General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - October 26

MADISON, Wis.--Following are the WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week for the week of October 19 - 25.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Brady Norman, Sophomore (Brookfield, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield), of UW-La Crosse
Norman helped lead UW-La Crosse to its dual victory at Luther College (Iowa) on Oct. 23, winning the individual title with a time of 15:43.6 on the 5,000-meter course. A total of 26 runners completed the race.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Alex Peterson, Senior, Oconto Falls, Wis. (Gillett)
UW-Whitewater, Ben Piontek, Sophomore, Green Bay, Wis. (Green Bay Preble)
 
 
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Ashley Wilson, Sophomore (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute), of UW-La Crosse
Wilson helped lead UW-La Crosse to its dual victory at Luther College (Iowa) on Oct. 23, capturing the individual title with a time of 18:40.1 on the 5,000-meter course. A total of 35 runners completed the race.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Tianna Hayes, Freshman, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh North)
UW-Whitewater, Jocelyn Ramirez, Senior, Jefferson, Wis. (Jefferson)
 
 
FOOTBALL
Offense
Chase Pemberton, Freshman (Andover, Minn./Andover), Quarterback of UW-Stout Polytechnic
Pemberton accounted for all five of UW-Stout Polytechnic’s touchdowns in their 42-39 upset victory over No. 20-ranked UW-La Crosse, marking the program's first win against the Eagles since 2011. Pemberton finished the game 15-of-27 passing for 261 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 82 yards and two scores on the ground. He was instrumental in the second-half comeback, during which the Blue Devils scored 29 points. His performance included a 33-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and a 25-yard scoring strike with 6:23 remaining in regulation to secure a late 10-point lead.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Paxton Rothmeier, Sophomore, Running Back, Medford, Wis. (Medford)
UW-La Crosse, Braeden Ott, Senior, Running Back, Glendale, Wis. (Glendale Nicolet)
UW-Platteville, Zackary Bothun, Senior, Running Back, Janesville, Wis. (Milton)
UW-River Falls, Austin Rush, Senior, Wide Receiver, Yuma, Ariz. (Yuma Catholic)
UW-Whitewater, Darrick Hill, Senior, Running Back, Stoughton, Wis. (Stoughton)
 
Defense
Levi Bolstad, Junior (Onalaska, Wis./Onalaska), Defensive End of UW-River Falls
Bolstad delivered a record-tying performance in UW-River Falls' 59-22 victory over UW-Eau Claire, recording six tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He tied the UW-River Falls and WIAC single-game records for sacks, accounting for four of the Falcons' five sacks, while helping limit the Blugolds to 89 rushing yards. Bolstad totaled 16 yards in tackles for loss as UW-River Falls’ defense forced three interceptions and held the Blugolds scoreless in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Jake Gregorio, Sophomore, Linebacker, Lisle, Ill. (Downers Grove North)
UW-Platteville, Carver Blietz-Bentien, Junior, Linebacker, Monona, Iowa (MFL MarMac)
UW-Whitewater, Efrein Ramirez, Junior, Defensive Back, Minooka, Ill. (Minooka)
 
Special Teams
Garrison Jackman, Sophomore (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield), Kicker of UW-Stout Polytechnic
Jackman was perfect on the day, converting field goals from 38 and 45 yards out, while going 4-for-4 on PATs during UW-Stout’s 42-39 victory over No. 20-ranked UW-La Crosse. This marked the program’s first win against the Eagles since 2011. Additionally, Jackman handled kickoff duties with an average of 54 yards per kick across eight attempts, including three touchbacks.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Cooper Mueller, Sophomore, Punter, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
UW-Platteville, Charles Wermers, Senior, Long Snapper, Mequon, Wis. (Milwaukee Marquette)
UW-River Falls, Johnny Figgins, Freshman, Kicker, Palmer, Alaska (Palmer Colony)
UW-Whitewater, Tyler Vasey, Senior, Wide Receiver, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)
 
 
MEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Tate McDermott, Junior (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes), Midfield of UW-Eau Claire
McDermott helped the Blugolds complete a 2-0 week, contributing to a 4-0 victory over Knox College (Ill.) before delivering a 3-2 WIAC road win over UW-Stout Polytechnic. Against Knox, McDermott helped UW-Eau Claire secure a shutout victory to open the week. He followed that performance with a goal and an assist against UW-Stout, totaling three points while playing 80 minutes. McDermott finished with six shots, including three on target, consistently pressuring the Blue Devil defense and creating scoring opportunities. His assist on the Blugolds’ third goal proved especially important, as the score ultimately stood as the game-winner in the 3-2 victory. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Platteville, Justin Williams, Senior, Midfield, Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield North)
UW-River Falls, Ilya Lalich, Junior, Midfield, Stillwater, Minn. (Stillwater)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Seven Oberg, Sophomore, Midfield, Pine Island, Minn. (Pine Island)
UW-Whitewater, Hayden Saul, Senior, Forward, Iowa City, Iowa (Liberty)
 
Defense
Alex Miczek, Sophomore (Lockport, Ill./Lockport), Defense of UW-Platteville
Miczek made an impact both offensively and defensively as the Pioneers picked up a draw with Luther College (Iowa) to begin the week before shutting out UW-River Falls 4-0 on Oct. 24. He scored in each contest, netting the game-tying goal late in a 2-2 tie with the Norse, before scoring the game-winning goal in the win over the Falcons that helped UW-Platteville secure the WIAC regular season title.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Tommy Slater, Freshman, Defense, Northville, Mich. (Northville)
UW-Whitewater, Adam Kaup, Senior, Defense, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Wisconsin Rapids)
 
 
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Olivia Lukrafka Varassin, Sophomore (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge), Midfield of UW-Eau Claire
Lukrafka Varassin recorded two goals and four points to help lead UW-Eau Claire to a 2-0 week with a pair of WIAC victories over UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls. Against UW-Stevens Point, Lukrafka Varassin scored the game-winning goal in the 58th minute of the Blugolds' 1-0 triumph, finishing with one goal on two shots. She followed with another goal against UW-River Falls, scoring once on three shots, including two on target, in a 4-0 victory.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Aubree Caya, Senior, Forward, Oregon, Wis. (Oregon)
UW-Platteville, Janelle Minor, Junior, Midfield, Hiawatha, Iowa (Cedar Rapids-Kennedy)
UW-Stevens Point, Christa Borchardt, Sophomore, Forward, New Berlin, Wis. (New Berlin West)
UW-Whitewater, Brinley Dunsirn, Freshman, Forward, Appleton, Wis. (Appleton North)
 
Defense
Lauren Ripley, Freshman (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East), Goalkeeper of UW-Whitewater
Ripley broke a Warhawk single season record with her 11th solo shutout of the season, breaking a decade old mark. In the Warhawks 2-0-1 week, Ripley recorded three shutouts to break the record, playing the full 90 minutes in net for the Warhawks against UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout Polytechnic and Bethel University (Minn.). Through the three games, Ripley tallied 12 total saves without giving up a goal. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Bella Jones, Senior, Goalkeeper, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
UW-La Crosse, Sera Speltz, Senior, Midfield, Winona, Minn. (Winona Cotter)
UW-Platteville, Emma Verdon, Senior, Defense, Homer Glen, Ill. (Lockport)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Kristen Silenzi, Senior, Goalkeeper, Carpentersville, Ill. (Harry D. Jacobs)
 
 
MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Camden Barwick, Senior (Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest), of UW-Stevens Point
Barwick won the 50-yard freestyle in 21.19 seconds and was a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay that won in 1:25.78 against NCAA Division I Green Bay on Oct. 23. In the Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.)/Minnesota State Mankato Triangular on Oct. 24, he won the 50-yard freestyle in 21.60 seconds.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Leo Ramirez-Gutierrez, Senior, Schaumburg, Ill. (Hoffman Estates)
 
Diving
River Reeves, Freshman (Wautoma, Wis./Oshkosh North), of UW-Stevens Point
Reeves opened his collegiate diving career with a first-place finish on the one-meter dive with a score of 237.75 against NCAA Division I Green Bay. Reeves swept the one- and three-meter dives in the Gustavus Adolphus College/Minnesota State Mankato Triangular with scores of 248.05 and 256.10, respectively.
 
Also nominated:
No other individuals were nominated.
 
 
WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
Swimming
Sienna Della-Peruta, Senior (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake Central), of UW-Oshkosh
Della-Peruta took first place in three events as the Titans earned a 141-53 victory at Carroll University (Wis.). In the 400-yard medley, Della-Peruta finished first with a season-best time of 4:57.21. She also took first place in the 200-yard backstroke with a 2:16.18 for another season-best time. Della-Peruta was a part of the 200-yard medley relay team that collected a first-place finish with a time of 1:57.62. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stevens Point – 200-yard medley relay team – Katie Shaw, Sophomore, Madison, Wis. (Madison West); Anna Dart, Freshman, Middleton, Wis. (Middleton); Avery Lowe, Freshman, Rogers, Minn. (Buffalo); Hannah King, Freshman, Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Guilford)
 
Diving
None nominated.
 
 
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Offense
Blessing Adebisi, Senior (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake), Middle Blocker of UW-River Falls
Adebisi led the Falcons to a 3-0 week with a team-high 40 kills, while posting a .421 hitting percentage across 10 sets. She averaged 4.0 kills per set and added 16 total blocks as UW-River Falls swept UW-La Crosse and Benedictine University (Ill.) before earning a four-set road win at Edgewood College (Wis.). Adebisi reached double figures in kills in all three matches, including 15 kills on .481 hitting against UW-La Crosse, 11 kills on .500 hitting versus Benedictine, and 14 kills on .323 hitting at Edgewood.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Brynlee Major, Freshman, Outside, Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North)
UW-La Crosse, Maddy Wilson, Sophomore, Middle Blocker, Onalaska, Wis. (Onalaska)
UW-Oshkosh, Lauren Grier, Senior, Middle Blocker, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
UW-Stevens Point, Hannah Strege, Sophomore, Setter, Shakopee, Minn. (Shakopee)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Brooke McCune, Senior, Outside Hitter, Osseo, Wis. (Osseo-Fairchild)
UW-Whitewater, Aubrie Krzus, Senior, Setter, Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton Warrenville South)
 
Defense
Abbie Dix, Senior (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead), Middle Hitter of UW-Whitewater
Dix had a record-breaking week to lead UW-Whitewater to a 4-0 record on the court. Her top match was a 15-block performance in a five-set win over Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.), breaking the program record for blocks in a match. Dix capped the week with seven blocks in a four-set win over University of Dubuque (Iowa). For the week, Dix tallied 27 blocks - an average of 1.80 per set - while adding 3.00 kills per set on a .383 attack percentage. The senior averaged 4.13 points per set across 15 sets played. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kaitlyn Erickson, Junior, Libero, Champlin, Minn. (Champlin Park)
UW-Oshkosh, Callie Panasuk, Sophomore, Defensive Specialist/Libero, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)
UW-River Falls, Junior, Libero, Glencoe, Minn. (Glencoe-Silver Lake)
UW-Stevens Point, Tessa Erlandson, Senior, Defensive Specialist/Libero, Kenyon, Minn. (Kenyon Wanamingo)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Brynn Hessel, Senior, Middle Blocker, South Range, Wis. (Northwestern)
 
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