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John Anderson Award Finalists for top senior linebacker

11/04/2021, 10:00am CDT
By Travis Wilson

Frankin senior linebacker Jack Baretz

The John Anderson Award is given annually to the state's top senior linebacker as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. The award is named after John Anderson, a former Waukesha South standout who went on to star at the University of Michigan and later with the Green Bay Packers.

The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 18 semi-finalists, and eight finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners will be announced the week of the state finals.

Jack Baretz, Franklin

Franklin's defense is loaded with talent across the board, and Jack Baretz is one of the leaders of that group. The senior linebacker is second on the team with 73 tackles while adding 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks to go with a forced fumble and fumble recovery. "He has been all over the field for us and is our second leading tackler," said head coach Louis Brown. "He does very well academically and is a leader on our defense."

Will Campbell, Kaukauna

Will Campbell is a monster in the middle of the Kaukauna defense, always ending up around the ball and making plays. "He is an incredible leader," said head coach Matt Binsfeld. "Unquestionably, Will was the guy that every player in our program looks to and follows. He is very intentional about this role and has a personal relationship with nearly every one of his 115 teammates. He is perhaps the greatest student of the game that I have coached." He has nearly three times as many tackles as anyone else on the team with 103, including 14 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and three interceptions.

Kaden Hooker, Waunakee

Kaden Hooker is the Defensive Player of the Year in the Badger-Large after helping the Warriors to an unbeaten conference title. Through the first ten games of the season, he had 71 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and an interceptions. "He is the heart and soul of our football team both on and off the field," said head coach Pat Rice. "He exemplifies what it means to be a Waunakee Warrior. On the field, he is dominant. He plays with a motor that does not quit. He practices and plays with the same energy. He brings it on a daily basis."

Nick Jordt, Whitefish Bay

Linebacker Nick Jorndt is the leading tackler for an extremely talented Whitefish Bay defense that may have several players end up on the All-State team, including Jorndt. In nine games this season, Jorndt has 71 tackles with 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. A three-year starter, he has been the linebacker of the year in the North Shore Conference the past two seasons. "He is a complete linebacker that can fill against the run, play sideline to sideline, drop in pass coverage, and rush the passer," said head coach Jake Wolter. "Nick is a tireless worker that has lived in the weight room the last four years. Nick also gets us into all of our front and blitz checks at the line of scrimmage."

Langston Latham, Catholic Memorial

Catholic Memorial linebacker Langston Latham missed much of his junior season due to injury and was held out of the first game of the year as he continued to recover, but once he hit the field, he came out firing. The senior recorded 55 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a safety as the Crusaders are unbeaten heading into Level 3. 

Ben Rehl, Mukwonago

Ben Rehl is part of a talented linebacking unit for Mukwonago that helped the Indians to a share of the Classic Eight Conference title. "He is so versatile as a player," said head coach Mike Gnewuch. "He can rush, play coverage, he never stays blocked; he’s a tackling machine also. He’s the best outside linebacker I have ever been privileged to coach." That versatility is shown in the stats, where he has 107 tackles, nine tackles for loss, a sack, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick on his resume this year.


About the Author

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

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.

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