STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has selected the 32 student-athletes to receive the prestigious, statewide 2026 Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by the We Energies Foundation and the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation.
Girls Scholar-Athlete Bios | Boys Scholar-Athlete Bios
Sixteen boys and 16 girls were selected as top award recipients based on athletic and academic achievement, with four honorees representing each of the four WIAA divisions. This year, 742 seniors were nominated by 379 high schools statewide. Since the program began in 1984, more than 1,344 scholar-athletes have been recognized.
The academic credentials of the 2026 class are impressive. Nineteen of the 32 recipients have maintained a 4.0 grade point average, and collectively have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.96. Athletically, this year’s honorees have earned a cumulative total of 279 varsity letters through 3 1/2 years of their careers for an average of more than eight letters per recipient.
“On behalf of the WIAA and our membership, it’s an honor to recognize these scholar athletes for the discipline, integrity, and commitment they’ve shown in both the classroom and competition,” WIAA Assistant Director Jake Beschta said. “Their achievements reflect not only personal excellence, but also the support of their families, coaches and schools. We are proud to celebrate students who truly embody the balance of academics and athletics, and we look forward to the positive impact they will continue to make in their communities and beyond.”
The 2026 WIAA Scholar-Athlete recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Sunday, May 3 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point. The keynote speaker will be Wisconsin native Laken James, a former professional basketball player and founder of Five Star Academy.
Of interest this year, Phillips, Bonduel and Mosinee High Schools produced two WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award recipients, including Leah Harper and Gavin Esterholm from Phillips, Mariah Wondra and Ryan Westich from Bonduel, and Taelyn Jirschele and Treve Stoffel from Mosinee.
A live stream of the awards program will be available on the websites of the State Television Network stations, including WXOW-TV in La Crosse, WQOW-TV in Eau Claire, WAOW-TV in Wausau, WKOW-TV in Madison, WVTV in Milwaukee and WCWF in the Fox Valley at approximately 1 p.m. on May 3. A delayed telecast of the ceremony will be aired Sunday, May 10 at 11 a.m. on the Network’s dot-2 stations.
For more information on the Scholar-Athlete Award and biographies of the boys and girls recipients, access the Scholar-Athlete homepage on the WIAA website at: https://www.wiaawi.org/Schools/Awards-Recognition/Scholar-Athletes.
2026 WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients
Below is a list that includes scholar-athlete’s name, hometown and the high school they attend.
DIVISION 1 – BOYS
Blake Buhr, Sheboygan, Sheboygan North High School
Cooper Erickson, Plover, Stevens Point Area Senior High
McCoy Smith, Dane, Waunakee High School
Caden Van Buren, Cross Plains, Middleton High School
DIVISION 1 – GIRLS
Ella Anschutz, Wind Lake, Muskego High School
Harper Brandenburg, Janesville, Janesville Parker High School
Piper Schuster, Richfield, Slinger High School
Emily Urban, Appleton, Kimberly High School
DIVISION 2 – BOYS
Brodie Allram, Dresser, St. Croix Falls High School
Logan Becker, Fountain City, Aquinas High School
Brody Schaffer, Winneconne, Winneconne High School
Treve Stoffel, Mosinee, Mosinee High School
DIVISION 2 – GIRLS
Josie Brudos, West Salem, West Salem High School
Taelyn Jirschele, Wausau, Mosinee High School
Isabella Kongshaug, Elk Mound, Elk Mound High School
Rory Salvesen, Hatley, Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School
DIVISION 3 – BOYS
Gavin Esterholm, Phillips, Phillips High School
Carson Roemhild, Boyceville, Boyceville High School
Tucker Streit, Edgar, Edgar High School
Ryan Westrich, Bonduel, Bonduel High School
DIVISION 3 – GIRLS
Emmerson Drobac, Deerfield, Deerfield High School
Leah Harper, Phillips, Phillips High School
Hannah Miller, Kewaunee, Kewaunee High School
Mariah Wondra, Cecil, Bonduel High School
DIVISION 4 – BOYS
Bradyn Wendorff, Gillett, Gillett High School
Ryan McCoic, Wonewoc, Hillsboro High School
Chanse Ludescher, Sheldon, Flambeau High School
Heston Hueckman, Prentice, Prentice High School
DIVISION 4 – GIRLS
Mya Dernbach, Almond, Almond-Bancroft High School
Izabel Durst, Barneveld, Barneveld High School
Jordyn Jaglinski, Wisconsin Rapids, Assumption High School
Molly Olson, Monticello, Monticello High School
The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a private, voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 514 senior high schools and 30 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.
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