General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - October 6

MADISON, Wis.--Following are the WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week for the week of Sept. 29 - Oct. 5.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Grant Matthai, Senior (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wauwatosa East), of UW-La Crosse
Matthai helped lead UW-La Crosse to a sixth-place finish at the Joe Piane University of Notre Dame (Ind.) Invitational on Oct. 3. He finished 17th overall with a time of 23:17.0 on the 8,000-meter course. A total of 18 teams and 150 runners competed in the race. UW-La Crosse was the lone NCAA Division III team to compete in the meet.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Troy Verstrate, Sophomore, Germantown, Wis. (Germantown)
UW-Oshkosh, Cameron Cullen, Junior, Kewaunee, Wis. (Kewaunee)
UW-Platteville, Zachary Sporaa, Junior, Madrid, Iowa (North Polk)
UW-Stevens Point, Logan Murphy, Junior, Sheboygan Falls, Wis. (Sheboygan Falls)
UW-Whitewater, Alex Metko, Senior, Brillion, Wis. (Brillion)
 
 
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Faith Wehrman, Freshman (New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin Eisenhower), of UW-Stevens Point
Wehrman finished in second place with the time of 21:54.8, just nine seconds behind Claire Vukovics of Carleton College (Minn.) at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational on Oct. 3. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Molly Heidorn, Junior, Colfax, Wis. (Colfax)
UW-La Crosse, Lily Higgins, Junior, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
UW-Whitewater, Nicole Brown, Junior, Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake)
 
 
FOOTBALL
Offense
Ben Vallafskey, Sophomore (Appleton, Wis./Appleton East), Running Back of UW-Oshkosh
Vallafskey posted his second-straight 100-yard rushing game on Oct. 4, as the Titans defeated UW-River Falls, 21-17, to begin their conference slate. He averaged 6.7 yards on 17 carries for 114 yards and scored twice. He recorded his first double-digit rush early in the second quarter for 23 yards and scored his first touchdown of the day two plays later on a 14-yard rush. Later in the period, after rushing to UW-Oshkosh’s 49-yard line, he took the ball to the end zone in the following play for a 51-yard score. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Yaach Chuol, Senior, Wide Receiver, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Centennial)
UW-La Crosse, Gabe Lynch, Senior, Running Back, Indian Creek, Ill. (Carmel Catholic)
UW-Platteville, Kristian Gavric, Junior, Wide Receiver, Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville)
UW-Stout, Adam Moen, Senior, Quarterback, Lake Mills, Wis. (Lake Mills)
 
Defense
Kyle Dietzen, Senior (Omro, Wis./Omro), Linebacker of UW-Oshkosh
Dietzen recorded a career-high 18 tackles, including seven solo and a tackle-for-loss, in the Titans’ 21-17 victory over UW-River Falls at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium on Oct. 4. His tackle-for-loss came in the fourth quarter, stopping the Falcons on fourth-and-1 on UW-Oshkosh’s 21-yard line. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Noah Gehin, Sophomore, Defensive Line, De Pere, Wis.
UW-Platteville, Harrison Meyer, Junior, Defensive Back, Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg)
UW-River Falls, Riley Ashburn, Senior, Defensive Back, Renville, Minn. (Renville County West)
UW-Stout, Jesse Ellis, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Homewood, Ill. (Homewood-Flossmoor)
UW-Whitewater, Efrein Ramirez, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Minooka, Ill. (Minooka)
 
Special Teams
Michael Stack, Senior (Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West), Kicker of UW-La Crosse
Stack went three-for-three in field goals, including a pair in overtime, in UW-La Crosse's 23-20 double overtime victory at No. 9-ranked UW-Whitewater on Oct. 4. He converted a season-long 43-yard field goal with 12:19 left in the game to cut the lead to 17-10. Stack made a 36-yard field goal in the first overtime and then converted the game-winning 36-yard field goal in the second overtime. He was also two-of-two in extra-points.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Platteville, Brady Mobley, Freshman, Kicker, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)
UW-River Falls, Kody Curtis, Sophomore, Defensive Line, Buffalo, Minn. (Buffalo)
UW-Stout, Avron Carter, Sophomore, Wide Receiver, San Antonio, Texas (Brennan)

 
MEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Sebastian Carranza, Senior (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East), Forward of UW-Platteville
Carranza scored a pair of goals on the week as the Pioneers beat Wartburg College (Iowa) 1-0 before drawing with UW-River Falls to begin conference play on Oct. 4. He netted the game-winner against the Knights, as he knocked home a close shot in the seventh minute. He added the game-tying goal in the 60th minute at UW-River Falls, after beating the final defender and taking a long shot into the lower left corner of the goal. Carranza finished the week with three shots, all of which were on target.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Oge Enwemnwa, Junior, Midfielder, Madison, Wis. (Robert M. La Follette)
UW-River Falls, Noah Meschke, Sophomore, Midfielder, Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake)
UW-Whitewater, Aidan Glancey, Junior, Forward, Milwaukee, Wis. (Whitnall)
 
Defense
Eddie Puglisi, Sophomore (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury), Goalkeeper of UW-Stout
Puglisi made 20 total saves in two matches during the week for UW-Stout. He earned his first collegiate clean sheet making eight saves in a nil-nil draw against Buena Vista University (Iowa) on Oct. 1. At UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 4, Puglisi saw 30 shots with 15 on target, making a career-high 12 saves to keep the Blue Devils in the game. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Carson Kowalski, Senior, Defense, Mundelein, Ill. (Mundelein)
UW-Platteville, Seth Aiken, Senior, Goalkeeper, Mount Horeb, Wis. (Mount Horeb)
UW-River Falls, Carter Eklund, Sophomore, Midfielder, Andover, Minn. (Andover)
UW-Whitewater, Austin Waite, Freshman, Goalkeeper, Naperville, Ill. (Naperville)
 
 
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Offense
Jillian Sawadski, Junior (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect), Forward of UW-La Crosse
Sawadski had four goals and one assist as UW-La Crosse opened WIAC play with a pair of victories. She had one goal and one assist in a 6-0 win at UW-River Falls on Oct. 1. Sawadski then recorded a hat trick, including the game-winner, in the Eagles' 4-1 victory at UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 4. She had eight shots for the week, including six on goal. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Emma Donovan, Sophomore, Forward, Hazel Green, Wis. (Wahlert Catholic)
UW-River Falls, Emery Bigler, Junior, Forward, Pewaukee, Wis. (Pewaukee)
UW-Stevens Point, Cass Klitzke, Senior, Forward, Reedsburg, Wis. (Reedsburg)
 
Defense
Bella Jones, Junior (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), Goalkeeper of UW-Eau Claire
Jones tallied 12 saves during the Blugolds two games during week as UW-Eau Claire went 1-1. She recorded her third shutout of the season on Oct. 4, with a 1-0 victory over UW-Oshkosh, while making three saves.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Catherine Arnold, Freshman, Midfielder, Fitchburg, Wis. (Madison West)
UW-River Falls, Elizabeth Felty, Senior, Midfielder, Bryon, Minn. (Bryon)
UW-Stout, Kaitlyn Krengel, Freshman, Goalkeeper, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Champlin Park)
 
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Singles
Chloe Regal, Freshman (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville), of UW-Stevens Point
Regal remained unbeaten in dual action with wins at No. 1 singles against UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse during the week. She beat UW-Eau Claire’s Liv Herzog, 6-1, 6-2, on Oct. 3, to help the Pointers defeat the Blugolds for the first time since at least 1998. On Oct. 4, she was victorious against UW-La Crosse’s Tasha Bailey 6-3, 6-1.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Reese Burton, Sophomore, Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville South)
UW-La Crosse, Lauren Lindow, Junior, East Troy, Wis. (East Troy)
UW-Oshkosh, Mana Usui, Sophomore, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
UW-River Falls, Brooke Lindeman, Freshman, Montevideo, Minn. (Montevideo)
UW-Whitewater, Chloe Knutson, Freshman, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
 
Doubles
Tasha Bailey, Graduate Student (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) & Shelby Roth, Junior (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), of UW-La Crosse
Bailey and Roth earned a pair of conference wins at No. 1 doubles for UW-La Crosse. The duo earned a 6-3 victory over Sarah Baker/Sydney Wiener of UW-River Falls on Oct. 3, and followed with a 6-0 win over Ellie Aitken/Tristin Jantz of UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 4.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Liv Herzog, Senior, Owatonna, Minn. (Owatonna) & Beatriz Felchak, Sophomore, Curitiba, Brazil
UW-Oshkosh, Mana Usui, Sophomore, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin) & Sarah Schaeffer, Freshman, Rock Springs, Wis. (Reedsburg)
UW-Stevens Point, Chloe Regal, Freshman, Stewartville, Minn. (Stewartville) & Annie Wierzbicki, Freshman, Mukwonago, Wis. (Mukwonago)
UW-Whitewater, Josie Wojcikiewicz, Freshman, Highland, Ill. (Highland) & Kaitlyn Remke, Freshman, Johnsburg, Ill. (Marian Central)
 
 
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Offense
Grace Juergens, Junior (Lockport, Ill./Lockport), Pin Hitter of UW-Oshkosh
Juergens averaged 3.73 kills per set across the Titans’ five 3-0 victories during the week, recording 56 kills, five service aces and 2.5 blocks for a team-best 63.5 points. She started the week with 12 kills and four service aces at Carthage College (Wis.) on Sept. 30, following it up with a 15-kill, 13-dig performance against Edgewood University (Wis.) in UW-Oshkosh’s second match of the day. Juergens tallied 12 kills with one error on 28 attacks for a week-best .393 hitting percentage at UW-River Falls on Oct. 3. During an Oct. 4 quadrangular in River Falls, she added eight kills against Macalester College (Minn.) and nine against the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.).
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Mya Cinnamo, Junior, Outside Hitter, Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount)
UW-La Crosse, Kayla Sexton, Junior, Outside Hitter, St. Cloud, Minn. (Cathedral)
UW-Platteville, Kierney McDonald, Senior, Middle Blocker, Taylor Ridge, Ill. (Rockridge)
UW-River Falls, Emily Brenner, Junior, Outside Hitter, Boyd, Wis. (Stanley-Boyd)
UW-Stevens Point, Carly Thomka, Junior, Middle Blocker, Muskego, Wis. (Muskego)
UW-Whitewater, Gaby DiMotto, Freshman, Outside Hitter, New Berlin, Wis. (West)
 
Defense
Natalie Lawton, Freshman (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Cathloic Prep), Libero of UW-Whitewater
Lawton registered a pair of 20-dig performances in the Warhawks’ two wins during week. She opened the week with a 21-dig outing in UW-Whitewater’s four-set win over UW-La Crosse. She added 20 digs in a sweep over the University of Chicago (Ill.) on Oct. 4. For the week, Lawton averaged 5.86 digs per set and added a reception percentage of .972 – with a single receiving error in 36 chances.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kaitlyn Erickson, Sophomore, Libero, Champlin, Minn. (Champlin Park)
UW-La Crosse, Taylor Larson, Senior, Libero, Hartland, Wis. (Menomonee Falls)
UW-Oshkosh, Callie Panasuk, Freshman, Libero, Oak Creek, Wis.
UW-River Falls, Audrey Petersen, Sophomore, Defensive Specialist/Libero, Glencoe, Minn. (Glencoe-Silver Lake)
UW-Stevens Point, Carly Thomka, Junior, Middle Blocker, Muskego, Wis. (Muskego)
UW-Stout, Brynn Hessel, Junior, Middle Hitter, South Range, Wis. (Northwestern)
UW-Whitewater, Natalie Lawton, Freshman, Libero, Elmhurst, Ill. (IC Catholic Prep)
 
Setter
Aubrie Krzus, Junior (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South), Setter of UW-Whitewater
Krzus led UW-Whitewater to a pair of wins during the week. She opened the week with 34 assists as the Warhawk offense hit .314 in a four-set win over UW-La Crosse. She hit .417 with seven kills in the contest. Krzus closed the week with a 10-kill performance in a sweep of University of Chicago (Ill.). Krzus hit .643 with just a single error, while dishing out 27 assists and adding an ace in the win. She posted three blocks in each match. For the week, Krzus averaged 8.71 assists, 2.43 kills with an attack percentage of .538, 0.86 blocks and 3.00 points per set.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Izzy Coon, Senior, Setter, Fond du Lac, Wis. (St. Mary’s Springs Academy)
UW-River Falls, Ellie Mascotti, Freshman, Setter, Onalaska, Wis. (Onalaska)
UW-Stevens Point, Hannah Strege, Freshman, Setter, Shakopee, Minn. (Shakopee)
UW-Stout, Lainey Todd, Junior, Setter, Ypsilanti, Mich. (Ypsilanti Lincoln)