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Kevin Stemke Award Finalists for top senior kicker/punter

10/26/2023, 2:00pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

Owen Plate of Plymouth

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 20 semi-finalists, and five finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners will be announced the week of the state finals.


Connor Breunig, Sauk Prairie

Connor Breunig of Sauk Prairie is one of the top punters in the state, averaging 42.7 yards per attempt with just one touchback. A total of ten of his 35 punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. He also connected on 17 of 23 extra points.

Dylan Leccia, Somerset

Dylan Leccia of Somerset has a big leg and has boomed punts throughout this season and his career with the Spartans. He averages 41.1 yards per punt on 37 attempts this year, with just one touchback and a total of six punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

Cooper Mueller, Franklin

Cooper Mueller of Franklin is one of the top two-way specialists in the state. As a kicker, Mueller has connected on 10-of-14 field goal attempts plus all 68 extra points. As a punter, Mueller has averaged 39.4 yards per punt.

Owen Plate, Plymouth

Owen Plate of Plymouth is a top specialist in the state and our #1 in the preseason Class of 2024 Rankings. Plate has been huge on kickoffs this year, often booming it into the end zone. He's made four-of-eight field goals with all 41 extra points. Plate has also handled the bulk of the punting duties for the Panthers, averaging 33.9 yards per punt.

Sean West, Homestead

Sean West of Homestead is an elite kicker and punter in the state of Wisconsin. The senior averages 42.9 yards per punt attempt this season with nine punts downed inside the 20-yard line. West has also connected on 15-of-19 field goals in one of the top kicking performances in state history, with 23-of-26 extra points made as well.


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.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Travis Wilson  Senior FB Awards