Alba, Romero are athletes of year
Franklin’s Max Alba and Brookfield Central’s Lexi Romero win at the JS Sports Awards.
The best night of the year in high school sports is a wrap and Franklin's Max Alba and Brookfield Central's Lexi Romero were the big winners. The seniors were named the male and female athletes of the year at the second-annual Journal Sentinel High School Sports Awards presented by Aurora Sports Health on Monday night. The red-carpet event at the Pabst Theater, which featured NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the special guest, awarded area player of the year honors in 23 sports plus recognized a coach of the year and honored athletes for their service to their community and perseverance through in- jury and personal hardships.
Alba and Romero are both multi-sport athletes. Alba, an all-state quarterback, was a finalist for football player of the year. He also earned all-state honors in basketball after leading the Sabers to the Southeast Conference title. He'll play baseball at North Carolina.
Romero was a finalist for the gymnast of the year. She was also an all-state golfer and a track standout who will compete in the sport at Minnesota.
Here is a look at other winners from Monday: COACH OF THE YEAR: Robby Dubinski, Whitefish Bay boys and girls soccer. As coach of the school’s boys and girls teams, he has won three straight state titles, claiming both the boys and girls crowns last school year. He led the Bay boys to an undefeated season last fall and this spring he has led the Blue Dukes girls to the state’s No. 3 overall ranking. TEAM OF THE YEAR: Whitefish Bay boys soccer. The Blue Dukes went undefeated to win their third straight state championship and carried the banner for the state as it climbed the national rankings. By the end of the year the Blue Dukes were ranked No. 2 in the nation. COMEBACK AWARD: Jenny Cape, Brookfield Central. The Lancers senior was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in October of 2016, was hospitalized for four months and cleared to play one week before soccer tryouts last March. By the end of the year she had worked her way back to being a dominant player, and in the state final, she scored twice in the team’s 3-0 victory over Bay Port. COURAGE AWARD: Natalie Sanchez, Divine Savior Holy Angels. The senior's father, Paul, died unexpectedly in March. Sanchez delivered the eulogy and sang at his funeral before starting her senior year in soccer, a sport her father coached. PLAY OF THE YEAR: AJ Makinen and RJ Bosshart, Muskego: Makinen's 35-yard touchdown pass to Bosshart on fourth-and-17 tied their playoff game with Franklin with 2 1/2 minutes left, completing a 21-point comeback and helping send the team to the state semifinals. I AM SPORTS AWARD: Richard Smith, Hartford. The senior coaches youth in his area in flag football and basketball and is volunteer official for middle school meets. Here is the complete list of winners, finalists and nominees:
PREMIER NOMINEES
COACH OF THE YEAR: Winner – Robby Dubinski, Whitefish Bay boys and girls soccer. Other finalists – Joe Rux, Brookfield East boys basketball; George Sotiros, West Allis Hale girls basketball. COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Winner – Jenny Cape, Brookfield Central soccer. Other finalists – Ashley Stich, Kenosha Tremper track and field; Hunter Zaskowski, West Bend East snowboard. PLAY OF THE YEAR: AJ Makinen and RJ Bosshart, Muskego football. I AM SPORT AWARD: Winner – Richard Smith, Hartford. Other finalists – Madeline Morris, Catholic Memorial; Lexi Boram, Menomonee Falls. Other nominees – Danny Butler, Brookfield East; Bella Dettlaff, Pewaukee; Hailey Fortier, New Berlin Eisenhower.
FALL NOMINEES
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: Winner – Drew Bosley, Homestead. Other finalists – Luke Guttormson, West Bend West; Jordan Janusiak, South Milwaukee. Other nominees - Augie Beyer, Slinger; Ansel Fellman, Kenosha Bradford; Nicholas Holmes, Nicolet; Ben Schnoor, Germantown; Maxwell Selbach, Nicolet. GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Winner – Kate Sperka, Muskego. Other finalists – Kate Jochims, Muskego; Meghan Scott, DSHA. Other nominees – Grace Dargiewicz, Waukesha South; Zoe Goodmanson, Pewaukee; Erin Sorg, Delavan-Darien; Madison Taylor, Kenosha Indian Trail; Kylee Wunschel, Menomonee Falls. FOOTBALL: Winner – Peter MacCudden, Waukesha West. Other finalists – Other nominees - Max Alba, Franklin; Joe Garcia III, Racine Horlick. Other nominees – Seth Bickett, Pewaukee; Julius Davis, Menomonee Falls; Cade Garcia, Whitefish Bay; C.J. Goetz, Catholic Memorial; Mike Timm, Kettle Moraine. GIRLS GOLF: Winner – Abby Cavaiani, Kettle Moraine. Other finalists – Speedy Kent, Homestead; Emily Lauterbach, Arrowhead. Other nominees – Emily Balding, Brookfield Central; Sarah Ernst, Arrowhead; Isabelle Maleki, Homestead; Lorenza Martinez, DSHA; Courtney Matschke, Franklin. BOYS SOCCER: Winner – Matthew Comiskey, Whitefish Bay. Other finalists – Shawn Azcueta, Whitefish Bay; Elian Haddock, Whitefish Bay. Other nominees – Cameron Briggs, Oconomowoc; Jackson Dryden, Whitefish Bay; Luke Dubnicka, Arrowhead; Jalen Holley, Wauwatosa East; Dominic Lambo, Marquette. GIRLS SWIMMING: Winner – Lillie Hosack, Cedarburg. Other finalists – Bella Passamani, New Berlin Eisenhower; Cassie Stegner, Menomonee Falls/Sussex Hamilton. Other nominees – Abby Cabush, Kettle Moraine; Gwen Gustafson, Brookfield Central; Katie Hayes, University School; Cassie Ketterling, Oak Creek; McKenzie Sanchez, Racine Case. GIRLS TENNIS: Winner – Andie Weise, Homestead. Other finalists – Autumn Bruno, Whitnall; Veda Sane, University School. Other nominees – Alyssa Boyer and Frankie La Londe, Homestead; Olivia Czerwonka, Kenosha St. Joseph; Kaitlyn Kalinka and Megan Setter, Kenosha St. Joseph; Jordan Schifano, DSHA; Logan White, DSHA. BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Winner – Conor Ward, Marquette. Other finalists – Kyle Kraninger, New Berlin Eisenhower/West; Liam Schroeder, Marquette. Other nominees – James Althoff, Kenosha Tremper; Bryce Behrendt Germantown; Dom Coello, Catholic Memorial; T.J. Driver, Pius XI; Sean Shtivelberg, Nicolet. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Winner – Brooke Andersen, Lake Country Lutheran. Other finalists – Mia Grunze, Waterford; Abby Koenen, Burlington. Other nominees – Tayler Alden, Oconomowoc; Aubrey Hamilton, Arrowhead; Kayce Litzau, Greendale; Grace Novotny, DSHA; Miranda Wucherer, Brookfield Central.
WINTER NOMINEES
BOYS BASKETBALL: Winner – Tyler Herro, Whitnall. Other finalists – Grant Basile, Pewaukee; Patrick Cartier, Brookfield East. Other nominees – JC Butler, Prairie School; Carlos Curtis, Milwaukee Riverside; John Diener, Cedarburg; Jay Gentry, Brown Deer; Deontay Long, Milwaukee Washington. GIRLS BASKETBALL: Winner – Sydnee Roby, Milwaukee King. Other finalists – Caitlyn Harper, Arrowhead; Shemera Williams, Milwaukee Academy of Science. Other nominees – Natalie Andersen, Mukwonago; Savanna Crockett, Milwaukee Vincent; Julia Hintz, New Berlin Eisenhower; Natalie McNeal, Germantown; Alyssa Nelson, New Berlin West. GYMNASTICS: Winner – Lexi Woida, Arrowhead. Other finalists – Addie Gallun, Whitefish Bay; Lexi Romero, Brookfield Central. Other nominees – Maggie Losch, Kenosha Indian Trail; Cailin Mahoney, Nicolet; Elizabeth Missiaen, Muskego; Annie Mularski, Hartford; Lexi Penney, Brookfield East. BOYS HOCKEY: Winner – Garrett Larsen, Waukesha South. Other finalists – Drew Gebhardt, Homestead; Robby Newton, University School. Other nominees – Jaxson Carr, Arrowhead; Kevin Broda, Waukesha South; Kylar Fenton, University School; Peyton Hart, Kettle Moraine; Zach Schmidt, Marquette. GIRLS HOCKEY: Winner – Hadley Malcolmson, Waukesha West. Other finalists – Other nominees – Emily Nettesheim, Arrowhead; Juliana Strother, Divine Savior Holy Angels. Other nominees - Megan McPike, Divine Savior Holy Angels; Mary Kremer, Sussex Hamilton; Hannah Gold, University School; Karly Lemoreaux, Shorewood; Kiia Paljakka, Homestead. BOYS SWIMMING: Winner – Lucas Farrar, Arrowhead. Other finalists – Ben Hayes, University School; Brandon Spencer, Kenosha Tremper. Other nominees – John Acevedo, Waukesha South; Jacob Carlson Waukesha South; Ben Davis, Greenfield; Bryan Fitzgerald, West Bend East; Ryan Linnihan, Brookfield Central. WRESTLING: Winner – Jared Krattiger, Waterford. Other finalists – Aric Bohn, Mukwonago; Peyton Mocco, West Allis Hale. Other nominees – Hayden Halter, Burlington; Parker Keckeisen, Nicolet; Aidan Medora, Brookfield Academy; Keegan O’Toole, Arrowhead; Josh Otto, Arrowhead.
SPRING NOMINEES
BASEBALL: Winner – Alex Binelas, Oak Creek. Other finalists – Evan Albrecht, West Bend West; Jeff Holtz, Arrowhead; Other nominees – Jacob Bolwerk, Living Word Lutheran; Tyler Brandenburg, Lake Country Lutheran; Dylan Conrad, Waukesha North; Jake Kaiser, Catholic Memorial; Gunner Peterson, Wilmot. BOYS GOLF: Winner – Piercen Hunt, Arrowhead. Other finalists – Jack Blair, Marquette; Alex Yost, Arrowhead. Other nominees – Jack Anderson, Brookfield Central; Andrew Clement, Pewaukee; Adam Garski, Wauwatosa; Brett Grulkowski, Franklin; Zach Shawnhan, Racine Case. GIRLS SOCCER: Winner – Brandi Thomsen, Brookfield Central. Other finalists – Megan Crevoiserat, DSHA; Ali Menard, Whitefish Bay. Other finalists – Lili Berg, Catholic Memorial; Liz Bueckers, Wauwatosa East; Jenny Cape, Brookfield Central; Haley Gama, Whitefish Bay; Sarah Knopp, Brookfield Central. SOFTBALL: Winner – Becca Oleniczak, Oak Creek. Other finalists – Morgan Dercola, Sussex Hamilton; Alyssa Vilkoski, Greenfield. Other nominees – Mimi Bradley, Arrowhead; Kennedy Lehn, Kewaskum; Cheyenne Sowinski, New Berlin West; Sydney Strelow, Kenosha Bradford; Haley Wynn, Whitnall. BOYS TENNIS: Winner – Jaden Aranda, Nicolet. Other finalists – Joel Pan, Marquette; Brendan Pietila, Arrowhead. Other nominees – Alex Budde, Menomonee Falls; Patrick Conta, Whitefish Bay; Pablo Dale, Brookfield Academy; Jon Sadowski, New Berlin West; Nick Yang, Marquette. BOYS TRACK AND FIELD: Winner – James Carter, Oak Creek. Other finalists – Drew Bosley, Homestead; Ansel Fellman, Kenosha Bradford. Other nominees – Cornelius Bright, Oak Creek; Elijah Johnson, Milwaukee Washington; Rhys Koch, Whitefish Bay; Canon Melstrand, West Bend West; David Young, Pewaukee. GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD: Winner – Armoni Brown, Waukesha South. Other finalists – Makayla Jackson, Milwaukee King; Ja’Cey Simmons, Wauwatosa West. Other nominees – Amari Brown, Milwaukee King; Destiny Huven, Nicolet; Jadin O’Brien, DSHA; Hailey Orlowski, Wisconsin Lutheran; Emma Richards, Ozaukee.