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Bug Tussel Triple Threat Athlete of the Week: Hunter Cronauer, Laona/Wabeno

05/01/2023, 11:15am CDT
By Mark Miller

The Bug Tussel Triple Threat Athlete of the Week is an honor given on WisSports.net to the top senior boys and girls three-sport athletes in the state. Players are recognized each week on WSN, with the a boys and girls winner of the Pat Richter Award at the end of the season to the best three-sport athlete of the year.

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Name: Hunter Cronauer

School: Laona

Grade: Senior

Football Honors: Four-year varsity player ... Northern Border Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Conference Defensive and Offensive Lineman of the year as a senior ... WisSports.net 8-man Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and a finalist as a junior ... Academic all-state, member of National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete National team, member of the Wisconsin Football Foundation Scholar Athlete team ... Holds 11 defensive state records ...  Senior year stats: 184 tackles, 38 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recovers, 2 rushing TD’s ... Career stats: 462 tackles, 107 tackles for loss, 53 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 13 recovered fumbles.

Basketball Honors: Three-year varsity performer ... Led the team in rebounds as a junior and senior ... Senior year averaged 8.0 ppg and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from the field ... Honorable mention all-Northern Lakes Conference selection as a senior.

Baseball Honors: Two-year varsity starter for the Rebels' varsity baseball team ... Missed freshman year due to Covid.

Track & Field Honors: Participating in track and field for the first time this spring.   

Favorite Sport: "My favorite sport that I played in high school is easily football. In football, I was able to advance my overall athletic performance. I enjoy football because the team members are brothers to me and we work together to achieve a common goal."

Best Part of High School Sports: "The best part of playing high school sports for me was creating the bonds with my teammates throughout the years and developing with them. I created many friends along the way who have made significant impacts on my life. Sports have been an essential part of my life and they have played a key role in helping me to develop into who I am today."

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "Offense wins games, defense wins championships. If they never score, we can never lose. This quote is from my head coach Dave Cronauer. I played by this motto my entire time in high school, which I believe is why I excelled so heavily on the defensive side of the ball in football. This quote motivated me to be the best that I could not only in football, but also in my other sports as well."

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "My most memorable moment in high school sports was making it to the state semifinals two years in a row in football."

Which Person Has Served as Positive Role Model in Sports For You: "My coaches have been extremely positive role models for me throughout my years in high school sports. They have taught me all that I needed to know about being a better player and a better person."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "The best part about playing three sports has been that I am constantly in shape and using different muscle groups meaning that I am always in shape and working and growing new muscles. I have constantly worked to get better and playing three sports has helped me do just that."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "I am always at practice or at a game. There are never any breaks or rest and I am constantly traveling far distances to make it to games and meets."

Favorite Opponents: "My favorite opponent to play against was Newman Catholic. They were easily the toughest team we have ever played and they were extremely friendly and nice to everyone on the team."

Toughest Individual You've Competed Against: "The toughest player that I have played against was Casin Carey of Belmont. He was a fantastic player and pushed me when I played against him in."

Favorite Professional Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Favorite Professional Athlete: T.J. Watt

Favorite College Teams: Wisconsin, Penn State

Cumulative GPA: 3.99
 
Most Admired High School Teammates:
"Ryan Roy."

College Plans: "I plan on attending Ripon College to play football and study psychology."

Activities Outside of Sports: Hunting, Fishing, Woodworking, Camping, National Honor Society, Youth Sports, Fundraising Events

Favorite TV show: Suits
 
Favorite Movie:
Deadpool

Favorite Musical Artists: Skillet

Favorite Subject: Psychology

Favorite Restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings

Favorite Website: WisSports.net

Other Family Members: Dave, father; Jodi, mother; Timber, Ryder, brothers. 

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark by clicking here.

Tag(s): Triple Threat AOTW  News  News Archive  BBB News  News  Boys Track News  Mark Miller