Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Parents’ names: Jeff and Blair Wisnicky
Siblings: Grace(20), Scarlett(12) and Harper(12) Wisnicky
Position or events: Linebacker/running back, 300hurdles, 110 High hurdles, triple jump, 400M
Instagram: @jackson_wisnicky
X:jacksonwisnicky
Career Highlight: First game senior year 191 yards, rushing 2tds, 15 tackles.

At what age did you start playing your main sport?
I started playing flag football around six years old, but would play football with my dad in our backyard sense I can remember.

Who introduced you to the sport?

My dad.

Has this always been your favorite sport?
For a long time basketball was my favorite sport, it wasn’t until my junior year where football became my favorite sport.

How has balancing academics and athletics been different for you from your freshman year to your senior year?
Freshman year was pretty easy for me because I was on jv for football and basketball so the pressure to perform well was very minimal aside from the pressure I put on myself to be better. As I became a starter in football sophmore year and made varsity for basketball as well, it definitely became more difficult to balance school with athletics. I felt being an underclassman on varsity put a lot of pressure on me to excel. Going into junior year I started to learn how to prioritize and organize school better, and by the time senior year came around it felt like there was once again no struggle balancing sports with academics.

What is your favorite part about this sport?What about it has caused you to stick with it for this long?
My favorite part about football is definitely the bonds you make with your teammates and also the amount of intensity in the game. I feel like football is one of the only sports that if 10 guys do their job and 1 guy messes up it can make everything fall apart. So being apart of teams that are so closely bonded on and off the field definitely made me fall in love with the sport. Football is also the only sport I’ve ever played where the intensity is so high, once you learn to embrace that and bring energy to your team it really just gives you this high of emotions and passion for the game.

Is there a professional athlete you look up to? If so, why?
I would definitely say any small town player that made it big, a great example of that would be Tannor Bortolini, I think it’s really motivating to see someone from a small town make it to the highest level.

What would you say is your biggest asset as an athlete?

I would definitely say my biggest asset is my mentality and attitude, it’s something that’s overlooked but you can only go as far as your mind lets you. Being able to rally your guys and lead them and elevate others around you is something that can’t be taught but something you have to develop overtime within yourself.

What has been your most memorable experience in high school sports so far?
Definitely beating Saint Mary Springs in the playoffs last year. It felt like everyone was over looking us and to overcome the odds and represent the strength of our small community really was an amazing moment.

How does it feel as a senior, to look back throughout high school and see your growth (as a person and athlete)?
It doesn’t really feel real if I’m being honest, coming into highschool I was a 5’11 150lb kid that had major confidence and attitude issues in sports. It was hard for me to stay confident and trust the process of everything. Now as a senior it feels like every compliment I get is about how mature and poise I am and it really just makes me proud of how far I’ve come. Along with the lesson of consistency. It was definitely hard to start getting into the weight room because it’s hard to see results, it takes a lot of time, I’m now 6’2 200lbs and every time I look in the mirror I still see that same 150lbs freshman but by the numbers I see where all of my hard work has gotten me.

Do you have any pre-meet rituals/routines/superstitions?
Before every race I always slap my legs and arms to “wake up” my body. I was actually at a football camp this summer and as we were doing testing for verticals, 40 yd dashes, and broad jumps, I was slapping my body as I do in track and it caught on throughout the camp. I thought that was an awesome thing to see.

Do you take any extra steps to prepare for a big match/game/meet, outside of regular practices?
I actually try my best to stay consistent, I think that if you’re always training at a championship level that nothing should change. I will say that the level of focus and intensity will go up at practices with more at stake but as the structure goes, I would say nothing changes.

Any memorable coaches or teammates you’d like to give a shout out to?

Shoutout Thomas Stangel and Dj Echols. Thomas was always the most positive person on the field/court/track, he definitely set a great example on how to keep a positive and uplifting attitude. Dj was always the hardest working person on the field and in the weight room so he definitely displayed great work ethic and determination. Those two are still my closest friends and have definitely contributed to a lot of my success on and off the field.

Any hobbies outside of sports?
I really enjoy weightlifting with the guys, as well as getting chipotle and 7brew. I’ve also started to play pool recently so that’s definitely something I enjoy as well.

Favorite song?
It’s a tie: “Black” by Pearljam, “2 Dozen Roses” by Shenandoah and “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman.

Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade or water?
I prefer water, but favorite Gatorade flavor is glacier freeze.

Future Plans? (college, major, career, etc.)

I plan on going to UW-Steven’s point pursuing a degree in physics, while also playing football. After I get my physics degree I will finish my engineering degree at UW Milwaukee.