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

The WSN15 series will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of WisSports.net by looking back at the top players, teams, and moments of the past 15 years (2003-2017).

The Top 15 Players countdown is not a recruiting ranking and not indicative of what the players did after high school. It is a ranking of the top high school players, the impact they had for their team, and the dominance they displayed while in high school.

Today, the spread offense is as common as the marching band, with schools big and small incorporating the concepts. 15 years ago, it was much more of a novel idea, especially in big schools. One of the first teams to fully embrace the spread was the Franklin Sabers, who had just one playoff victory prior to 1999. 

With head coaches Jesse Miller, Jeff Klemp, and now Louis Brown, the team has been known for producing some outstanding offenses, especially quarterbacks. A long line of prolific signal-callers have put up big numbers over the last decade-plus. However, none can touch the production of Ben Hempel. 

A four-year varsity player and three-year starter, Hempel threw for more than 2800 yards his last three seasons for the Sabers.

By the time he was done, Hempel would re-write the state high school record books. 

Hempel would finish with 9,508 yards and 92 touchdowns, both new state records. He completed 598 of 1,050 attempts in his career.

Since finishing his senior season in 2004, no other player has come within 1,800 yards of his career passing yardage total, despite the proliferation of high-powered passing attacks in recent seasons.

Hempel led the state in passing yards as both a junior (3,169 yards) and senior (2,829 yards), earning WFCA All-State recognition as a senior. He was also named the Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year for the state of Wisconsin.

After his standout prep career, Hempel would go on to play at Northern Michigan.

#15 - J.J. Watt, Pewaukee
#14 - Jayme Wells, Kimberly
#13 - Travis Frederick, Big Foot
#12 - Travis Beckum, Oak Creek
#11 - Sam Santiago-Lloyd, Brookfield East
#10 - Garrett Groshek, Amherst
#9 - Leo Musso, Waunakee
#8 - Blair Mulholland, Kimberly
#7 - Gabe Carimi, Monona Grove
#6 - Ben Hempel, Franklin
#5 - Mike Newkirk, Ladysmith
#4 - Eric Brunner, Greendale
#3 - John Clay, Racine Park
#2 - Josh Oglesby, Saint Francis
#1 - Melvin Gordon, Kenosha Bradford

Others Considered

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.