ESCANABA---Escanaba High School senior Levi Wunder was named the State Champs Sports Network's Michigan High School hockey player of the year on Wednesday.
Wunder, who shattered every Eskymo scoring record in his three years in an EHS uniform, won the trophy after a complex selection process pitted him against other top players from across Michigan. Wunder says he was completely surprised.
"I just got done taking an English test," Wunder said, "and he (athletic director Nick Nolde) just told me to come down to his office and talk about, you know, transcripts, and how I was gonna move forward with stuff. I had no idea that this was happening."
Wunder says that even though he saw the band and several television stations in the school commons area, he still didn't know that the event was about him.
"I looked up at the trophy, and I saw the basketball team, so I was thinking that they were just kind of doing a little video for the TV (for the regional tournament game)," Wunder said. "But you just never know. It just was a real emotional time for me."
One key part of the award process was an on-line contest in which people voted for their favorite player. Wunder won that vote by a landslide over everyone else.
Lorne Plant is the exceutive producer for the State Champs Sports Network. He says that Wunder was the overall winner over the runner-up, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook's Austin Alger.
Plant and his cameraman drove up from Detroit for the ceremony, which was held in the high school commons at lunchtime. Hundreds of classmates looked on, and cheered, as Wunder got the award. The high school pep band was there, both for Wunder, and to send the Eskymo basketball team off to its regional game.
"There are a number of categories," Plant said of the award's criteria. "Level of competition. Big-game performance, things like that, that we weigh into how we decide who is the hockey player of the year."
"But the beauty of it is that we are the only major award that allows the fans to have a say."
When Wunder gathered 10,000 more votes than the next-highest player, he went into the Final Four, and had a 25-percent advantage over the other kids.
"We had a tight race. There were some amazing high school hockey players this year," Plant said. "It basically came down to the performance that Levi had, carrying his team in big-game performances."
"He had to do that throughout his career, and what he did this season was special. I mean, 46 goals is an amazing number."
Wunder says that getting an award like this makes the hard work worth it.
"You get up early in the morning and run the Gladstone ski hill until you can't move anymore," Wunder said. "You go on bike rides, and tread water in the lake and just do tons of off-ice stuff to get to where I am. It's just unbeliveable.
"I can't thank everybody enough who have been with me every step of the way."
Wunder may still have room for more trophies in his room. The team's annual banquet is scheduled for Thursday night, and then on Sunday, the Michigan High School Coaches Association will announce its Dream Team, as well as its Mr. Hockey award.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos, a video of Wunder getting his award, and listen to interviews.
Wunder, who shattered every Eskymo scoring record in his three years in an EHS uniform, won the trophy after a complex selection process pitted him against other top players from across Michigan. Wunder says he was completely surprised.
Wunder says that even though he saw the band and several television stations in the school commons area, he still didn't know that the event was about him.
"I looked up at the trophy, and I saw the basketball team, so I was thinking that they were just kind of doing a little video for the TV (for the regional tournament game)," Wunder said. "But you just never know. It just was a real emotional time for me."
One key part of the award process was an on-line contest in which people voted for their favorite player. Wunder won that vote by a landslide over everyone else.
Levi Wunder is surprised with an award
Plant and his cameraman drove up from Detroit for the ceremony, which was held in the high school commons at lunchtime. Hundreds of classmates looked on, and cheered, as Wunder got the award. The high school pep band was there, both for Wunder, and to send the Eskymo basketball team off to its regional game.
"But the beauty of it is that we are the only major award that allows the fans to have a say."
When Wunder gathered 10,000 more votes than the next-highest player, he went into the Final Four, and had a 25-percent advantage over the other kids.
"We had a tight race. There were some amazing high school hockey players this year," Plant said. "It basically came down to the performance that Levi had, carrying his team in big-game performances."
"He had to do that throughout his career, and what he did this season was special. I mean, 46 goals is an amazing number."
Wunder says that getting an award like this makes the hard work worth it.
Lorne Plant comments.
"I can't thank everybody enough who have been with me every step of the way."
Wunder may still have room for more trophies in his room. The team's annual banquet is scheduled for Thursday night, and then on Sunday, the Michigan High School Coaches Association will announce its Dream Team, as well as its Mr. Hockey award.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos, a video of Wunder getting his award, and listen to interviews.
