NUIC Multi-Sport Athletes of the Year
The 2019 Stateline Sports Hub NUIC male and female multiple sports athletes of the year are both seniors in Ian Kuehl of Lena-Winslow and Jaynee Prestegaard of Ashton/Franklin Center.
Each year we look at the top multi-sport athletes in the NUIC. Being in small schools the three-sport athletes are a huge part of the tight-knit small town community's. "It is important to play multiple sports because it keeps the programs in the small community's going and is what the community feeds off," said Kuehl. "It also helps with other sports you are playing, so everything kind of comes full circle to make you a better athlete."
"During my time at AFC, I realized that sports meant community," said Prestegaard. "It was always a great feeling seeing the stands packed full for small-town basketball or volleyball games. To me sports also meant family. Playing sports in high school granted me an automatic second family. I had a close bond between all my teammates and coaches. Especially like track I created new friendships that I wouldn't get the chance to do if I played only one sport. Playing multiple sports also allowed me to enjoy all of them and not just focus on one of them."
BOYS
Kuehl. Lena-Winslow. Senior. Football/Wrestling/Track is headed to play both football and wrestling at McKendree College in Lebanon, Il. While playing two college sports is rare and harder at the next level. Kuehl is the type who can pull it off. The McKendree wrestling team finished third in the country in Division II last season.
Let Lena-Winslow wrestling coach Kevin Milder tell you what Ian has done. "It's hard to put into words what Ian has meant to Le-Win athletics. "He has performed at the highest level in any sport he has been involved in. Ian has won a state championship in football and honored as an all-state football player. He has won two team state State championships in wrestling and placed three times as an Individual, including a state championship in 2018. In the spring he has been involved with both baseball and track earning all-conference honors in baseball and becoming a state finalist in track."
For Kuehl, he had an outstanding junior year but the award went to his teammate at Lena-Winslow in Rahveon Valentine, now playing football at NIU. was our NUIC multi-sports athlete of the year. Kuehl was an Indiviudal state champion at 285 as a junior, all-state in football on the unbeaten state champions. Unanimous all-Conference in baseball. The encore senior year included all-conference in football falling to State Champion Forreston in the semifinal. In wrestling, he was third as an Individual but his team was state champions. He was a unanimous all-conference baseball player switching to track and making the state finals in the discus with a best of 146'3.
"My favorite highlight at Lena-Winslow has been winning team state for wrestling and seeing the younger kids expressions on their face when all of the hard work has finally paid off," added Kuehl. "It's an honor to be in the mix with the other (NUIC) athletes who are hard workers as well and just as deserving as me."
Kuehl was around other talented multi-sports athletes at Lena-Winslow including seniors Parker Magee and juniors Isaiah Bruce and Sean Ormiston. Colin Dvorak of Stockton was a wrestling teammate on the Coop State champions.
"As a wrestler, Ian's accomplishments are incredible, said Milder. "He is a three-time place winner and as a state champion. He is our all-time leader with 184 wins, our career point leader. He has been a constant presence in our lineup up all four years. While a lot of his statistics are impressive, he has left a bigger impact with his work ethic and leadership skills. Ian has been a great mentor to the younger wrestlers that value him for working with them."
"I originally lived in Lena until fourth grade so I grew up with some of the state championship teammates and knew some of the athletes that came though Lena," said Kuehl. "In eighth grade I moved back to Lena and I was nervous coming back. But I knew a bunch of people still and the tradition that we have as a school. So I knew that we could have something special as long as we worked for it."
Honorable Mention
Parker Magee. Lena-Winslow. Senior. Football/Basketball. Unanimous all-conference on both sides of the ball on offense and defense in football. The NUIC points per game leader in basketball.
Isaiah Bruce. Lena-Winslow. Junior. Football/Basketball/Track. All state in football. Made shot put finals in track.
Brady Webb. Polo. Senior. Football/Basketball/Track. The all-time NUIC track best in the long jump at 22'7 and medalist in four state track events. Signed with Eastern Illinois University for track and field. Had a great start to the football before a season-ending injury. All-Conference basketball.
Colin Dvorak. Stockton. Senior. Football/Wrestling/Baseball. All state in football as a running back/linebacker. In wrestling Individual state qualifier and on Lena-Winslow/Stockton Coop team wrestling state champs with Kuehl.
Nate Rahn. Milledgeville. Senior. Football/Basketball/Baseball. All state in football as running back/linebacker. All-Conference in basketball and baseball.
Ben Crist. River Ridge Senior. Football/Basketball/Baseball/Track. Solid in all four sports. The rare four sports athlete like Reid Taylor of Polo last year.
Carson Boyer. Milledgeville. Senior. Football/Basketball/Baseball.
Lucas Petersen. Pearl City. Senior. Football for E/PC Coop. Basketball. Track. Solid in all sports and got a state medal in track in the 800 meters setting a school record in 1:59.65.
Layne Boyer and Hunter Sherman. East Dubuque. Seniors. Football/Basketball/Track.
Mitch Heinz. Forreston. Senior. Football/Basketball/Baseball.
The Pearl City set of senior twins. Jayden and Jarod Kempel. Football/Basketball/Track. Braden and Brock Smargiassi. Football/Basketball/Baseball. Jayden was the all time E/PC football rushing leader and got a state medal and school record in the 300 hurdles. He joined Jared, Petersen and Andrew Lorig on the state and school record 1600 meter relay team.
GIRLS
Prestegaard. Ashton/Franklin Center. Senior. Volleyball/Basketball/Track. She was IBCA first team all-state in basketball and a standout in volleyball. She broke her sister Madeline's basketball record for career points. Jaynee will be playing basketball at St. Ambrose University in Davenport to join her sister Madeline. She will be majoring in marketing. The pair will be teammates again after one year not on the same team. Madeline and Jaynee played together at A/FC.
Growing up as the youngest of the three made Jaynee tougher. The 5'11 forward broke her sister Madeline's career scoring record at AFC. The oldest sister Allison played at UW Platteville. "My sisters have meant everything in my basketball success," said Jaynee. "At a young age, I would always play basketball with them outside on the cement slab with our hoop. They helped shape me into a better player today. Playing alongside my sister Madeline for three of my high school years and I am excited playing. With her in college."
Honorable Mention
Tabytha Toelke. Dakota. Sophomore. Volleyball/Basketball/Softball.
Tianna Timpe. Stockton. Sophomore. Golf/Basketball/Softball.
Abby Barr. Aquin. Junior. Volleyball/Basketball. All state basketball.
Breya Christopher. River Ridge. Senior. Volleyball/Basketball/Track. Third in 2A state high jump at 5'7 an all-time NUIC record.
McKenzie Damon. Durand. Senior. Volleyball/Basketball/Softball.
Karlie Krogman. Eastland. Sophomore. Volleyball/Basketball/Track. Her sister Katie Krogman just last year was a three-sport standout at Eastland.
Madilyn Schultz. Lena-Winslow. Junior. Volleyball/Basketball/Softball.
Sage Walrath. Eastland. Senior. Volleyball/Basketball/Track.
Sami Wasmund. Galena. Junior. Volleyball/Basketball/Softball.
Lydia Coatney. Eastland. Golf/Basketball/Track.
Erin Henze. Eastland. Junior. Volleyball/Basketball/Softball.
Stateline Sports Hub. NUIC multi-sports athlete of the year winners.
Boys
Hayden Fox. Stockton. Football/Basketball/Baseball.
Rahveon Valentine. Lena-Winslow. Football/Wrestling/Track.
Ian Kuehl. Lena-Winslow. Football/Wrestling/Track.
Girls
McKenzie Fink. Eastland. Volleyball/Basketball/Softball.
Emily Offenhesier. Stockton. Volleyball/Basketball/Track.
Jaynee Prestegaard. Ashton/Franklin Center. Volleyball/Basketball/Track.
Categories: High School Sports, Local News, Sports, Sports Hub