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Name: Sean Van Helden

School: Stevens Point

Grade: Senior

Football Honors: A two-time all-conference performer for Stevens Point and coach Pete McAdams … A unanimous first-team all-Wisconsin Valley Conference performer at outside linebacker as a senior … Also earned All-Region and honorable mention All-State at outside linebacker following the 2013 season … A second-team all-league selection as a junior at outside linebacker.

Basketball Honors: A three-year varsity player for coach Scott Anderson and the Panthers … A physical 6-foot-3 forward who has earned academic All-State honors in each of the past two seasons.

Track and Field Honors: Enters senior year as a three-time varsity letter winner for coach Kevin Steveler … Earned second-team all-league honors as a freshman and sophomore in the high jump …  Qualified for the WIAA State Track and Field Meet in the high jump in each of the past two seasons … Finished sixth at state with a personal best jump of 6-feet, 6-inches as a junior … First-team all-league selection in the high jump as a junior.

Favorite Sport: “Football is my favorite sport. There is no other team sport quite like football. In football, you are always relying on your teammates to get their jobs done. You could be the best football player in the world, but you will always need good teammates around you to be successful.” 

Best Part of High School Sports: “The best part of high school sports to me is the friendships your form with your teammates. Without high school sports, I wouldn’t have gotten to know a lot of my friends today.”

Best Advice from a High School Coach: “To be successful, you have to pay the price first.” from Scott Anderson, my basketball coach. This taught me that if I want to be successful, in anything, I must first work hard.”

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: “Beating Green Bay Preble in four overtimes in the playoffs my junior year in football. We fought to keep our playoff run alive and did so in a 4 OT thriller.”

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: “Getting three unique experiences from three different sports. I go from a major team sport, like football, to a smaller team sport like basketball, to a more individualistic sport like track and field.”

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: “Having to jump from season to season to season with almost no time off in between, and making all of the summer commitments for all three sports.”

Favorite Opponent: “Wisconsin Rapids. SPASH vs. Rapids in any sport is a hard fought rivalry, and the games are always tough.”

Favorite Professional Teams: “I love the Packers, Bucks and Brewers. I’m all about the hometown teams!”

Favorite College Teams: “Again, I’m sticking with the hometown team: the Wisconsin Badgers.”

Cumulative GPA: 3.6 with an ACT of 27

Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against: “With all the tough competitors I’ve gone up against, Jordan Stelzer from Bay Port is the toughest. We played on the same AAU basketball team for three years, but have competed against each other in other things as well. He is extremely tough and has a non-stop motor. I have a great deal of respect for him and hope he heals well from his recent ACL injury.”

Most Admired High School Teammate: “Out of all of the outstanding high school teammates that I have had, I most admire my fellow linebacker, Aaron Winch. Aaron has a great work ethic and is one of the toughest kids I know.  I know that no matter what, he will always have my back.”

College Plans: “I don’t have any college plans set in stone. I have received recruiting interest for college football, so I will see where that leads me.”

Activities Outside of Sports: “Three sports keeps me busy, but I have had time to go on a couple of mission trips to Guatemala through my church.”

I Find it Relaxing to: “Lay around or spend time with friends.”

Favorite T.V. Show: “The Office. It’s one of the funniest shows out there.”

Favorite Movie: “The Dark Knight. It has a great storyline, great acting and is very engaging.”

Favorite Musical Artist: “John Mayer. I find him very relaxing to listen to.”

Favorite Subject: “Anything in the science field. I enjoy science and plan on going into the medical field.”

Favorite Restaurant: “Buffalo Wild Wings. It has great food and a great sports atmosphere.”

Favorite Website: “Facebook, Twitter and ESPN. I like to stay connected and get all of the latest sports information.”

Other Family Members: My dad, Bob, who graduated from Chippewa Falls High School, and my mom, Gretchen, who graduated from Fond du Lac High School, are graduates of UW-Stout.  My sister, Erica, is a freshman at PJ Jacobs.

(If you'd like to nominate a senior athlete for the Triple Play Triple Threat feature on WisSports.net, please contact Mark Miller at wbnews@charter.net).