Sophia Coker all-state
By Casey Krautkramer
Athens senior Sophia Coker concluded her illustrious high school basketball career by garnering a prestigious postseason honor. She was selected to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division 5 all-state team.
Sophia Coker averaged 20.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, two steals and 1-1/2 assists this season while helping Athens win a Division 5 regional championship. She was also an unanimous first team Marawood North Conference selection this year. She finishes her Bluejays basketball career with 1,364 points and 1,031 rebounds. She was honorable mention all-state last season.
Her senior teammate, Jazelle Hartwig, earned honorable mention all-state this year and was a second team all-Marawood North Conference selection. She was also on the Marawood North all-defensive team this season. Hartwig finished her Athens basketball career with 1,274 points.
Athens head coach Kyncaide Keefe is impressed with everything Coker and Hartwig accomplished during their basketball careers. “Having two 1,000-point scorers on the same team is incredible but what is more impressive about this is they had to deal with a COVID season their freshman year meaning they did not play a full schedule,
See HOOPS ACCOLADES/ page 16
PLAYMAKER- Athens senior Sophia Coker reacts after being fouled while scoring a basket during her team’s 45-37 loss to Pittsville in the WIAA Division 5 sectional semifinal on Feb. 29 in Merrill.
STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER Hoops accolades
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they had to play with masks and they had to follow a few different rules under COVID protocol,” Keefe said. “So through that adversity as freshmen, to still come out and have two 1,000 point scorers is extremely impressive.”
She said her team would’ve had three players score 1,000 career points this season had senior Addison Lavicka not injured her knee last summer. Lavicka was only 60 points shy of 1,000 heading into this season but she was unable to play because of her injury.
Athens junior Danica Diethelm and sophomore Ava Ford earned honorable mention all-Marawood North this year.
Edgar senior Makayla Wirkus was an unanimous first team all-Marawood South Conference selection this season. Stratford senior Ashley Hollatz and sophomore Tria Tubbs received second team all-Marawood South honors this year.
Wildcats senior Taylor Lemmer, Hollatz of Stratford and Marathon junior Cayden Sapinski were chosen to represent the Marawood South Conference’s all-defensive team this season.
Local girls basketball players earning honorable mention all-Marawood South this season are: Edgar seniors Maycie Yonker and Morgan Streveler, Marathon sophomores Mylee Haehlke and Emma Love and Stratford junior Kayla Casperson and freshman Carly Pankratz.
AN ALL-AROUND GREAT PLAYER- Edgar senior Makayla Wirkus (5) is shown passing the basketball to senior teammate Maycie Yonker during the team’s road win against Marathon this season. Wirkus was awarded first team all-Marawood South Conference despite missing the end of this season because of shoulder surgery.
STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
