General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - October 5

MADISON, Wis.--Following are the WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week for the week of September 28 - October 4.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Mateo Alvarado Venegas, Senior (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie), of UW-Stevens Point
Alvarado Venegas led the Pointers with a second-place finish and a personal-best time of 24:23.3 at the Pre-Nationals meet in Northfield, Minn., on Oct. 3. A total of 337 runners competed in the race.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Andrew Thaler, Junior, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chippewa Falls McDonell Center)
UW-Platteville, Bennett Story, Bennett Story, Freshman, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Alex Chartrand, Junior, Frederic, Wis. (Frederic)
UW-Whitewater, Nick Wendl, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Wisconsin Lutheran)
 
 
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Claudia Lasiowski, Senior (Park Falls, Wis./Chequamegon), of UW-Stout Polytechnic
Lasiowski placed 17th with a time of 21:56.9 in the 6,000-meter championship race at the Running of the Cows / NCAA Division III Championship Preview in Northfield, Minn., on Oct. 3. A total of 326 runners competed in the race.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Brooke Marchewka, Sophomore, Sun Prairie, Wis. (Sun Prairie East)
UW-Platteville, Cecilia Skalsky, Sophomore, Brooklyn, Wis. (Home School)
UW-Stevens Point, Faith Wehrman, Sophomore, New Berlin, Wis. (New Berlin Eisenhower)
UW-Whitewater, Trista Anderson, Freshman, Janesville, Wis. (Janesville Parker)
 
 
FOOTBALL
Offense
Demir Ashiru, Sophomore, (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North), Quarterback of UW-Oshkosh
Ashiru accounted for 437 of the Titans' 471 yards and all four touchdowns in the Titans' 32-31 loss to No. 19-ranked UW-La Crosse on Oct. 3. He went 16-of-28 for 228 passing yards with two touchdowns through the air, while rushing 19 times for 209 yards and another pair of scores on the ground. His 437 all-purpose yards are the most by a Titan since 2023 and his rushing yards are the most since 2007.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Paxton Rothmeier, Sophomore, Running Back, Medford, Wis. (Medford)
UW-La Crosse, Kyle Haas, Senior, Quarterback, Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake)
UW-Platteville, Parker Douglas, Senior, Tight End, Oviedo, Fla. (Oviedo Hagerty)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Chase Pemberton, Freshman, Quarterback, Andover, Minn. (Andover)
UW-Whitewater, Tommy Novotny, Freshman, Running Back, Milwaukee, Wis. (Milwaukee Marquette)
 
Defense
Jace Chamberlain, Sophomore (Oak Forest, Ill./St. Laurence), Defensive Line of UW-Whitewater
Chamberlain had a career day as the Warhawks topped No. 2-ranked UW-River Falls 24-16 on Oct. 3. He bolstered a defense that held the Falcons to just 60 yards rushing. Chamberlain registered a pair of sacks for a loss of 15 yards and 3.5 tackles for loss (17 yards) - both career highs. He tallied five tackles in the game adding a quarterback hurry.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Brady Puls, Junior, Defensive End, Lodi, Wis. (Lodi)
UW-Oshkosh, Kellen Wright, Senior, Linebacker, West Salem, Wis. (West Salem)
UW-Platteville, Harrison Meyer, Senior, Defensive Back, Orland Park, Ill. (Orland Park Carl Sandburg)
UW-River Falls, Beau Schrot, Junior, Defensive Line, Faribault, Minn. (Faribault)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Dawson Goodman, Senior, Defensive Back, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chippewa Falls)
 
Special Teams
Tyler Sodemann, Sophomore (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West), Kicker of UW-Stevens Point
Sodemann was 3-for-3 in field goal attempts in the conference opener at UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 3. He converted a career-long 49-yard field goal in the contest.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Connor Radaj, Senior, Kicker, Wauwatosa, Wis. (Wauwatosa West)
UW-Oshkosh, Axel Vera Trejo, Sophomore, Kicker, Appleton, Wis. (Appleton East)
UW-Platteville, Jordan Jones, Senior, Defensive Back, Barlett, Ill. (South Elgin)
UW-River Falls, Jeffrey Freund, Sophomore, Punter, Juneau, Wis. (Beaver Dam)
UW-Stevens Point, Tyler Sodemann, Sophomore, Kicker, Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha West)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Colton Parker, Junior, Linebacker, Rochester, Minn. (Stewartville)
 
 
WOMEN’S GOLF
Lilly Kaminski, Senior (Green Bay, Wis./Denmark), of UW-Eau Claire
Kaminski led the Blugolds to the Georgianni Blugold Invitational championship, while capturing the individual title with a two-round total of 153 (+11). She opened with a 75 (+4) before carding a 78 (+7) in the final round, adding two birdies.
 
Also nominated:
None.
 
 
MEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Sven Oberg, Sophomore (Pine Island, Minn./Pine Island), Midfield of UW-Stout Polytechnic
Oberg scored a brace (2 goals), including the game-winning goal in a 6-1 road victory over Martin Luther College (Minn.) on Oct. 2. It was the Blue Devils’ first road win of the season. He helped contribute against Saint Mary's University (Minn.) by putting the ball in the box which led to a goal in a 1-1 draw on Sept. 28.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Sven Oberg, Sophomore, Midfield, Pine Island, Minn. (Pine Island)
UW-Whitewater, Hayden Saul, Senior, Forward, Iowa City, Iowa (Liberty)
 
Defense
Westley Hankes, Junior (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton), Defense of UW-Platteville
Hankes scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes left in a 3-2 win over UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 3. His fourth goal of the year helped the Pioneers finish 1-1-0 on the week after a late goal led to a 1-0 loss against No. 25-ranked North Park University (Ill.) on Sept. 30. Hankes also assisted on UW-Platteville's first goal against the Pointers.
 
Also nominated:
UW-River Falls, Greyson Shiek, Freshman, Goalkeeper, Andover, Minn. (Andover)
UW-Whitewater, Delaney Kian, Sophomore, Defense, Oak Forest, Ill. (Victor J. Andrew)
 
 
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Jillian Sawadski, Senior (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect), Forward of UW-La Crosse
Sawadski had two goals and three assists in three UW-La Crosse victories during the week. She finished with two assists in a 4-1 victory over Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) on Sept. 28. Sawadski recorded the game-winning goal in a 5-0 victory over Edgewood University (Wis.) on Sept. 30, while finishing with three shots, all on goal. She finished the week with one goal and one assist in a 3-1 win over UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 3, registering six shots with three on goal. UW-La Crosse improved to 11-0 on the season, recording the best start in WIAC history.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Emma Donovan, Junior, Forward, Hazel Green, Wis. (Wahlert Catholic)
UW-Oshkosh, Jaden LeRoy, Junior, Forward, Evansville, Wis. (Evansville)
UW-Platteville, Mira Petri, Sophomore, Forward, Sun Prairie, Wis. (Sun Prairie West)
UW-River Falls, Ellie Ketcher, Senior, Forward, Hutchinson, Minn. (Hutchinson)
UW-Stevens Point, Piper Gunderson, Freshman, Forward, Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Alli LaVick, Sophomore, Forward, Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial)
UW-Whitewater, Jenna Laidlaw, Junior, Forward, Aberdeen, Scotland (Aberdeen Grammar)
 
Defense
Lauren Ripley, Freshman (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East), Goalkeeper of UW-Whitewater
Ripley recorded her fifth shutout of the season over the previously unbeaten Loras College (Iowa) on Sept. 30. She made four saves over her 90 minutes in net as the Warhawks recorded a 3-0 win. In the WIAC opener against UW-River Falls on Oct. 3, Ripley made five saves in the 1-1 draw. The only goal Ripley gave up came from a penalty kick. For the week, Ripley played the full 180 minutes in net, making nine total saves with one goal allowed. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Lisette Thurman, Senior, Midfield, Farmington, Minn. (Rosemount)
UW-La Crosse, Sera Speltz, Senior, Midfield, Winona, Minn. (Winona Cotter)
UW-Oshkosh, Addyson Edwards, Sophomore, Defense, Appleton, Wis. (Appleton West)
UW-Platteville, Elise Kukuck, Senior, Defense, Herscher, Ill. (Herscher)
UW-River Falls, Valerie Leonard, Senior, Defense, Mankato, Minn. (Mankato West)
UW-Stevens Point, Jocelyn Blahnik, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, De Pere, Wis. (De Pere)
 
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Singles
Taylor Longdin, Sophomore (Slinger, Wis./Slinger), of UW-Oshkosh
Longdin picked up a critical win at No. 6 singles to help UW-Oshkosh pick up its first conference win of the season at UW-Stout Polytechnic 4-3. She defeated Braenna Stampf, 6-3, 7-5, in No. 6 singles action. The win is the Titans' fifth-straight against the Blue Devils dating back to the 2022-23 season. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Hannah Cady, Senior, Delafield, Wis. (Hartland Arrowhead)
 
Doubles
Olivia Pethan, Senior (Oshkosh, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) & Brianna Owens, Junior (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly), of UW-Oshkosh
Pethan and Owens helped UW-Oshkosh earn a big doubles point in the Titans narrow 4-3 victory over UW-Stout Polytechnic to pick up its first conference win of the season. Pethan and Owens defeated Prajna Hosamane and Gretchen Murphy, 6-1, in the top flight. The win was the Titans' fifth-straight against the Blue Devils dating back to the 2022-23 season. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Hannah Cady, Senior, Delafield, Wis. (Hartland Arrowhead) & Shelby Roth, Senior, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
 
 
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Offense
Samantha Perlberg, Senior (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls), Pin Hitter of UW-Oshkosh
Perlberg led the UW-Oshkosh attack during a 3-0 week in which the No-1 ranked Titans did not drop a set, totaling 38 kills across nine sets, while hitting .305 and averaging 4.22 kills per set. She opened the week with a match-high 12 kills on 30 attempts, while hitting .267 in a sweep of UW-Stevens Point. Perlberg added seven kills and 10 digs against Wheaton College (Ill.) before closing the week with her top offensive performance, putting down a match-high 19 kills with just three errors on 34 attempts for a .471 hitting percentage in a ranked sweep over No. 21-ranked University of Dubuque (Iowa). She also collected 15 digs against Dubuque for her second double-double of the week and helped the Titans improve to 16-1 overall and 2-0 in WIAC play. For her efforts, Perlberg was named to the Pointers Quad All-Tournament Team. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Mya Cinnamo, Senior, Outside, Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount)
UW-La Crosse, Annie Werner, Junior, Middle Hitter, Scales Mound, Ill. (Scales Mound)
UW-Platteville, Kennedy Wenger, Senior, Middle Blocker, Mineral Point, Wis. (Mineral Point)
UW-River Falls, Adebisi Blessing, Senior, Middle Blocker, White Bear Lake, Minn. (White Bear Lake)
UW-Stevens Point, Ella Trieloff, Senior, Outside Hitter/Rightside, Park Ridge, Ill. (Arlington Heights St. Viator)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Brooke McCune, Senior, Outside Hitter, Osseo, Wis. (Osseo-Fairchild)
UW-Whitewater, Gaby DiMotto, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, New Berlin, Wis. (New Berlin West)
 
Defense
Tessa Erlandson, Senior (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon Wanamingo), Defensive Specialist of UW-Stevens Point
Erlandson led all players in digs in each of UW-Stevens Point's three matches during the week. She had a match-high 13 digs against UW-Oshkosh on Oct. 2. On Oct. 3, she had 34 and 26 digs against No. 21-ranked University of Dubuque (Iowa) and Wheaton College (Ill.), respectively. She added nine assists and three service aces on the week.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kaitlyn Erickson, Junior, Libero, Champlin, Minn. (Champlin Park)
UW-La Crosse, Megan Jasperson, Junior, Libero, Zumbrota, Minn. (Zumbrota-Mazeppa)
UW-Oshkosh, Grace Juergens, Senior, Pin Hitter, Lockport, Ill. (Lockport)
UW-Platteville, Kennedey Barber, Junior, Libero, Peoria, Ill. (Limestone)
UW-River Falls, Audrey Petersen, Junior, Defensive Specialist/Libero, Glencoe, Minn. (Glencore-Silver Lake)
UW-Stout Polytechnic, Emma Barton, Senior, Middle Blocker, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
UW-Whitewater, Abbie Dix, Senior, Middle Hitter, Brodhead, Wis. (Brodhead)
 
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