Division 1
John Kubisch, Arrowhead High School - 3.89 GPA
Kubisch is a three-time track & field team State champion, and he earned a sixth-place finish at State in the high jump as a sophomore and followed that
performance with a fourth-place finish his junior season. In basketball, he helped the Warhawks bring home a sectional championship his junior year. In his essay, he writes, “I learned to persevere and be disciplined, especially when facing adversity. I demonstrated this mindset while being on three track championship teams despite having many setbacks: surgery and a shin stress fracture.” Kubisch plans to study finance at college.
Ryan Lang, Sheboygan North, 4.0 GPA
A 4.0 student, Lang was a cross country state qualifier his junior season and is a four-time Fox River Classic All-Conference honoree in 
the sport. He swam the 200-yard medley relay at State, setting a school record. He is a three-time sectional champion in track & field; once in the 400m, 800m and 4x800 relay. Ryan writes in his essay, “Another critical lesson I learned is leadership. Now that I am a team captain for both cross country and track, I strive to be like the captains before me; I hope to inspire my younger teammates with my attitude and work ethic, helping them have a rewarding experience and find athletic success.” Lang plans to attend the New Jersey Institute of Technology to study computer science.
Paolo Pagnucci, Superior High School, 3.98 GPA
Pagnucci is a four-time team Most Valuable Player in swimming & diving and earned Lake Superior All-Conference honors as a
sophomore, junior and senior. On the tennis court, he was a first team all-conference selection as a junior. Pagnucci writes, “Goals provide direction, and direction is helpful to guiding life choices and behaviors. But the most important part of my learning process, and why I think goal setting was the greatest lesson, is in what I learned from not accomplishing my top swim goal. I had time to reflect on choices that led me to where I am. We are a compilation of all of our choices, and with each process we are better equipped to handle what comes next." Pagnucci will attend UW-Eau Claire to study kinesiology.
Ray Pember, Menomonie High School, 4.0 GPA
First in his class with a 4.0 GPA, Pember received first team Big Rivers All-Conference selections in wrestling his junior and senior seasons while helping the Mustangs earn a sectional team wrestling championship as a junior. He was an individual sectional wrestling champion his senior year, earning himself a trip to the State Tournament. 
Pember writes in his essay, “My high school experiences have created an atmosphere similar to what I imagine my professional career will be like. School and athletics have helped me develop many skills such as consistency, determination, and teamwork, which are vital for anyone to succeed in today's society.” Pember will attend Iowa State University to study civil engineering.
Division 2
Layne Aurit, Dodgeville High School, 4.0 GPA
With a 4.0 GPA, Aurit is a three-time individual Southwest Wisconsin Conference champion in cross country and a seven-time individual conference
champion in track & field. He is a three-time cross country team State qualifier as well as a three-time 4x800 relay State qualifier. He was voted cross country conference MVP three times. “While I am an extremely competitive person and see sports as a place to express my mental and physical attributes to the best of my ability, I am also aware of how little my accomplishments alone will impact my future and those around me. With that in mind, I work for what I want to work toward and try to help others around me with the things I learn from it, which is why I still enjoy training and competing.” Aurit plans to attend UW-La Crosse to study geography or preoptometry.
Jack Hefty, Whitewater High School - 4.0 GPA
Jack holds a 4.0 GPA and won back-to-back state titles in the 1600m as a sophomore and junior, breaking his school record both times. 
During his senior year of cross country, he won a State championship while setting a new school record. His efforts also helped the Whippets secure back-to-back sectional championships in cross country. In his essay Jack stated, “The dedication and perseverance I’ve developed through running have shaped who I am. The challenges, setbacks, and victories have all taught me that success comes from consistent effort and a belief in pushing past limits.” He plans to study chemistry and continue his athletic career in cross country and track & field at the United States Naval Academy.
Kyle Hehli, West Salem High School - 3.93 GPA
Hehli is a State tennis doubles champion and is a three-time team and Coulee Conference tennis MVP. He qualified individually for the
sectional golf tournament his sophomore year, and as a junior, he helped his team qualify for sectionals. Hehli was voted conference Basketball Player of the Year during his senior season. In his essay, he writes, “I have had the once-ina-lifetime opportunity of being a state champion during my freshman year tennis season. This title showed me that hard work truly pays off. I lost two times in the state championship for basketball and two times at sectionals for golf. Coming up short pushed me to work harder and improve my skills individually and as a teammate.” Hehli will attend UW-La Crosse to study sports marketing.
Ben Krauklis, Lakeside Lutheran High School - 4.0 GPA
Krauklis is a two-time track & field Capitol Conference Athlete of the Year, and he helped the Warriors secure back-to- 
back State championships in track & field during his sophomore and junior seasons. He and his teammates claimed the State title in the 4x200 relay his junior season and on the basketball court, and he was a member of the team that finished State runner-up his junior year. He shared in his essay, “The greatest lesson I have learned is that the growth throughout the journey is more important than awards or championships. The growth I have experienced has come from overcoming injuries, working towards goals, and always giving my best effort in everything I do.” Krauklis will be attending UW-La Crosse to study exercise science and continue his career in track & field.
Division 3
Jack Schmeling, Luther High School - 4.0 GPA
First in his class with a 4.0, Schmeling was a basketball State champion as a sophomore. He is a two-time track & field sectional champ and a three-time 
individual conference champion. He was voted Coulee Conference Athlete of the Year in track & field as a junior and was his team’s back-to-back track & field MVP his sophomore and junior seasons. Schmeling writes in his essay, “The greatest lesson I learned in academics is to always shoot for greatness, and this translates to every aspect of life. Like my Dad always told me, though I'm sure he is not the first to say it, ‘If something is worth doing, it's worth doing well.’” He will continue his participation in track & field and study mechanical engineering at UW-Madison.
Blake Thiry, Prairie du Chien High School, 3.56 GPA
Blake has earned 25 Southwest Wisconsin All-Conference honors across football, wrestling and track and field. He is a State champion 
in wrestling and a seven-time State place winner in track and field. He helped his Blackhawks wrestling team earn three sectional championships and was voted his conference football player of the year twice. Blake states in his essay, “One of the best lessons I learned in my athletic experiences so far is perseverance. Failing to meet my goals during my earlier years of high school made me a better athlete. This failure pushed me to work harder to get higher up on that podium the next year.” Thiry plans to attend Indiana University to play football and study education.
Jacob Thornton, Aquinas High School, 4.0 GPA
A 4.0 student, Thornton was a member of the Blugolds State championship football team his junior year, while 
earning first team all-conference honors his senior year. He was the catcher for his State championship baseball team his junior season and capped off his high school basketball career as a senior with a State championship. Thornton states in his essay, “After having a successful season the year before, a coach reminded us that the man on the mountaintop did not just land there. This stuck with me because it reminds me of the hard work that is necessary to have success. Even if you make it to the top, you have to continue to work hard to stay successful.” He plans to study accounting in college.
Jack Tubbs, Stratford High School - 4.0 GPA
Tubbs is a three-time football State champion and was named conference Most Valuable Player in football his senior year. The 4.0 student earned first 
team all-conference honors in wrestling, football and baseball, and he helped the Tiger’s wrestling team make two State appearances. As a senior, he was recognized as his team’s Most Valuable Player in football. Tubbs shared in his essay, “One motto that has really shaped my character is reminding myself I’m never going to look back and wish I didn’t try as hard. Instead, I want to look back and be able to say I gave it all I had. I wouldn’t have had the success I have had so far without working hard and putting in one-hundred percent effort.” Tubbs will attend St. Mary's University of Minnesota to study finance and play baseball.
Division 4
Jesse DeBauch, Gillett High School, 4.0 GPA
DeBauch is a two-time Marinette & Oconto Conference basketball MVP, earning the award both his junior and senior seasons. A 4.0 student, he is the 
Tiger’s boys basketball all-time leading scorer and a three-time team MVP award recipient. He was voted his football team’s MVP twice and was also a sectional track & field champion as a freshman. In his essay, DeBauch writes, “Being part of a team taught me how to collaborate, communicate effectively, and support others. Additionally, athletics instilled in me a sense of perseverance, teaching me to remain focused and determined in the face of challenges.” He intends to study business in college.
Oliver Post, Potosi High School - 4.0 GPA
Post is a four-time Six Rivers Conference football and basketball champion, and he was a State qualifier in track & field his junior 
season. The 4.0 student was selected as a first team all-state tight end his senior year, while helping his team earn a sectional championship in football. Oliver shares in his essay, “Both academics and athletics have shown me that success is not just about talent but also about effort, adaptability, and persistence. Whether in my future career or personal life, these lessons will guide me in overcoming obstacles, working with others, and striving for excellence.” He plans to attend UW-Platteville in the fall.
Isaac Scheer, Columbus Catholic High School - 3.87 GPA
A four-time Cloverbelt Conference first team cross country runner and three-time first team all-conference track & 
field athlete, Scheer holds three school records in the 1600-meter, 3200 and 5000 races. He has earned five State medals between cross country and track & field, and he won back-to-back individual conference titles in cross country as a junior and senior, as well as in track & field as a sophomore and junior. Isaac stated in his essay, “Every year before the cross country conference race our team jogs to the cemetery while connected by a rope. The run is not just about honoring those who have gone before us, but it is about teaching us the valuable life lessons of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and most importantly, holding the rope. My coach says that holding the rope is a metaphor for life. Can you trust those around you to hold the rope and support you when you feel that you cannot go on?” Scheer will attend the University of Mississippi to study sports broadcasting.
Jared Schultz, Northwood High School, 4.0 GPA
First in his class with a 4.0 GPA, Schultz is a three-time winner of the Northwoods West Conference football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards, 
and he is a four-time first team all-conference selection. On the basketball court, he became Northwood’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing 1,950 career points. In baseball, Schultz helped his team earn a State runner-up finish as a junior. He shares in his essay, “Being a good leader is crucial especially when others are struggling. The relationships and experiences I have had in High School taught me the value of leadership and personal growth. These skills will help me tackle new challenges confidently and positively as I move forward into the next chapter of my life.” Shultz plans to study finance at UW-River Falls.