11 Shawano senior athletes to compete in college

6 girls, 5 boys looking forward to new opportunity
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Each year, Shawano Community High School graduates several talented athletes that make the transition to collegiate sports, and this year is no different.

Six girls and five boys are planning to continue their athletic careers at the college level.

Volleyball

Katie Wilber, Abi Vomastic and Baylie Hansen helped lead the Hawks on the volleyball court over the past few seasons and now will be taking their talents to college.

Wilber is headed to Lakeland University (Plymouth), Vomastic to the University of Dubuque (Dubuque, Iowa) and Hansen to UW-Whitewater.

Wilber said Lakeland first reached out to her when she was a junior. After talking with an assistant coach several times, Wilber got an invite to the team’s elite camp, where she got to play with current players and other recruits. “It was the best camp I attended and it made Lakeland stand out to me,” said Wilber.

Wilber found Lakeland to be like a second home, making an instant connection with the team. She has video calls with the team twice a week — where the upcoming season is discussed — and said headcoach Ryan Schopf has been easy to talk to.

“I am looking forward to the higher level of play,” said Wilber. “Not only competing against other teams but also with my teammates to be on the court. To be able to push not only myself but my teammates to play harder is something I am very excited for — developing stronger bonds through healthy competition and constant support.”

Wilber earned two all-conference honors during her high school career, making the second team as a junior before landing on the first team this past fall.

Vomastic, who was unable to visit Dubuque because of the pandemic, made the second team all-conference the past two seasons.

She got a virtual tour through YouTube and thanked the school’s recruiters for their help during the process of choosing the right college, which Vomastic said was stressful at first. Like Wilber, Vomastic also has met the team and coaches through video chat.

“I am looking forward to meeting everyone and getting to become a part of the Spartan family,” said Vomastic. “I can’t wait to meet new friends and create a connection with my coaches and team.”

She thanked her sister Averi — who plays volleyball at Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Missouri) — for advice about playing in college. “I know it is going to be hard to juggle everything but I am determined to prove myself capable of accomplishing challenges thrown my way,” said Vomastic.

Hansen admitted she had no intention of playing collegiate volleyball until her first club season junior year. “My teammates and coaches on that team were really the people that made me love the sport and want to continue playing in college,” said Hansen.

She said Whitewater felt like home and offered her opportunities, both athletically and academically.

Hansen has visited the school twice and also met the coaches and future teammates, saying it seems like a fun and supportive group to be around.

“In playing collegiate level volleyball, I am looking forward to meeting new people and having the opportunity to continue playing volleyball at a higher level,” said Hansen. “I’m just excited to grow as a player and as a person.”

Wrestling

After helping turn the Shawano wrestling program around, Ben Carroll and Keith Tourtillott will remain teammates as they are both set to wrestle at UW-Stevens Point.

Carroll and Tourtillott even toured the school together, doing so before the start of their seniors years.

“I chose Point because when I was young, I went to wrestling camps there and it kind developed into my dream to wrestle there,” said Carroll, who was a first-team wrestler as a senior before making it to sectionals as an individual.

“I chose Stevens Point because it seemed I was most familiar with it and it seems like the right place to continue my career at,” said Tourtillott, who also made the first team all-conference before finishing in fifth place at state in the Division 1 220-pound weight class.

While Carroll has been around the sport far longer than Tourtillott (13 years to 4), both are ready for the challenge that awaits.

“I think I’m looking forward to competing with other top class wrestlers the most. I’ve always loved a good competition,” said Carroll, whose goal is to win at least one national title in college.

“I regret not joining wrestling at an earlier age even today,” said Tourtillott. “Don’t get me wrong, fifth in the state is not something to scoff at, but it wasn’t the proper ending to my career in my opinion. So to know that I will have more years of hard work and memories to make that will revolve around this tough sport is what’s keeping me going.”

Softball

Gracyn Habeck and Jewel Waupekenay were stripped of their senior softball seasons because of the coronavirus pandemic, but will get another chance to play the game in college. Habeck will attend Lakeland University, while Waupekenay heads to Concordia University (Mequon).

“It has always been my dream to play college softball. I have watched college softball for many years and would always tell my parents (Carrie and Dan) that I want to be like those girls that are playing,” said Habeck, who was reminded of home when visiting Lakeland.

“Being able to play softball at the collegiate level means everything to me. The fact that I get to further my education while playing the game that I love is so exciting,” said Waupekenay, who fell in love with Concordia on her first visit.

Both players are excited to meet and create bonds with their new teammates, while saying the coaching staffs have been caring, encouraging and helpful.

When mentioning people that helped them reach college athletics, Habeck and Waupekenay mentioned coach Brian Johnson and their family members.

Basketball

Coming off a big senior season in which he landed on the second team all-conference, Nick Sherman is set to continue his basketball career at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

“I chose MSOE for the atmosphere, and most importantly the schooling met my needs,” said Sherman, who started being recruited as a junior.

The guard thanked all his previous coaches for their help along the way and his dad (Todd) for his work ethic and basketball fundamentals.

“It’s kind of crazy that I get even the opportunity to continue playing the game I love for another four years,” said Sherman. “I’m looking forward to the friends and relationships I will create and the people I will meet.”

Tennis

Most athletes make it to college in sports they’ve played their whole life, and certainly one they played all four years of high school. Not Peyton Buerman, who only played two years of high school tennis but will play the sport at Hamline University (St. Paul, Minnesota).

“This is an incredible opportunity that I’ve been given,” said Buerman. “Since I have only played tennis for two years in high school, I thought that was it. I have gained so much knowledge and connections over those two years, and I can’t wait to make more.”

Buerman thanked coach Matt Zoll for making the game fun and her teammates for showing her “how great it can be to actually connect with a team and be a part of something bigger.”

Buerman has visited the campus and had conversations with the coach and a few of the players on the team.

“I’m most looking forward to improving my techniques. I think there will be a lot of opportunities and advice to make that happen,” she said.

Cross-country

After a standout senior season that ended with a trip to state, Demetrius Kaquatosh will continue his cross-country career at Iowa Central Community College.

Kaquatosh sees Iowa Central as a stepping stone to his future aspirations, as he hopes to one day transfer into the NCAA and then become an Olympic athlete.

Like many of his classmates, Kaquatosh has been in contact with his coaches periodically.

He looks forward to the opportunity to compete against better competition.

“Just getting the chance to compete with guys that are faster and stronger, and seeing what I can really do out there with this new group of guys,” Kaquatosh said.

Football

Brayden Dickelman signed a letter of intent in early February to play football at Bemidji State (Bemidji, Minnesota).

Since signing, the football standout said not too much had changed, aside from working around the coronavirus. Dickelman, who set the school record for most rush yards (1,326) in a regular season as a senior, is hoping the season doesn’t get altered.

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