Kroeplin, Ustianowski, Tallier named to North team for July All-Star football game

The Gilman Pirates look to be wellrepresented once again at the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association’s All-Star Charity Football Games this summer.

For the third straight year, two Pirates were selected to play in the eightplayer all-star game, which will take place on Friday, July 14 at 6 p.m. at Titan Stadium on the campus of UW-Oshkosh.

This year’s Gilman representatives are linebacker Grady Kroeplin and defensive back Branden Ustianowski. Their defensive coach with the Pirates, Tom Tallier, also has been chosen to be part of the North team’s coaching staff for the second straight year.

Clayton’s Jordan LaBlanc is the North’s head coach. Clayton’s Dan Gilbertson, Thorp’s KD Stokes and Wild Rose’s Matt Havlovitz round out the coaching staff.

The team will take part in a week-long camp at UW-River Falls before heading to Oshkosh for the game, which benefits Children’s Wisconsin. Since 2008, the games, players and coaches have raised $4.7 million to help those the hospital supports.

The small school and large school 11man games are at noon and 4 p.m. on Friday, July 15.

Kroeplin and Ustianowski were both first-team selections for the All-Central Wisconsin East Conference defense following their 2022 senior seasons. Ustianowski averaged nearly seven tackles per game in the regular season and led the Pirates with four interceptions. Kroeplin took over as Gilman’s middle linebacker and was the team’s leading tackler in the regular season with 96 total stops, including 19 against Athens, 18 at Owen-Withee, 15 at Thorp and 14 against Greenwood. He had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries during the regular season to go with three quarterback sacks.

The Pirates went 3-2 in conference play and 7-3 overall in their third season of eight-player football.

Other Central Wisconsin East Conference all-star selections include Owen-Withee defensive back Logan Amacher, Athens defensive lineman Aiden Janke, Thorp defensive back Aiden Rosemeyer and Owen-Withee offensive lineman Nathan Zarins.

Gilman’s Bryson Keepers and Julian Krizan were defensive standouts in the North’s 23-6 win in the 2022 eight-player all-star game. Brayden Boie and Kade Kroeplin played for the North in the 2021 game, which was won by the South 35-16.