Win Brockmeyer Award finalists named
Editor's note: This story has been updated to change a photo and caption that had incorrectly identified Thomas Dunbar.
WAUSAU – The top prep football player in the Wausau area will be announced next week. The four finalists for the Win Brockmeyer Award were announced Tuesday: D.C. Everest running back Kevin Sandoval, Newman Catholic lineman Nate Brill, Wausau East wide receiver Thomas Dunbar and Wausau West lineman Paul Weise
The seniors will be honored during a ceremony at 8 a.m. Dec. 16 at the Wausau Country Club. The Brockmeyer Award recipient will receive a $2,000 scholarship and each of the other three finalists will get a $500 scholarship.
The players were nominated by their respective schools for their athletic and academic achievements as well as community and leadership qualities. A selection committee then decides the ultimate award recipient.
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Former D.C. Everest athlete Stephen Paoli was the Brockmeyer Award winner last year. The award was started in 1996 in honor of the former Wausau High School football coach.
Here is a look at the four finalists.
Nathan Brill
Brill was a three-year starter at center and two at defensive tackle. He graded out as the top offensive lineman for the Cardinals in each of the past two seasons.
He had more than 40 total tackles this past season and 12 of which were for a loss as the Cardinals defense allowed roughly 100 rushing yards per game fewer this fall than 2015. Brill was a honorable mention all-CloverWood Conference selection and also received the Steve Klos Award. The award is given to the Cardinals player who demonstrates talent, commitment, dedication, courage and leadership.
“Nate turned himself into one of the best linemen that we have had over the last 15 years by doing everything that was asked of him during the course of his four years,” Newman Catholic coach Paul Michlig said in a nomination of Brill.
Thomas Dunbar
The Lumberjacks wideout caught 47 passes for 750 yards this season and averaged 16 yards a reception.He accounted for 46 percent of the Lumberjacks’ receptions as a team, and his eight touchdowns represented 62 percent of the team’s offensive output.
Dunbar was selected as the Lumberjacks’ offensive MVP and was a second team all-Valley Football Association-North Division selection at receiver.
“Thomas is a very gifted athlete that has incredible body control and has outstanding hands,” East coach Tom Tourtillott said in his nomination of Dunbar. “He was an outstanding receiver for our team.”
The Lumberjacks veteran also spent a portion of the season as a defensive back and was often matched against the opponents’ top receiver. Dunbar finished with 18 solo tackles and two interceptions.
Kevin Sandoval
The veteran running back rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns and also caught 16 passes for 183 yards as the Evergreens qualified for the WIAA postseason.
“Kevin had the ability to make the big plays when we needed,” Everest coach Luke Coenen said in his nomination of Sandoval.
Sandoval also had some situational snaps at quarterback this fall and was selected as the Evergreens most valuable offensive player and was a second team all-Valley Football Association-North Division selection.
Paul Weise
Weise has been member of the Warriors offensive line the past three years, and this season was a unanimous first team all-Valley Football Association-North Division selection.
He was an all-conference honorable mention selection as both a sophomore and junior.
“Pound for pound, Paul is as physical and tough as any football player I have ever coached,” West coach Jason Foster said in a nomination of Weise. “He is one of the few players I have ever been around that finishes every single play to the whistle.”
Weise, a three-sport athlete, is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for baseball and holds a 3.85 GPA.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11