Six ‘Jays are first team
Five are unanimous first team this season
By Casey Krautkramer
Athens softball players, senior catcher/centerfielder Elle Gauerke and junior third baseman Addison Lavicka, have been awarded Marawood North Conference first team honors for the past three seasons.
The pair of Bluejays helped the team win the Marawood North Conference championship and WIAA Division 5 regional title this spring. Their Athens head coach, Craig Diedrich, was awarded Marawood North Conference Coach of the Year.
Gauerke was a first team selection this spring after she was an unanimous first team selection in her sophomore and junior seasons. Her freshman softball season was canceled because of Covid. Lavicka was a first team selection in her freshman season and she’s been an unanimous first team player the past two seasons.
Athens junior shortstop Jazelle Hartwig was an unanimous first team all-Marawood North Conference player this season after being named to the first team last season. She was a second team all-conference player during her freshman season.
Bluejays junior twin infielders Sophia and Sydney Coker were unanimous first team all-Marawood North Conference selections this spring after receiving second team all-conference during both their freshman and sophomore seasons.
Athens sophomore Danica Diethelm, who was the team’s starting pitcher this season, also was an unanimous all-Marawood North Conference player this spring.
Players from other North schools joining the Athens girls on the first team are unanimous selections in freshman Adison Bablick of Chequamegon, Phillips senior Kendall Weik and junior Alie Williams and Rib Lake junior Josie Scheithauer. Weik was awarded the Marawood North Conference Player of the Year.
Athens senior Celina Ellenbecker and junior Jenna Handschke earned second team all-Marawood North Conference honors this spring after they both received honorable mention allconference last season.
Players from other North schools who made second team all-conference this season are Chequamegon freshman Angelina BeBeau and sophomores Anya Brenholt and Regan Hoffman; Phillips junior Brooke Eckert; Prentice junior Leah Nehls and Rib Lake junior Leah Chmielowiec, freshmen Avery Niemi and Tahlia Scheithauer and sophomore Addison Gumz.
Athens sophomore Abby Diethelm and junior Paige Westaby received honorable mention all-Marawood North Conference this season.
Players from other North schools also earning honorable mention allconference are Chequamegon senior Kelly Dunlavy and junior Jene’ Scherwinski, Phillips sophomore Lily Miller, Prentice junior Lydia Harding and sophomore Emily Jordan and Rib Lake senior Rhonnie Jo Scheithauer and freshman Kara Kennedy.
South All-Conference
Edgar junior pitcher Makayla Wirkus was awarded unanimous first team all-Marawood Conference South for the third straight season.
Stratford sophomore pitcher Laney Pankratz earned unanimous first team all-conference for the first time in her high school career. She received second team all-conference last season.
Players from other South schools who are first team all-Marawood Conference South this season are Auburndale senior Erin Griesbach and sophomore Mya Krings and Wisconsin Rapids sophomore Claire Nelson. Players who earned unanimous first team all-conference this spring are Assumption seniors Ava Schill and Cristin Casey and sophomore Anna Schooley, Auburndale senior Ashlyn Grimm and Newman Catholic junior Ashley Jankowski.
Schill was awarded the Marawood Conference South Player of the Year and her Assumption co-head coaches, Charlie Nelson and Rob Schill, were the South Coaches of the Year.
Edgar senior first baseman Leah Davis and junior catcher Morgan Streveler earned second team all-Marawood South Conference this spring. Marathon junior catcher Bridget Salber also was named to the conference’s second team along with Stratford senior outfielders Tessa Berg and Bailey Linzmaier.
Other South players earning second team all-conference are Assumption senior Sadie Galbreath, sophomore Macy Vollert and freshman Arianna Cavanaugh; Auburndale junior Samantha Stanton and Newman Catholic sophomore Lily Shields.
Edgar sisters, senior Reagan and sophomore Emery Borchardt, both received honorable mention all-Marawood South Conference this season. Marathon pitcher Kali Prihoda and junior Lauren Karlen also gained honorable mention along with Stratford freshman shortstop Gracie Schmidt and sophomore catcher Emma Roeper.
Other South players earning honorable mention all-conference are Assumption senior Maleia Kolo and junior Lydia Smits, Auburndale sophomore Taylor Anderson and freshman Danika Blomberg and Newman Catholic senior Maria Christopherson and junior Paige Guld.
