Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Name: Griffin Gussel

School: Middleton

Grade: Senior

Football Honors: Two-year varsity performer for coach Tim Simon and the Cardinals ... Helped Middleton to Big Eight Conference titles as a junior and senior ... Honorable mention all-league performance as a defensive back as a senior ... Finished senior campaign with 32 tackles, one tackle for loss and two interceptions. 

Hockey Honors: Three-year varsity performer for coach Stefan Walby and the Cardinals ... Helped Middleton to the Big Eight Conference championship as a junior and to a WIAA Division 1 sectional runner-up ... Finished junior season with seven goals and 13 assists. 

Track & Field Honors: Enters senior campaign as a three-year letter winner for the Cardinals ... WIAA State Track & Field qualifier in the 4x100 relay as a sophomore and junior ... All-Conference pick in the 4x200 relay as a junior ... Helped Middleton to conference titles in each of the past three seasons and won two sectional crowns.

Favorite Sport: "Hockey is my favorite sport because of the unique camaraderie within a team, where 20 individuals become so tightly knit. Each year a brotherhood is created within the team and I will always cherish the memories made with the boys. Also, the passion and pure emotion that hockey brings out of you is unmatched, creating extreme highs and lows and brining the competitiveness of the sport to another level."

Best Part of High School Sports: "The best of playing high school sports is both the friendships I've made over the years and the lessons I've learned about work ethic and accountability to my teammates."

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "The best advice I've gotten in high school was from some of my football coaches and what they would tell us is to prepare yourself mentally as much as possible before you play so come game time, you are ready to just use your skill and react."

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "My most memorable moment of high school sports was running at the state track and field meet in La Crosse and getting the chance to compete against the best runners in the state in front of so many people is an unforgettable experience."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "The best part of playing three sports is that they all positively impact each other, being in an intense sport each season keeps you in shape throughout each year as you transition from one sport to another. For example, we are big on conditioning during the hockey season so that is beneficial going into the track season in terms of endurance."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "The toughest part of playing three sports is balancing sports with school and a social life. They are all important and can be time consuming so it's difficult to keep them all in line."

Favorite Opponent: "My favorite opponent was always Madison Memorial. Middleton developed a fierce rivalry with Memorial over the years and they are usually a top opponent. That makes for very intense games and races."

Favorite Professional Teams: Green Bay Packers, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Seahawks

Favorite Professional Athlete: Joe Pavelski

Favorite College Team: Washington Huskies, Duke Blue Devils

Cumulative GPA: 3.29

Toughest Individual You've Competed Against: "The toughest individual I've competed against is Cole Paskus of Madison West in hockey. Playing against Cole the past two years was difficult. He's a great play-maker and he also plays a very physical style."

Most Admired High School Teammate: "My most admired high school teammate is Garrett Graf. I've been playing sports with Garrett since we were very young and he's always pushed me and everyone else to perform to our best ability and is a natural leader."

College Plans: "My plans for college is either to continue to run track at the collegiate level and if not, to study business or psychology."

Activities Outside of Sports: "Outside of sports, I enjoy hunting and I have done volunteer work for my church and also with youth sports camps in the summer. I also have been a member of the Young Conservatives club at Middleton."

I Find it Relaxing to: "Hang out with friends, play video games and golf."

Favorite TV show: White Collar

Favorite Movie: American Sniper

Favorite Musical Artist: J Cole

Favorite Subject: History and Psychology

Favorite Restaurant: Chipotle

Favorite Website: www.jackthreads.com

Other Family Members: Claire, older sister; Chandler, younger brother.

(If you'd like to nominate a senior three-sport athlete from Wisconsin for the Triple Play Triple Threat feature, please contact Mark Miller at wbnews@yahoo.com).