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State’s elite: Cesarz repeats as first-teamer

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Photo by Gazette file photo

Alana Cesarz of Delavan-Darien is an all-state basketball player who has committed to UNLV.

MILWAUKEE — Hank Johnson appreciates the results he had with Alana Cesarz during his first season as girls basketball coach at Delavan-Darien High.

“She’s by far the best I’ve ever coached,” Johnson said of the 6-foot-2 senior. “It’s nice to think that players that work that hard do get recognized.”

Cesarz earned top recognition by the Associated Press for the second straight year, repeating her first-team all-state selection in voting that was announced late Tuesday.

“It’s nice to be considered one of the top players,” Cesarz said.

Cesarz earlier earned her third straight Southern Lakes Conference Player of the Year honor. She repeated as the SLC scoring champion with 523 points and a 21.7 points per-game average.

She made 118 of 205 two-point attempts, 25 of 69 three-point shots and was an amazing 92-percent free-throw shooter, making 152 of 166 attempts.

During her four-year career, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas recruit had 1,672 points, averaging 20.1 per game, which set a school record.

While her WIAA season ended with a 48-39 loss to Milton in a sectional semifinal game, basketball still is taking up the majority of Cesarz’s spare time. She works out when she can during the school day, and will serve as an assistant on her AAU team during the early summer.

Johnson would love to have her on his spring team—the Comets’ softball team.

“I’m trying to get her to come out for the team,” said Johnson, who has visions of Cesarz at first base.

Cesarz doesn’t plan on getting a glove.

“I told him I’m not playing,” she said.

One thing that is certain is her plans for early July. That is when the daughter of Jeff and Jennifer Cesarz will leave for UNLV.

“I’m so excited,” Alana said.

The Runnin’ Rebels went a disappointing 11-20 this season.

Cesarz has no plans to redshirt her freshman season. Just the opposite is true.

“They’re expecting me to come in there and be an impact player my freshman year,” Cesarz said. “They want me to build the program.”

That’s a tall order, but one that Cesarz has shown she can handle.

Eide, Schmidt also honored

Milton High senior Liz Eide earned all-state fourth-team honors, while Edgerton senior Meggie Schmidt earned all-state honorable mention.

Eide led the Red Hawks to a WIAA Division 2 state tournament berth.

Eide won her second straight Badger South scoring title this season, finishing with a 16.0 average and helping the Red Hawks win the undisputed Badger South championship.

Eide overcame a pair of knee surgeries in her successful high-school career. Because of the surgeries, she does not plan to play college basketball, despite interest from NCAA Division 1 programs Northern Illinois and Princeton.

Schmidt led the Crimson Tide to a 22-4 record, the school’s first conference title and to within one game of the WIAA state tournament.

Schmidt finished second in Rock Valley North scoring with 276 points. She plans to play basketball and volleyball at Dubuque University (Iowa).

AP Girls All-State

FIRST TEAM

Samantha Logic, 5-11, Sr., Racine Case (unanimous)

Ashley Green, 6-0, Sr., Nicolet (unanimous)

Kerry Gardner, 5-9, Sr., Middleton

Alana Cesarz, 6-2, Sr., Delavan-Darien

Heather Bowe, 6-0, Jr., Eau Claire Regis

SECOND TEAM

Tynika Rogers, 5-5, Sr., Milwaukee Vincent

Gabrielle Ortiz, 5-7, Fr., Racine Prairie

Taylor Thomas, 6-0, Sr., Newman Catholic

Janelle VandenPlas, 6-1, Sr., Luxemburg-Casco

Makailah Dyer, 5-9, Jr., Madison East

THIRD TEAM

Deysha Smith-Jenkins, 5-9, Jr., Whitefish Bay Dominican

Alex Cohen, 6-5, Sr., Nicolet

Taylor Varsho, 5-7, Jr., Marshfield

Nicole Bauman, 5-9, Jr. New Berlin Eisenhower

Terri Bender, 5-7, Jr., Milwaukee Pius XI

FOURTH TEAM

Taylor Gradinjan, 5-10, Jr., Cudahy

Morgan Banasik, 5-9, Jr., Prairie du Chien

Liz Eide, 6-2, Sr., Milton

Abbie Anderson, 5-11, Sr., Prentice

Katy Allen, 6-1, Sr., Waukesha South

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Samantha Logic, Racine Case

COACH OF THE YEAR

Ryan Wundrow, Altoona

HONORABLE MENTION

Mandy Prom, Jr., Oconomowoc; Cady Roedl, Jr., Beaver Dam; Alexis Eckles, Jr., Milwaukee King; Mehryn Kraker, Jr., West Allis Central; Dilonna Johnson, Jr., Whitefish Bay Dominican

Ashley Luke, Sr., Oak Creek; Alyssa Colla, Sr., Muskego; Taylor Bahr, Sr., Somers Shoreland Lutheran; Alyssa Thomas, Sr., Union Grove; Jameeka Bouie, Jr., Racine Case

Quinn Rear, Sr., Belleville; Hannah Kernen, Sr., Belleville; Rachel Rygh, Sr., Black Hawk; Heidi Paul, Sr., Columbus; Kendall Wienkes, Sr., Highland

Breland Prochaska, Jr., Fennimore; Ashley Bartow, Jr., Verona; Kaitlynn Eversoll, Sr., McFarland; Meggie Schmidt, Sr., Edgerton; Mackenzie Reese, Sr., Madison Edgewood

Samantha Terry, So., Baraboo; Allison Ostrander, Sr., Seneca; Jenny Gallagher, Jr., Aquinas; Jenna Anderson, Sr., Sparta; Megan Koepnick, Sr., West Salem

Jenna Engh, Sr., Westby; Kaley Bernhardt, Sr., Eau Claire North; Katelynne Folkers, Sr., Fall Creek; Jenni Gust, Sr., Colfax; Kayla Springer, Sr., Altoona

Carley Emery, Sr., Siren; Liz Breu, Sr., Auburndale; Larenda Maulson, Sr., Lakeland; Mandi Crahan, Sr., Almond-Bancroft; Alex Boehm, Sr., Marathon; Katie Gonnering, Sr., Freedom

Michelle Piepenburg, Sr., Chilton; Taylor Schmidt, So., Algoma; Tara Knapstein, Jr., New London; Kyra VandenHeuvel, Jr., Kimberly; Lexy Petermann, Jr., Oshkosh Lourdes

Katelyn Kuehl, Sr., Winnebago Lutheran; Emily Neitzel, Jr., Lomira; Hope Bonlander, Sr., Fond du Lac; Alexis Lindstrom, Jr., Howards Grove