Who do you think was the high school boys athlete of the year in the greater Milwaukee area for the 2024-25 school year? Vote now.
The 2024-25 school year is in the books and the greater Milwaukee area was again treated to some stellar performances across all sports.
During the Milwaukee High School Sports Awards show, 14 athletes were honored as the boys athletes of the year in their respective sports. Co'ji Campbell from Kenosha St. Joseph wrestling was named the area boys athlete of the year for becoming the fifth area wrestler ever to win four career state wrestling titles.
We want to hear from you. Who do you think was the 2024-25 high school boys athlete of the year from around the area?
You can vote for the boys athlete of the year until 3 p.m. July 21. You don't have to be a subscriber to vote. Votes are limited to one per hour per device.
Here are the nominees. If the poll does not display, refresh your browser.
Jamarion Batemon, Milwaukee Academy of Science
The Iowa State recruit led a program-first WIAA state boys basketball title for the Novas while being named one of six finalists for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association’s statewide Mr. Basketball Award. He was named the JS’s boys basketball player of the year after leading the Novas in scoring, averaging 25.6 points per game while shooting a team-best 42.7% from three. He led MAS with 38 total points in the state tournament, including a late go-ahead three in the semifinal against Lake Mills to help the Novas reach the title game.
Co'ji Campbell, Kenosha St. Joseph
Campbell was named the boys wrestler of the year after becoming the fifth grappler in area history to win four state titles in his career. The future University of Illinois grappler finished his senior season at a perfect 54-0 record with 169 career victories and just one loss on his overall high school record.
Cooper Catalano, Germantown
The University of Wisconsin recruit became the state’s all-time leading tackler during a senior season where he was named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association large school all-state team and the JS’s defensive player of the year. Catalano was also named the association’s defensive player of the year and finished his career with 583 total tackles in 41 career games.
Angel Escamilla, Waukesha West
Escamilla made the crucial clinching save in a 2-1 penalty shootout that earned Waukesha West its first WIAA state title in seven appearances last fall. The senior was a stalwart in goal for a Wolverines team that shut out 11 opponents in 22 games en route to a gold ball. Escamilla was named an all-Classic Eight Conference first-team selection and a Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association all-state selection. He was also named the JS’s boys soccer player of the year.
Carson Fletcher, Racine Horlick
Fletcher capped a senior season with over 120 tackles, 27 total touchdowns and over 2,000 yards of total offense for the Rebels. The South Dakota State commit was recognized as the Southeast Conference’s back of the year for his efforts on the offensive end and as the offensive player of the year by the JS. He was also named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association’s large school all-state team as both a running back and an inside linebacker.
Nick Garvey, Kettle Moraine
Kettle Moraine made its first appearance in the WIAA state boys lacrosse tournament this past season, led by Garvey. The Classic 8 Conference’s player of the year tallied 63 regular-season points in just 15 games. In the playoffs, Garvey stepped up his game to another level, scoring 18 points over four games to advance to the state title game and be named boys lacrosse player of the year.
Connor Hillig, Sussex Hamilton
The assistant captain from Sussex Hamilton scored 80 total points in 24 regular-season games. He added 11 more points in three playoff games, leading the high-powered Brookfield Stars co-op to the top overall seed and a second straight state hockey tournament berth. Hillig was also named to the all-state first team, the state’s player of the year by the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association and the JS’s boys hockey player of the year.
Alex Kim, Marquette
The senior was the most consistent piece down the stretch for Marquette’s WIAA state golf team title run this spring. Kim was the medalist at the Franklin regional and the Westosha Central sectional to lead a team state qualifying effort. At state, Kim was one of four Hilltoppers to finish in the top 11 of the individual standings. Those scores combined to set a WIAA state boys golf tournament record of 584 strokes. Kim finished ninth individually for the best placement of his career to be named the boys golfer of the year.
Peter Kussow, Arrowhead
The Warhawks pitcher garnered significant MLB Draft interest for his upper 90s fastball and wipeout slider, which he employed to devastating effect this year. A 16-strikeout no-hitter against Kettle Moraine highlighted a 2025 season for the Louisville Cardinals commit with a sub-1.50 ERA. Kussow was also named the JS’s baseball player of the year.
Aleksey Mikhailenko, Homestead
The junior outside hitter was arguably the most electric player in the state this season on one of the area’s most competitive programs. Mikhailenko was named the North Shore Conference player of the year and Badger Region Volleyball Association’s state player of the year after leading the state with 483 kills, helping the Highlanders to a sectional final berth. He was also named the JS’s boys volleyball player of the year.
Ethan Schutten, Whitnall
After swimming club during his junior year, Schutten returned to WIAA state swim this winter. At the WIAA Division 2 state meet, the University of Minnesota commit won the 200-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle events with state-record times. The titles were his second and third individual state titles of his career, joining a 500 freestyle title in 2023, on his way to being named the JS’s boys swimmer of the year.
Nolan Shaub, Union Grove
Shaub became the first player in school history and the first singles player in the history of the Southern Lakes Conference to win a WIAA state tennis title. Shaub finished this past season at a perfect 33-0, defeating Middleton’s Alexander Bo in straight sets to win the Division 1 title as the No. 2 overall seed to be named boys tennis player of the year.
Remy Strichartz, Kenosha Indian Trail
A season after finishing 105th at the WIAA Division 1 state cross-country meet, Strichartz dropped one minute and 40 seconds off his time to finish fifth overall this past fall. The Yale commit won the Southeast Conference Championship boys heat by 19 seconds and was named to the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association’s all-state first team. He was named by the JS as the boys cross-country athlete of the year.
Jay Tally, Homestead
Tally capped a junior campaign with two winning performances that led a state meet runner-up finish for Homestead. The junior won the 800-meter state individual title, eclipsing a Division 1 state record that had stood since 2013. The following day, he anchored a boys 3,200-meter relay team that won the event for just the second time in school history. Tally took the baton in fourth place entering the final eight hundred meters, but was able to close the gap to win by under half a second and seal the honor of boys track and field athlete of the year.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vote for the boys athlete of the year for the 2024-25 school year
Category: General Sports
