Soper named conference Swimmer of the Year

Shawano Community High School junior Zach Soper, who won two WIAA Division 2 swim titles last month, earned Great Northern first-team honors in two events, and 13 other SCHS athletes earned conference awards for their play this winter sports season. Soper, who was named the Great Northern Conference’s Swimmer of the Year at the conference meet Feb. 7, earned first-team honors in the 100-yard butterfly and the 100 backstroke, the two events he won at state. Seven other Hawks swimmers also received all-conference honors, and Walberto Colon was named the conference’s Coach of the Year. In the Bay Conference boys basketball awards also announced this week, junior Zack Sousek was named first-team all-conference. Sousek finished third in the Bay Conference in assists with 55. Sophomore Zeke Gueths earned a second team selection, and junior Jack Lacy was an honorable mention. The Hawks (16-9, 12-4 Bay) finished third in the conference and won a WIAA Division 2 regional championship. Senior Sandy Cohen, who led Seymour to the Bay championship, was named the Bay Player of the Year. In girls basketball, Shawano senior Lindsey Kurtz and sophomore Megan Klitzke received honorable mention for the Hawks (5-18, 4-12 Bay), who finished eighth. Oconto Falls senior McKenna Larsen was named the girls Player of the Year. Senior Mike Meisner (26-12) earned an honorable mention and was the only SCHS wrestler to get Bay Conference recognition. The Shawano 200 medley relay team of Soper, freshman Griffin Rades, junior Rolando Colon and junior Jake Klister took first-team all-conference. Rades earned first-team honors in the 200 individual medley. Colon was first team in the 500 freestyle. Senior Christian Kane was named second team in the 200 individual medley and honorable mention in the 100 breaststroke. The Shawano 400 freestyle relay team of Klister, Rades, Colon and Soper earned second-team honors. The Shawano 200 freestyle relay team of senior Craig Kraning, sophomore Kyle Easter, senior Alex Retzlaff and Kane earned an honorable mention. The SCHS swim team took second in the Great Northern Conference and went 9-0 in its dual meets.