Schuna is all-BRC, all-District

By Doug Stohlberg

He didn't even play football as a freshman, but Hudson offensive and defensive lineman John Schuna earned all-Big Rivers Conference and all-District honors last week.

"I don't know if I've ever had a guy who has done more," said Raider Coach Gerry Uchytil. "He trained hard, prepared all the time and became a football technician."

Schuna, a 6-foot-4-inch, 255-pound senior, wasn't out for football as a freshman when Uchytil saw him in the school hall.

"I asked him, 'Why didn't you go out for football?'" Uchytil said. "He said, 'I might come out next year.'"

Uchytil said he did come out and immediately jumped into the team's training program.

"He made great strides."

Schuna is also known for his heroics in track. Last year he was third in the state in the shot put. Uchytil thinks he has a chance to be first this coming spring.

"He's being recruited by a number of division one schools in track," Uchytil said. "Some of the same schools are now looking at him as a football player. He's got a high grade point average too. He's the whole package."

The all-District team is selected by the Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association. It is from that pool of players that the all-state team is eventually selected.

On the all-BRC team, Schuna was selected as a first team defensive lineman and a second team offensive lineman.

Oddly enough, he was selected on the offensive line of the all-District team.

Uchytil said that he is equally good on both sides of the line.

"It's kind of a horse a piece. On our squad he was virtually on the field for the entire game. In addition to the two lines, he was also on the kickoff return and coverage teams."

Raider Mike Leverty was selected to the All-BRC second team at linebacker.

"He was another dedicated, hard-working player," Uchytil said of Leverty. "He worked hard in the weight room and had a lot of heart."

In addition to playing linebacker, Leverty was a running back on offense. Leverty is a senior who stands 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 180 pounds.

Selected to the All-BRC team in an honorable mention roll were seniors Joe Breault as an offensive back and defensive safety, Chris Bevers as an offensive lineman and Jeff Johnson as quarterback.