Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

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.

Winners will be announced the week after the 8-Player Championship.

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

Jackson McGuire, Highland - McGuire was the leading tackler for a Cardinals team that won the Ridge & Valley-8 Conference title and went unbeaten until a state semi-final loss to Owen-Withee. Playing as a defensive end, he recorded 93 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, three sacks, and a fumble recovery this season. He was a First Team All-Conference pick and the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

John Reader, Wisconsin Heights - Reader is extremely disruptive as a defensive end for the Vanguards, posting 121 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 20 sacks this season as a First Team All-Conference pick. He's tied for second in the state in TFL's this season and leads the way in the sacks category.

Alex Schradle, Clayton - Schradle may be the best overall lineman in 8-player football this season. Also a standout on the offensive line, he's dominant on the defensive side as well. The 6'3", 255-pound senior had 102 tackles this year with 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Dominic Sherwood, Owen-Withee - Sherwood is a ball-hawking defensive back for the Blackhawks, who are playing in this weekend's WIAA 8-Player Football Championship. He leads the state with nine interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdowns. He also had 89 tackles this year, with five fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

Anthony Syryczuk, Gilman - Syryczuk was a key part of a Pirates defense that faced some of the best offensive teams in the state this season and fared extremely well, allowing an average of less than 10 points per game. The junior linebacker had a team-high 92 tackles this season to go with five 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.