Dennis Semrau covers prep sports for 100.5 ESPN and ESPNWisconsin.com
Michael Meriggioli, Madison Edgewood High School
Year: Senior.
Sports: Basketball, soccer.
Sports highlights: Michael is a two-time letterwinner and a two-year starter as a guard/forward for the Crusaders. A two-time co-captain, as a junior he earned All-Badger South Conference second-team and All-Area honorable mention honors after averaging 11.6 points and 4 rebounds per game. He averaged 5 points and 2 rebounds per game as a sophomore as a key reserve to help Edgewood earn a share of the conference title.
He is a three-time letterwinner and a three-year starter as a defender in soccer. He scored the game-winning goal in the regional finals for Edgewood, which advanced to the sectional finals his senior year. He was a two-time recipient of an Edgewood Spirit award as a junior and senior.
Pre-game ritual or superstition: Listening to my pre-game music playlist.
Cumulative GPA: 4.0.
Favorite subject/class: Economics.
Favorite teacher: Ms. Maekawa, my piano teacher.
Quick quote: “Competing in sports has taught me the concept of having a family outside of a family, accountability, never giving up and time-management.”
Three words to describe me are: Sarcastic, smart, caring.
I got my start in sports: Playing with my dad and sisters in the driveway. I started playing soccer in kindergarten.
I wish I could play: Football.
My most memorable moments in sports: Conference champs for basketball my sophomore year and my senior season soccer postseason.
I like about high school sports: The intensity of each and every game and also the fact that you get to play with your brothers.
I enjoy playing basketball because: I’m tall so it’s easier for me, and because each and every game you will never know who will step up or what will happen.
Advice: “High school goes by real fast, make sure you enjoy every minute of it.”
My role models are: My mom, Barb, and my dad, Nick.
Most inspirational teammate: Currently Mitchell Wendler because he is always grinding both athletically and academically and never takes a play off.
My family also includes: My four sisters Molly, Emma, Katie, and Ellie.
Nickname: Merg.
Words to live by: “You win some, you lose some, as long as the outcome is the income.”
Favorite athlete: Kyrie Irving.
Favorite team: Wisconsin Badgers.
Favorite opponent: Monona Grove.
Favorite facility/site to compete in: Milton’s gym because it is small and compact and the baskets are always nice to me.
Favorite movie: ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Step Brothers’.
Favorite TV show: ‘The Office’.
Favorite food: Barbeque pulled pork.
Favorite fast food place and/or restaurant: Culver’s.
Favorite sport on TV: NFL football.
Favorite place to visit: Chicago.
I want to visit: Italy.
Top three favorite songs: ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ -- Kid Cudi; ‘Armed and Dangerous’ -- Juice WRLD; ‘8 out of 10’ – Drake.
Primary news source: Instagram.
Favorite website: YouTube.
Radio preset: Don’t use radio, strictly phone jams.
I drive: A Chevy Malibu.
Dream car: A Rolls Royce.
I can’t live without: My Playstation.
I like Madison Edgewood High School because: I get to hang with my best friends every day.
If I could change anything: I would want to jump higher.
I wish we could play: Waunakee.
I wish I could meet: LeBron James or Bill Gates.
Dream date: Courtside tickets at a Chicago Bulls game, walk the streets of Chicago and get some dinner, then watch some Netflix.
Dream gift: A new pair of basketball shoes.
Preferred brand of shoe: Adidas.
My perfect day: Sleep in late, get a basketball workout in, chill on the lake with my friends, go back and beat my friends in NBA 2K and come home and watch a movie with my whole family.
I like to read: Fictional books.
This and that: Member of National Honor Society, Senior Leadership Council and Edgewood Honors Society … Rotary Ethics Symposium nominee … was Prom King … volunteer work includes the annual Edgewood in the Community service day, running Children’s literature at church, playing the piano at school recitals and at community events and coaching at Edgewood youth basketball camps in the summer … played AAU basketball for Wisconsin Swing for three years … earned an Academic Excellence Award as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
Hobbies: Playing practically any sport, video games, hanging with friends, watching Netflix.
Post-high school plans: Play basketball at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. and major in Economics.
Did you know? I am a wizard on the piano. … My three older sisters have played or are playing basketball in college.
Career goal: Work for a successful company.