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High school standouts leave lasting impression

Lasting impressions left by high school football standouts often go far beyond the games.

That surely is the case with Walworth Big Foot High School senior Travis Frederick, whose off-field reviews have been as impressive as the 6-5, 315-pound tackle/guard’s intimidating time on the field.

The latest review comes from The Associated Press. Its panel of sports writers has named Frederick first-team all-state on offense and to the second team on defense.

And nobody reflects more frankly on the latest honor than Big Foot coach Rodney Wedig, who just directed Frederick and the Chiefs to a 13-1 season and second place in the WIAA Division 4 playoffs.

“It’s great to see Travis get this recognition statewide,’’ Wedig said of Frederick, who was a second-team selection on offense last year. “It’s been a pleasure to coach such a talented and dedicated young man.

“As a coach, the wins, losses and results are recorded, but working with young men like Travis is what is remembered.’’

Janesville Craig coach Bill O’Leary can say about his star pass receiver, 6-6 senior JoJo Pregont, as can Milton coach Jeff Bachinski when it comes to his son and senior linebacker, Ethan—two players who has been named to the AP second team.

“JoJo’s one of those guys you’ll always remember, especially for the way he could jump over people and make the big play, even when he was completely covered,’’ O’Leary said of Pregont. “He gave you a chance for a touchdown every time he went out there.’’

Pregont finished with 116 receptions for 1,962 career yards. He had 58 catches for 867 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, including for 10 receptions for 205 yards in a Big Eight Conference season opener, while helping Craig reach the WIAA playoffs for the seventh straight year.

“He’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime receivers,’’ O’Leary said of Pregont, who set school records in every category. “We’ve never had anybody like him.

“He’s got everything you want at that position. He’s the one you want out there—a guy you can count on to make the big play.

“And one of the best things about him is how he bought into the program,’’ O’Leary said. “He did all the things you need to become better—weightlifting and everything else.’’

It was similar case with the 6-3, 215-pound Bachinski, a three-year all-conference selection, who helped make history this fall in leading Milton to a championship in its first Badger South season. He led the Red Hawks’ defense with 92.5 total tackles, while also earning all-conference honors as a tight end.

“He worked for what he got,’’ coach Bachinski said of Ethan, who has a preferred walk-on offer from Wisconsin and a possible scholarship offer from Western Michigan. “I can’t say enough about him. I think he is as good a player as we ever had here at Milton.’’

Another good one in the area is Lake Geneva Badger defensive back Braden Tice, a 6-2, 171-pound senior, who has received all-state honorable mention.

“He’s always in position to make plays … and he’s one of the most competitive kids I’ve been around’’ Badger coach Matt Hensler said. “He refuses to get beat, whether it’s in drills or games.’’

There weren’t many people beating some other Big Eight standouts, either. Three of them—Madison West running back Leighton Settle, Middleton running back Brooks Braga, and 6-5, 300-pound Middleton senior offensive tackle Ryan Groy, a University of Wisconsin recruit—are AP first-team selections.

Braga, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, led Middleton to a Big Eight co-championship and 11-2 season that carried the Cardinals to the Division 1 state semifinals. He scored 39 touchdowns and rushed for 2,140 yards, including a season high of 290.

Settle, the son of University of Wisconsin running backs coach John Settle, matched Braga with 29 touchdowns in Big Eight play. The 6-1, 175-pound junior had 31 touchdowns overall in a 6-4 season and rushed for 1,837 yards, topped by a staggering 381 in a regular-season finale against Madison La Follette.

Frederick, also a University of Wisconsin recruit, was a three-time Lineman of the Year in the Rock Valley Conference. He played a major role as Big Foot compiled a 31-6 record over those three years, including 9-0 regular seasons as a junior and senior, and was a decisive blocker this year for a ground attack that gained 3,592 yards.

“With the huge holes he makes, anybody could run behind him,’’ junior Michael Walker, Big Foot’s 1,243-yard running back, said during the playoffs.

Meanwhile, hardly anybody could measure up to Frederick’s prowess on defense. Despite everybody trying to steer clear of him, he still blew away the opposition, while collecting 34 solo tackles and 20 assists this season.

Even while wearing a cast throughout the playoffs to protect a broken arm, Frederick remained a force. But nothing surprised those who competed against him.

“He’s like a man among boys, absolutely as good as we’ve ever had come out of our conference,’’ Edgerton coach Mike Gregory said. “He’s just dominating. And he does it with no flash or flair—just does his business.’’

And the high-level student with a 4.1 GPA, who will graduate at the end of this semester with plans to major in aerospace engineering at the UW, leaves everybody talking about more than his football business.

“Travis obviously is a great football player,’’ Brodhead/Juda coach Jim Matthys said. “But when anybody brings up his name, the first fact that comes to mind is that he’s a great kid. He’s a kid you can really talk to, respect and admire.’’

And those indeed are lasting impressions that go far beyond the games.