Senior Michelau earns All-State first-team

By Dan Truttschel

Sports Correspondent

Westosha Central senior Mike Michelau enjoyed his share of success during the past four years with the boys volleyball program.

Michelau closed his career at the WIAA state tournament last weekend – but with a couple more awards to add to the resume.

For the third time in the program’s history, the Falcons have an all-state player, according to voting results released this week by the Wisconsin Boys Volleyball Coaches Association.

Michelau joins Central graduates Jim Schultz and Dayton Erickson as Falcons who have earned the all-state honor.

“What an honor for Mike to make first-team, all-state,” Central coach Wayne Schultz said. “It’s the third straight season we’ve been fortunate enough at Westosha to have an all-state kid, which is quite an accomplishment considering we have all the Milwaukee-area schools.

“My kids are getting respect. Mike was very deserving. Offensively, he’s one of the most dominant players in the state.”

Michelau was not just a compelling story on the court this year. He returned to volleyball less than a year after a serious car accident that left him in the hospital with a serious brain injury for nearly two weeks, as well as a broken arm.

For the year, Michelau had a team-high 419 kills, 40 aces, 192 digs and 21 solo blocks.

Catholic Memorial’s Trevor Novotny, who is headed to Loyola University to continue his volleyball career in the fall, was named the state’s Player of the Year.

The state honor wasn’t the only award for Michelau, as he also was named the Southeast Conference Player of the Year.

He was joined by junior Caleb Mobile, who was named to the second team at outside hitter, and junior Regan Hess (middle hitter) and sophomore Brooks Gahart (setter), who were honorable mention selections.

Mobile was second on the team in kills with 294. He led the team with 53 aces and had 149 digs and 10 solo blocks.

The sky appears to be the limit for the athletic mobile as he prepares for 2012, Schultz said.

“I expect next year Caleb to be pushing for those all-state and Player of the Year honors in the conference,” Schultz said. “He has that kind of talent.”

Hess was third on the team behind Michelau and Mobile with 148 kills. He also chipped in with 44 aces, 91 digs and 18 solo blocks. Gahart led the Falcons with 720 assists in 2011.

 


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