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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.

Each year, a preseason Watch List will be produced, then narrowed down to five finalists to be announced after the first week of playoff games. Winners will be announced following the 8-Player State Championship.

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

Alex Schradle of Clayton has been selected as the 2024 8-Player Football Defensive Player of the Year by WisSports.net. 

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.

In his career, Schradle finished with 242 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Schradle was recognized as a First Team All-Conference selection on both offense and defense in the North Central-West and the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He was a WFCA All-Region choice and a First Team All-State selection by the WFCA.

Other finalists for the award included Jackson McGuire of Highland, John Reader of Wisconsin Heights, Dominic Sherwood of Owen-Withee, and Anthony Syryczuk of Gilman.

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.