Gabe Genovesi, Homestead Track & Field
In the silver anniversary of Gatorade's High School Athlete of the Year awards, Homestead trackster Gabe Genovesi was named this year's boy's Track & Field honoree last Tuesday, as well as this week's Splash of the Week. 
The award, recognizing outstanding athletic excellence as well as high standards of academic success, went to the 6-2, 180-pound senior middle distance runner who broke the 29-year state record in the 800m run in a time of 1:51:55-- ranking 12th in the nation. Genovesi also anchored the Division 1 championship 4x400 and 4x800 relays for the title-earning Highlanders.
Genovesi also maintained an impressive 3.33 GPA in the classroom as well, while volunteering locally as a youth soccer coach and on behalf of a campaign to aid disadvantaged children.
The second Homestead Track & Field athlete to earn this prestigious award (Andy Bosley, 1992), Genovesi signed a letter of intent to play collegiate soccer at Akron this fall.
Honorable Mention
Kerry Gardner, Middleton Girls Basketball: Gardner continued to impress this past weekend at the Wausau Elite High School Invitational in front of several Division II and Division III coaches. Her Middleton squad won the Division 1 title in dramatic fashion-- a 54-51 Double-Overtime victory over Beaver Dam in which Gardner hit the game winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. WSN girls' basketball writer Jennie Adrian, who was in attendance, said of her play: "She passes the ball extremely well and is vocal on the floor as a team leader. She stepped up when her team needed her."
Frederick Willis, Brookfield Academy Football: Willis made the most of his attendance at the University of Wisconsin football camp last week, earning a scholarship offer at UW. Just his second college scholarship offer and first from a Big Ten School, Brookfield Academy head coach Dan Lutz said Willis was also getting interest from Georgia Tech, Iowa State and Stanford, among others. A wide receiver last season for the Lancers, Willis finished with 30 receptions for 444 yards and six touchdowns and 16 carries for 172 yards and two rushing TDs. This Spring, Willis won the Division 3 State Track Meet's 100m & 200m dashes, as well as anchored the 4x200 championship relay team and finished second in the high jump.
The Splash of the Week is sponsored by PlayInTheDells.com. It highlights the player, coach or team that has "made a splash" in the world of high school sports. Coming out of nowhere to do something great, going above and beyond the call of duty, etc. Basically making something big happen and having the ripples of the accomplishment resonate throughout your sport. Please contact us to nominate your hometown heroes today!
Tag(s): News Archive
