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The Tim Krumrie Award is given annually to the state's top senior defensive lineman as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. The award is named after Tim Krumrie, a former Mondovi and University of Wisconsin athlete who would go on to star in the NFL for 12 seasons, including two Pro Bowl appearances.
 
The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 20 semi-finalists, and seven finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners will be announced the week of the state finals.

Andrew Baumgart is a disruptive force up front for the West De Pere defense. As a junior he had 53 tackles and five sacks, and in his senior campaign totaled 43 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, and two fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown). He was recently announced as the FRCC-North Defensive Player of the Year.

Wade Bryan of Waunakee was a terror up front in the Warriors’ defense last season, stepping up to record a state-high 18 sacks to go with 56 total tackles and 26 tackles for loss. For his big season he was named a First Team All-State choice by the WFCA. More accolades are sure to follow in 2023 after Bryan posted another strong season with 50 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks in the first ten games for the Warriors.

Jace Gilbert is an immovable force inside on the Arrowhead defensive front and can all kinds of problems for opposing offenses. As a senior, he has 61 tackles and nine sacks through ten games as a sure-fire First Team All-Conference pick in the Classic Eight. "Jace is a great kid who learned how to become a great student athlete throughout his high school career," said head coach Matt Harris. "One of the most humble star D1 players I have ever seen. He is not flashy by any means but is a force on the football field. Dealing with constant double teams and the ball going the opposite direction, most teams game-planned everything around Jace." Gilbert has given a commitment to Iowa State.

Ross Liegel is a two-way lineman for Baraboo, where he moves around on the defensive side of the ball to find the spot to create the most havoc for opposing offenses. The Northern Illinois recruit is tenacious chasing down the ball-carrier, even when teams would frequently run away from him. He recorded 71 tackles and 10.5 sacks through the nine-game regular season for the Thunderbirds.

Sam McGivern played in 35 varsity football games as a three-year starter for Kimberly, including last year's state championship squad. He was a repeat First Team All-Conference pick this year after recording 37 tackles and six sacks, also earning FVA Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. "He commands a lot of attention, still produces, and also opens up lanes for other guys to get after the quarterback," said head coach Chad Michalkiewicz. McGivern has committed to Yale over more than a dozen other D1 offers.

Jace Miller of Franklin was a Second Team All-Conference selection with five tackles for loss and a sack last season despite missing some time with injury. He's back with a vengeance this year and has 60 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks heading into the D1 title game. "He allows us to do things defensively that most years we can't because we know he will get doubled," said head coach Louis Brown.

Carl Pevey has been a monster for Catholic Memorial this season, coming off a strong junior campaign. As a senior he leads the Crusaders with 117 tackles and 35 tackles for loss. Pevey is tied for third in the state with 14 sacks.

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.