Jacob Wudtke and Courtney Schmidt were honored as Bonduel High School Senior Athletes of the Year at the spring athletic banquet June 2 at the school.
Wudtke, who played four years of football, wrestling and baseball, was a team captain in all three sports and a two-time state qualifier in wrestling.
“He’s one of those guys, if you look in the dictionary under the word leader, they’d show a picture of him,” baseball coach Don Gruenewald said. “He’s always taking charge. If someone isn’t doing something right, he’ll make sure they pick it up and start doing it right.”
Wudtke was named first-team All-Central Wisconsin Conference-8 in football and took second-team honors in baseball this year. He was also named a WIAA Scholar Athlete.
Gruenewald said Wudtke worked hard over the last four years.
“As a freshman, he wasn’t that good of a hitter,” Gruenewald said. “He worked at that, and he worked at catching, too. He really wanted to get better at calling pitches.”
Schmidt played four years of volleyball, basketball and softball.
“Courtney was consistent in all three sports this year,” basketball coach Missy Dowden said. “I don’t think she missed a practice in any sport this year.”
Schmidt was an honorable mention in volleyball this season. A sprained ankle limited her down the stretch in basketball. During the softball season, Schimdt played where needed.
“She’s a real team player in every sport,” Dowden said.
Softball
Kaylee Rynish, Jen Dowden and Alexa Reinke shared the softball Most Valuable Player Award. Reinke and Dowden were named team captains, along with Deanna Zernicke, who couldn’t play this season because of a shoulder injury.
Rynish was the team’s leading hitter. Kailee Pedersen was named Most Improved Player.
Baseball
Hunter VanderLinden and Connor Rosin were co-Most Valuable Players for the baseball team. VanderLinden joined Wudtke as a team captain. Travis Wollenberg was named Most Improved Player.
Track
Runner Hunter Berry and jumper Emily Sorenson were named the boys and girls Most Valuable Players, respectively. Trebor Rueckert was named the boys team’s Most Improved Athlete. Isaac Palmer was a team captain.
Katie Zeitler and Anna Palmer were named the girls’ Most Improved Athletes.
Mallory Mews and Indian Tauchen shared captain honors. Mews was also named a WIAA Scholar Athlete.
Boys golf
Ben Shoup was the golf team’s Most Valuable Player. He was also the team captain. Mitch LaBerge was named Most Improved Player.
Zach Zernicke was the third athlete to earn a participation award. He played football for three years, cross-country for one, basketball for four years and track for four years.
Other awards
Missy Dowden, the girls basketball coach, and her husband, Geoff, won the John E. Reinke Memorial Booster Award.
Greg and Rachel Strayer won the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association Service Award.
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