For the City Times
 
STEVENS POINT – Former Green Bay Packer and University of Wisconsin Badger Jared Abbrederis will present the keynote address at the 35th Annual WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award Banquet May 6, 2018, at the Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau, Wis.
 
Abbrederis, a native of Wautoma, Wis., played parts of three years with the Packers from 2014-16 after his selection in the 5th round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He also played parts of one season with the Detroit Lions. Abbrederis played in 22 games during his pro career, making 13 catches for 152 yards.
 
He attended the Univeristy of Wisconsin-Madison as a walk-on in 2009. During his collegiate career with the Badgers, Abbrederis tied the program’s career record for receptions with 202 and the season record for catches with 78 in 2014. His 3,140 career receiving yards ranks second on the Badgers’ all-time list. In addition, he established the Wisconsin record for highest average yards per kickoff return in a career at 25.8 yard per return, and he set the single game record with 201 kickoff return yards in the 2012 Rose Bowl versus Oregon.
 
Abbrederis was a two-time, All-Big Ten First Team selection in 2012 and 2013 after earning honorable mention in 2011. He was also named UW’s offensive MVP in 2012 and 2013. Abbrederis received All-American honorable mention as a return specialist in 2011 and was a Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2013.  In addition, he was the recipient of the 2013 Burlsworth Trophy, the award presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding player that began their career as a walk-on.
 
During his prep career, Abbrederis was selected as a WIAA Scholar Athlete in 2009 for his excellence  in athletics and in the classroom at Wautoma High School. He was a three-sport athlete for the Hornets, including football, wrestling, and track & field.
 
A three-time letterwinner in football, he earned all-conference second team honors as a quarterback in 2006 and 2007, and added all-league first team honors as a defensive back in 2007 and 2008, and as a quarterback in 2008. Following his senior season, Abbrederis was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the South Central Conference and was selected to the all-state first team at quarterback by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.
 
In track, he was the Division 2 State champion in the 110-meter hurdles in 2008, and in the 110 and 300 hurdles in 2009. He established a Division 2 State record his senior season in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.33, which was later eclipsed in 2011, and in the 300 hurdles at 37.91, which still stands today. He led Wautoma/Faith Christian to the State Division 2 team championship in 2009, and he was named the Gatorade track athlete of the year that season.
 
Abbrederis received his bachelor of science degree in human development of family studies from UW in 2013. He, and his wife Rachel, have created the Supporting Others to Win Foundation to assist people in need of assistance in Waushara and surrounding counties. They reside with their two daughters, Kenzie, 3, and Blakely, 1, in Coloma, Wis.