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Published by APG Media of Wisconsin, LLC, 2019-10-28 16:57:42

Buckshot | May 2019

Buckshot | May 2019

Keywords: sports

MAY 2019

R-TELEGLEADE
N
FREE RAM CLASSTOP OF THE North’sStange,
P Elk Mound’s Radtke
U B LIC ATIO take home top awards
This Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards

issue is brought to you in part by

2 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 3
in part by
COTNABTLEE ONFTS

5: Complete list of Prep Sports Awards winners

7: North’s Stange, Elk Mound’s Radtke
take home athletes of the year honors

11: Readers’choice female athlete Petricka
winning titles and breaking records

12: Posterized: Memorial’s Zach Bernhardt

15: Photos from the Prep Sports Awards

16: Readers’choice male athlete
Banks rewriting record books

17: Top male fall athlete DeLeon earned
all-state selection

19: Top female winter athlete Akervik
ends career as state’s best

21: Former Badger Gasser shares memories
from prep sports

PHOTO BY SPENCER NICKEL

Eau Claire North’s Kary Petricka spikes the ball
over the net during the playoff volleyball game
at Eau Claire North on Oct. 19.

4 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 5
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LEADER-TELEGRAM

PREP SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS

The Leader-Telegram sports depart- Hinzmann, Noah Kahl, James Pfeiffer,
ment picked the winners of the Mary Jo Prokupek.
following awards (with the excep-
tion of the reader’s choice awards, which Chippewa Falls: Rico DeLeon, Caelan
were selected by an online fan vote). The Givens, Aaliyah McMillan, Matt Pomietlo,
athletes were honored at the Prep Sports Tyler Robarge, Dane Weiland, Alexis Zenner.
Awards on May 8 at Florian Gardens.
Chippewa Falls McDonell: Maggie
Female athlete of the year: Morgan Craker, Noah Weimert, Cory Hoglund,
Radtke, Elk Mound. Charlie Bleskachek.

Male athlete of the year: Sam Colfax: Alyssa Dachel, Abby DeMoe,
Stange, Eau Claire North. Luke Heidorn, Kameri Meredith.

Top fall female athlete: Morgan Durand: Isaac Wegner, Riley Radle, TJ
Radtke, Elk Mound. Tulip, Brooke Polzer, Emily Annis.

Top fall male athlete: Rico DeLeon, Eau Claire Memorial: Mitch Brenner, STAFF PHOTO BY DAN REILAND
Chippewa Falls. Tyler Hanson, Nathan Hau, Jillian Heth,
Cooper Kapanke, Ava Kison, Lexi Meade, Leader-Telegram Prep Sports award winners from left to right: Front: Dalton Banks, Sam Stange, Rico
Top winter male athlete: Sam Stange, Andrew Roberts. DeLeon. Back: Charlotte Akervik, Morgan Radtke, Kary Petricka.
Eau Claire North
Eau Claire North: Charlotte Akervik, Federally insured by NCUA
Top winter female athlete: Charlotte Dalton Banks, Sydney Brown, Carter Du-
Akervik, Eau Claire North. erkop, Kary Petricka, Sam Stange, Sydnie $MARTFUTUREHELPING STUDENTS
Steinmetz, Zach Urdahl.
Reader’s choice female athlete of GET ON TRACK TO A
the year: Kary Petricka, Eau Claire North. Eleva-Strum: Isaac Larabee, Ryan Visit westconsincu.org for scholarship information,
Johnson, Matthew Tomasello, Brianna and free educational resources for all ages.
Reader’s choice male athlete of the Nelson, Aubrey Lasher, Connor Windjue.
year: Dalton Banks, Eau Claire North. 15 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS | (800) 924-0022 | westconsincu.org
Elk Mound: Brady Redwine, Cade
The selections for the top male and Hanson, Morgan Radtke, Alana Plaszcz,
female athlete of the spring will be Abigail Curry.
announced at a later date in the Lead-
er-Telegram. Fall Creek: Laura Accola, David An-
derson, Marcus Cline, Joey Kinderman,
The following athletes were nomi- Katrina Klawiter, Brady Nicks.
nated by their respective schools and
honored at the event: Menomonie: Destiny Haldeman, Lexi
Hastings, Lindsey Johnson, Jace Kressin,
Altoona: Lydia Berseth, Karly Maurina, Mackenzie Maguire, Kylie Mogen, Sam
Evan Moss, Jake Nelson, Sydney Presler, Thompson, Adam Wilson, Sam Zbornik.
Averie Varsho.

Augusta: Tanner Alix, Ashlyn Korger, Mondovi: Nathan Pelke.
Carolyn Shult. Osseo-Fairchild: Caden Boettcher, So-
phiah Filla, Kari Herman, Logan Mulhern.
Bloomer: Cole Michaelsen, Kenadi Regis: Andrew Ernstmeyer, Grace
Poirier, Grace Post, Sierra Raine, Zach Ruf, Gilles, Teryn Karlstad, Isaac Michels,
Chloee Swartz. Cade Osborn, Andrew Schlitz, Bria
Thalacker.
Cadott: Jenna Sedlacek, Kaitlyn
Tice, Madeline Wahl, Coy Bowe, Andy

6 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

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Brought to you 7
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MULTI-SPORT MASTERSBUCKSHOTTHEMAGAZINE | MAY2019
North’s Stange, Elk Mound’s Radtke excelled in multiple
sports on way to athletes of the year awards

By JACK GOODS of the year, not only shined in their main STAFF PHOTO BY DAN REILAND
sport, but found success in others.
Nearly every elite athlete has to ask Male and female Athlete of the Year winners Sam Stange and Morgan Radtke hold their
themselves an important question “I think some of my sports, even though awards at the Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards on May 8.
when approaching the college re- softball wasn’t my strongest sport, it taught
cruitment process. me to be a leader in different situations and Experience the SparkleWash® Difference
take on different roles,”Radtke said.“It also InSured • On TIme • On BudgeT • PrOfeSSIOnally TraIned
Should they stick to their main sport, fo- taught me, athletic-wise, how to be versatile SIDING • ROOF • PATIO • FENCE • DRIVEWAY • POOL • DECK • GUTTERS
cusing all their time to honing the skills they and do different things.”
need to attract coaches’ interest? Or should
they play multiple, allowing them to train Stange was dominant on the ice, propel-
develop different skills, work out different ling the Huskies to their first state tournament
muscles, avoid burnout, and, most impor- appearance since 2006 while leading the Big
tantly, continue to participate in sports they Rivers in points and finishing sixth in all of
love? Wisconsin. Prior to North’s state bout with
Verona, he was named the Wisconsin Player
Well, Sam Stange and Morgan Radtke
prove you can still jump to the next level of the Year by the Wisconsin Hockey
while following the latter approach. Coaches Association and shared the
Leader-Telegram’s All-Area Player of
Stange, a University of Wisconsin hockey the Year honors with teammate and
commit, also spent serious time on the
baseball diamond for Eau Claire North. fellow future Badger Zach Urdahl.
Radtke, a star volleyball player heading to He secured his iconic moment by scoring
Michigan Tech in the fall, also played basket- the overtime game-winner against Hayward
ball and softball for Elk Mound. in double overtime in the sectional final,
helping the Huskies fend off a late Hurricane
The duo, this year’s Leader-Telegram Prep
Sports Awards male and female athletes rally to send it to extra time.
But Stange is also a baseball star.
PHOTO BY BRANDEN NALL
He helped the Huskies make their
Sam Stange third-straight state tournament
appearance last year, earning second
team all-state honors along the way.
He hit .397 as a junior with 15 ex-
tra-base hits and 22 RBIs. As a senior, he
has been among North’s top hitters and
pitchers.
“I think it’s a huge bonus to play my last
season in a North uniform,” Stange said.
“I think I was always hoping I’d be able to
finish my baseball career here too.”
Radtke was a well-rounded force for the
Mounders on the volleyball court, eclipsing
the 1,000-career kill mark while serving as
the team’s go-to player. The middle hitter
was the Dunn-St. Croix Player of the Year,
the Leader-Telegram’s All-Area Player of
the Year and an all-state selection.
“I was glad I was able to grow as much
as I did over the past four years,” Radtke
said. “I never reached the goal of going
to state. That’s everybody’s goal prob-
ably playing in sports, but I was very
happy with the success my team had
and how I was able to grow as a player
and the accomplishments I made.”

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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 9
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PHOTO BY BRANDEN NALL

Elk Mound’s Morgan Radtke rises for a shot on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in Colfax.

She also made a big impact on the bas- in the country, before heading to Madison. PHOTO BY SPENCER NICKEL
ketball court, her first athletic passion. Radt- Sioux City owns his USHL rights, and he
ke topped the Mounders with 18.1 points got an extended opportunity to play with Eau Claire North’s Sam Stange cuts in sharp to take a shot on goal during the WIAA sectional
per game and a Dunn-St. Croix-leading 10.3 the Musketeers this spring during a school final boys hockey game against Hayward at Hobbs Ice Arena on Feb. 23.
rebounds per game. She was a first-team break.
all-conference selection and a second-team Buy OFnRe EGeEt One Buy OFnRe EGeEt One
All-Northwest pick. Radtke is working a job this summer Taco or Burrito Breakfast Burrito
and training before heading to Houghton
“When I talked to the coaches at Michi- in mid-July. She’ll be studying biomedical Purchase any taco or burrito at regular price and Purchase any breakfast burrito at regular price
gan Tech, they were very welcoming to the engineering. get one of equal or lesser value FREE. and get one of equal or lesser value FREE.
fact that I play several sports,” Radtke said.
“The club season for volleyball, that’s where “I’m kind of glad one chapter is closing EopVarrxilooippdrffiitearorrete.ppssLuair8rmctih/ictai2posa0nete./inNc1goo9uTtapvcoaonlidJpoewhrintch’su.asntPoyrmeosether,enprtecdroisvucipsooiutn.nt EoVparrxilooipdrffiitearorrete.ppssLuair8rmctih/ictai2posan0ete./inNc1goo9uTtapvcoaonlidJpoewhrintch’su.asntPoyrmeosether,enprtecdroisvucipsooiutn.nt
they like to watch you and I wasn’t able to and the other is beginning,” Radtke said.
go to as many tournaments as other ath- “It’s kind of sad to leave something that I’ve ©2019 TACO JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2019 TACO JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
letes that were just playing volleyball. They known my entire life but I’m excited to start
were very understanding of the fact that I something new at college.”
played other sports. They liked that.”
With their careers coming to close, the
Radtke’s prep career came to an end on spring has been a time of reflection for this
May 20 when Elk Mound softball’s season stellar duo. What does this pair hope to be
concluded in the WIAA playoffs with a loss remembered for? Even with all the success
to Statford. It was her last connection to they’ve had, they turn to the intangibles.
high school since Elk Mound seniors have
already graduated. “Even though I know I was a talented
player on the team, (it’s important) staying
Stange and the Huskies’ postseason starts humble,” Radtke said. “Even when you know
on the week of May 26. you did something well, just stay humble.
Also, the younger athletes that are coming
“I think in our section at least, we’ve had up, set a good example for them.”
a target on our back,” Stange said. “That’s
something we enjoy playing with because it “I think the work ethic is something that
never lets us be off our game.” everyone in the program has been trying to
change,” Stange said. “I think we’ve always
When Stange’s senior season comes to tried to do things the right way, especially
an end, he’ll be working out in the summer me while I was here. That’s something I’ve
in preparation for junior training camp. focused on and I hope I set an example of
He expects to play a season in the United doing things the right way, whether it was
States Hockey League, the top junior circuit in games or in the community.”

10 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 11
in part by
Got Stinky Gear?
Petricka closing
out North career WE CAN HELP!!
as record holder
We Sanitize With Ozone
Has another chance to go to state this spring
Tony Pilgrim
Kary Petricka has prov- On May 8 Petricka earned anoth-
en she has a knack for er honor when she was named the 715-559-8744
breaking track and field re- Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards’
cords for Eau Claire North. Readers’ Choice female athlete of the [email protected] • sanisportssolutions.com
year. 182904_854699_06-27-18
At the Big Rivers track and field
championship on May 13, she showed Petricka has qualified for state in
she has the ability to bounce back three track and field events in her
too. career and has a chance to head to La
Crosse again this spring. She qualified
The Eau Claire North senior was a for sectionals on May 20 in the 200,
runner-up in the 100-meter dash by long jump and 400 meter relay in
a razor-thin margin of 0.03 seconds Menomonie.
behind River Falls’ Sofia Naranjo-Mata,
but she didn’t let it get to her. After all, She holds North records in the
there was still the 200. 4X200 and long jump and plans on
continuing her career at the collegiate
“Before the 200, I walked up to level at Minnesota State, just like her
Sofia and was like, ‘So since you took mother did.
the 100, maybe I can take this 200?’ as
a joke,” Petricka said. On the volleyball court Petricka was
a second team All-Big Rivers selection
She responded by winning the 200 leading the Huskies in kills by sur-
with a personal-best time and then passing the 400 mark for the season.
won the long jump. She was dominant against Eau Claire
Memorial in an Oct. 5 intracity battle,
“I got out of the blocks and knew firing home a game-high 23 kills in
I had to give it my all, because she’s North’s 3-1 victory.
so fast and her legs are long,” Petricka
said of facing Naranjo-Mata in the “(Petricka) was huge,” North coach
200. “I came into the last 50 (meters) Perris Cooley said that night. “She was
and thought maybe I could let up a really the deciding factor. Our other
little, but then I just turned into an- hitters struggled tonight, so Kary was
other gear and said ‘I’m finishing it.’” the key, no doubt about it. It was her
night.”

PHOTO BY SPENCER NICKEL

Eau Claire North’s Kary Petricka runs the 100-meter dash during the Big Rivers
track and field championship on May 13 at North.



POSTERIZED

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14 Brought to you MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE
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STAFF PHOTOS BY DAN REILAND

Above: Eau Claire North athletes sit at their table during the 2019 Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards on May 8. At right: Emcee
Bob Bradovich speaks at the podium at the Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards.

CONGRATULATIONS

To all the outstanding, dedicated athletes who
participated in the

2019 PREP SPORTS AWARDS

Your families, peers and communities are
very proud of you all!

52nd Year in Business

37 W. Spring Street 513 N. Broadway Hwy. 93 South
Chippewa Falls Menomonie Eau Claire
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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 15
in part by

STAFF PHOTOS BY DAN REILAND

Sports editor Jack Goods shakes hands with an area athlete during the award ceremony.

Keynote
speaker Josh
Gasser speaks
at the podium
during the
Prep Sports
Awards.

Above: Reader’s Choice winners Dalton Banks and Kary Petricka hold their awards at
the Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards on May 8. Below: Students look on during
the Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards on May 8.

16 Brought to you MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE
in part by

Banks was do-it-all
player for Huskies

HNOIRWING Already program’s all-time leading scorer as junior

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS: By JACK GOODS

Customer Service Representatives Dalton Banks has already etched his name into the Eau Claire North basketball record books
& Warehouse Workers even before he starts his senior year.

MASON OFFERS: The star Husky guard set the program record for career points this season, finishing this
year’s campaign off with a total of 1,239. His junior year saw him score 535 points, a 23.3
• Generous hourly wages • Generous employee discounts average per game which was hurt by a game he left early with injury, and hit 48 3-pointers. He
• A variety of hours & shifts • Fantastic work environment notched three triple doubles and topped 30 points six times. He set a season high when he
scored 37 points in a 75-65 win against Marshfield in February.
We invite qualified individuals to apply online at
masoncompaniesinc.com/careers, email a resume “He is the heart and soul of the team,”North coach Todd Marks said.“He is a special talent
to [email protected], who offers great leadership.”
or apply in person at the address below.
Human Resources, Mason Companies, Inc. 1251 1st Ave. Banks, unsurprisingly, earned multiple honors at the end of the season, including selections
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 to both the AP and WBCA All-State teams, the All-Big Rivers first team and the Leader-Tele-
gram’s All-Northwest first team and all-city team.
Equal Opportunity Employer m/f/h
Few players in this area had the type of impact on their
team that Banks instilled, even when he wasn’t 100%. Banks
was clearly dealing with the fallout of a hip injury and
broken nose suffered against Chippewa Falls when he
suited up against River Falls on Jan. 26. Wearing a mask
to protect himself, Banks was still eager to drive the basket
and hit a twisting layup to lift the
Huskies to a 63-61 overtime tri-
umph. He notched 28 points
total in the game on 10 of 19
shooting.

“It bothered me but I just
played as tough as I could,”
Banks said that night.“I tried to
help the team and gave everything I could.”

River Falls coach Zac Campbell understood
there was only so much his Wildcats could do to try
and stop him. Not only can he shoot, but his passing
and rebounding ability make him an incredible difficult
cover.

“There is no better player in the area than Banks in space,”he
said.“We tried to limit the space he works with but he’s hard to
contain.”

Banks is one of the top recruited boys basketball players in
the area, already possessing multiple Division I offers. UW-
Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, Montana, North Dakota State and
South Dakota have all offered a spot for him following the
conclusion of his prep career.

“This season, his responsibilities were elevated significant-
ly, and he embraced and attacked the challenge,”Marks
said.“He is extremely unselfish, and, undoubtedly, raised
the level of play of those around him in allowing the

STAFF PHOTO BY STEVE KINDERMAN

Eau Claire North’s Dalton Banks splits the River Falls defense
to score a first half basket Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 at North.

BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 17
in part by

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He was noted by coaches from around fumble recovery, and one big nightmare for
the area for his ability to make up tremen- opposing coaches. And the highlights were
dous amounts of ground in the backfield to many. From a 15-tackle, two-forced fumble
chase down a runner from game against Superior to
behind. an 11-tackle, two-forced
fumble game against Hol-
“He has the ability toWith that kind of ability,
game plans focused on men, the lineman always
running in the opposite seemed to find a way to
direction of the defensive
star didn’t do much good. change games. I was make his presence felt.
DeLeon helped lead the
“He has the ability to most impressed by Cardinals to a playoff berth
change games,” River Falls this fall. He was the co-Big
Rivers Conference defen-
his ability to chasecoach David Crail said.“I sive player of the year.
was most impressed by his DeLeon garnered plenty
of interest from NCAA
down plays from theability to chase down plays Division I and Division II
from the backside.” backside.” football programs, but
DeLeon was named the
decided on Iowa Western
Leader-Telegram’s male Community College where
athlete of the year for the he plans to continue his
fall sports season at May’s — David Crail,
Prep Sports Awards. River Falls coach

Longtime Chippewa career on the gridiron.
Falls head coach Chuck Raykovich heralded Iowa Western is one of the top programs
DeLeon as “unblockable.” at the junior college level. The Reivers went
The numbers spoke for themselves: 10-1 and won the Graphic Edge Bowl last
102 total tackles, four forced fumbles, one season.

18 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 19
in part by

Akervik
was coach
on the ice
for Stars

Named Ms. Hockey and All-Area Player ofYear as senior

By JACK GOODS and four all-Big Rivers selections in STAFF PHOTO BY SPENCER FLATEN
There comes a bit of pressure while addition to a state title. In February
walking into Hobbs Ice Arena when she kept the Ms. Hockey Award in Eau Eau Claire Area’s Charlotte Akervik (8) skates away from Chippewa Falls/Menomonie’s Chloe
you carry the Akervik surname. After all, Claire, earning the Wisconsin Girls Beaudette (28) on Dec. 13, 2018 at Hobbs Ice Arena.
Akervik Rink is adorned in large letters Hockey Coaches Association’s nod as
above the doors of the middle of the the state’s top senior a year after Abigail 6/30/19
three ice surfaces, big enough to draw Stow earned the honor.
your eyes as soon as you walk into the 6/30/19
building. In March she was named the Lead-
“I didn’t realize how much of a er-Telegram’s All-Area Player of the Year.
big deal that was until probably A month later she was named the top
high school,” Charlotte Akervik
said. “I don’t think my family put winter female athlete at the L-T
any pressure on me. I think ev- Prep Sports Awards.
eryone in our family understands
if you want to be successful, it’s on you.” “To have a defenseman like
Luckily for Charlotte and the Eau that, that you build your power
Claire Area Stars, she lived up to the play around, that you build your
billing. penalty kill and d-zone around,
Akervik proved over her four years that’s something that you don’t come
with ECA there was little that could across very often,” Bernhardt said. “She
slow her down, especially not oppo- was really a coach on the ice for us for
nents. A torn ACL she suffered as a four years.”
sophomore couldn’t stop her either, Akervik possesses a versatility and
as eight months after that injury she poise that’s uncommon to find at the
was back and producing again. At this high school level. Matching up against
point, the scary incident isn’t even on her often meant picking your poison. If
her mind anymore. you sag off her, she has the speed and
“That’s a pretty good indication of confidence with the puck to launch
the type of kid she is and how deter- a rush. Over commit to her and she’ll
mined she is,” Stars coach Tom Bern- dish the puck to an open teammate. In
hardt said. settled situations in the offensive zone,
She leaves as one of the top players she was never afraid to let off a wicked
to ever don the Stars’ blue and black slap shot.
sweater after amassing three all-state Akervik has traditionally spent her
springs running track for Eau Claire
North but took this final season off to
prepare for her next chapter, a colle-
giate hockey career at Minnesota State.

20 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 21
in part by

Cherishing high school moments

Gasser’s fondest memories come from prep sports

By AARON ROSE

When former Wisconsin Badger Josh Gasser looks back on
his athletic career, his fondest memories aren’t his two
appearances in the Final Four or playing in front of thousands
of fans at Big Ten games. Instead, they’re the moments from his high
school days when local fans packed into small gyms to watch him play
for his community.

That was the message Gasser wanted to convey to over 90 high
school athletes in attendance on May 8 at the second annual Leader-
Telegram Prep Sports Awards. He wanted the athletes to cherish their
high school careers and continue to work hard to overcome whatever
obstacles they face along the way.

“I was fortunate to play in front of with his teammates. He said he took pride STAFF PHOTO BY DAN REILAND
millions of fans on some of the biggest representing the Eau Claire North com-
stages, but my greatest memories are munity and he’ll miss that as he moves on Keynote speaker Josh Gasser speaks at the Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards on May 8. View
from playing youth sports and high with his career. more photos at LeaderTelegramPhotos.com.
school sports, when you’re playing with
your best friends that you grew up with,” That’s what high school sports creates STOP IN AFTER P-NTuutei-ssDdaayy!
Gasser said. that few other things can, according to THE GAME!
Memonomie athletic director Caleb Hundt.
For many of the athletes in attendance, OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY - CLOSED MONDAYS
the next month is the final time they “It offers a sense of spirit and identity,”
walk out onto a field in front of their local Hundt said. “Without high school sports, 7 1 5 . 8 7 7.9 9 1 1 VISA & MASTERCARD ACCEPTED
communities wearing their local towns Menomonie isn’t the Mustangs, we have
on their jerseys. an identity and around that identity we FRIDAY NIGHT FISH FRY Best Burgers Around! LET US HELP WITH
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“I’m going to miss that feeling of step- excited.”
ping onto the court before the game even and Choice of 2 Sides Join Ribs • Chicken • Pulled Pork
starts,” Durand’s Emily Annis said. “Just Caden Boettcher found himself in the us for Potato Salad • Coleslaw • And More!
looking at the crowd and knowing that middle of uniting the Osseo-Fairchild com- 5 pm to 10 pm
they’re all there watching you and your munity this past year as he helped lead WEEKDAY LUNCH Graduation Parties - Team Parties
team and wanting you to succeed. That Thunder basketball down to Madison. $9.75 & DINNER SPECIALS Class Reunions - Birthdays
feeling is what I’m going to miss the most.” Anniversaries - Weddings
“Making state in basketball brought our
Eau Claire North’s Sam Stange, who won community together, it made us stronger,”
athlete of the year honors along with Mor- he said.
gan Radtke of Elk Mound, said he’ll miss
those moments on the bus and in practice Aside from the wins and losses, high
school sports helps build character in the
boys and girls that participate.

“I was fortunate to play in front of millions of fans on some Tuesday Chicken & Gravy FOR ALL OCCASIONS!
of the biggest stages, but my greatest memories are from over biscuits
playing youth sports and high school sports, when you’re
playing with your best friends that you grew up with.” Wednesday Pork on Potatoes
with gravy & vegetable
— Josh Gasser, former Wisconsin basketball player Thursday Beef Tips & gravy over
potatoes, corn & bread
Friday Prime Rib sandwich
with two sides

CALL FOR TAKE OUT ORDERS

22 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

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BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE | MAY 2019 Brought to you 23
in part by

STAFF PHOTO BY DAN REILAND

North High School senior Sydney Brown had her dad, Tony, photograph her with keynote
speaker Josh Gasser at the Leader-Telegram Prep Sports Awards on May 8.

“It taught me a lot of lessons,” Boettcher “Enjoy it and embrace Be Wise, See Keyes for the Best Buys!
said “It teaches you the life lessons that it. It can be scary,
you’ll carry on after school.” but everyone feels Menomonie • 715.235.2601
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a player or a student,” Gasser said. “It’s not to meet friends.”
about the adversity you face, it’s about how
you’re going to bounce back, that shows — Josh Gasser
your true character.”

Many of these athletes will face a new
challenge as they move away from home
and into different communities and envi-
ronments over the next few years.

“Enjoy it and embrace it,” Gasser said. “It
can be scary, but everyone feels that way.
... Get comfortable being uncomfortable,
whether you’re playing college athletics or
just trying to meet friends.”

Before these athletes all head their sep-
arate ways, Gasser reminded them to take
advantage of the remainder of their high
school careers.

“There’s nothing like high school sports,”
he said.

24 MAY 2019 | BUCKSHOT THE MAGAZINE

ORTHOPEDIC
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