By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
For Burlington High School seniors Carson Biedrzycki and Kaysie Shebeneck, the 2012-13 school year – their last in high school – more than met expectations.
Both boasted high grade-point averages, both led their sports teams to previously unreached heights – and now both are the 2013 Southern Lakes Newspapers Outstanding Senior Student Athletes.
Each school nominated four students – two boys and two girls – and four finalists were chosen for the boys and girls.
Carson Biedrzycki
Biedrzycki helped his BHS boys volleyball team to the WIAA state tournament last fall, and the Demons just missed out on the state title, falling in four sets to Appleton North.
But his true love was basketball, and after weighing several different options, Biedrzycki will attend the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
“Basketball-wise, I really connected with the coaches,” the senior said. “That’s what kind of interested me about the basketball program.
“And college-wise, I liked the larger school,” he added. “I feel I fit better, size-wise.”
Biedrzycki also excelled in the classroom, finishing with a 3.81 grade-point average. He intends to be a pre-med major.
“Always in school, I was in a study hall, and I’d make good use of that,” said Biedrzycki about balancing athletes and academics. “And then usually, I’d just make sure I set a few hours aside at night.”
He hopes to become a neurosurgeon.
Kaysie Shebeneck
Shebeneck lettered for four years in both volleyball and track, and excelled in both. She was the Southern Lakes Conference champion in the shot put as a senior.
Balancing track along with club volleyball required the help of her coaches.
“It was definitely hard to keep a balance between them,” but coaches were helpful, said Shebeneck. “I would give complete credit to the track program, because they’re outstanding.”
But Shebeneck’s volleyball skills stood out in high school. She was a four-year All-State selection, and led BHS to the WIAA Division 1 state title as a junior and senior.
She will attend Texas A&M next fall, on a full-ride athletic scholarship.
Open-enrolling from the Racine Unified School District, Shebeneck she was blessed by not only the volleyball experience, but academics and all of the people she met.
“They still find time to get to know each kid, and that’s something special,” she said.
Other finalists
Boys
Carson Meinholz, CCHS: Meinholz earned seven varsity letters in football and track and field at CCHS, and had a 3.2 GPA. He medaled in two events as a senior at the WIAA Division 3 state track and field meet.
Chris Benavides, Waterford: Benavides was a standout in football and basketball at Waterford, helping the team to state football as a junior and posting a 3.2 GPA.
Tanner Hunsucker, Waterford: In spite of battling injuries much of his junior and senior years, Hunsucker was a three year letterwinner in both basketball and baseball, and was an All-Southern Lakes Conference first team pick in both. He has a 3.901 GPA.
Girls
Alyssa Helwig, Waterford: Helwig posted a 3.7 GPA, and earned three letters in tennis, three in basketball and four in softball. In addition to qualifying as a doubles player in tennis for the WIAA state tournament, she was All-SLN girls basketball and softball pick.
Serena Wanasek, Burlington: Wanasek was a four-year state qualifier for the Burlington co-op swim team and was named Racine County Swimmer of the Year as a senior. She is headed to the University of Iowa, where she will walk on to the swim team.
Maggie Smith, CCHS: Smith was a four-year varsity starter in volleyball, and also played basketball and softball. She was one of four Outstanding Senior nominees from Catholic Central as well.
Semifinalists
Boys
Jake James, Union Grove Union High School; Ryan Rebernick, Union Grove Union High School; Ethan Sobbe, Catholic Central High School; Max Shekenberg, Burlington High School.
Girls
Megan Jensen, Waterford Union High School; Kelsey Robers, Catholic Central High School; Kim-Marie Dam, Union Grove Union High School; Annie McClel
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