Eight Panthers make all-conference teams

Four girls basketball players honored
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

OCONTO FALLS — The Oconto Falls High School winter sports teams all enjoyed successful seasons, with several individual athletes leading the charge.

A total of eight Panthers were recognized with all-conference honors.

Girls basketball

The Oconto Falls girls earned a 13-5 record in NEC play to finish third, behind only state-ranked Freedom and Wrightstown.

Four members of the team were recognized for their play, led by second team selection Kari Albrecht.

The senior averaged 11.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per conference game. She also totaled 32 steals and 24 assists during the 18-game schedule.

“It is such an honor receiving this award, knowing that multiple coaches in our difficult conference noticed me out of all the great athletes I played with and against,” said Albrecht. “With this being my senior year, I had some high expectations for myself and this was one of my goals that I accomplished.”

Senior Natalie Brauer, junior McKayla Goebel and sophomore Alexis Euclide all made the honorable mention team for the Panthers.

Brauer averaged 9.9 points per conference game and led the team in rebounds (6.9 per game).

“Being named North Eastern Conference honorable mention is a huge honor,” said Brauer. “I have worked extremely hard for the past seven years and getting this award shows that my hard work really has paid off. Getting named as a senior is also very rewarding, knowing that other coaches have recognized me for the past two consecutive years as a top player in the conference — it shows that my dedication and hard work is noticed by them.”

Goebel averaged 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per NEC game. She was also in the top 12 in the conference in assists (52) and steals (37).

Euclide averaged similar numbers, tallying 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The sophomore also contributed 29 assists and 28 steals.

Boys basketball

The Panther boys upped their overall win total by six in Gary Regal’s first year as head coach. Oconto Falls went 7-11 in NEC play, good enough for seventh place in the 10-team conference.

Despite the team’s solid season, only senior Mitchell Manns was recognized with a conference honor, landing on the second team.

Manns led Oconto Falls on the offensive end of the court, averaging 14 points per game and leading the conference with 82 assists.

He also turned in strong numbers on the defensive end, averaging 4.4 rebounds per contest and finishing second in the NEC with 51 steals.

“It means a lot to be named second team my senior year,” said Manns. “I’m glad that other coaches saw what I was doing on the court to make my teammates better and help my team win games.”

Wrestling

Clayton Whiting ended his second high school season in the same way he did his freshman season, capturing a Division 2 state title. The sophomore also earned his second-straight all-conference first team honor.

Whiting went 9-0 in his NEC dual matches to be unanimously voted to the first team and help Oconto Falls finish 5-4 in conference duals.

“Honestly means a lot to me to have it two years in a row,” said Whiting of the honor. “Just means that all my hard work is paying off and that I gotta continue making myself better every day. I want to become the best wrestler in the country, so there’s a lot more work I have to do to be the best and beat the best.”

Five of Whiting’s wins were by pin and one came by decision. He also earned three forfeits while wrestling at the 160, 170 and 182 weight classes.

Senior Brendan Konitzer landed on the second team after posting a 7-2 record in NEC action.

Three wins for Konitzer came by pin and another was by decision. He too picked up three forfeit wins while wrestling at the 113 or 120 weight classes.

“Ending my high school career on the second team for the North Eastern Conference means a lot to me because it shows all the hard work I put into wrestling to make this year a success,” said Konitzer, who eventually took fifth place at state.

Junior Elijah Zielinski also went 7-2 in conference duals, wrestling exclusively at the 285 class. He made the honorable mention team.

Zielinski won five matches by pin and two by forfeit.

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