The Fairfield boys basketball team recognized players for their contributions during the 2025-2026 season at the annual awards banquet Thursday, March 12th.
The Trojans finished the season with a 2-19 overall record and 1-9 in Southeast Conference play.
Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Junior Ethan Bisgard led the team with 11.9 points per game while adding 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He earned Southeast Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention honors.
Teammate of the Year: Senior Spencer McCready was voted team captain and was a four-year program participant.
Comeback Player of the Year: Senior Axl Starr averaged 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 38% from three-point range.
Captains Award: Senior Drew Myers was voted captain and started all 21 games as a four-year program participant. He led the team in assists with 55 and steals with 31.
Senior Leadership Award: Senior Brock Atwood was voted alternate captain and served as a defensive specialist during his four years in the program.
Rebounder of the Year: Senior Eli Zillman averaged 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. He earned Southeast Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition. Despite only playing 15 games, he still led the team in rebounds with 109 and blocks with 16.
Program Ambassador Award: Senior Nolan Smith started nine games and was a four-year program participant.
Scout Team Player of the Year: Senior Xavier Kessel was voted alternate captain and was recognized as the team’s most improved player during his four years in the program.
Special Recognition
Announcer of the Year: Senior Christian Rasmussen made history as the first Fairfield student to provide play-by-play coverage for Ottumwa Radio during his senior year.
Letter Winners
Fourteen players received varsity letters for the season: Drew Myers, Ethan Bisgard, Jeremy Parker, Rowan Kness, Xavier Kessel, Chase Countryman, Hank Konczal, Spencer McCready, Brock Atwood, Axl Starr, Luke Thornton, Voss Richardson, Eli Zillman, and Nolan Smith.
Academic Honors
The team received the IHSAA GPA Award for maintaining a combined team GPA above 3.25.
Thirteen individuals earned Academic All-Southeast Conference honors: Drew Myers, Ethan Bisgard, Jeremy Parker, Rowan Kness, Xavier Kessel, Spencer McCready, Brock Atwood, Axl Starr, Luke Thornton, Voss Richardson, Blake Burnett, Nolan Smith, and manager Isabel McCready.
All-Conference Recognition
Two Trojans earned Southeast Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention honors:
- Eli Zillman (senior)
- Ethan Bisgard (junior)
The banquet celebrated both the on-court achievements and the academic excellence demonstrated by the Trojan basketball program throughout the season.
Photo courtesy of Coach Nate Perkins.
