WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - The Win Brockmeyer Award has been recognizing outstanding high school football athletes in the greater Wausau area for nearly three decades. On Friday, the 29th recipient of the award joins the ranks of history. D.C. Everest's Blake Bangtson won the award at the annual ceremony on Friday.

Bangtson took home the award, plus a $1,500 scholarship. The other nominees were Newman's Evan Groene, Wausau West's Will McCorison and Wausau East's Jesse Napgezek. The three other nominees each received a $500 grant.

Bangtson had quite the year for Everest as a senior. He returned to the football field after a knee injury, one that put a question mark on his season before it began. Regardless, Bangtson battled to health and a career year on the ground, rushing for over 2,100 yards and scoring 36 touchdowns. He says a lot of credit goes around for the year he had.

"It's amazing I mean it wasn't me alone," said Bangtson. "I had so much support throughout this season helping and even after the injury, just guys getting in the weight room with me and working as a team to get stronger, not going through it alone."

D.C. Everest as a whole had a tremendous season. The Evergreens won the Valley and made it all the way to level four of the high school football playoffs. They did this all with first-year head coach Braden Mitchell taking over the program late in the process. Bangtson is thankful to have that experience with everyone.

"It's been awesome to play with these guys this year," said Bangtson. "This senior group is really close and I really hope that this tradition can keep growing and Everest can keep winning and just the Wausau area in general."

Each nominee's head coach had a chance to talk about their players. Each coach echoed just how deserving the nominees were, especially in a year where all four teams made the playoffs. Bangtson recognize how much of an honor it is to win the award among that group of players.

"It's awesome to see the Wausau area and how successful these four teams have been and not only as teams, but these individual players and how much talent we really have in this Wausau area," said Bangtson. "It's awesome to see guys succeed and go on to play at the next level."

The Win Brockmeyer Award has been handed it out every year since 1996. It was created in honor of former Wausau football coach Win Brockmeyer, who coached for 34 seasons in the area. The award is given out in his memory to recognize the most outstanding football player in the Wausau area who embodies the characteristics of a great leader and helps unite the Wausau area football programs.