This year’s Win Brockmeyer Memorial Scholarships recipients have been named by the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin and were honored at the 29^th annual Win Brockmeyer Memorial Awards Ceremony held at the Community Foundation’s office on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 8 a.m.

The 2024 student-athletes nominated by their school’s respective coaching staffs include:

• Evan Groene, Newman Catholic High School
• Jesse Napgezek, Wausau East High School
• Blake Bangtson, D.C. Everest High School
• Will McCorison, Wausau West High School

From these nominees, a Selection Committee, composed of members of the press, area school athletic directors, and a representative of the Community Foundation, named Blake Bangtson, from D.C. Everest High School the Win Brockmeyer Outstanding Senior High School Football Player of the Greater Wausau Area for 2024.

Each nominee will be honored with a $500 scholarship. Blake Bangtson, selected as the Outstanding Player of the Year, will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

To be nominated, each student-athlete must meet the following selection criteria, as established by the Win Brockmeyer Memorial Committee* in 1996:

• Graduating senior from D.C. Everest, Newman Catholic, Wausau East, or Wausau West High Schools (or any other greater Wausau area high school that develops a football program in the future)
• Who is an outstanding football player
• Achieve recognition by his peers and coaches
• Who is a positive role model
• And display:
• Aggressiveness
• Courage
• Physical development
• Sportsmanship

The Win Brockmeyer Memorial Scholarship Fund was formed within the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin by members of the Win Brockmeyer Memorial Committee, with donations received from over 125 donors in Brockmeyer’s memory.

Brockmeyer was a legendary high school football coach who excelled in leadership and the development of human potential. His winning football record from 1937 – 1971 covered 34 years at Wausau High School, which served students in the area currently served by D.C. Everest, Wausau East and West, and Newman Catholic High Schools. The area-wide scholarship recognition program concept provides area-wide participation and recognition and unites the region in recognition of its outstanding football players. It also provides an opportunity to tell Brockmeyer’s story and focus on his football legacy, uniting the communities in the region through the cooperative selection process.

In the Win Brockmeyer Scholarship Fund’s history, 116 young men have received scholarship awards.

Previous Outstanding Senior High School Football Player of the Year award recipients include:

2023            Teagan Isham-Her, Wausau West High School
2022            Conner Krach, Newman Catholic High School
2021            Colton Geurink, Wausau West High School
2020            Orion Boe, DC Everest Senior High School
2019            Marc Sippel, Wausau West High School
2018            Elliot Samuels, Newman Catholic High School
2017            Zach Mueller, DC Everest Senior High School
2016            Thomas Dunbar, Wausau East High School
2015            Stephen Paoli, DC Everest Senior High School
2014            Jake Whalen, Wausau West High School
2013            Cole Radloff, Wausau West High School
2012            Logan Taylor, Wausau East High School
2011            Brandon Luedtke, Wausau East High School
2010            Matiah Fischer, Wausau West High School
2009            Tyler Day, Wausau West High School
2008            Anthony Fischer, Newman Catholic High School
2007            Tyler Utecht, Wausau West High School
2006            Joe Gallion, Wausau East High School
2005            Ben Fischer, Wausau East High School
2004            Jordan Hein, Wausau West High School
2003            Andy Crooks, Wausau East High School
2002            Bradley Block, Wausau East High School
2001            Mark Zalewski, Wausau East High School
2000            Jonathon Wanta, D.C. Everest Senior High School
1999            Bounthavy Khamratthanome, Wausau West High School
1998            Derek Abney, D.C. Everest Senior High School
1997            Heath Novitzke, D.C. Everest Senior High School
1996            Timothy Freiberg, Wausau West High School

*Win Brockmeyer Memorial Committee:

In memoriam: Aaron Baumgardt, Walter Bissell, Cal Chamberlain, David Graebel, Robert Hartwig, Ernie Hoenisch, John Hollingsworth, Barbara and Harlan Hunger