General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - Jan. 19

MADISON, Wis.--Following are the WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 12 - 18.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Brandon Beck, Sophomore (Rockton, Ill./Hillcrest Prep - Ariz.), Forward of UW-Oshkosh
Beck shot 52 percent (13-of-25) from the field, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from behind the arc and 9-of-12 from the line during the week, averaging 20.5 points in a pair of home WIAC wins. He went 6-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-7 from the three-point line, and 7-of-8 from the line for a game-high 23 points in the 86-76 win over No. 19-ranked UW-Platteville. Beck added three rebounds and two steals in the contest. During UW-Oshkosh’s 104-86 victory over UW-River Falls, Beck was one of four Titans with double-digit points as he shot 7-of-13 from the field with two 3-pointers and a pair of free throws for 18 points, while recording a team-best eight rebounds, a block and an assist.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kenji Scales, Senior, Guard, Richfield, Minn. (Eastview)
UW-La Crosse, JJ Paider, Senior, Forward, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
UW-Platteville, Bristol Lewis, Junior, Guard, East Moline, Ill. (United Township)
UW-River Falls, Jack Leifker, Senior, Center, Blaine, Minn. (Spring Lake Park)
UW-Stevens Point, Seth Miron, Junior, Guard/Forward, Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly)
UW-Stout, AJ Uttech, Junior, Guard, Fall River, Wis. (Columbus)
UW-Whitewater, Luke Bara, Senior, Guard, Muskego, Wis. (Muskego)
 
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Ella Mackiewicz, Senior (Shawnee, Kan./Shawnee Mission Northwest), Guard of UW-Platteville
Mackiewicz averaged 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as the Pioneers split during the week with a loss to No. 3-ranked UW-Oshkosh and a win over UW-Stevens Point. She tallied 23 points on 50.0 percent shooting with six boards against the Titans on Jan. 14. Mackiewicz followed that up with a strong showing against the Pointers on Jan. 17, filling the stat sheet with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals to help the Pioneers earn the victory. On the week, Mackiewicz shot 46.2 percent from three (6-of-13) with three makes in each game.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Malia Nelson, Senior, Guard, Dover, Minn. (Dover-Eyota)
UW-Oshkosh, Paige Seckar, Sophomore, Forward, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh West)
UW-River Falls, Zoey Buchan, Senior, Guard, Johnson, Iowa (Johnston)
UW-Stevens Point, Majia Rice, Senior, Guard, L´Anse, Mich. (L´Anse)
UW-Stout, Mary Berg, Sophomore, Guard, Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie)
UW-Whitewater, Mia Gillis, Junior, Forward, Mundelein, Ill. (Mundelein Carmel Catholic)
 
 
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
Specialist
Cobi Powell, Freshman (Rayville, Mo./Richmond), of UW-La Crosse
In just her second collegiate meet and first at home, Powell recorded a 9.800 to win the vault against Greenville University (Ill.) on Jan. 16. Powell’s score of 9.800 ties for fifth all-time on the vault at UW-La Crosse. Her first-place finish helped the Eagles defeat Greenville 192.425-188.650.
 
Also nominated:
Hamline University, Carly Banta, Freshman, Elkhorn, Wis. (Elkhorn)
Simpson College, Evalyn Resnick, Junior, Denver, Colo. (Denver South)
UW-Eau Claire, Linnea Vasali, Junior, York, Pa. (Central York)
UW-La Crosse, Cobi Powell, Freshman, Rayville, Mo. (Richmond)
UW-Oshkosh, Aleah Radojevich, Senior, Chicago, Ill. (Saint Laurence)
UW-Whitewater, Juliette Rider, Freshman, San Antonio, Texas (Acellus Academy)
Winona State University, Taylor Magierka, Junior, Mattawan, Mich. (Kalamazoo Christian)
 
Multi-Event
Claire Robbins, Junior (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes), of UW-La Crosse
Robbins helped lead the Eagles to a meet win over Greenville University (Ill.) with three individual event titles. First, Robbins scored a 9.675 on the uneven parallel bars to tie her teammate for the top score. Then on the balance beam, Robbins recorded a 9.725 to win the event. Finally, Robbins would make it three-for-three as she won the floor exercise with a 9.775.
 
Also nominated:
Simpson College, Kaelyn Tally, Senior, Grants Pass, Ore. (Rogue CC)
UW-Eau Claire, Anna Preussner, Junior, Johnsburg, Ill. (Johnsburg Lyons Township)
UW-Oshkosh, Hannah Hughes, Freshman, Selden, N.Y. (Newfield)
UW-Whitewater, Siena Vavala, Freshman, Richmond Hill, Ontario (King City Secondary School)
Winona State University, Kaylee Bateman, Senior, Arden Hills, Minn. (Mounds View)

 
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Logan Ganz, Freshman (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg), Forward of UW-Eau Claire
Ganz tallied his first and second career multi-point games with five total points against Saint John's University (Minn.) and Hamline University (Minn.). He had two assists against the Johnnies on Jan. 16, including a pivotal helper halfway through the third period to tie the game at 4-4. On Jan. 17, Logan's first goal extended the Blugold lead to 2-0 just 62 seconds into the second period and then gave the Blugolds a 3-0 advantage with an assist at 2:19 of the third period. Ganz had the game-winning goal in overtime to complete the five-point weekend.
 
Also nominated:
UW-River Falls, Jonny Meiers, Junior, Forward, Eagan, Minn. (Eagan)
UW-Stevens Point, Gabe Randel, Freshman, Forward, Hortonville, Wis. (Hortonville)
UW-Stout, Kullan Daikawa, Senior, Forward, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Centennial)
UW-Superior, Alexey Yarmulnik, Sophomore, Forward, Old Bridge, N.J. (Old Bridge)
 
 
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Jordan O’Kane, Senior (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria), Goalie of UW-River Falls
O’Kane and the No. 1-ranked Falcons went 3-0 on the week, including a win over No. 8-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) and a sweep over UW-Superior. She made 38 saves with a 1.000 save percentage, shutting out Gustavus on Jan. 13, and UW-Superior on the road on Jan. 16, before playing 13 minutes in relief on Jan. 17, to help sweep the Yellowjackets. O’Kane is tied for the WIAC-lead and ranks second in NCAA Division III with five shutouts on the season.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kylie Wiltse, Junior, Defense, Maplewood, Minn. (Roseville)
UW-Stevens Point, Claire Swanson, Freshman, Guard, Buffalo, Minn. (Rogers)
 

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Tyler Hartmann, Junior (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine), of UW-La Crosse
Hartmann won the 100-yard freestyle (47.89) and 200-yard individual medley (2:00.68) in UW-La Crosse's dual victory at UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 17. He was also on the first-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:26.78) and second-place 200-yard medley relay (1:39.82).
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Zhander Rowley, Senior, Janesville, Wis. (Janesville Parker)
UW-Oshkosh, Charlie Mason, Sophomore, Algonquin, Ill. (Algonquin Jacobs)
UW-Stevens Point, Gavin Schick, Freshman, Greenfield, Wis. (Greenfield)
 
Diving
Declan Trant, Junior (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), of UW-Stevens Point
In a dual win over UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 16, Trant won both the one- and three-meter dives with scores of 312.59 and 302.62, respectively. On Jan. 17 against Northern Michigan University, Trant set the school record in the one-meter (six dives) and won with a score of 355.05. He also won the three-meter dive with a score of 304.65.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Tait Johnson, Freshman, Richfield, Minn. (Richfield)
UW-La Crosse, Aanav Patel, Junior, Germantown, Wis. (Glendale Nicolet)
UW-Oshkosh, Jacob Gordon, Sophomore, Chesterfield, Mo. (Chesterfield Parkway West)
 
 
WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Callee DeBruin, Freshman (Kimberly, Wis./Seton Home Study School), of UW-Oshkosh
Across the Titans’ three meets in the last two weeks, DeBruin won seven individual events and helped three relay teams to top-3 finishes. She won the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.64), 100-yard freestyle (55.28) and 500-yard freestyle (5:27.39) against Carthage College (Wis.) on Jan. 10, before picking up a pair of wins in back-to-back duals against WIAC teams on Jan. 16 and 17. DeBruin won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events against UW-Stevens Point on Jan. 16, with respective times of 1:58.98 and 5:22.03 before taking the 500-yard (5:21.34) and 1,000-yard freestyle (10:57.46) titles against UW-La Crosse on Jan. 17. She helped 200-yard freestyle relay teams finish in the top three against Carthage and UW-La Crosse, while swimming leadoff in the second place 400-yard freestyle squad against the Pointers.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Molly Hosack, Senior, Cedarburg, Wis. (Cedarburg)
UW-La Crosse, Ava Pulvermacher, Sophomore, Madison, Wis. (Madison West)
UW-Stevens Point, Anna Scheglowski, Senior, Northfield, Minn. (Northfield)
 
Diving
Ella Josephs, Junior (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth), of UW-Eau Claire
Josephs had a record setting day off the board as the Blugolds defeated St. Norbert College (Wis.) 199-92 on Jan. 17. She won the one-meter board with 424.90 points, beating the next closest diver by over 35 points. Josephs' performance notched her a NCAA Zone Cut and she now holds the facility record at Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center on the one-meter board.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Hannah Martini, Senior, Muskego, Wis. (Muskego)
UW-Oshkosh, Maya Indiraraj, Senior, West Bend, Wis. (West Bend West)
UW-Stevens Point, Kyra Bartholomew, Junior, Hastings, Minn. (Hastings)
 
 
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Blake Postler, Sophomore (Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest), of UW-Eau Claire
Postler had a strong start to the 2026 season at the Blugolds' annual Alumni Invite and UW-River Falls Dual. He won the 55-meter hurdles with a final time of 7.46 seconds (converted to 8.040 seconds), ranking as the fastest time in the WIAC and fourth fastest in NCAA Division III. Postler's speed earned him the school record in the 55-meter hurdles and is a new facility record at the Olson Indoor Track. In addition to etching his name in the history books, Postler anchored the Blugolds' winning 4x400 relay squad and held the fastest 200-meter (22.52 seconds) and 400-meter splits out of all 28 competitors.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Nolan Miles, Junior, Virgil, Ill. (Burlington Central)
UW-River Falls, Jack Richter, Sophomore, Bayport, Minn. (Stillwater)
UW-Stevens Point, Thomas Nelson, Junior, New Glarus, Wis. (New Glarus)
UW-Whitewater, Caleb Beightol, Junior, Belgium, Wis. (Cedar Grove-Belgium)
 
Field
Collin Kao, Graduate Student (Lindenhurst, Ill./Lakes), of UW-Oshkosh
Kao set the program pole vault record during the John Zupanc Alumni & Friends Invitational on Jan. 17, with a winning height of 16-8 1/4 (5.09m). His mark leads NCAA Division III this season.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Brad Roe, Senior, Burlington, Wis. (Burlington)
UW-River Falls, Jacob Balcome, Junior, Alexandria, Minn. (Alexandria)
UW-Stevens Point, Jorden Ukpong, Sophomore, Kronenwetter, Wis. (D.C. Everest)
UW-Whitewater, Daniel Nickel, Freshman, Marshall, Wis. (Marshall)

 
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Melanie Princl, Sophomore (West Bend, Wis./West Bend West), of UW-Stevens Point
Princl won the 60-meter hurdles at the Pointer Alumni Open with a lifetime PR of 9.00 seconds. The third-fastest 60-meter hurdles time in school history and currently the best mark in the WIAC.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Allyson Kakes, Junior, Two Rivers, Wis. (Two Rivers)
UW-Oshkosh, Emma Boegh, Sophomore, Berlin, Wis. (Berlin)
UW-River Falls, Adison Wilde, Sophomore, Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville)
UW-Whitewater, Kelly Huerta, Sophomore, McHenry, Ill. (McHenry)
 
Field
Kayla Behnke, Graduate Student (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly), of UW-Eau Claire
As the Blugolds kicked off their 2026 campaign, Behnke had a strong performance at the annual Alumni Meet and UW-River Falls Dual. She took first in the weight throw with a distance of 59-10 1/2 (18.25m), which currently tops the WIAC ranks and is second in all of Division III.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Kaelyn Biello, Sophomore, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls)
UW-River Falls, Ali Clifford, Junior, Hayward, Wis. (Hayward)
UW-Stevens Point, Madeline Zirbel, Senior, De Pere, Wis. (De Pere)
UW-Whitewater, Abby Burr, Sophomore, Lancaster, Wis. (Lancaster)
 
 
WRESTLING
Eddie Simes, Junior (Amery, Wis./Amery-Pinnacle), 174 pounds of UW-La Crosse
Simes won the 174-pound division at the Cornell College (Iowa) Mike Duroe Invite on Jan. 17. He went 5-0, opening with three straight technical falls. Simes won by technical fall (21-6) over Brayden Woods of Luther College (Iowa) in the first round, a technical fall (21-6) over Colton Berg of Wartburg College (Iowa) in the second round followed by a technical fall (24-7) over Max Sokolski in the quarterfinals. He won by sudden victory (4-1) over Hesston Johnson of Wartburg (Iowa) in the semifinals and took the title with a win by decision (5-3) over Nick Alexander of Augsburg University (Minn.).
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Finn Bloomquist, Sophomore, 149 pounds, Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake)
UW-Oshkosh, Garth Martell, Sophomore, 285 pounds, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh West)
UW-Platteville, Luke Kamish, Freshman, 149 pounds, New Richmond, Wis. (New Richmond)
UW-Stevens Point, Easton Hull, Junior, 184 pounds, Waupun, Wis. (Waupun)
UW-Whitewater, Aden Byal, Junior, 157 pounds, Chatham, Ill. (Chatham Glenwood)
 
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