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The Kevin Stemke Award is presented annually to the state's top senior kicker or punter as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. The award is named after former Green Bay Preble and University of Wisconsin standout Kevin Stemke. At Wisconsin, Stemke was presented with the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter and holds UW records for highest punting average in a career (43.5) and total punting yards (10,660).

The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 15 semi-finalists, and five finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners will be announced the week of the state finals.

DeForest's Tyler Ebel was our top-ranked specialist coming into the season and showed why, averaging 41.9 yards per punt for the Norskies. Nearly half of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. Ebel earned First Team All-Conference in the Badger-Large this year as a punter.

Bryce Hillers of Richland Center earned First Team All-Conference recognition as a kicker after handling both the kicking and punting duties for the Hornets this season. He connected on five field goals and made 23-of-25 extra point attempts while averaging better than 45 yards per punt. He also rushed for more than 1200 yards.

Greendale's Andy Justus was one of the most consistent kickers in the state this season. The senior has made seven-of-nine field goal attempts as well as 36-of-37 extra points.

Stanley-Boyd senior Michael Karlen has one of the biggest legs in the state, making a school-record 52-yard field goal last season. As a senior, he has made four-of-nine field goals and 21-of-23 extra points. 

Michael Stack handles the kicking and punting duties for the Wildcats, earning First Team All-Conference recognition as a punter. He averaged 39.7 yards per punt, with seven of his 27 punts going for more than 50 yards. 

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.

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