General

Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week - April 20

MADISON, Wis.--Following are the WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week for the week of April 13 - 19.

BASEBALL
Position
Tommy Drohner, Junior (Plover, Wis./SPASH), Outfield of UW-Stevens Point
Drohner went 12-for-18 (.667) with nine RBI, 15 stolen bases and 14 runs scored in UW-Stevens Point’s five games, all wins, during the week. He went 4-for-4 with three steals, two RBI and two runs scored in a win at St. Norbert College (Wis.). At UW-Stout on April 18, Drohner had three hits, drew four walks, stole five bases and scored seven runs with two RBI in the doubleheader. On April 19, he registered five hits, a grand slam, seven stolen bases, five RBI and five runs scored in the series finale at UW-Stout.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kellen Smith, Freshman, Centerfield, Altoona, Wis. (Altoona)
UW-La Crosse, Keegan Fleischman, Junior, Lodi, Wis. (Lodi)
UW-Oshkosh, Trevor Morris, Senior, Leftfield, Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley)
UW-River Falls, Daniel Kibler, Freshman, Designated Hitter, New Berlin, Wis. (New Berlin West)
UW-Whitewater, Aaron Holland, Junior, Catcher, Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton North)
 
Pitcher
Franklin Kirchner, Freshman (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Conant), Pitcher of UW-Whitewater
Kirchner didn’t allow a hit or run in two outings for the Warhawks during the week. In his first appearance, Kirchner went 5.0 innings of relief against UW-Eau Claire for a win. In his second outing, he pitched 3.1 innings to protect a 3-1 Warhawk lead over UW-Platteville to earn the save. Through the 8.1 innings, Kirchner didn’t allow a single hit, fanning seven batters, and only walking three. Kirchner went 1-0 on the week with a save.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Devin Nedland, Freshman, Pitcher, Westby, Wis. (Westby)
UW-La Crosse, AJ Curtis, Sophomore, Pitcher, Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha North)
UW-Oshkosh, Ben Buehring, Senior, Pitcher, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh West)
UW-Platteville, Sam Callow, Freshman, Pitcher, Kenosha, Wis. (Kenosha Indian Trail)
UW-River Falls, Brett Sullivan, Senior, Pitcher, Champlin, Minn. (Champlin)
UW-Stevens Point, Bryce Her, Senior, Pitcher, Plover, Wis. (SPASH)
 
 
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Offense
Grace Bean, Senior (Boston, Mass./Williston Northampton), Attack of Colorado College
Bean scored 10 goals as Colorado College went 3-0 during the week. She had two goals, including the game-winner 43 seconds into overtime in a 15-14 victory over the University of Chicago (Ill.), then tied her career-high with five goals in a 22-1 win over UW-Stevens Point. She closed the week with three goals in a 13-12 overtime victory over UW-River Falls.
 
Also nominated:
College of Saint Benedict, Emma Theisen, Freshman, Attack, Rosemount, Minn.
Hamline University, Emma Collins, Sophomore, Attack, Andover, Minn. (Andover)
UW-Eau Claire, Reegan Werner, Senior, Midfield, Farmington, Minn.
UW-La Crosse, Megan Maloney, Senior, Attack, Cottage Grove, Minn. (Cottage Grove Park)
UW-River Falls, Elizabeth Clough, Junior, Attack, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Centennial)
 
Defense
Sophie Mineroff, Freshman (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset), Defense of Colorado College
Mineroff caused seven turnovers, including a career-high three in a 15-14 overtime victory over University of Chicago (Ill.) and a 22-1 win over UW-Stevens Point, as the Tigers went 3-0 during the week. She also collected nine ground balls, including a career-high four in Colorado College’s 13-12 overtime triumph over UW-River Falls.
 
Also nominated:
College of Saint Benedict, Ashley Fischer, Freshman, Goalie, Madison Lake, Minn.
UW-Eau Claire, Lizzy Schoknecht, Freshman, Goalie, Anoka, Minn. (Anoka)
UW-La Crosse, Stefania Rossi, Junior, Goalie, Elk Grove Village, Ill. (Conant)
UW-River Falls, Murphi Specht, Sophomore, Midfield, Green Bay, Wis. (Bay Port)
 
 
SOFTBALL
Position
Melissa Dietz, Senior (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg), Thirdbase of UW-Platteville
Dietz batted .615 and slugged 1.462 as the Pioneers picked up four wins during the week. She opened with two hits (both doubles), two RBI, and a run scored in the first game against UW-Eau Claire on April 18. In the second game, Dietz reached base five times, including a solo home run in the second and a go-ahead grand slam in the fifth to put the Pioneers ahead for good. She then went 3-for-6 with two more doubles and an RBI across the two wins over Grinnell College (Iowa) on April 19. For the week, Dietz had nine RBI, six runs scored, five doubles, and eight hits.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Hailey Hagedorn, Senior, Firstbase, Farmington, Minn. (Farmington)
UW-La Crosse, Marissa Pease, Senior, Catcher, Mukwonago, Wis. (Mukwonago)
UW-Oshkosh, Mary Kate Quaid, Sophomore, Catcher, Aurora, Ill. (Oswego East)
UW-Stout, Elly Holden, Junior, Outfield, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Oak Park)
UW-Whitewater, Bella Eggert, Senior, Outfield, Carol Stream, Ill. (Glenbard North)
 
Pitcher
Kiran Sanford, Freshman (Two Rivers, Wis./Mishicot), Pitcher of UW-Oshkosh
Sanford took a no-hitter into the fifth inning on April 17, as she recorded a complete game shutout of UW-La Crosse. Across seven innings, she struck out eight batters, including three in the sixth inning and two in the first and fourth frames. Sanford faced just three batters in five innings on her way to improving her season record to 11-1.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kasey Felden, Freshman, Pitcher, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
UW-Platteville, Nora Buske, Freshman, Pitcher, Theresa, Wis. (Lomira)
UW-Stevens Point, Kody Rizzo, Sophomore, Pitcher, Newark, Ill. (Newark)
UW-Stout, Jennalyn Mallmann, Senior, Pitcher, New Berlin, Wis. (New Berlin West)
UW-Whitewater, Josie Hammen, Junior, Pitcher, Combined Locks, Wis. (Kimberly)
 
 
MEN’S TENNIS
West Division - Singles
Pablo Rincon, Junior (Bogotá, Colombia), of UW-Eau Claire
Rincon went 3-0 during the week with three straight wins at No. 1 singles. He defeated UW-Stevens Point’s Connor Kryscio 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to begin his week. On April 19, Rincon was victorious over Bethany Lutheran College’s (Minn.) Joel Simon, 6-3, 6-2. To cap off the week, he defeated UW-Superior's Igor Guetten Chaves 6-3, 6-3 to remain undefeated on the week.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Aiden Meixl, Freshman, Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly)
UW-Stevens Point, Anthony James, Junior, Bismarck, N.D. (Bismarck Legacy)
UW-Whitewater, Theo Billson, Junior, Lindfield, England (BHASVIC)
 
West Division - Doubles
Theo Billson, Junior (Lindfield, England/BHASVIC) & Carter Michaels, Freshman (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan), of UW-Whitewater
Billson and Michaels helped the Warhawks clinch their third-straight WIAC West Championship with a 4-2 win over UW-La Crosse on April 18. The pair took the top doubles match without dropping a game at 6-0. The next day, the Warhawks faced No. 1-ranked University of Chicago (Ill.). Billson and Michaels fell 4-6 to the top Maroon pair.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Pablo Rincon, Junior, Bogota, Colombia & Danylo Ripeckyj, Freshman, Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial)
UW-La Crosse, Kyle Hehli, Freshman, West Salem, Wis. (West Salem) & Aiden Meixl, Freshman, Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly)
 
East Division - Singles
William Schmid, Senior (Yonkers, N.Y./Salesian), of SUNY Oneonta
Schmid went 2-1 in singles play with a win in WIAC competition as Oneonta went 2-1 overall. He started the week with a double bagel, 6-0, 6-0 victory on the No. 1 court against SUNY Delhi (N.Y.). Schmid capped his season and career off with a 6-0, 6-0 win against Rutgers-Camden's Ben Try on court two, where he only dropped one point the whole match. 
 
Also nominated:
The College of New Jersey, Alberto Thomas, Senior, Saint-Louis, France (CNED)
 
East Division - Doubles
Jaden Ritterman, Sophomore (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) & Peter Pitaleff, Sophomore (Garrison, N.Y./Highland Falls Fort Montgomery), of SUNY Oneonta
Ritterman and Pitaleff finished the week 2-1 on the No. 2 doubles court with a win in WIAC play as Oneonta went 2-1 overall. The duo started the week with a 6-4 win over SUNY Delhi (N.Y.). After dropping a tough decision to No. 39-ranked The College of New Jersey, Pitaleff and Ritterman ended the season with a 6-0 victory over the Rutgers-Camden. 
 
Also nominated:
The College of New Jersey, Harrison Maitland-Carter, Senior, Toronto, Ontario (Saddlebrook Prep-Fla.) & Asa Wong, Senior, Johns Creek, Ga. (William & Reed Academy)
 
 
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Blake Postler, Sophomore (Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest), of UW-Eau Claire
Competing at the UW-La Crosse Phil Esten Challenge, Postler set the school record in the 400-meter hurdles with a first-place time of 51.04 seconds. His record-setting finish ranks first overall in the WIAC and in NCAA Division III. Blake also set the school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a top finish of 13.99 seconds that ranks sixth overall in NCAA Division III and second in the WIAC.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Joey Sullivan, Senior, Medford, Wis. (Medford)
UW-Oshkosh - 4x100-Meter Relay - Eddie Jones, Sophomore, Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha Catholic Memorial); Dylan Doss, Junior, Sterling, Ill. (Sterling); Londyn Little, Senior, Columbia, Ill. (Columbia); Davian Willems, Senior, De Pere, Wis. (West De Pere)
UW-River Falls, Tyler Parker, Sophomore, Wauwatosa, Wis. (Wauwatosa East)
UW-Whitewater - 4x400-Meter Relay - James Williams, Freshman, Green Bay, Wis. (Bay Port); Jack Erickson, Sophomore, Belleville, Wis. (Belleville); Gabe Ubert, Freshman, Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha South); Chris Kalies, Senior, Grafton, Wis. (Grafton)
 
Field
Jacob Balcome, Junior (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria), of UW-River Falls
Balcome had a record-breaking performance to win the men's decathlon at the UW-La Crosse Phil Esten Challenge April 16-17, totaling 7,195 points to surpass his own school record and move into the top wind-legal mark in NCAA Division III this season. Balcome recorded five event victories over the two-day competition, taking first in the 100-meter hurdles (15.01 seconds), high jump (1.93m), pole vault (4.25m), shot put (12.76m), and 1500m (4:29.51), while adding runner-up finishes in the 400-meter dash and discus.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Connor Boyle, Senior, Wausau, Wis. (Wausau West)
UW-Oshkosh, Collin Kao, Graduate Student, Lindenhurst, Ill. (Lakes)
UW-Stout, Jesse Fowler, Senior, Neillsville, Wis. (Auburndale)
UW-Whitewater, Connor Fontaine, Freshman, De Pere, Wis. (De Pere)
 
 
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Track
Anna Plautz, Junior (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH), of UW-La Crosse
Plautz set a school record in the 400-meter dash (54.37 seconds) in placing 13th at the Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) Bryan Clay Invitational on April 18. She broke the school record of 54.83 seconds set by Bria Halama in 2015. Plautz ranks first on the WIAC Honor Roll and fourth in NCAA Division III. 
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Michaela Dick, Junior, Marshfield, Wis. (Marshfield)
UW-Oshkosh, Maya Van Schyndel, Freshman, Little Chute, Wis. (Little Chute)
UW-River Falls, Adison Wilde, Sophomore, Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville)
UW-Whitewater - 4x100-Meter Relay – Danielle Pouska, Senior, Algonquin, Ill. (Algonquin Jacobs); Alyssa Stacy       Kelly Huerta, Sophomore, McHenry, Ill. (McHenry); Cici Stennett, Sophomore, Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
 
Field
Amber Groose, Senior (Madison, Wis./Madison Edgewood), of UW-La Crosse
Grosse set a school record in winning the heptathlon at the UW-La Crosse Phil Esten Challenge on April 16-17. She set a school record with 5,190 points, breaking the previous mark of 5,151 by Hannah Zenkovich in 2021. Grosse's 5,190 points rank first on the NCAA Division III Honor Roll.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Anna Thaler, Sophomore, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chippewa Falls McDonnell)
UW-Oshkosh, Carly Huelskamp, Sophomore, St. Germain, Wis. (Northland Pines)
UW-River Falls, Georgia Mundt, Sophomore, Utica, Minn. (Lewiston-Altura)
UW-Stout, Leah Zastrow, Senior, Spencer, Wis. (Spencer)
UW-Whitewater, Cherish Smith, Freshman, Beloit, Wis. (Beloit Turner)
 
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