16 senior girls and 16 senior boys from around the state have been selected as finalists to receive the prestigious 2022 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) Statewide Scholar Athlete Award underwritten by Marshfield Children’s Hospital. More than 1,100 Scholar Athlete finalists have been recognized since the program began in 1984.
#PointerNation’s Ella Chambers has been named a recipient, becoming only the fourth Pointer ever to be recognized, joining Isaac Lindsey in 2020, Sydney Staver in 2017, and Ryan McGuire in 2010.
Thus far in her high school career, Ella has received 10 varsity letters — 3 in volleyball, 4 in basketball, and 3 in softball. Some of her athletic accolades include:
- Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball Team Captain for two years
- WIAA Regional Volleyball Champion 2020
- SWAL Honorable Mention All-Conference Volleyball 2021
- Dodgeville Chronicle All-Area Volleyball 2020 & 2021
- SWAL Conference Basketball Champion 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022
- WIAA Regional Basketball Champion 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022
- WIAA Sectional Basketball Champion 2021 & 2022
- WIAA State Basketball Runner-Up 2021
- WIAA State Basketball Champion 2022
- SWAL First Team All-Conference Basketball 2020, 2021 & 2022
- WI Basketball Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-State 2022
- WI Sports Network Basketball Defense & Point Guard Pre-Season Senior Watch List 2022
- WI Sports Network Basketball First Team All-Tournament Team 2022
- WI Sports Network Basketball Honorable Mention All-Tournament Team 2021
- Dodgeville Chronicle All-Area Basketball 2020, 2021 & 2022
- Dodgeville Chronicle All-Area Basketball Player of the Year 2021
- Dubuque Telegraph Herald All-Area Basketball 2021 & 2022
- WI Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star 2022
- SWAL Conference Softball Champion 2019 & 2021
- WIAA Regional Softball Champion 2019
To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were selected (based on both athletic and academic achievement) from each of four WIAA divisions. “These extraordinary student athletes excel in both academics and athletics,” said Tom Shafranski, Assistant Director of the WIAA. “Sixteen of this year’s 32 WIAA Scholar Athlete finalists have a grade point average of 4.0 to date, while the average GPA is an amazing 3.94. All 32 scholar athlete finalists have already earned a total of 291 varsity letters during their first 3-1/2 years of high school. That’s an average of 9 letters per athlete, and we have not yet completed our spring sports season.”
This year more than 830 seniors were nominated for the 2022 WIAA Scholar Athlete Award by 430 high schools throughout the state.
The 2022 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony Sunday, May 1 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wausau. Keynote speaker will be Karyn Bye, Olympic Gold Medalist on the U.S. Women’s 1998 Hockey Team and recent inductee in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of Fame. A Webcast of the awards ceremony will be available at www.wiaawi.org after the ceremony on May 1. For more information, visit www.wiaawi.org. You can view the ceremony here: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/wiaa-wi/evtde29460bed
Ella’s essay:
“I have participated in several clubs, athletics, and other activities in my four years of high school. The lessons they have taught me will be invaluable for my future. The first lesson that academics and athletics have taught me is how to have a strong work ethic. Achieving great things takes hard work; nothing is handed to you. To understand a concept to the best of their ability, students need to put in the work and extra practice to fully grasp what they are learning. If players want to win a championship with their team, they need to put in time outside of practice to improve their game. To get far in life, people need to go above and beyond what anyone expects of them by working their hardest. Other important lessons I have learned are persistence and determination. School and sports are full of ups and downs, but so is life. If someone fails a test or loses a game, it is important that they learn, grow, and persevere. When life is challenging, be the river and not the rock and find your way through. When times are tough, perseverance is an important quality to have. A final lesson I have learned is balance. I have learned to juggle school, athletics, extracurricular activities, and a job; each role is different but equally important. Balancing all aspects of my life is essential to having a happy future. I am grateful to have all of these skills for my future.”
2022 Scholar Athlete Finalists
DIVISION 1 – BOYS
Austin Henderson, Neenah High School
Mason King, Wauwatosa East High School
Nate Streveler, Stevens Point Area Senior High
Ryan Whynott, Kenosha Tremper High School
DIVISION 1 – GIRLS
Kate Graham, Whitefish Bay High School
Kacey Ott, Slinger High School
Lauren Pansegrau, Middleton High School
Rebecca Siedenburg, Kettle Moraine High School
DIVISION 2 – BOYS
Simon Bauer, Durand High School
Jake Engebritson, Rice Lake High School
Rory Fox, Waukesha Catholic Memorial High School
Josh Terrian, Pewaukee High School
DIVISION 2 – GIRLS
Hailey Anchor, Wisconsin Dells High School
Sophie Moravec, Greendale Martin Luther High School
Elizabeth Rohl, Prescott High School*
Lexie Weier, Mount Horeb High School*
DIVISION 3 – BOYS
Karson Casper, Coleman High School
Brennen Dvorachek, Reedsville High School*
Tanner Gerber, Cameron High School
Sam Heicher, Hartland Lake Country Lutheran High School*
DIVISION 3 – GIRLS
Bridee Burks, Lancaster High School
Jada Eggebrecht, Phillips High School
Alexis Slater, Grantsburg High School
Ryann Wagner, Gillett High School
DIVISION 4 – BOYS
Mike Brown, Butternut High School*
Thomas Derleth, Oshkosh Lourdes Academy
Evan Guenther, Monticello High School*
Taedon Nichols, Siren High School
DIVISION 4 – GIRLS
Ella Chambers, Mineral Point High School
Anelise Egge, Kickapoo High School
Elizabeth Krawze, Wabeno High School
Kayci Martensen, Benton High School
*Indicates the student is that school’s first statewide winner.