FOOTBALL

Four finalists in mix for Win Brockmeyer Memorial prep football honor

Tim Johnson
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Mitch Michalske became Wausau West's all-time leader in rushing attempts and yards during his senior season this fall. He is one of four finalists for the Win Brockmeyer Memorial Award.

WAUSAU – Three linemen and a running back are in the mix for the honor as the top senior prep football player in the Wausau area.

Newman Catholic’s Marshall Hackel, Wausau West’s Mitch Michalske, D.C. Everest’s Zach Mueller and Wausau East’s Nathan Rodman are the finalists for the Win Brockmeyer Memorial Award, which will be presented Dec. 15 at the Wausau Country Club.

The recipient will receive a $2,000 college scholarship, while the other three finalists receive a $500 scholarship. The award has been presented annually since 1996, and Wausau East’s Thomas Dunbar received the honor last year.

Here is a closer look at the four finalists:

Marshall Hackel

The defensive end had 97 tackles, including 47 solo for the Cardinals, who posted an undefeated record in their first season as an 8-man football program. He had 19 tackles for a loss, five sacks, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Hackel also had 21 tackles in a 34-32 win over Luck in the first-place game in the WIAA 8-man Jamboree at Stiehm Stadium in late October. He finished his career with 171 tackles, including 26½ for a loss, and 11 forced fumbles.

Marshall
Hackel

Hackel, who also was a tight end and played special teams for the Cardinals, had 25 receptions for 442 yards and eight touchdowns and also rushed 12 times for 88 yards and a score.

He became the first Newman Catholic player to be named first-team all-state by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and he also received the 8-man defensive player of the year honor from wissports.net.

"i never have been around a young man that practiced harder than Marshall," Newman Catholic coach Paul Michlig wrote in his nomination of Hackel. "The easy way is to just get by. That isn't Marshall."

Mitch Michalske

The Warriors running back became the program’s all-time leading rusher in three seasons. He rushed for 1,229 yards and 12 touchdowns this fall and caught nine passes for 325 yards and two scores.

Mitch 
Michalske

He finished his career with 3,098 yards on 627 carries, both of which are program marks, and he was the Wausau West offensive most valuable player the past two seasons. He also a unanimous selection on the Valley Football Association-West Division this year.

"He finishes runs as well as anyone I have coached, consistently ending plays by delivering aggressive hits and leaving defenders on their back," Wausau West coach Jason Foster wrote in his nomination.

Zach Mueller

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound senior was named the Valley Football Association-West Division lineman of the season, one of the notable postseason accolades he received.

Mueller, who has been part of the Evergreens varsity squad the past three seasons, also was a first-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and a second-team pick on the Associated Press all-state squad.

Zach
Mueller

“The offensive linemen position seldom gets credit for offensive stats, but we all know the offensive line is the most important position on a team,” Everest coach Tim Strehlow wrote in his nomination. “Zach stays motivated to be the best he can be and make the Evergreens around him value the team concept.”

Nathan Rodman

The Lumberjacks offensive lineman and linebacker was selected by his teammates as the recipient of the program’s “Jeff Dellenbach Trench Warrior” this season in East’s first campaign as an independent football program.

Nathan Rodman

Rodman also received votes as the team’s offensive and defensive most valuable player.

“He prepared and worked hard every day and improved greatly during his three years on varsity,” East coach Tom Tourtillott wrote in his nomination. “As a result, Nathan rarely came off the field during games.”