General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - October 13

MADISON, Wis.--Following are the WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week for the week of Oct. 6 - 12.

FOOTBALL
Offense
Kaleb Blaha, Senior (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley), Quarterback of UW-River Falls
Blaha, who in his last game at UW-Oshkosh broke the UW-River Falls program record for all-time passing yards, followed up with a single-game career-high with 443 passing yards, while adding a rushing score as the Falcons racked up 631 yards of total offense en route to defeating No. 6-ranked UW-Platteville 31-21. He completed 37-of-55 passes, including an 84-yard passing touchdown, and tallied 41 rushing yards.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Ayden Helder, Sophomore, Quarterback, Stewartville, Minn. (Stewartville)
UW-La Crosse, Gabe Lynch, Senior, Running Back, Indian Creek, Ill. (Carmel Catholic)
UW-Stout, Davonte Evans, Junior, Wide Receiver, Chicago, Ill. (Argo Commands)
UW-Whitewater, Justin Klinkner, Sophomore, Quarterback, Two Rivers, Wis. (Two Rivers)
 
Defense
Blaine Seidl, Senior (Medford, Wis./Medford), Linebacker of UW-Stout
Seidl led the Blue Devil defense with 13 total tackles (10 solo), 2.5 sacks (16 yards), and 5 tackles for loss (24 yards) and a pass break up in UW-Stout's 27-16 win over No. 11-ranked UW-Oshkosh. He had three TLF's and a sack early in the third quarter to help turn the momentum over to the Blue Devils.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Ben Wellhoefer, Senior, Safety, Omro, Wis. (Omro)
UW-River Falls, Andre Hall, Junior, Defensive Back, Cambridge, Minn. (Cambridge-Isanti)
UW-Stevens Point, Joe Berens, Senior, Linebacker, Wausau, Wis. (West)
UW-Whitewater, Ethan Gallagher, Senior, Linebacker, Homer Glen, Ill. (Lockport Township)
 
Special Teams
Michael Stack, Senior (Oshkosh, Wis./West), Kicker of UW-La Crosse
Stack converted a pair of field goals and went five-of-five in extra-point attempts in UW-La Crosse's 41-21 win over UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 11. He made a 24-yard field goal with 6:36 left in the second quarter to give the Eagles a 24-0 lead and added a season-long 45-yard field goal with :07 remaining in the first half to make it 27-7. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Branden Fischer, Senior, Punter, Watertown, Wis. (Watertown)
UW-Platteville, Andrew Bowles, Junior, Linebacker, Antioch, Ill. (Antioch)
UW-River Falls, Justin Scheberl, Senior, Kicker, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
UW-Stout, Daniel Walker, Senior, Defensive Line, Minneapolis, Minn. (Champlin Park)
 

MEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Tate McDermott, Sophomore (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes), Midfielder of UW-Eau Claire
McDermott led the Blugold offense to two wins during the week, including a second consecutive WIAC victory. He recorded one goal and three assists as the Blugolds defeated Bethel University (Minn.) and UW-River Falls. In both contests, McDermott assisted on the game-winning goal and brings his conference lead in assists up to eight on the season.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Platteville, Sebastian Carranza, Senior, Forward, St. Charles, Ill. (St. Charles East)
UW-Stout, Marwan Kaddah, Freshman, Midfielder, Cairo, Egypt (NCBIS)
UW-Whitewater, Cooper Re, Senior, Forward, Kimberly, Wis. (Kimberly)
 
Defense
Seth Aiken, Senior (Mount Horeb, Wis./Mount Horeb), Goalkeeper of UW-Platteville
Aiken recorded a pair of shutouts as the Pioneers went 1-0-1 during the week. He opened the week by making three saves to post the clean sheet against Nebraska Wesleyan University before adding two saves in a scoreless draw against UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 11. With his shutout of the Prairie Wolves, Aiken moved into first all-time in program history for career shutouts with 23, and he's up to six on the season, most in the WIAC.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Carson Kowalski, Senior, Defense, Mundelein, Ill. (Mundelein)
UW-Stevens Point, Jacob Havlik, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Onalaska, Wis. (Onalaska)
UW-Stout, Kevin Lowery, Freshman, Defense, Rochester, Minn. (Rochester John Marshall)
 
 
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Offense
Sera Speltz, Junior (Winona, Minn./Winona Cotter), Midfielder of UW-La Crosse
Speltz had four goals and two assists for 10 points in a pair of wins during the week. She had three goals and two assists, including the game-winning goal, in an 8-0 victory over Bethel University (Minn.) on Oct. 8. Speltz had a goal in the Eagles' 3-0 WIAC victory over UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 11. She had nine shots in the two games, including six on goal.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Mikalyn Hidde, Sophomore, Forward, Midfielder, Zimmerman, Minn. (Elk River)
UW-Platteville, Sarah Liljestrand, Junior, Forward, Lombard, Ill. (Glenbard East)
UW-Stout, Kayle White, Sophomore, Midfielder, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
UW-Whitewater, Summer Curtis, Senior, Forward, Cary, Ill. (Cary Grove)
 
Defense
Maggie Mueller, Junior (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), Goalkeeper of UW-Platteville
Mueller recorded a pair of shutouts as the Pioneers picked up wins over UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls during the week. She totaled four saves across the two shutouts and helped UW-Platteville win by scores of 2-0 and 1-0, respectively. Mueller is up to three shutouts across just five starts in net this season.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Savannah Swopes, Junior, Midfielder, Janesville, Wis. (Milton)
UW-La Crosse, Summer Nicolai, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Onalaska, Wis. (Onalaska)
UW-River Falls, Valerie Leonard, Junior, Defense, Mankato, Minn. (Mankato West)
UW-Stout, Kaitlyn Krengel, Freshman, Goalkeeper, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Champlin Park)
 
 
MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Jack Gunderson, Junior (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay), of UW-Eau Claire
Gunderson won three events and posted the fastest time in the conference in the 100-yard breaststroke in a dual meet against UW-Oshkosh on Oct. 11. His WIAC-leading 100-yard breaststroke time of 57.87 seconds tallied 9 of the 29 points he scored in the meet. Gunderson placed first in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 22.18 seconds and swam a key role in the 200-yard medley relay with a 25.57 second finish, helping the UW-Eau Claire relay team place first.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Preston Nygaard, Freshman, McFarland, Wis. (McFarland)
UW-Oshkosh, Charlie Mason, Sophomore, Algonquin, Ill. (Jacobs)
UW-Whitewater, Ethan Bergman, Senior, Kenosha, Wis. (Kenosha Bradford)
 
Diving
Aanav Patel, Junior (Germantown, Wis./Glendale Nicolet), of UW-La Crosse
Patel swept the one (206.90 points) and three-meter (233.45) titles as UW-La Crosse opened its season competing against NCAA Division II schools St. Cloud State University (Minn.) and Truman State University (Mo.) on Oct. 11. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Tait Johnson, Freshman, Richfield, Minn. (Richfield)
 
 
WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Greta Wiskus, Freshman (Roseville, Minn./Roseville), of UW-La Crosse
Wiskus recorded a pair of top-three individual finishes as UW-La Crosse opened its season competing against NCAA Division II schools Minnesota State University Mankato, St. Cloud State University (Minn.) and Truman State University (Mo.) on Oct. 11. She finished second in the 50-yard freestyle (24.89 seconds) and third in the 100-yard freestyle (54.90 seconds). Wiskus was also on the Eagles' third-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:39.23) and fifth-place 200-yard medley relay (1:51.49).
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Amber Winter, Junior, Woodbury, Minn. (East Ridge)
UW-Oshkosh, Callee DeBruin, Freshman, Kimberly, Wis. (Seton Home Study School)
UW-Whitewater, Jenna Denton, Sophomore, O’Fallon, Ill. (O’Fallon)
 
Diving
Hannah Martini, Senior (Muskego, Wis./Muskego), of UW-La Crosse
Martini won the three-meter title (262.45 points) and placed sixth in the one-meter (227.60) competition as UW-La Crosse opened its season competing against NCAA Division II schools Minnesota State University Mankato, St. Cloud State University (Minn.) and Truman State University (Mo.) on Oct. 11. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Ella Josephs, Junior, Plymouth, Wis. (Plymouth)
 
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Singles
Shelby Roth, Junior (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), of UW-La Crosse
Roth went 3-0, earning straight set victories in all three matches. She earned a 6-0, 6-0 victory over UW-Stout's Prajna Hosamane at No. 1 singles and a 6-1, 6-2 win over UW-Eau Claire's Beatriz Felchak at No. 2 singles on Oct. 10. Roth picked up a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles over Hamline University's (Minn.) Vanessa Pham on Oct. 12. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Bre Schultz, Freshman, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
UW-Stevens Point, Chloe Regal, Freshman, Stewartville, Minn. (Stewartville)
 
Doubles
Tasha Bailey, Graduate Student (Wausau, Wis./West) & Shelby Roth, Junior, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah), of UW-La Crosse
Bailey and Roth went 2-0 at No. 1 doubles during the week. The duo earned a 6-0 victory over Olivia Herzog/Beatriz Felchak of UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 10 and a 6-3 win over Cora Andersen/Vanessa Pham of Hamline University (Minn.) on Oct. 12.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stevens Point, Tristin Jantz, Senior, Salem, Wis. (Westosha Central) & Ellie Aitken, Freshman, Sterling, Ill. (Sterling)
 
 
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Offense
Abby Stanwood, Senior (Excelsior, Minn./Minnetonka), Outside Hitter of UW-Eau Claire
Stanwood helped the Blugolds to a 4-0 week with four road victories, including wins over No. 12-ranked Hope College (Mich.), and vote getting teams in Coe College (Iowa) and the University of Northwestern (Minn.). Stanwood swung at .392 hitting percentage, tallying 5.13 kills per set, recording a career-high 27 kills against Coe, and setting a game-high .480 attacking percentage against the Kohawks. In the 12 sets won by the Blugolds, Stanwood recorded the winning point in seven of the sets with six set-sealing kills and one block assist.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Kayla Sexton, Junior, Outside Hitter, St. Cloud, Minn. (St. Cloud Cathedral)
UW-Oshkosh, Lauren Grier, Junior, Middle Blocker, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
UW-Platteville, Kierney McDonald, Senior, Middle Blocker, Taylor Ridge, Ill. (Rockridge)
UW-Whitewater, Abbie Dix, Junior, Middle Hitter, Brodhead, Wis. (Brodhead)
 
Defense
Kaitlyn Erickson, Sophomore (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park), Libero of UW-Eau Claire
Erickson helped hold down the Blugold defense in four wins during the week, including wins over No. 12-ranked Hope College (Mich.), and vote getting teams in Coe College (Iowa) and the University of Northwestern (Minn.). Erickson recorded 5.19 digs per set and held a serve receive average of 93.8 percent. Erickson and the Blugold defense held opponents to a .176 attacking rate and 10.94 kills per set.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Kayle Sexton, Junior, Outside Hitter, St. Cloud, Minn. (St. Cloud Cathedral)
UW-Oshkosh, Samantha Perlberg, Junior, Pin Hitter, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chippewa Falls)
UW-Platteville, Kelsey Ewert, Senior, Libero, Hustisford, Wis. (Hustisford)
UW-Stevens Point, Abby Nevins, Sophomore, Defensive Specialist/Libero, Muskego, Wis. (Muskego)
UW-Whitewater, Abbie Dix, Junior, Middle Hitter, Brodhead, Wis. (Brodhead)
 
Setter
Alex Kiebel, Freshman (Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake), Setter of UW-Eau Claire
Kiebel helped power the Blugolds to four wins during the week with victories over No. 12-ranked Hope College (Mich.), and vote getting teams in Coe College (Iowa) and the University of Northwestern (Minn.). While the Blugolds averaged 14 kills per set as a team, Kiebel recorded 10.63 assists per set with a 43.8 percent success rate and a weekend-high 47 assists against Coe. In addition to her offense, Kiebel tallied 34 digs with 2.13 digs per set, helping keep opponents at a .176 attacking rate.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Megan Lund, Sophomore, Setter, Rochester, Minn. (Century)
UW-Oshkosh, Jaclyn Dutkiewicz, Senior, Setter, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
UW-Platteville, Gracie Gibbens, Senior, Setter, Katy, Texas (Katy Taylor)
UW-Stevens Point, Hannah Strege, Freshman, Setter, Shakopee, Minn. (Shakopee)
UW-Whitewater, Aubrie Krzus, Junior, Setter, Wheaton, Ill. (Warrenville South)
 
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