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Wisconsin Sports Network and WisSports.net are happy to announce Catholic Memorial's Owen Strebig as the 2024 recipient of the Joe Thomas Award as the most outstanding senior offensive lineman in Wisconsin, part of the WSN Senior Football Awards.

Owen Strebig has been on the radar since suiting up for the varsity as a 6’6”, 245-pound freshman. He’s since grown to 6’8”, 300 pounds as one of the top linemen in the entire country.

A WFCA All-State choice as a junior, he received scholarship offers from top programs all over the country. He committed to Notre Dame in early February.

"He is an outstanding student and one of the best leaders we have ever had in our football program," said head coach Bill Young. "On top of that he is an outstanding football player that plays the whistle on every snap."

Strebig was recently announced as a repeat WFCA Large School All-State selection.

Finalists for the award were Strebig, Dylan Hildebrand of Verona, Braeden Jansen of Kaukauna, James Nellis of Grafton, Griffin Rousseau of Stoughton, and Alex Warden of Bay Port.

Past winners include Waunakee's Jake Irwin (2009), Wisconsin Rapids' Frank Vruwink (2010), Waukesha West's Connor Stefanski (2011), Wisconsin Rapids' Hayden Biegel (2012), Monona Grove's Jaden Gault (2013), Seymour's Jon Dietzen (2014), Arrowhead's Ben Bredeson (2015), Middleton's Kayden Lyles (2016), Waukesha West's Bryce Teixeira (2017), and Fond du Lac's Andrew Stone (2018), Stoughton's Jack Nelson (2019), Grafton's J.P. Benzschawel (2020), Whitefish Bay's Joe Brunner (2021), Monroe's Isaac Bunker (2022), and Mukwonago's Nathan Roy (2023).

The award is named after Joe Thomas, a graduate of Brookfield Central High School now playing in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. Thomas was a three-sport athlete in high school, lettering all four years in football, basketball, and track and field while also being named to the Honor Roll all four years. He started 37 games at left tackle for the Badgers and won the Outland Trophy after his senior season. After an All-American career at UW, Thomas was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl each of his first ten years in the league and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023.

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.