Koch, Wichmann, Buss sign national letters of intent

First, Bennett Koch followed in his brothers’ footsteps and went to Ashwaubenon High School, but apparently that wasn’t enough as Wednesday, Koch once again followed his siblings’ lead.

Koch signed with the University of Northern Iowa, making it a trifecta of Koch brothers who will have played basketball for the Panthers.

“I like how they play their bigs,” Koch said. “They let them go around the court, around the 3-point line. They don’t just set screens.”

Adam was the first brother to attend Northern Iowa and helped the Panthers make a memorable run in the NCAA tournament in 2010, when UNI beat top-ranked Kansas and reached the Sweet 16. Jake, who was part of that team, is now a senior and UNI and the Panthers won’t be Koch-less next season with Bennett on board.

“It’s not because I want to follow in my brothers’ footsteps,” said Koch, whose father Brian played at Green Bay Premontre (Notre Dame Academy) before playing for Dick Bennett at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. “I want to make my own future, my own path.”

It was no secret Koch was headed to UNI. Since his sophomore season he was planning to go to UNI, and Wednesday it finally could become official with the first day high school athletes could sign with colleges.

“Growing up, seeing my brothers going to UNI, I thought I want to be like them,” Koch said. “As more options came open I thought maybe I could go to wherever I wanted, but I just looked at all the colleges and realized UNI was the best option.”

This will be the last Koch brother to attend UNI, as the final Koch sibling is Maddy, who Bennett called the “cute one.”

Wichmann now a Panther
Pulaski sharpshooter Cody Wichmann made it official also on Wednesday by inking his scholarship with UW-Milwaukee.

A first-team all-state pick by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association last season, averaged 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists a junior.

“It came down to (the fact) they recruited me the hardest,” said Wichmann, who also had interest from UW-Green Bay. “I got along with the coaches very well, and it’s close to home.”

Buss signs with Louisville
Shawano swimmer Kenzie Buss also signed on the dotted line, inking a scholarship with Louisville.

Buss picked Louisville over Wisconsin, Kentucky and Alabama. Louisville is ranked No. 16 in the nation amongst women’s swimming teams.

“It just seemed to stand up higher than all the other schools,” Buss said. “Their academic support was awesome, their coaches are phenomenal and the team was like a family. It seemed to be the right fit.”

Buss placed second in the Division 1 state meet in the 100-yard backstroke, but it wasn’t her fault. The 2011 and 2009 state champ had a time of 54.52 seconds, which broke her previous state record.

However, Verona freshman Beata Nelson beat Buss with a time of 53.73.

“It was very exciting,” Buss said. “I was a little disappointed with the place, but I had a great time and I was really happy with it; definitely a lot of room for improvement.”

Buss said her time ranks her No. 1 in the nation among swimmers in her age group and it would’ve qualified her for the NCAA Division I championships. Also, her time would rank second on this year’s Louisville swim team.

Wednesday Signings
Basketball
Cody Wichmann, Pulaski - UW-Milwaukee
Turner Botz, Little Chute - UW-Green Bay
Kenneth Lowe, Little Chute - UW-Green Bay (Friday)
Jake Verhagen, Appleton West - Eastern Illinois
Bennett Koch, Ashwaubenon - Northern Iowa
Toby Hegner, Berlin – Creighton
Chelsea Nooker, Bay Port – St. Cloud State

Football
Brad Ambrosius, West De Pere – North Dakota State
Grant Morgan, Oshkosh North – North Dakota State
 
Swimming
Kenzie Buss, Shawano - Louisville

Volleyball
Emily Klitzke, Shawano – Auburn

Football
Brad Ambrosius, West De Pere – North Dakota State

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com