ALL-AREA FOOTBALL: Catholic Central two-way star Kresken takes crown

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 

 

Though he always puts team above self and credits the offensive line for his long, punishing runs, Cole Kresken stands alone on the football field.

The Catholic Central senior, a two-way athlete who ran for 31 touchdowns and led his team in tackles, recently added another prestigious title to his already expansive list of postseason awards.

Kresken is the 2015 Southern Lakes Newspapers All-Area Player of the Year.

The team is determined by Sports Editor Mike Ramczyk, with the guidance from area coaches from Catholic Central, Burlington, Waterford and Union Grove high schools.

Kresken was also voted by coaches as the Racine County Player of the Year, as compiled by the Racine Journal-Times.

He was also named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Region first team on both offense and defense, along with honorable mention All-State and first team All-Conference.

The 6-foot, 200-pound steamrolling standout amassed 1,762 rushing yards, good for 135.5 per game.

In addition, Kresken finished with a team-high 107 tackles, 81 of the solo variety.

What many fans and opposing coaches and players may remember most are the countless carries in which Kresken dragged multiple defenders for extra yardage.

“Cole is an outstanding football player,” said Catholic Central coach Tom Aldrich. “He is one of the best all-around players I have been fortunate enough to coach. Size, speed, power, balance and toughness all in one package.”

Kresken helped the Toppers advance to a Division 7 state semifinal, where state champion Bangor prevented Catholic Central from its first state trip since three-straight appearances from 2008-2010, which included titles in ‘08 and ‘09.

Catholic Central finished the season 12-1 and won its first Metro Classic Conference championship since 2010.

“It feels great to receive these awards,” Kresken said via Twitter Tuesday. “It was a good season, and I’m glad I can represent my team and school in such a manner.”

“These accolades were earned from training and coaching I received over the course of these last years. My whole team put in a great effort as a whole, and I did my part to help us succeed. The awards are a bonus.”

Kresken credited his parents, older brother Kyle, coaches and teammates with his success. The only area player to land on both WFCA All-Region teams, Kresken said he worked out diligently last winter with Burlington High School senior Isaiah Brenner to prepare for the upcoming season.

“Everyone has pushed me and supported me throughout high school,” Kresken said. “I worked with Isaiah three or four mornings a week at the (Aurora) Wellness Center, and he pushed me a lot.”

With the spotlight on concussions in football more than ever, Kresken – who has a reputation as a physical player – had to learn how to take care of himself by avoiding head-to-head collisions but still delivering physical hits.

He specialized in football, but the classroom was his main focus. He currently carries a 3.9 GPA.

His natural intelligence helped him see the bigger picture regarding injuries.

“Concussions have not been a huge problem throughout high school,” he said Tuesday. “There have been questionable moments where I have taken shots to the head, but with rest it is easy to recover. Coach Aldrich stressed getting full recovery so it doesn’t happen again because it’s smart to think long term with that subject.”

Kresken said he is focused on finding out where he will play college football.

Augustana University (D2), the University of Sioux Falls (D2), St. Norbert (D3) and Illinois State (Division 1-AA) are at the top of the list right now, Kresken said.

 

Who is Cole Kresken?

Favorite movie: “Goonies”

Favorite song: “Dust on the bottle,” by David Lee Murphy

Pre-game meal: Beef stick from the gas station and sweet tea

Twitter, Facebook or Instagram? “I don’t care much for any of the social media but Twitter has funny videos and keeps me up to date with sports,” Kresken said.

If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive, who would it be and why? “It would have to be a sumo wrestler because I want to see how much food they can handle.”

 

Tiedt, six Wolverines lead the best of the rest

For the third straight year, it’s time to look at the area’s best football players.

With Cole Kresken of Catholic Central unanimously taking the top spot, it wasn’t easy deciding on the rest.

In the past, I’ve done an offensive and defensive player of the year, along with a starting offense and starting defense.

While I honor the fact that football is played with 22 athletes and every position is important, it’s fun to try a new method to keep the All-Area team fresh and interesting.

This season, I will be picking the 20 best football players, regardless of position, along with a few honorable mention picks.

Criteria include overall talent, statistics, team record and performance in clutch situations, among other things.

This is strictly my opinion, so if you have any gripes, please email me, Sports Editor Mike Ramczyk, at [email protected].

FIRST TEAM

2. Hegeman Tiedt, sr., defensive lineman, Burlington

   

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound beast is being recruited by the Wisconsin Badgers.

That’s reason alone to have Tiedt at the top of the defensive list, but he also backs up the hype with results.

A two-time All-Region selection and two-time first team All-Conference star, Tiedt, a team captain, finished the season with an area-best 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

He led the team with 94 total tackles.

“He is a motor player and was consistently double-teamed,” said Burlington coach Steve Tenhagen. “He’s a big, strong player.”

Tiedt has been wreaking havoc on opposing offenses for the past two years, and his pass-rushing ability can thwart potentially damaging pass plays. He’s equally effective against the run.

Tiedt combines brute strength with quickness and refined technique to beat man-to-man blocking just about every time.

Along with Wisconsin, Tiedt is drawing college interest from Division 1 North Dakota State and D1-AA Montana.

 

3. Joe Peterson, sr., WR/DB, Union Grove

There were plenty of amazingly gifted players, but Peterson was a game-changer.

Only 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, the Racine native picked off a whopping seven passes and broke up 16 others.

First team All-County on both offense and defense, Peterson was the best athlete on the field in just about every game.

“Joe shut down the other team’s best receiver,” said Union Grove coach Craig McClelland. “He was a ball hawk with great awareness and a high football IQ.”

“Offensively, he found a way to make plays when we needed them. What I like most about Joe is his willingness to block in the run game. He’s a very unselfish player who wants to win. I can’t wait to see him play on Saturdays.”

 

4. Ben Heiligenthal, sr., quarterback, Catholic Central

The best quarterback in the area led his team all the way to the Division 7 state semifinals.

A polished three-year starter under center, Heiligenthal possesses the size at 6-foot-3 to see the entire field, the arm strength to go deep and the quickness to break off big runs.

Named the first team All-County signal-caller, Heiligenthal was the offensive player of the year in the Metro Classic Conference.

Heiligenthal threw for 1,394 yards and 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions. But what separates him is his running ability.

Heiligenthal constantly made the right reads and orchestrated a dominant run game. He amassed 1,311 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.

“Ben had an outstanding season for us,” CCHS coach Tom Aldrich said. “What separates Ben from most is his ability to be a great team leader while still being ultra-competitive. He’s an extremely savvy football player.”

5. Johnny McCormick, senior receiver/defensive back, Waterford

McCormick almost single-handedly beat Burlington in Burlington, and he stepped up to the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s No. 1 wide receiver.

Ranked near the top of his class at wide receiver on several recruiting websites, McCormick can jump over defenders or dive head-first for passes, which he pulls in with soft, sure hands.

McCormick was named All-Region and earned the Defensive Player of the Year honor in the Southern Lakes Conference.

He was also first team All-County and first team All-Conference on both sides of the ball.

McCormick led the Wolverines in receiving with 451 yards and four touchdowns.

At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he has the size, athleticism and quickness to excel at the collegiate level.

Peterson gets the nod over McCormick based on head-to-head matchups. Peterson held McCormick to only three catches for a total of 30 yards in two meetings. Talk about a shutdown corner.

Conversely, Peterson went off for eight catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns against McCormick in the regular season, and Peterson caught 10 passes for 85 on Johnny in the playoffs.

Case closed.

 

6. EJ Mastrocola, jr., lineman, Waterford

The leading vote getter among linemen for the All-County team, this 6-foot-3, 280-pound mountain of a man is only getting started.

The best lineman on the second-best rushing attack in the area, Mastrocola is a two-year starter and earned first team All-Region, All-County and All-Conference honors.

Waterford rushed different ball carriers at different times, and Mastrocola spearheaded the consistent blocking efforts to make that possible.

He helped Waterford go 10-2 and reach Level 3 of the Division 2 playoffs.

 

7. Trevor Meinholz, sr., lineman, Catholic Central

Another two-way star for the Toppers, who had less than 30 varsity players, Meinholz was disruptive in the backfield on both running and passing plays.

With first team All-Region, All-County and All-Conference offensive lineman accolades, Meinholz was also first team All-MCC and second team All-County as a defensive lineman.

“Trevor possesses great quickness,” Aldrich said. “He’s an excellent lead blocker in space.”

 

8. Matt Nelson, jr., QB, Union Grove

Another prototypical pocket passer (6-3, 215), Nelson’s numbers took off in his second full season as starting quarterback.

Under the tutelage of a former star quarterback in McClelland, Nelson compiled 28 total touchdowns, 15 passing, and threw for 1,863 yards.

He was named first team All-Southern Lakes and second team All-County.

A 3.4 GPA and high ACT score offer promise for a bright future for Nelson, who will battle for the area’s top spot next year.

“Matt was our engine on offense,” McClelland said. “When he was in a groove, it was hard for us to be stopped. The sky is the limit for this kid.”

 

9. Nick Klug, soph., wide receiver, Burlington

Heralded for his skills on the basketball court as a freshman playing varsity, Klug continued his breakout 2015 by being the most productive wideout in the county.

Klug has the size and leaping ability to go up and get the football in traffic, and he is one of the fastest Demons.

In his first varsity season, Klug earned first team All-Region and first team All-Conference honors.

He finished in the top 10 in the state in both receptions and yards, with 52 catches for 812 yards and nine touchdowns.

“Nick played well in all aspects of the passing game – screens, three-step routes and vertical routes,” Tenhagen said.

 

10. David Bansemer, sr., linebacker, Waterford

    

One of the most feared hitters in the game, Bansemer recorded 106 tackles, six quarterback sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Waterford coach Adam Bakken, who many coaches and media members consider a defensive specialist, had the highest of praise for the Wolverines’ linebacker.

“David is great against the run for being an undersized linebacker and one of the best tacklers I saw all season,” he said.

That’s high praise from one of the best defensive coaching minds in the state.

Bansemer was named first team All-County and All-Conference.

 

COACH OF THE YEAR

Craig McClelland, Union Grove

In his first year as head varsity coach, McClelland helped lead the Broncos to a 7-4 record and their first playoff appearance and playoff win since 2009.

McClelland’s experience as a top quarterback for the Broncos, along with championships playing for the area semi-pro football power Racine Raiders, helped Nelson develop into the league’s best quarterback this season.

McClelland’s offensive schemes kept the explosive Broncos in any game, no matter the deficit.

Going from an assistant to a 7-4 record as head coach, McClelland’s positive attitude and high expectations got the most out of his players and helped change the culture in the program.

 

SECOND TEAM

11. Dyln Ross, sr., receiver/defensive back, Waterford

One of most gifted athletes the past three years for the Wolverines, Ross combines elite quickness with football instincts.

Ross had only a few receptions less than leading receiver McCormick, and he totaled eight touchdowns offensively (five rush, three receiving).

Defensively, Ross was named first team All-Conference as a cornerback, and he took two interceptions to the house.

Also a second team All-County selection, Ross had 39 tackles and three interceptions.

12. Nick Salazar, sr., defensive lineman, Waterford

They don’t always get recognition in the paper, but make no mistake that Waterford’s success is in the trenches.

Nobody put on his hard hat and went to work with more ferocity than Salazar, who commanded double teams on most plays.

Bakken said Salazar was one of the best defensive linemen in the SLC, and the numbers back up his claim.

The first team All-County and All-Conference pick had 74 tackles, six tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks.

13. Benny Michalowski, soph., Waterford

Nick Klug wasn’t the only impactful sophomore sensation in the SLC.

The Wolverines’ leading rusher, Michalowski averaged a league-best 7.4 yards per carry for runners with 100 or more carries.

Michalowski tallied an impressive 802 yards on the ground with eight touchdowns.

His fourth-quarter touchdown was the winning score in a pivotal victory at rival Union Grove.

“He was one of the most physical running backs in the area,” Bakken said.

 

14. Ian Aldrich, sr., offensive lineman, Catholic Central

Aldrich was a road grader in every sense of the word, keeping pass rushers in place with his leverage and flat-out mauling defenders in the second level on running plays.

The center only had three bad snaps the past two seasons while working primarily out of the shotgun formation.

He earned second team All-County and All-Conference honors.

“A stalwart on our offensive line, Ian was a classic mauler in the run game,” Coach Tom Aldrich said. “He was truly an outstanding run blocker.”

 

15. Todd Willms, sr., offensive line, Union Grove

The anchor on the Broncos’ successful offensive line, Peterson, Toby Robe, TJ Cadd and Nelson found daylight behind the relentless blocking of Willms.

“He really stepped up as a leader and made a lot of our line calls at right guard,” McClelland said. “He’s a tough-nosed kid who loves contact. He will be missed next year.”

 

16. TJ Cadd, sr., linebacker, Union Grove

With 60 total tackles and eight tackles for loss, Cadd was non-stop in pursuit of stopping the football.

He earned second team All-County and All-Conference honors for his unique ability to stop the run and cover quick tight ends and receivers.

“He was very good at jamming receivers and knocking them off their routes, usually knocking them to the ground,” McClelland said. “He was the best we had at setting the edge and pursuing to the ball. No one could match his motor.”

 

17. Cal Tully, sr., quarterback, Burlington

Burlington’s 5-4 record and failure to return to the playoffs one year after winning conference hurt Tully’s positioning on this squad, but there’s no question Tully was a special talent on the football field.

With a knack for extending plays with his educated feet and a rocket arm, Tully could do it all.

He engineered one of the most improbable game-winning drives of the season, a 70-yard journey in less than two minutes in Delavan, culminating with his game-winning touchdown run.

Through the air, Tully was 19th in the state in passing yards and tossed 18 touchdowns. He rushed for 12 scores.

An All-Conference linebacker as a junior, Tully hit six three-pointers in his team’s first basketball game Saturday.

“Cal sees the field well and has a quick release,” Tenhagen said. “He’s a smart and patient player.”

18. Tristan Lind, sr., offensive line, Burlington

A two-year starter, Lind was named first team all-SLC at left tackle, arguably the most important position on the line responsible for keeping the quarterback upright.

He anchored an offensive line that helped produce 29 points per game.

“Tristan’s a smart player who could play any position on our line,” Tenhagen said. “He understands body positioning and leverage well.”

 

19. Cole Pankau, jr., receiver, Catholic Central

The most dangerous home-run threat on the Toppers, Pankau has great size at 6-foot-2 and the hands to snatch anything in his vicinity.

The lanky, speedy Pankau compiled 596 receiving yards, second-best in the area, with an area-best 22.9 yards per catch.

He was tied for second in the area in touchdown grabs with eight.

Pankau’s breakout season earned him first team all-conference honors.

“Cole was a great deep threat for us,” Coach Aldrich said. “A very good jumper, Cole was excellent at going up and getting the deep ball in traffic. As the year progressed, Cole became a very good run blocker.”

 

20. Holden Whybark, jr., tight end, Union Grove

At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Whybark is a load to bring down and has the speed to find a crease in the defense.

With 29 catches for 291 yards, he’s just getting started as he figures to be Nelson’s go-to receiver next year.

Whybark was named to the second team in the county and conference.

“He is a force on the edge,” McClelland said. “Numbers are deceiving. He was great in the run game and caught numerous passes that converted for a first down.”

 

HONORABLE MENTION

Burlington: Erik Viel, sr., cornerback/safety, two-year starter, covers the field with good speed and finds the ball, 6 deflections, 2 INT, 3 TFL, 2 FR, averaged 24 yards per kickoff return, 11 yards per punt return, 46 tackles. Aaron Sturtevant, jr., linebacker, “Extremely intelligent player, plays with a chip on him,” said Tenhagen. 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks, INT, 83 tackles.

Catholic Central: Hertel Novasic, sr., nose tackle, smallest area d-lineman at 131 pounds, couldn’t be blocked by one lineman, second team all-MCC, HM all-county, “Hertel was 131 pounds of dynamite,” Aldrich said. “One of the most disruptive and exciting defensive players I have coached.” Led area with 11.5 QB sacks, added 4 fumble recoveries, 11 TFL. Jake Webley, sr., linebacker, At 139 pounds, flew around the field, 1^st team all-MCC, 2^nd team all-county, 39 tackles, 2 INT, “Jake has great instincts and was always in position to make plays,” Aldrich said.

Union Grove: Toby Robe, sr., receiver, Returned a kickoff for TD in both playoff games, 4 total kickoff return TD, 31 catches, 398 yards, 2 TDs, “Toby is a speedster,” McClelland said. “Whenever he touched the ball, everyone was on the edge of their seat.” 1,357 all-purpose yards despite an ankle injury holding him back all season. Taylor Vernon, sr., 2^nd team all-SLC, 6-foot-5, 270-pound nose tackle, “He gets doubled a ton,” McClelland said. “He’s a strong kid who could two-gap with the best of them.”

Waterford: Tucker Opegnorth, jr., offensive lineman, 6-foot-1, 265-pound powerhous earned 2^nd team all-conference, 2^nd team all-county. Austin Kaul, jr., defensive line, HM all-conference, HM all-county, 67 tackles, 8 sacks third in SLC