Strachota, Smrcina are WFCA All-Stars

• Senior Tyler Smrcina

Senior Tyler Smrcina will suit up for the Division 1-3 North squad at this year’s WFCA All-Star Game July 14 in Oshkosh. Star-Observer file photo
• Senior Matt Strachota

Senior Matt Strachota, a two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year for the Raider football team, has been selected to play for the Division 1-3 North Team in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game July 14 at Titan Stadium in Oshkosh. Star-Observer file photo

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Seniors Matt Strachota and Tyler Smrcina will represent Hudson in the 2012 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Division 1-3 All-Star Game at Titan Stadium in Oshkosh July 14.

The WFCA will host two games that day with the Division 4-7 North and South teams squaring off at noon and the Division 1-3 game at 5 p.m. Strachota and Smrcina will suit up for the Division 1-3 North squad that will be coached by Paul Nievinski of Mosinee.

The WFCA All-Star Games are fundraisers for the Children’s Hospitals of Wisconsin, and each player competing is expected to raise funds for the hospitals as part of their commitment to play.

Both Strachota and Smrcina were named to the All-Big Rivers Conference First Team and the WFCA All-Region Team for their play with the Raiders in 2011. Strachota also earned honorable mention to the WFCA All-State Team.

Strachota, a 5-foot, 10-inch, 245 pound defensive lineman, is a two-time All-BRC selection who has earned the Raiders’ Defensive Lineman of the Year award the past two seasons.

Smrcina, a 6-foot, 170 pound defensive back and kick returner, has earned All-BRC honors the past three seasons, earning a spot on the 2011 First Team at both defensive back and return specialist. He was the All-BRC Second Team return specialist in both 2009 and 2010 and was voted the Raiders Special Teams Player of the Year for the second time in 2011.

Smrcina will attend and play football at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall while Strachota has narrowed his list of college choices to UW-La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire.

Other area players chosen for the Division 1-3 North Team include Somerset’s Ryan Himes and Derrek Tartar, Parker Hines of Ellsworth, Dom Goyette of Chippewa Falls, Lucas Emmerich and Mathew Knapp of Eau Claire Memorial, and Connor Hanson and Neico Stokke of Menomonie.

Tags: sports, football, raiders, prep