Above: Top award winners were, from L-R: Colin Krenik (6th Man), Braeden Hastings (MIP), Kolby Gens (Most Versatile), Gabe Sullivan (Practice Player of the Year), Larry Walechka (Coach’s Award), Blake Lyons (Hustle Award), Lucas Walechka (Offensive Player of the Year) and Carter Dylla (All-Conference Honorable Mention, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year).
While they didn’t have the results they had hoped for, from the first tipoff to the final seconds of their section game, the varsity basketball boys never threw in the towel.
Reflecting on that effort, the Clippers put the finishing touches on their season with an awards banquet, held in the school commons on Friday.
Voted by his teammates as the Most Valuable Player was senior guard Carter Dylla. He also received the team’s only All-Conference award, an honorable mention.
Dylla totaled 218 total points and made 22 of 27 free throws and 17 triples. He also grabbed 113 rebounds and posted 13 blocks. He led the team in steals (53) and assists (81).
He also took home the Defensive Player of the Year award,
“It was pretty evident in the Madelia game, the playoff game,” said head coach Mike Meyer, who presided over the banquet.
Lucas Walechka was the Offensive player of the Year. The 6-0 senior led the team in points (269). He also hauled down 178 rebounds, the most for the Clippers.
Kolby Gens, a 6-1 senior center, earned the Most Versatile award. His 23 three-point baskets were the most for the Clippers. He had 190 total points and 118 rebounds. He led the team in blocks (17).
“He was our big man,” Meyer said.
Colin Krenik, a 5-9 senior guard, received the 6th Man award. He had 96 total points, inducing 22 from three-point territory. He also had 16 steals and 20 assists.
“It's for the best player coming off the bench, but he did start a few games for us,” Meyer said.
The Hustle Award went to freshman Blake Lyons.
“He’s the guy who is always going after the loose ball, always playing 100 percent,” Meyer said. “He also plays the warrior position on defense, which is one of the hardest spots to play.”
Sophomore Gabe Sullivan earned the Practice Player of the Year award.
“You need to have the hustle in practice in order to be good in the game,” said Meyer. “Also if we have a good scout team, that makes us better against the teams we play. The person who did that the best was Gabe.”
The Most Improved award went to junior Braeden Hastings.
“This could have been anybody," Meyer said. “Everybody on the team was pretty inexperienced coming in with limited varsity, but the person who improved the most was Braeden.”
In a departure from the norm, Meyer awarded parent Larry Walechka with the Coach’s Award. Walechka coached the first two games of the season and a few in between as well and was usually present on the bench to assist as needed.
“I felt like it needed to go to someone who helped me the most in my first year,” Meyer said.
Besides the award winners, receiving letters were freshman Kale Kelley, senior Wyatte Devens, senior Ethan Fuller and the injured, sophomore Carter Barto and senior Jackson Meyer.
Barto suffered an injury in the second game, and Meyer, who was hurt early in the football season, got a start as the season wound down.
With a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the season, receiving Valley Conference Academic Awards were Devens, Hastings, Walechka, Sullivan, Gens, Lyons, Krenik, Meyer, Fuller, Dylla and freshman Kyle Connor.
Meyer concluded by thanking bookkeeper Greg Davis, assistant coaches Lon Voss and Curt Buhl, this author and especially the parents.
“Getting your kids to show up for practice and work hard and raising some pretty good individuals. I don’t think it is too easy with a one-win season to keep showing up every day for practice and work your tail off, but each of these guys did that.”
Meyer was also proud that the team raised almost $10,000 for the Coaches vs. Cancer free-throw fundraiser.
“That was a highlight of the season for me.”
Next year’s Clippers will have a chance to practice this summer in the Bethany League. Also planned is a tournament at Wisconsin Dells.
Earning letters were Wyatte Devens, Kolby Gens, Gabe Sullivan, Carter Dylla, Ethan Fuller, Lucas Walechka, Blake Lyons, Colin Krenik and Braeden Hastings. Missing from the photo are Kale Kelley, Carter Barto and Jackson Meyer.
With a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the season, receiving Valley Conference Academic Awards were Wyatte Devens, Braeden Hastings, Lucas Walechka, Gabe Sullivan, Kolby Gens, Blake Lyons, Colin Krenik, Ethan Fuller, Carter Dylla and Kyle Connor. Missing from the photo is Jackson Meyer.
Seniors on the team were Wyatte Devens, Ethan Fuller, Kolby Gens, Carter Dylla, Lucas Walechka, Jackson Meyer and Colin Krenik.
While usually the Coach’s Award is given to a player, head coach Mike Meyer presented it to parent Larry Walechka, who helped with coaching duties and even did a few stints as head coach in Meyer’s absence.
Carter Dylla was an All Valley-Conference Honorable Mention.
Attending the banquet were Jackson Meyer, coach Larry Walechka, Ethan Fuller, Wyatte Devens, Carter Dylla, Lucas Walechka, Blake Lyons, Kolby Gens, Gabe Sullivan, Carter Barto, Brady Bostic, Kyle Connor, Colin Krenik, Alex Johnson, Braeden Hastings, coach Mike Meyer and coach Curt Buhl.