WISCONSIN DELLS — The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Alana Durtschi of Albany-Monticello as one of the 2024 student recipients of the Legacy Leadership Award on Friday, Feb. 16.
“The WBCA Legacy Leadership Award is an honor to receive, and I would like to thank Coach Doescher for taking the time to nominate me for this award,” Durtschi said. “I know the award is given individually, but it wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support from my family, team, and community. As one of two recipients of this award, I am so grateful and proud to represent our small towns (Albany and Monticello).”
Longtime prep sports official Loren Homb was previously selected as the Executive Board recipient of the award this year.
“I feel very honored to be considered for the Legacy Award,” Homb said. “I have enjoyed working with everyone on the Executive Board over the past 30 years, many of whom I have officiated their games. I have enjoyed the friendships that I have acquired over the years. The WBCA has become my second family, and I would do anything for them.”
The WBCA-MACC Fund Legacy Award was established in 2019 to honor the legacy, leadership, and lives of WBCA Executive Board members John Cary (former MACC Fund director), Jerry Petitgoue (state’s winningest coach & WBCA Executive Director), and David Royston (founder of JustAGame Fieldhouse) in recognition of their leadership qualities, characteristics in interpersonal relationships, and achievement as Board members.
ALANA DURTSCHI
Durtschi, a student at Albany, is a two-time all-conference player in the Six Rivers East. She was named the conference Player of the Year in 2023, was a first-team all-state member in 2023, a two-time team MVP and eclipsed 1,000 career points earlier this season. She has been a member of three consecutive regional championship teams, three sectional final teams, and the school’s first-ever state-qualifying team in 2023.
“Alana’s freshman year of basketball, she was moved up to the varsity level right away,” Albany-Monticello head coach Derik Doescher said in his nomination form. “If you watched Alana play, you would have never known. Since day one, she has had the courage to be a leader in the roughest stretches of the game, in the locker room and in the hallways of AHS. This takes courage and usually isn’t brought to fruition until one’s junior or senior seasons.”
In addition to her success on the court, Durtschi and teammate Abby Hollis spearheaded the Comet Classic, a 3 v 3 youth basketball tournament. The pair planned, organized, advertised and facilitated the tournament, raising $1,900 in the first year and $3,800 this past November. All funds went back to the Junior Comet League Youth Basketball Organization.
“Every little girl that walks the halls in our 4K-12th grade building wants to be like Alana. They see more than just a star basketball player,” Doescher said. “As a father of three young daughters, I can proudly say that Alana is their hero, and I thank her for being such a great role model to my children and all the children of the Albany Community.”
LOREN HOMB
Homb, a South Wayne native, first taught at Argyle High School. There, he also served as the head girls volleyball coach, the head boys and girls track and field coach, the JV girls basketball coach and the head girls basketball coach.
As a WIAA official, Homb has served at 16 different state tournaments for volleyball, basketball, track and field and cross country. Homb also served on the WIAA Officials advisory board from 1998 to 2000.
For the WBCA, Homb has been the Girls All-Star Chairman, Executive Board member, WBCA Hall of Fame Committee member and was inducted into the 2010 WBCA Hall of Fame as a Friend of Basketball.
“I am proud of the work of the WBCA,” Homb said. “During the last 39 years, I have seen tremendous changes. We are doing more for players and coaches than we have ever done in the past. Our awards and honors have grown and have become goals for many of the players and coaches around the state.”
For the full article visit: www.wissports.net/news_article/show/1300698.
— Natalie Dillon contributed to this article
