EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
Alex Erickson, sr., Wisconsin Football
The 2010 Darlington High School graduate caught a team-high five passes for 54 yards Wednesday night to help the Badgers score a 23–21 victory over USC in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Calif. He is this week's Mast Water Technology Athlete of the Week.
Erickson, a former walk-on, finished his Wiscosin career 10th in career yardage (1,877), sixth in career receptions (141) and second in receptions in a season (77) and sixth in receving yards for a season (978). With his final catch, midway through the second half of Wednesday's night's game, he surpassed former UW athletic director Pat Richter for 10th place on UW's all-time receiving yardage list.
Erickson was a four-year standout in both football and basketball during his prep days at Darlington, starting at quarterback all four years for the Redbirds. He led Darlington to back-to-back SWAL titles during his junior and senior season and helped the Redbirds reach the Division 6 semifinals in 2010, his senior year.
He finished his senior year with 1,250 yards and 13 TDs passing and also rushed for 1,239 yards and 20 touchdowns on offense and was named all-state as a defensive back. He was also named the SWAL Player of the Year and was selected to play in the WFCA All-Star Game. Erickson was aslo a four-year letter winner in both basketball and track and field, and a three-time WBCA all-state selection in basketball.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Ben Burkholder, sr. Cuba City boys basketball
The senior forward posted a double–double with a game-high 22 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in the Cubans' (4–2) 61–57 non-conference victory at Potosi on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
Caitlyn Gilbertson, jr., Belmont girls basketball
The junior center scored 12 or her 16 points in the second half to help Belmont rally for a 49–39 non-conference win at Boscobel on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Gilbertson added nine rebounds, four blocks shots, two assists and a steal for the Braves, who improved to 6–3.
Trent Jones, sr., Dodgeville boys basketball
Jones scored a game-high 28 points to lead Dodgeville to a 71–67 non-conference victory over visiting Darlington (6–2) last Tuesday night. Jones and the Dodgers improved to 6–1 with the win.
Ryan Latham, sr., Boscobel boys basketball
The 6-foot-5 senior scored a team-high 23 points to lead the Bulldogs (3–3) to a 77–71 double overtime victory at Lancaster on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
Max Stockwell, sr., Hillsboro boys basketball
Stockwell scored a game-high 28 points on 11 of 15 shooting and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds in a 73–54 non-conference win over Kickapoo last Tuesday.
