ARGYLE - On the baseball diamond, Argyle senior Kevin Berg controls the game as the catcher behind the plate.
On the basketball court, the Orioles counted on Berg for low post scoring and smothering interior defense. On the gridiron, Pecatonica-Argyle relied on Berg as a lineman to help pave the way for one of the area's top rushing attacks as the Vikings won the Six Rivers East title.
Berg was one of 16 WIAA Scholar Athletes honored at an awards ceremony May 3 in Wausau. He received a medallion, certificate and a special plaque which is on display at Argyle High School.
"At the time, I didn't know what it was," Berg said after he was informed he was selected as a Scholar Athlete. "I didn't realize it was such a big honor as it was. After that, I was surprised."
Berg was the first Scholar Athlete named from Argyle High School. He is a three-sport athlete at Argyle, playing football, basketball and baseball. After graduating this year, Berg will attend Marquette University and major in engineering.
"It's kind of neat to be the first one," Berg said. "Truth be told, it wouldn't matter if I was the first one or the 10th one. It's such a great honor."
Every year, WIAA member high schools are invited to nominate one boy and one girl for Scholar Athlete honors. To qualify for the WIAA Scholar Athlete award, a nominee must have earned at least four varsity letters through the first half of their senior year and have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Thirty-two senior students attending Wisconsin public and private high schools are named winners of the WIAA Scholar Athlete Award every year. The program launched in 1984 to honor scholastic and athletic excellence.
Argyle Athletic Director Travis Erickson nominated Berg when he received the nominating information from the WIAA in an e-mail.
"I think obviously as a role model; being a coach here, I think a lot of kids should look up to him," Erickson said.
Erickson, who coaches basketball and baseball, has seen Berg's leadership first hand.
"He's been our leader the last couple of years," Erickson said. "He has done his job in the classroom. It's a pretty high bar to set."
Doug Chickering, executive director of the WIAA, said the Scholar Athlete Award started in 1984 to demonstrate the positive impact of interscholastic athletic activities.
"Self discipline, time management and teamwork are just a few of the benefits that these young men and women talk about when reflecting upon the impact high school athletics have had on their lives," he said. "Many point out that the athletic experience has helped them become more well rounded individuals."
Berg is entering the home stretch of his prep baseball career. As a senior, he is not thinking about this being his farewell season from prep sports.
"I just savor the moment," Berg said. "I just try to play every game like it's my last."
On the basketball court, the Orioles counted on Berg for low post scoring and smothering interior defense. On the gridiron, Pecatonica-Argyle relied on Berg as a lineman to help pave the way for one of the area's top rushing attacks as the Vikings won the Six Rivers East title.
Berg was one of 16 WIAA Scholar Athletes honored at an awards ceremony May 3 in Wausau. He received a medallion, certificate and a special plaque which is on display at Argyle High School.
"At the time, I didn't know what it was," Berg said after he was informed he was selected as a Scholar Athlete. "I didn't realize it was such a big honor as it was. After that, I was surprised."
Berg was the first Scholar Athlete named from Argyle High School. He is a three-sport athlete at Argyle, playing football, basketball and baseball. After graduating this year, Berg will attend Marquette University and major in engineering.
"It's kind of neat to be the first one," Berg said. "Truth be told, it wouldn't matter if I was the first one or the 10th one. It's such a great honor."
Every year, WIAA member high schools are invited to nominate one boy and one girl for Scholar Athlete honors. To qualify for the WIAA Scholar Athlete award, a nominee must have earned at least four varsity letters through the first half of their senior year and have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Thirty-two senior students attending Wisconsin public and private high schools are named winners of the WIAA Scholar Athlete Award every year. The program launched in 1984 to honor scholastic and athletic excellence.
Argyle Athletic Director Travis Erickson nominated Berg when he received the nominating information from the WIAA in an e-mail.
"I think obviously as a role model; being a coach here, I think a lot of kids should look up to him," Erickson said.
Erickson, who coaches basketball and baseball, has seen Berg's leadership first hand.
"He's been our leader the last couple of years," Erickson said. "He has done his job in the classroom. It's a pretty high bar to set."
Doug Chickering, executive director of the WIAA, said the Scholar Athlete Award started in 1984 to demonstrate the positive impact of interscholastic athletic activities.
"Self discipline, time management and teamwork are just a few of the benefits that these young men and women talk about when reflecting upon the impact high school athletics have had on their lives," he said. "Many point out that the athletic experience has helped them become more well rounded individuals."
Berg is entering the home stretch of his prep baseball career. As a senior, he is not thinking about this being his farewell season from prep sports.
"I just savor the moment," Berg said. "I just try to play every game like it's my last."
