General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - February 5

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

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Logan Pearson, Senior (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly), Forward of UW-Platteville
Pearson averaged 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game as the Pioneers secured wins over UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls during the week. He tallied a team-high 27 points on 8-of-20 from the floor and 11-of-11 from the free throw line, while adding eight rebounds and five assists in a 76-73 victory over the Blugolds on Jan. 31. He followed that up with 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, in an 82-73 road win over the Falcons on Feb. 3. Pearson grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists against UW-River Falls.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Carter Huschka, Senior, Forward, Farmington, Minn. (Farmington)
UW-La Crosse, JJ Paider, Sophomoer, Forward, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
UW-Oshkosh, Michael Metcalf-Grassman, Freshman, Forward, Shawano/Waukesha, Wis. (Shawano)
UW-River Falls, Zac Johnson, Junior, Guard, River Falls, Wis. (River Falls)
UW-Stevens Point, Malik Abdul-Wahid, Junior, Forward, Brookfield, Wis. (Central)
UW-Whitewater, Elijah Lambert, Junior, Forward, Racine, Wis. (St. Catherine’s)
 
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Raegan Sorensen, Junior (Centuria, Wis./Unity), Guard of UW-Stout
Sorensen led the Blue Devils to two wins with a pair of 20-point, 10 rebound double-doubles, while shooting 66.7 percent from the field. Against UW-Stevens Point on Jan. 31, she shot 72.7 percent (8-of-11) for 22 points and 10 rebounds with an assist and a steal. Against No. 5-ranked UW-Whitewater on Feb. 3, Sorensen scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds (six offensive) and had an assist and a steal. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Lauryn Milne, Junior, Guard, Lodi, Wis. (Lodi)
UW-Oshkosh, Kennedy Osterman, Senior, Guard, Pewaukee, Wis. (Pewaukee)
UW-Platteville, Ella Mackiewicz, Sophomore, Guard, Shawnee, Kan. (Mission Northwest)
UW-River Falls, Macy Nilsen, Senior, Guard, Edina, Minn. (Edina)
UW-Stevens Point, Alexa Thomson, Junior, Forward, De Pere, Wis. (West)
UW-Whitewater, Aleah Grundahl, Senior, Forward, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
 
 
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
Specialist
Mia Lucero, Senior (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield East), of UW-Oshkosh
Lucero scored a career-high 9.850 points on the vault during the Bowling Green University (Ohio) Triangular on Feb. 4. Her finish netted her a first-place position in the meet with competitors from both Division I Bowling Green and Central Michigan University.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Meghan Dahlin, Freshman, Holly, Mich. (Holly)
Gustavus Adolphus College, Maddox Lee, Sophomore, Hugo, Minn. (Lakes International Language Academy)
UW-La Crosse, Raina Christenson, Freshman, Basehor, Kan. (Basehor-Linwood)
UW-Stout, Isabela Krulich, Junior, Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount)
UW-Whitewater, Ava Pesch, Freshman, Waterford, Wis. (Union)
Winona State University, Taryn Sellner, Senior, Mankato, Minn. (West)
 
All-Around
Gillian Cummins, Junior (Farmington, Mo./Farmington), of UW-Stout
Cummins won the all-around with a 37.950 in a dual meet with Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on Feb. 2. She scored a 9.550 on the vault, was third in the uneven bars with a career-high 9.425, scored a 9.350 on the balance beam and scored a 9.600 on the floor exercise. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Harriet Toth, Junior, Regina, Saskatchewan (Martin)
UW-Whitewater, Danielle Dudziak, Sophomore, Lorain, Ohio (Amherst)
Winona State University, Bryce Stoltz, Junior, Highland Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista)
 
 
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Cade Lemmer, Sophomore (Tomahawk, Wis./Wausau West), Forward of UW-Eau Claire
Lemmer notched two goals and two assists during a two-game series against UW-River Falls on February 2-3. He scored the go-ahead goal in a 6-0 victory on Feb. 2, in addition to assisting on two other goals. Lemmer also scored the game-tying goal in the final minute of the second period during a 2-2 tie against the Falcons on Feb. 3. For the week, Lemmer posted a plus-minus of plus-5.
 
Also nominated:
Northland College, Trey Taylor, Sophomore, Defense, Abbotsford, British Columbia
UW-Stevens Point, Fletcher Anderson, Junior, Forward, Thunder Bay, Ontario
UW-Stout, Tyler Masternak, Junior, Goalie, Oshawa, Ontario (Oshawa)
 
 
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Sadie Long, Junior (Farmington, Minn./Farmington), Forward of UW-Eau Claire
Long scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-1 victory over Augsburg University (Minn.) on Jan. 30. With the game tied 1-1 in the late stages of the second period, Long found the back of the net to put the Blugolds ahead for the first time all game with under six minutes until the second intermission. She helped ice the victory away with another goal early in the third. It was her first multi-goal game of the season.
 
Also nominated:
Northland College, Maddy Bloedel, Senior, Defense, Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park)
UW-River Falls, Alex Hantge, Senior, Forward, Hutchinson, Minn. (Hutchinson)
UW-Stevens Point, Courtney Leising, Junior, Forward, Maple Grove, Minn. (Maple Grove)


MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Luke Schroeder, Junior (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon), of UW-La Crosse
Schroeder won the 60-meter hurdles (7.80 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (21.54 seconds) at the UW-La Crosse Mark Guthrie Legacy Invitational on Feb. 3. He broke his own school record in the 60-meter hurdles. Schroeder's time ranks first on this year’s NCAA Division III Honor Roll and is the second-fastest in NCAA Division III history. His time of 21.54 (21.16 converted) in the 200-meter dash also ranks first in NCAA Division III this year.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Aden Sears, Junior, Eureka, Ill. (Eureka)
UW-Stout, Thomas Casey, Freshman, New Richmond, Wis. (New Richmond)
UW-Whitewater, Shelvin Garrett II, Junior, Beloit, Wis. (Memorial)

Field
Justin Eichler, Senior (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago), of UW-Platteville
Eichler won the 35-pound weight throw at the Wartburg College (Iowa) Select Meet held Feb. 2-3, breaking his own school record in the process. He tossed a mark of 65-1 1/2 (19.85m) to sit fourth overall on the NCAA Division III Honor Roll.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Yakob Ekoue, Senior, Hopkins, Minn. (Hopkins)
UW-La Crosse, Logan Larson, Senior, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls)
UW-Stevens Point, Tre Sanda, Sophomore, Janesville, Wis. (Parker)
UW-Stout, Sam Knox, Freshman, Pine Island, Minn. (Pine Island)
UW-Whitewater, Jordan Jackson, Freshman, Milwaukee, Wis. (Wisconsin Lutheran)


WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Rachel Krouse, Junior (Milwaukee, Wis./Wauwatosa West), of UW-Stevens Point
Krouse earned the second-best time in school history in the 3,000-meter run, aiding the Pointers to a second-place finish at the UW-Stevens Point Big Dawg Invite on Feb. 3. She took first with a time of 9:55.63, the 14th best mark in NCAA Division III.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Anna Plautz, Freshman, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
UW-Stout, Lilly Roberts, Sophomore, Green Bay, Wis. (West)
UW-Whitewater, Hannah Bilodeau, Sophomore, Machesney Park, Ill. (Harlem)
 
Field
Raina Stecher, Junior (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville), of UW-Eau Claire
Stecher set a school record to win the 20-pound weight throw at the UW-La Crosse Mark Guthrie Legacy Invitational on Feb. 3 with a toss of 60-0 1/2 (18.30m). The throw broke UW-Eau Claire’s school record and has her ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III and No. 1 in the WIAC. Stecher also had a personal best in the shot put with a throw of 41-5 (12.62m) to place eighth.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Izzy Carroll, Senior, Platteville, Wis. (Platteville)
UW-Stout, Jenna Driscoll, Senior, St. Croix Falls, Wis. (St. Croix Falls)
UW-Whitewater, Kenni Czarnecki, Junior, Muskego, Wis. (Muskego)
 
 
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Ethan Otto, Senior (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins), of UW-Stevens Point
Otto earned top marks for UW-Stevens Point against NCAA Division I Milwaukee on Feb. 3. He won the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:28.81. Otto also recorded a third-place finish in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:09.48 and a fourth-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:52.30.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Todd O’Connor, Freshman, Grafton, Wis. (Grafton)
UW-La Crosse, Jacob Ketterling, Sophomore, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)
UW-Whitewater, Ethan Bergman, Sophomore, Racine, Wis. (Kenosha Bradford)

Diving
Tony McNiff, Junior (Princeton, Minn./Princeton), of UW-La Crosse
McNiff won the three-meter competition (447.15 points) and placed second in the one-meter (426.35) at the Dodd Road Invitational at Carleton College (Minn.) on Feb. 3. He met the NCAA Division III qualifying standards in both events.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stevens Point, Declan Trant, Freshman, Downers Grove, Ill. (South)
UW-Whitewater, Drew Schmitz, Freshman, Appleton, Wis. (North)
 
 
WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Bryna Gulbrandson, Sophomore (Eagan, Minn./Eagan), of UW-Eau Claire
Competing at the Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) Gustie Challenge Feb. 2-3, Gulbrandson set a personal best in the 500-yard freestyle by 8 seconds, winning the event in 5:20.08. She was second in the 200-yard freestyle with another personal best time of 2:01.45. Gulbrandson dropped 25 seconds from her mid-season time in the 1,650-yard freestyle, winning the event in 19:00.51.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Autumn Seebach, Junior, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls)
UW-Stevens Point, Kyler Ernst, Junior, Fountain City, Wis. (Onalaska Luther)
 
Diving
Madeline Weber, Sophomore (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial), of UW-La Crosse
Weber won the three-meter competition (407.15 points) and finished fourth in the one-meter (382.55) at the Dodd Road Invitational at Carleton College (Minn.) on Feb. 3. She fell just short for the NCAA Division III qualifying standard of 410.00 in the three-meter. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stevens Point, Abby Hopfensperger, Senior, Appleton, Wis. (West)
 
 
MEN’S TENNIS
West Division - Singles
Drew Van Fossen, Junior (Germantown, Wis./Germantown), of UW-Whitewater
Van Fossen picked up the team’s lone win in singles play against No. 8-ranked Washington University in St. Louis on Feb. 3. He defeated Colin Fox 6-0, 1-6, 6-3.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Ethan Wurtzel, Senior, Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie)
UW-La Crosse, Cole Contardi, Senior, Oconomowoc, Wis. (Oconomowoc)

West Division - Doubles
Luke VanDonslear, Senior (Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar) & Reuben Giogrio, Senior (Western Australia/Applecross), of UW-Whitewater
The duo picked up three wins, including a victory over ITA regional semifinalists from Carroll University (Wis.) and a win at No. 1 doubles in a match against No. 8-ranked Washington University in St. Louis. The pair topped Igor Chaves Guetten and Ren Kurachi of UW-Superior 8-0 to open the 2024 schedule. VanDonslear and Giorgio followed with an 8-4 win over Carroll’s Adrian Gomez and Daniel Ezcurra. The duo teamed up for a 8-7(4) win over WashU’s Gauvav Singh and Colin Fox to give UW-Whitewater a 2-1 lead in the match after doubles play on Feb. 3.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Demetri Bush, Senior, Edina, Minn. (Duluth Marshall) & Ethan Wurtzel, Senior, Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie)
UW-La Crosse, Cole Contardi, Senior, Oconomowoc, Wis. (Hartland Arrowhead) & Jack Hehli, Sophomore, West Salem, Wis. (West Salem)
UW-Stevens Point, Dominik Hendrickson, Junior, Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie) & Hayden Schreier, Sophomore, Stoughton, Wis. (Stoughton)
 
 
WRESTLING
Tristan Massie, Senior (Hillsdale, Wis./Barron), 165 pounds of UW-Eau Claire
Massie was the 165-pound champion at UW-Eau Claire’s Don Parker Open on Feb. 3, winning all five of his matches to clinch the title. He defeated three NCAA Division I wrestlers along the way. He won his tournament opener by pin in 31 seconds, and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-2 decision in the second round. He knocked off Ryan Dolezal of South Dakota State University by 15-3 major decision in the quarterfinals before defeating Brock Fettig of South Dakota State by sudden victory, 6-5, in the semifinals. Massie clinched the championship with a 15-2 major decision over Wisconsin’s Danny Sheen in the finals.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Quinton Wolbert, Freshman, 125 pounds, Wales, Wis. (Oconomowoc)
UW-Stevens Point, Riese Thornberry, Freshman, 149 pounds, Germantown, Wis. (Germantown)
UW-Whitewater, Justin Fortugno, Sophomore, 141 pounds, Armonk, N.Y. (Byram Hills)