Sixteen senior girls and 16 senior boys from Superior to Williams Bay have been selected as finalists to receive the 2025 WIAA Statewide Scholar Athlete Award.
Included in that list of 32 students is Gillett’s Jesse DeBauch.
More than 1,245 scholar athlete finalists have been recognized since the program began in 1984. This year, more than 806 seniors from 415 high schools across the state were nominated for the award.
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. DeBauch is a Division 4 representative.
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 Tigers’ 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 and field champion as a freshman.
In his essay that is part of the nomination process, DeBauch wrote, “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.
The 2025 finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony May 4 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point.
Gillett’s DeBauch to be recognized as a Wisconsin Top Scholar Athlete
