Senior Spotlight: Johanknecht casts serious shadow through senior year exploits

Look up. No, WAY UP. An absolute giant towering over the competition, senior Tristan Johanknecht has turned into a star for West basketball. Standing 6 feet 9 inches and spanning a career of four years, he provides the backbone for the Wildcat program, averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds a game. But big names and big achievements always have their tiny beginnings. Johanknecht hasn’t forgotten where he came from. 

“I think as a freshman you kind of look up to some of the older players, and I remember looking up to Carter Thomas and Jaquez Overstreet,” he said. “Even my teammates who were a year older were role models to me.”

The advice given by his teammates helped Johanknecht as a younger player.

“When I was a sophomore, Jaquez’s advice motivated me and helped me become a better player, especially during practice,” he said.

With every athletic season, Johanknecht has faced great struggles, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in his sophomore year.

“COVID-19 was a really big struggle,” he said. “Without any fans it was really different and weird to play since we didn’t have the support we usually do.”

Past the pandemic and having watched teammates graduate, the pressure now fully rests on Johanknecht to take on the mantle and stand as the center of the team. In order to prepare, he gained lots of game experience through summer basketball.

“After the season, I would do AAU tournaments which would be in different states,” he said. “It helps a lot. AAU gives you a chance to play with different players and develop your game in different scenarios. I think it also gives you exposure for other coaches to see you play.”

Using the skills from his offseason, Johanknecht was fully prepared for his final year and was ready to show off his team-leading abilities. 

“As a senior, you have to be more of a leader and help out the younger guys,” he said. “You have to make sure that everyone is playing at a high level because you have a little bit more experience in those situations, so you can help out.”

Launching into this year's season, the team had a rocky start but has transitioned into a more successful team through experience.

“I’d say we started off slow,” he said. “It took a bit to get used to, and we did a couple of new things on offense. When you’re making shots, playing well together, making big stops, and getting the crowd involved, it’s just a great environment to be a part of.”

Johanknecht draws on onlooker support for success, especially during big games. 

“My favorite moment of this season was definitely the North game at the Herd Arena,” he said. “We had so many fans there and the support helped us play pretty well against them. It was a great atmosphere.”

Not only has Johanknecht received great support from fans, but also from his coaches, who spend lots of time working one-on-one with him.

“I spent a lot of time with them, watching film and picking apart how we play on defense and offense and learning what I could do differently,” he said. “They help me practice new moves and get a lot of reps in.”

In the same manner Johanknecht appreciates their help, the coaching staff also values his dedication to the sport. Boys basketball head coach Dan Weisse builds the team's offense around his senior skyscraper.

“Our offense does run through Tristan. We want to use him -- just about every time on the floor he needs to get a touch in,” Weisse said. “He's been a huge part of what we’re trying to do and a part of the culture that we're trying to build for the future.”

One of the biggest qualities that stands out to Weisse is Johanknecht’s selflessness on the court and commitment.

“Tristan’s going to play hard with every possession no matter if he gets credit for the play or not,” he said. “He wants to see the team succeed and, as a coach, that is one of the best attributes you can have for any player.”

Johanknecht’s team-focused mindset is the greatest inspiration for his teammates like senior Bryant Wright. “He’s normally one of the first to show up at practice and one of the last to leave,” he said. “That motivates me and the rest of the team to do more work and get better as well.”

Valuing this support, Johanknecht cherishes always having a group of people who are there for him.

“My coaches and teammates are always super supportive,” he said. “I feel like if I ever needed to, I could always reach out to get help from coaches and friends.”

Johanknecht plans on pursuing basketball in his college career, and credits his West journey for shaping him into the player he’s become today. 

“I have some options right now looking at playing basketball in college next year. I’ll probably try to stay in Wisconsin,” he said. “I’ll always remember my time with Oshkosh West basketball, which was definitely my favorite part of high school.”

By Nyle Dar

February 21 2023

Oshkosh West Index volume 119 Issue V