physical and mental aspects of the sports I play. The hard work I’ve put in has brought me many accolades, and it has given me the ability to continue pursuing my football career in college, but it has also taught me life skills that I will utilize throughout my career on and off the field. In a team sport, teamwork is obviously important, but through that teamwork I have been able to increase my leadership abilities and emerge as a leader among my teammates as a captain in multiple sports. Sports in general have also taught me perseverance through failure, the necessity of hard work and dedication, as well as communication skills and the ability to be personable. All these characteristics that I’ve gained through my years as an student-athlete are characteristics which will be the driving force of how I approach my future in football, college, and my career.
Post-Graduate Plans
Stoffel plans on studying mechanical engineering with a aerospace emphasis and play football at South Dakota State University.
Caden Healy, Colby High School – 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Healy is an eight-time letter-winner across the sports of football, basketball and track & field. He is a three-time football letter-winner and all-conference selection on a three-time conference championship team and the 2021 State championship team. He earned team and conference MVP honors as a senior. Healy was a four-time basketball letter-winner, earning all-conference honors his senior season. In track & field, he was team MVP and conference champion as a sophomore and junior.
Academic Activities
Healy is a three-year member of the student council, and he has participated in the Math League two years.
Essay
During my four year high school academic and athletic career I have learned many valuable lessons. The experiences that I have had have impacted my life and better prepared me for my future. I owe gratitude to my teachers, coaches, and family for how they have influenced my life. The more I have learned, and the more I have competed, the more I have grown to understand the dedication and sacrifices teachers and coaches make for my benefit. Even though I have always respected adults, the level of respect has changed in a profound way. I have always had the desire to be respectful, but my respect has grown into gratitude, appreciation and relationships that have changed me as a person. The impact of my experiences have tested me, challenged me, pushed me, and taught me to never give up. When I am told that I will have no chance in succeeding, fuel is poured on the fire I already have inside. My high school years taught me to give everything I can at all times. They have taught me time management, commitment, team work, problem solving, quick decision making, and prioritization. They have taught me to give 110% at all times and look at road blocks as just a different door opening. I would like to thank the WIAA Scholar Athlete committee and my coach who have given me this opportunity to be considered as a WIAA State Scholar Athlete.
Post-Graduation Plans
Healy plans to study civil engineering and play football at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Jackson Ormond, Stratford High School – 3.99 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Ormond has earned 10 letters across three sports, including football, wrestling and baseball. He lettered four times for a team that won three conference titles and a State title his senior season in football. He earned all-conference honors twice and was team MVP as a senior. He also lettered four times in wrestling on a team that captured four conference team titles. Ormond earned two sectional titles as well as all-conference and team MVP his senior season. He is a two-time letterman in baseball for a two-time confernce championship team, earning all-conference honors as a junior.
Academic Activities
Ormond is a four-time member of the high honor roll and Marawood Conference Scholar Athlete. He has received three Outstanding Scholar Athlete Achievement Awards and is a three-year attendee of the Principal Academic Banquet. He participated two years in the Caring for Others and Technology Clubs and one year in the High Quiz Bowl and student senate. Ormond was selected as district’s nominee of the Heisman Scholarship.
Essay
One lesson I’ve learned from sports is no matter how hard you work, at some point you will fail, and that’s okay. I have put in countless hours working towards goals with high standards. It hurt that I didn’t reach some of them, but because of my work ethic I was able to perform at my best ability and that gives me pride. I would be nowhere near the athlete or person I am today, if I didn’t put in the work to try to accomplish these goals. Whenever I was working out or practicing hard I would tell myself, “you won’t know how good you can be if you don’t give 100 percent effort”. It made me push myself because I wanted to be the best. I may not have been the best, but I put in the work to be. I feel like the work ethic I’ve learned and portrayed will help me in the future, because I am not okay with being average. I want to do the best in my career no matter what. My goal is to become a high school math teacher and a coach. I hope to instill a passion for a hard work ethic in my future students and athletes. I want them to be able to find life success through goals and working hard. I will also use this philosophy to keep classes and practices interesting, where kids want to learn and compete to be their best.
Post-Graduation Plans
Ormond intends to study secondary math education and compete in wrestling at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
