Superior and Northwoods Students Named 2025 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists

STEVENS POINT, WI – Sixteen senior girls and 16 senior boys from Wisconsin High Schools were named as finalists to receive the 2025 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) Statewide Scholar Athlete Award.

Paolo Pagnucci, Superior High School, 3.98 GPA

This year, more than 806 seniors from 415 high schools across the state were nominated for the award.

To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were selected (based on both athletic and academic achievement) from each of the four WIAA divisions.

WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said, “Each of these outstanding student athletes has excelled in academics and athletics…  Collectively, they’ve already earned 306 varsity letters—an average of 9.56 per athlete—with spring sports still underway. Their dedication both in the classroom and in competition is inspiring.”

The local Scholar Athletes include a Superior High School swimmer and tennis player plus a Northwood High School football, basketball and soccer player.

The winners will be announced on May 4, 2025.

Jared Schultz, Northwood High School, 4.0 GPA

(Golden Icon) Courtesy WIAA

Paolo Pagnucci, Superior High School, 3.98 GPA
Pagnucci is a four-time team Most Valuable Player in swimming & diving and earned Lake Superior All-Conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. On the tennis court, he was a first team all-conference selection as a junior. Pagnucci writes, “Goals provide direction, and direction is helpful to guiding life choices and behaviors. But the most important part of my learning process, and why I think goal setting was the greatest lesson, is in what I learned from not accomplishing my top swim goal. I had time to reflect on choices that led me to where I am. We are a compilation of all of our choices, and with each process we are better equipped to handle what comes next.” Pagnucci will attend UW-Eau Claire to study kinesiology.

Jared Schultz, Northwood High School, 4.0 GPA
First in his class with a 4.0 GPA, Schultz is a three-time winner of the Northwoods West Conference football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards,  and he is a four-time first team all-conference selection. On the basketball court, he became Northwood’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing 1,950 career points. In baseball, Schultz helped his team earn a State runner-up finish as a junior. He shares in his essay, “Being a good leader is crucial especially when others are struggling. The relationships and experiences I have had in High School taught me the value of leadership and personal growth. These skills will help me tackle new challenges confidently and positively as I move forward into the next chapter of my life.”  Shultz plans to study finance at UW-River Falls.

FULL LIST
DIVISION 1 – BOYS
John Kubisch, Hartland, Arrowhead High School
Ryan Lang, Sheboygan, Sheboygan North High School
Paolo Pagnucci, Superior, Superior High School
Ray Pember, Menomonie, Menomonie High School

DIVISION 1 – GIRLS
Mackenzie Babcock, Cottage Grove, Monona Grove High School
Jacquelyn Cox, Hartland, Arrowhead High School
Ella Opie, Pewaukee, Pewaukee High School
Kate Schmoll, De Pere, West De Pere High School

DIVISION 2 – BOYS
Layne Aurit, Dodgeville, Dodgeville High School
Jack Hefty, Delavan, Whitewater High School
Kyle Hehli, West Salem, West Salem High School
Ben Krauklis, Lake Mills, Lakeside Lutheran High School

DIVISION 2 – GIRLS
Megan Johnson, La Crosse, West Salem High School
Hailie Krueger, New London, New London High School
Ellie Schiszik, Elk Mound, Elk Mound High School
Addison Schliewe, Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan Falls High School

DIVISION 3 – BOYS
Blake Thiry, Prairie du Chien, Prairie du Chien High School
Jacob Thornton, La Crosse, Aquinas High School
Jack Tubbs, Stratford, Stratford High School
Jack Schmeling, Holmen, Luther High School

DIVISION 3 – GIRLS
Molly Duel, Eldorado, Laconia High School
Reese Grimm, Arpin, Pittsville High School
Lexi Kuffel, Rice Lake, Cameron High School
Ellen Robinson, Mineral Point, Mineral Point High School

DIVISION 4 – BOYS
Jesse DeBauch, Coleman, Gillett High School
Oliver Post, Potosi, Potosi High School
Isaac Scheer, Marshfield, Columbus Catholic High School
Jared Schultz, Gordon, Northwood High School

DIVISION 4 – GIRLS
Kamdan Johnson, Florence, Florence High School
Sarah Shaw, Port Edwards, Assumption High School
Emily Sorensen, Harvard, Faith Christian High School
Kendall Weiler, Owen, Owen-Withee High School

More than 1,245 Scholar Athlete finalists have been recognized since the program began in 1984.