The M&O Conference has officially unveiled its full slate of All-Conference selections for the 2026 high school baseball season, celebrating the premier talent across the region.
Highlighting this year’s list are the historic achievements of the conference champion Crivitz Wolverines and the individual brilliance of the Coleman Cougars’ Gavin Pusick, who captured the league’s Player of the Year honors. The selections feature a dominant mix of elite pitching depth, prolific power hitters, and versatile defensive anchors who set the standard for high school baseball this spring.
The Crivitz Wolverines enjoyed a historic run during the 2026 campaign, capturing the conference championship outright for the first time in program history. Head coach Jeff Dorschner highlighted the milestone season while acknowledging the massive transition the program faces moving forward.
“As a program we finished the 2026 Regular Season with a 21-4 overall record. All of our losses came to a conference/regional champion team. This was the first time in program history we won the M&O Conference outright. We graduate 10 seniors so we will have some holes to fill next year and we will be very young but that happens in small schools.”
Senior Jackson Schramm spearheaded the Wolverines’ pitching staff with an elite season on the mound. Schramm turned in an exceptional 8-1 record over 11 appearances and eight starts. He registered a 1.63 ERA and a microscopic 1.10 WHIP, striking out 93 batters over 47.1 innings while limiting opposing hitters to a meager .169 batting average. At the plate, Schramm started all 24 games and recorded 15 hits, six doubles, one triple, and 18 RBIs. He scored 21 runs and swiped five bases while maintaining an .882 fielding percentage over 34 total chances. Dorschner praised Schramm’s growth and mental development over his high school tenure.
“Jackson finished his career 2nd all time in career strikeouts. He was a talented pitcher coming into his senior year, but this year he took strides on his mental toughness. In year’s past he would have doubts about his ability to compete against some of the tougher teams, but this year he embraced the challenge and that’s the most satisfying thing for me coaching him for the last 4 years. He saved his best season for his senior year and he was a big part of our success.”
Sophomore Colton Arpke emerged as an invaluable dual-threat player for Crivitz. On the mound, Arpke compiled a flawless 5-0 record and secured three saves across nine appearances, culminating in a dominant 0.74 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts in 38.0 innings. Offensively, he carried a .368 batting average with 28 hits, four doubles, and 21 RBIs. Arpke scored 17 runs and stole eight bases while anchoring the defense with a stellar .983 fielding percentage, racking up 154 putouts and 17 assists behind the plate. Dorschner emphasized Arpke’s unmatched work ethic and immense high school ceiling.
“Colton was the straw that stirred the drink for our program. He hit in the leadoff spot, he was at the top of the rotation of our staff, and he was arguably the best defensive catcher in the conference. He’s a very versatile player and a guy that just outworks everyone. He had some impressive performances this year including beating runner up Niagara twice, both complete game efforts with one of them being one of the better performances we’ve seen in my time here striking out 18 batters and keeping his pitch count down. He will be a big part of our program moving forward and he’s accomplished more in his first two seasons than most do in a 4 year career.”
Senior shortstop JJ Brand provided an elite offensive spark at the top of the Crivitz batting order. Brand carried a .412 batting average and a .583 on-base percentage, tallying 28 hits, six doubles, one triple, and 16 RBIs. Brand proved a constant threat on the baselines, crossing the plate 38 times and converting a perfect nine stolen bases on nine attempts. Defensively, he recorded 34 assists and 23 putouts at shortstop, while also logging a brief 1.0-inning relief appearance on the mound during the year. Dorschner lauded Brand’s growth as a pure hitter.
“JJ had a tremendous season for us at the plate. For most of the season he was in the top 5 in the state in hits and runs scored in all of Division 3. He figured out how to hit to all fields and that made him a very tough out down the stretch. He went through his fair share of growing pains throughout his first couple years in the program, but he’s another one that saved his best season for last and turned himself into a solid ballplayer and we will miss him at the shortstop position.”
Senior power-hitter Colten Tarmann rounded out the Wolverines’ first-team selections by delivering heavy run production in the middle of the order. Tarmann recorded a team-high 24 RBIs, a .391 batting average, and a massive 1.176 OPS fueled by 18 singles, four doubles, three triples, and two home runs. Tarmann scored 29 runs and went a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts. In the field, he logged 19 putouts and 17 assists, alongside contributing 2.0 innings pitched on the mound. Dorschner expressed immense pride in Tarmann’s competitive resilience.
“It’s very challenging for any high school athlete to come back off an ACL injury +which occurred his junior year in football) and watching Colten in all three sports his senior year, he handled that adversity about as well as anyone can. He showed some impressive power in the 3 spot in our lineup and it was tough on opposing pitching staffs to navigate the first half of our lineup and Colten was a big reason why. He had some big moments for us this season driving the baseball to the gaps and coming up with clutch hits with guys on base. For a guy that wasn’t a huge fan of playing baseball early in his career, he really enjoyed himself his senior year and the numbers speak for themselves.”
Coleman Cougars’ Pusick Earns Player of the Year Honors Alongside first team selection Bieber
The Coleman Cougars featured heavily in the conference awards, anchored by shortstop and pitcher Gavin Pusick, who was named the M&O Conference Player of the Year. Pusick’s offensive metrics show a .478 batting average across 18 games, scoring 30 runs on 33 hits, which included eight doubles and two triples, while generating 22 RBIs. On the basepaths, he tracked 19 stolen bases. Defensively, he recorded a .940 fielding percentage with 45 putouts and two assists. On the mound, Pusick worked 35 innings over 13 appearances, striking out 43 batters and maintaining a 1.60 ERA with one save. Coleman coach Kent Casper offered glowing remarks on Pusick’s rare career trajectory and complete skillset.
Casper expanded further on Pusick’s standout credentials as the league’s top performer.
“He was player of the year because he has it all. He can play defense. He’s got a very strong arm. He steals bases and he batted over .500 this year. Just an outstanding hitter. Hits the ball hard. And when you have all that, that’s what you’re looking for and that’s why he stood out as the best player in the conference.”
Joining Pusick on the first team is junior utility standout Wyatt Bieber. Bieber hit .379 through 18 games with 25 hits, two doubles, one triple, and 15 RBIs. He displayed aggressive baserunning with 18 stolen bases. Defensively, Bieber noted a .915 fielding percentage over 47 total chances with 42 putouts, one assist, and four double plays turned. On the mound, Bieber logged 32.1 innings over 13 appearances, striking out 19 batters and winning two games. Casper spoke highly of Bieber’s versatility and consistency.
“Wyatt, as a junior has been first team all-conference his sophomore and junior year. Wyatt is our number one pitcher, but you know, Wyatt can play anywhere. He’s very versatile. Is just a very good ball player. Hits the ball very well, he hit over .400. Just a very consistent hitter that drives in the runs and many RBIs.. That’s what we’re looking for. And he does what it takes to get the job done. We got one more year with him. Looking forward to a big year coming up, but again he’s done everything that’s asked of him.”
The Lena Wildcats landed two underclassmen on the first team in sophomores PJ Finger and Isaac Peterson, setting a bright foundation for the program’s future. Coach Mike Nompleggi opened his remarks by explaining the massive weight both players carry for the squad.
“Talking about PJ and Isaac is very similar impact wise and what they bring to the table. You take one away from our team, our team would definitely struggle.”
Nompleggi detailed Finger’s multi-positional reliability and standout moments on the mound.
“PJ was brand new for our squad coming from STAA and playing with them last year, I believe PJ came into this season wanting to prove himself and that is exactly what he did. He was our workhorse this season on the mound and pretty much played everywhere we asked him to play whether that was 3rd base, 2nd base, or in the outfield. No matter where he played he showed he wanted to play and gave it his all - something every coach looks for. One of PJ’s bright(est) spot was when he pitched a complete game against Coleman at Coleman, however, his No-Hitter against Gillett-Suring coming in his first start was very cool as well.”
Turning his attention to Peterson, Nompleggi praised the young shortstop’s elite leadership and dynamic playmaking ability.
“Isaac was our shortstop and our leader within the infield. Complete gamer that I believe will continue to improve each year he plays. I knew while coaching him in Babe Ruth he was going to be a great player. One of Isaac’s best games this season was our playoff game against Bowler where he went 4 for 4 with four runs and 4 RBIs. Isaac was someone to always watch because you never knew if he was going to make a great defensive play, have a great hit, or steal bases until he scored - he was someone that was very entertaining to watch!”
Nompleggi concluded with an outlook on what lies ahead as Finger and Peterson transition into upperclassmen.
“I believe with both of these guys still being young (sophomores heading into their junior year) that they are still trying to become leaders within the game and figure out their true potentials, they are still trying to grasp what winning in baseball is all about and them being the faces of the team. Baseball is such an interesting game where you don’t have to be the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest but you have to be mentally tough and consistent the entire way through the season! I believe once they fully reach that area of the game it’s a no-brainer that we will continue to talk about PJ Finger and Isaac Peterson for the next two seasons over and over again! I know they hit the weight room, the cage, and other dynamics of the game but now the maturity of being a leader and having that mindset of wanting everything thrown at them is what they need to master - honestly they are already more than halfway there.”
The Wausaukee Rangers’ Hank Nuetzel earned his first-team selection following an incredibly productive year at the plate and behind the dish. Coach Jon Betts shared high praise for Nuetzel’s character and offensive impact.
“Hank is a fantastic baseball player and a great teammate who is always encouraging the other players on the team. He has what another coach in the conference referred to as “a violent swing”. He had a .490 batting average and 14 of his 25 hits were for extra bases, including 2 home runs. Defensively, he is a solid infielder but spent most of his time pitching and catching.”
St. Thomas Aquinas Academy was represented on the first team by its premier two-way player, Jake Farley, who earned honors for the STAA Cavaliers. Coach Jared Wilke provided a thorough breakdown of Farley’s field presence and postseason heroics.
“Jake Farley was our true all-around player this season for St. Thomas Aquinas. He served as our ace pitcher and, when not on the mound, anchored the defense at shortstop. Jake consistently took charge of the infield, directing teammates on situations, outs, and defensive positioning. He was a leader on the field every game. One of his standout moments came in our first regional game, where he delivered a complete game dominant performance by striking out 16 batters over 7 innings. As the season progressed, Jake’s bat came alive, making him an even bigger threat. By the end of the year, opposing teams had to prepare not only for his pitching dominance but also for his ability to impact the game offensively. Jake’s leadership, versatility, and performance on both sides of the ball made him a key part of our team’s success and a deserving 1st Team selection.”
Niagara Badgers sophomore Remington Buchanan secured a first-team nod as well. Coach Philip Buckingham commended Buchanan’s relentless demeanor and devotion to refining his craft.
“There were a few things that stood out to me about Remi this year. First was his competitive nature, you could always see that look in his eyes, either on the mound, in the field, or in the box that he was there to compete. Definitely one of the most competitive kids I’ve been around so far here. Another was his work ethic. On the night that we had our awards ceremony for the school, Remi won the MVP award. When I drove his dad home from our seeding meeting that was also on that night, he was taking extra tees immediately after the ceremony. His drive to always get better and take extra reps at any moment he can makes him one of the best lead by examples players on the team even as a sophomore. Combining these things, as well as rising to the occasion and performing when it mattered most, I think led to him being one of the best players in the conference.”
The depth of the M&O Conference was on full display with the announcement of the All-Conference Second Team. The Crivitz Wolverines placed three veteran standouts on the second unit, including junior Jaxon Kroll, senior Pierce Polomis, and senior Michael Stahl. The Coleman Cougars added extensive upperclassman talent to the squad with senior Miles Lewis and junior Kollin Peters earning second-team accolades.
Representing the Lena Wildcats on the second team are senior Blake Behnke and junior Bryce Schneider. St. Thomas Aquinas Academy captured two second-team spots, as freshman Lucas Farley and senior Ethan King earned recognition for the Cavaliers. Rounding out the second-team selections are senior Parker Haak of Gillett/Suring and junior Reid Schroeder of the Niagara Badgers.
A talented group of contributors received All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition for their impactful performances during the 2026 season. The Crivitz Wolverines added to their conference-led total with senior Stephen Allard receiving honors, while the Coleman Cougars saw junior Alex Meyer garner honorable mention accolades.
The Lena Wildcats were represented by sophomore Brayden Graef, and the STAA Cavaliers added sophomore Simon King to the list. Also receiving honorable mention recognition were senior Clayton Boremans of Gillett/Suring, junior Owen Dunkes of the Niagara Badgers, and senior Gavin Thomson of the Wausaukee Rangers.
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