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Wisconsin Sports Network and WisSports.net are happy to announce Sussex Hamilton's Nick Kihn as the 2023 recipient of the Al Toon Award as the most outstanding senior wide receiver in Wisconsin, part of the WSN Senior Football Awards.

Nick Kihn of Sussex Hamilton was a very good receiver as a junior last season but has stepped up as one of the state's best as a senior. After hauling in 47 passes for 567 yards in 12 games last year, Kihn eclipsed that this season, catching 80 passes for 1,181 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 14.8 yards per reception.

He also has more than 500 return yards and a rushing touchdown this season as the Chargers try to get the ball into his hands in a multitude of ways.

"The kid has a crazy knack for route running, far beyond most high school kids," said head coach Justin Gumm. "He is also the guy that catches everything, including the craziest acrobatic catches you see on ESPN."

Speaking of acrobatic catches, check out Kihn's amazing game-sealing catch in a Level 2 win over Arrowhead from our WSN Live broad here.

Finalists for the award were Kihn, Brodie Mickschl of Onalaska, Langdon Nordgaard of West De Pere, Evan Olson of Pepin/Alma, and Connor Stauff of Sun Prairie East.

Past winners of the award include Madison Memorial's Lechein Neblett (2009), Monona Grove's Zach Zweifel (2010), Montello/Princeton/Green Lake's Matt Sosinsky (2011), Black River Falls' Jordan Millis (2012), Greendale's Mitchell Brees (2013), Marquette's Jake Matkovich (2014), Kimberly's Jordan Janssen (2015), Oconomowoc's Zach Clayton (2016), Lake Mills' Hayden Iverson (2017), Waunakee's Sawyer Maly (2018), Waukesha North's Chimere Dike (2019), Cumberland's Jack Martens (2020), Cedar Grove-Belgium's Sam Peiffer (2021), Mosinee's Davin Stoffel (2022).

The award is named after Al Toon, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin who still ranks in the top three or four of almost all game, season, and career receiving categories. Toon was a first-round draft choice by the New York Jets who led the NFL in catches in 1988 with 93. Injuries forced him to retire early from the NFL, but he has been a fixture back in the Madison area for many years. 

The voting panel for the WSN Senior Football Awards consisted of:  Travis Wilson, WSN General Manager and Head Football Writer;  Norbert Durst, WSN Content Manager; Dennis Semrau, ESPN Madison; Bob Brainerd, Thursday Night Throwdown broadcaster; Jimmie Kaska, Civic Media; Dan Barwick, WSN Contributor; Colton Wilson, WSN Content Producer; Fan Vote

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.