Two area athletes are among 16 senior boys and 16 senior girls who have been selected as finalists to receive the prestigious 2023 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Statewide Scholar Athlete Award, presented by We Energies Foundation and Wisconsin Public Service Foundation.
Rhett Koenig from Prairie du Chien High School was selected in Division 2. Rhett is a four-time individual state wrestling champion and was voted back to back Southwest Wisconsin Conference wrestling MVP. He helped his wrestling team win four sectional championships and was a part of the Blackhawks conference championship football team.
Evan Payne of Eastman will represent Seneca High School in Division 4. Evan has earned nine letters in basketball, football and baseball. He earned four Ridge & Valley Conference selections in basketball and helped his team win conference championships in both football and basketball. He is also first in his class.
To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were selected from each of the four WIAA divisions based on both athletic and academic achievement.
The 2023 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony Sunday, May 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wausau. Keynote speaker will be Anne Marie Anderson, Emmy award winning sports broadcaster and one of the most experienced female play by play announcers in the country.
More than 1,181 Scholar Athlete finalists have been recognized since the program began in 1984.