Marines & Panthers Earn NEC all Conference Honors

After a 16-win season, four Marinette girls’ basketball players earned North Eastern Conference honors for the 2022-23 season.

Sophomore guard Riley Kieffer was named to the NEC second team, senior forward Rylee Hansen was first-team all defense, and sophomore guards Bryanna Torkko and Chloe Seymour were honorable mentions.

Kieffer was Marinette’s leading scorer, averaging 11.4 points per game in conference matchups, ninth in the conference.

“She often times had the opponents’ best defender on her and was still able to excel,” Marinette coach Zac Barker said. “Her ability to score in bunches was exciting to watch.”

Kieffer also averaged four rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game.

Hansen was fourth in steals per game in the conference with 3.3 per contest. She was one of five players to make the NEC all-defensive team.

“She made her presence felt off the court this season and became one of the top defenders in conference by improving her basketball knowledge and reducing her fouls in half this season, which allowed her to play extended minutes,” Barker said. “She always set the tempo for us defensively and disrupted the opponents’ flow.

”Seymour and Torkko didn’t make the all-defensive team, but they tied for the NEC lead in steals per game with 3.4.
Seymour was 13th in points with 9.7 per game, and eighth in the NEC with 2.8 assists per game.

“She impacted the game on both ends of the floor this season. She is an explosive player that can make plays look easy,” Barker said.

Torkko was third in assists per contest with 3.3, ninth in rebounding with 5.4, and scored 6.8 points per contest.

“She was the constant calming presence on both ends of the court for us this season. Her basketball IQ and awareness to find the open teammate is very high,” Barker added.

Oconto Falls’ Ashlyn Allen was an honorable mention in a senior campaign in which she led the Panthers in minutes played, points per game, assists, 3-pointers made, 3-point percentage, and free throw percentage.

“Ashlyn was a leader on and off the court for us,” Oconto Falls coach Tim Solarek said. “She is an excellent student-athlete with high character. Ashlyn also was a huge part of our success this season.”

On the boys’ basketball side, Marinette and Oconto Falls each had one honorable mention, with Marine junior Sam Sommerfeldt and OF’s Alex Haines receiving recognition.

Sommerfeldt was ninth in the NEC in points and 11th in assists. He scored in double figures in 18 of 25 Marinette games and scored 20-plus points on seven occasions.

“Sam was our best offensive weapon this season,” Marinette coach Connor Nelson said. “Most games he saw multiple defenders.”

Haines led Oconto Falls with 12.2 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, and 19 blocks overall. He was third on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game.

“Alex is the epitome of a leader. He’s the first one in the gym and the last one out. He’s coachable and will put the work in to get better,” Oconto Falls coach Steven Rickert said. “Opponents need to prepare for him on both ends of the court. We’re excited for him to have an even stronger season next year.”

Additionally, Haines made the Academic All-State Team.

“Alex excels off the court as well,” Rickert said. “We’re incredibly proud of Alex and how well he represents our program.”

On the wrestling mat, Marinette senior Kaylee McFadden was named the NEC Girls Wrestler of the Year.

McFadden, Grace Holguin, and Koressa Allgeyer were among the six wrestlers named to the girls’ all-conference team.
McFadden and Allgeyer are seniors, while Holguin is a sophomore.

“I’m super proud of our female wrestlers this year,” Marinette coach Matthew Marotz said. “Grace was on fire, Koressa stuck it out while battling concussion protocol and knee injury, and Kaylee never disappointed. I’m very sad to be losing Koressa & Kaylee but looking forward to seeing what they accomplish next.”

Marinette’s Jaxon Smith was an honorable mention on the boys’ side of things.

“Jaxon has grown so much this season. He led our team as captain with Logan [Paris] and battled through his wrist injury the entire season and still had a good showing at sectionals,” Marotz said. “I have been gifted such wonderful athletes to coach. They all work hard both in the classroom and mat room. I can’t wait for the next wrestling season to begin even though this season just came to an end.”

Three Oconto Falls wrestlers made second-team all-conference and two were honorable mentions.

Junior Garrett Ganter, sophomore Cole Bozile, and sophomore Parker Peterson were second-teamers. Sophomore Hunter Bozile and junior Brenner Cole were honorable mentions.

Cole Bozile set the Oconto Falls record for wins in a season with 52 and his season ranked fourth in school history with 101 takedowns.

Ganter’s 47 wins this season ranked fourth all-time in Panther program history.

“It is always exciting to see these boys get recognition from the other coaches in our conference,” Panther coach Cody Nielsen said.

“It is no surprise that the NEC is a very solid conference, so anytime you can be named to the All-Conference team that is a big accomplishment.”

The NEC first team was dominated by Luxemburg-Casco, with the Spartans putting eight wrestlers on the team.