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The WSN 8-Player Football Awards were launched in 2016 to recognize the outstanding players participating in reduced player football. Awards presented will be Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. All players are eligible regardless of grade level.

Each year, a preseason Watch List will be produced, then narrowed down to five finalists to be announced after the first week of playoff games. Winners will be announced the week following the 8-Player State Championship.

These awards are not associated with any conference nor the WFCA awards, and are presented independently by WisSports.net.

Julian Krizan of Gilman has been selected as the 2021 8-Player Football Defensive Player of the Year by WisSports.net. 

Krizan was an All-State player last year and the WSN 8-Player Defensive Player of the Year. As a senior, he has been outstanding once again, recording 92 tackles and three sacks for the Pirates, who advanced to the state semi-finals.

Krizan was among the state leaders with 92 tackles for the Pirates, who went unbeaten in the regular season before falling to eventual champion Newman Catholic in the semi-finals. In that showdown with Belmont, Krizan had nine tackles.

He also served as the team's quarterback, throwing for 1,004 yards and 16 touchdowns, adding 1,079 yards and 18 scores on the ground.

Krizan recently added a second straight WFCA All-State recognition.

Other finalists for the award included Hunter Cronauer of Wabeno/Laona, Bryson Keepers of Gilman, Josh Kristoff of Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas, and Ashton Maney of Three Lakes.

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.