General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - January 21

MADISON, Wis.--Following are the WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Max Love, Sophomore (St. Charles, Ill./North), Guard of UW-Platteville
Love averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game to help the No. 12-ranked Pioneers remain undefeated in conference play with wins over UW-Whitewater and UW-Stout during the week. He shot 58.1 percent (18-of-31) from the floor and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three across the two games. Love scored 18 points with two blocks in the 77-73 win over the No. 18-ranked Warhawks on Jan. 17, before tallying a team-high 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting with eight rebounds and five assists in a 95-75 victory over the Blue Devils on Jan. 20. He turned the ball over just once across the two games, while playing nearly 60 total minutes.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Sam Grieger, Freshman, Guard, Randolph, Wis. (Randolph)
UW-Oshkosh, Will Mahoney, Senior, Guard, Appleton, Wis. (West)
UW-River Falls, Zac Johnson, Junior, Guard, River Falls, Wis. (River Falls)
UW-Stout, Brody Fox, Junior, Guard, Mahtomedi, Minn. (Mahtomedi)
UW-Whitewater, Delvin Barnstable, Senior, Guard, Sheboygan, Wis. (Lutheran)
 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Kayce Vaile, Senior (Greendale, Wis./Greendale), Forward of UW-Oshkosh
Vaile averaged a double-double in the Titans’ wins over UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point during the week with 20.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. She shot 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the field and 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the line, while recording two assists per game. Vaile went six-of-10 from the field and four-of-six from the line for 16 points with nine rebounds against the Eagles on Jan. 17, adding two blocks and five steals to her line. On Jan. 20, she tied her career-high of 24 points, shooting eight-of-12 from the field and a perfect seven-of-seven from the line against the Pointers, while pulling down 12 rebounds (seven offensive).
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kylie Strop, Junior, Guard, River Falls, Wis. (River Falls)
UW-La Crosse, Lauryn Milne, Junior, Guard, Lodi, Wis. (Lodi)
UW-Platteville, Brynlee Nelson, Junior, Guard, Fennimore, Wis. (Fennimore)
UW-River Falls, Macy Nilsen, Senior, Guard, Edina, Minn. (Edina)
UW-Stout, Raegan Sorensen, Junior, Guard, Centuria, Wis. (Unity)
UW-Whitewater, Aleah Grundahl, Senior, Forward, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
 
 
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
Specialist
Rachel Chesley, Junior (Dellwood, Minn./Mahtomedi), of UW-La Crosse
Chesley won a pair of individual events in UW-La Crosse's dual victory at Hamline University (Minn.) on Jan. 19.  She captured the vault (9.700) and uneven bars (9.775), while also placing second on the floor exercise (9.700).
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Andrea O’Connell, Junior, Blue Mounds, Wis. (Mount Horeb)
Gustavus Adolphus College, Marley Michaud, Junior, Sartell, Minn. (Sartell)
UW-Oshkosh, Reanna McGibboney, Sophomore, Chester Springs, Pa. (Downingtown East)
UW-Stout, Isabela Krulich, Junior, Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount)
UW-Whitewater, Sarah Knetzke, Senior, Ozark, Mo. (Springfield Catholic)
Winona State University, Kaylee Bateman, Sophomore, Arden Hills, Minn. (Mounds View)
 
All-Around
Harriet Toth, Junior (Regina, Saskatchewan/Martin), of UW-Eau Claire
Toth won the all-around competition with a 37.550, cruising to victory with a margin of 0.525 over the runner-up, as the Blugolds defeated Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on Jan. 19. She took first place in the vault with a score of 9.500 and placed third on the uneven bars with a 9.300. Toth placed in the top five in three of the four individual events and helped the Blugolds score a collective 188.050, which ranks as the third-best team score in program history.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stout, Gillian Cummins, Junior, Farmington, Mo. (Farmington)
Winona State University, Bryce Stolz, Junior, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista)
 
 
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Dylan Smith, Sophomore (Plainfield, Ill.), Forward of UW-River Falls
Smith scored four goals in three games during the week against Augsburg University (Minn.) and No. 7-ranked UW-Stevens Point. He led the Falcons to a road win against the Auggies on Jan. 16, with a goal before scoring a trio of goals on the weekend against the Pointers. He scored twice on Jan. 19, and added a power play goal on Jan. 20. Smith has a team-leading 10 goals this season.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Quinn Green, Senior, Forward, West Chicago, Ill. (St. Charles East)
UW-Stevens Point, Alex Proctor, Sophomore, Goalie, Allen, Texas
UW-Stout, Dawson Green, Sophomore, Goalie, Brandon, Manitoba (Neelin)
 
 
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Rose Beeman, Senior (Minneapolis, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s), Goalie of UW-Superior
Despite losing a pair of games during the week to UW-River Falls, Beeman was solid in goal for the Yellowjackets against the No. 1 team in the country. On Jan. 18, she stopped 37 shots, but the Yellowjackets fell to UW-River Falls 4-1 at home. Beeman was even better on Jan. 20, stopping 56 shots in a 4-1 loss in River Falls. For the week, Beeman had a saves percentage of .921.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Alexa Backmann, Freshman, Goalie, Saint Michael, Minn. (Rogers)
Northland College, Elle Black, Senior, Forward, Devils Lake, N.D. (Devils Lake)
UW-River Falls, Megan Goodreau, Sophomore, Forward, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Centennial)
 
 
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Luke Schroeder, Junior (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon), of UW-La Crosse
Schroeder won the 200-meter dash (21.63 seconds) in helping lead UW-La Crosse to the team title at the Pat Healy Classic on Jan. 20. His time of 21.63 is currently tied for first on the NCAA Division III Honor Roll and tied for third-fastest time in school history. Schroeder also competed in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries, setting a school record with a time of 7.92 seconds. He broke the school record of 8.10 seconds set by Marcus Walgrave in 2006 and Austin Bates in 2019. Schroeder's time of 7.92 seconds is first on the NCAA Division III Honor Roll and tied for the eighth-fastest in NCAA Division III history. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Platteville, Cade VanHout, Junior, Green Bay, Wis. (Notre Dame Academy)
UW-River Falls, Dylan Wachter, Senior, New Richmond, Wis. (New Richmond)
UW-Stevens Point, Braedon Gilles, Senior, Middleton, Wis. (Middleton)
UW-Stout, Karden Martin, Junior, West Bend, Wis. (Slinger)
UW-Whitewater, Myles Anderson, Freshman, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
 
Field
Yakob Ekoue, Senior (Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins), of UW-Eau Claire
Competing at the UW-Eau Claire Triangular on Jan. 20, Ekoue won both the 35-pound weight throw and shot put and set a facility record in the process. In the weight throw, his toss of 63-9 (19.43m) broke the facility record and sits third on the NCAA Division III Honor Roll and first in the WIAC. In the shot put, his toss of 57-1 1/2 (17.41m) also ranks third on the NCAA Division III Honor Roll and first in the WIAC.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stevens Point, Austin Rennhack, Junior, Columbus, Wis. (Columbus)
UW-Stout, Connor Walechka, Senior, Winona, Minn. (Colter)
UW-Whitewater, Shelvin Garrett II, Junior, Beloit, Wis. (Memorial)


WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Hannah Zastrow, Senior (Spencer, Wis./Spencer), of UW-Stout
Zastrow won the 60-meter hurdles at the Pat Healy Classic with a time of 8.65 seconds, but also ran 8.61 in prelims which is the fastest time in the nation. She also finished second in high jump with a jump of 5-4 (1.63m), which ties for the conference lead.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Makenna Zak, Sophomore, Ashland, Wis. (Ashland)
UW-River Falls, Cailyn Kuechle, Senior, South Haven, Minn. (Kimball)
UW-Stevens Point, Paige Allemann, Senior, Waumandee, Wis. (Cochrane-Fountain City)
UW-Whitewater, Lena Becker, Junior, Toulon, Ill. (Stark)
 
Field
Raina Stecher, Junior (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville), of UW-Eau Claire
Competing at the UW-Eau Claire Triangular on Jan. 20, Stecher won the 20-pound weight throw with a toss of 58-4 1/2 (17.79m), which ranks fourth on the NCAA Division III Honor Roll and first in the WIAC. She also placed fifth in the shot put with a toss of 40-10 1/4 (12.45m), which ranks ninth in the WIAC.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Samantha Barrett, Junior, Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake)
UW-Oshkosh, Alexa Gordee, Freshman, Appleton, Wis. (Fox Valley Lutheran)
UW-Platteville, Brenna Noon, Junior, Oregon, Ill. (Oregon)
UW-Stevens Point, Guadalupe Cron, Junior, Keshena, Wis. (Menominee Indian)
UW-Stout, Leah Zastrow, Sophomore, Spencer, Wis. (Spencer)
UW-Whitewater, Danielle Pouska, Sophomore, Algonquin, Ill. (Jacobs)
 
 
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Jacob Ketterling, Sophomore (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek), of UW-La Crosse
Ketterling won the 100-yard backstroke (53.24 seconds), 200-yard backstroke (1:58.03) and 100-yard butterfly (51.69 seconds) in UW-La Crosse's dual victory over Carthage College (Wis.) on Jan. 19. He was also on the first-place 200-yard medley relay (1:34.88). Ketterling won the 200-yard individual medley (2:02.19) and finished second in the 50-yard freestyle (22.27) and 100-yard freestyle (49.54 seconds) in UW-La Crosse's dual win at UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 20. He was also on the second-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.36).
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Chase Millam, Senior, Stoughton, Wis. (Stoughton)
UW-Stevens Point, Gus Grimstad, Junior, Decorah, Iowa (Decorah)
 
Diving
Tony McNiff, Junior (Princeton, Minn./Princeton), of UW-La Crosse
McNiff swept the one-meter (249.85 points) and three-meter (253.05) in UW-La Crosse's dual victory over Carthage College (Wis.) on Jan. 19. He also swept the one-meter (271.85) and three-meter (260.96) in UW-La Crosse's dual win at UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 20.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stevens Point, Declan Trant, Freshman, Downers Grove, Ill. (South)
 
 
WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Libby Cleveland, Freshman (Sheboygan, Wis./North), of UW-La Crosse
Cleveland won the 100-yard freestyle (55.21 seconds) and placed second in the 50-yard freestyle (24.94 seconds) in UW-La Crosse's dual victory over Carthage College (Wis.) on Jan. 19. She was also on UW-La Crosse's first-place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:41.81) and third-place 200-yard medley relay (1:52.36). Cleveland then won the 100-yard freestyle (55.58 seconds), placed second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:20.25) and third in the 50-yard freestyle (25.35 seconds) in UW-La Crosse's dual win at UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 20. She was also on the Eagles' winning 200-yard freestyle relay (1:43.13). 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Cadence Showalter, Junior, Naperville, Ill. (Central)
UW-Stevens Point, Kasey Fris, Junior, New Lenox, Ill. (Lincoln Way West)

Diving
Abbi Priestley, Sophomore (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), of UW-Oshkosh
Priestley collected four event wins in the Titans’ home meets on Jan. 19-20, winning both the one-meter and three-meter diving in both meets. She averaged 249.11 points on the one-meter diving and 280.08 points on the three-meter, while breaking her own three-meter diving school record against UW-La Crosse on Jan. 20 with a score of 285.65.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Madeline Weber, Sophomore, Eau Claire, Wis. (Memorial)
UW-Stevens Point, Abby Hopfensperger, Senior, Appleton, Wis. (West)
 
 
WRESTLING
Tyler Goebel, Junior (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago), 149 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Goebel went 2-0 on the week to improve to 15-0 on the season. Ranked No. 3 in the NWCA Division III, he earned an 8-3 win over Scott Busse of UW-Whitewater in UW-La Crosse's 29-7 victory over the No. 10-ranked Warhawks. He then earned an 8-3 victory over No. 2-ranked Charlie Stuhl of Augsburg University (Minn.) on Jan. 20. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Connor Collins, Senior, 184 pounds, Oshkosh, Wis. (West)
UW-Platteville, David Cushman, Junior, 157 pounds, Whitewater, Wis. (Whitewater)
UW-Stevens Point, Riese Thornberry, Freshman, 149 pounds, Germantown, Wis. (Germantown)
UW-Whitewater, Scott Busse, Freshman, 149 pounds, Chicago, Ill. (Lake Zurich)
 
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