EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
Alston Nutter, Northern Michigan University wrestling
Fennimore native Alston Nutter signed a scholarship with Northern Michigan University on Saturday, March 24 at a ceremony held at Combat Wrestling Center in Blue River after training for the past two years at the Olympic training site in Marquette Michigan.
Nutter left Fennimore High School after his sophomore year to participate in the NMU developmental wrestling program under coach Rob Hermann to pursue his dream of wrestling in the Olympics. Nutter attended Marquette High School for his junior year while training at NMW before returning to Fennimore as an online student for the for the first semester of the 2017–18 school year. He graduated at the end of last semester with a 3.7 GPA and is now eligible to enroll as a full-time college student.
Nutter won a WIAA Division 3 individual state championship as a freshman in 2015 and finished as an individual state runner-up as a sophomore in 2016. He also led the Golden Eagles to the D3 team state championship in 2016, the first in school history. Nutter finished his high school career with 96 wins, despite sitting out eight matches that allowed teammates to gain varsity experience.
Nutter has earned one gold, five silver and one bronze medal in international competitions over the past four years.
Nutter will return to Fennimore this spring to walk with his classmates at FHS’ 2018 graduation.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Bri Ernst, Sr., 2B, Belmont softball
Ernst is off to a hot start in frigid temperatures, batting a sizzling .778 with seven hits in nine at-bats, one double, one walk, three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases in the Braves’ first three games. Ernst went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Belmont’s 4–0 win over Cuba City last Tuesday, then went 2-for-2 with two runs in the Braves’ 10–0 win over Fennimore last Thursday.
Trey Hunt, Sr., SS, Fennimore baseball
The senior shortstop went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer, three runs scored and two stolen bases in Fennimore’s 10–4 win at Dodgeville Monday afternoon. He is batting .625 (5-for-8) with three RBIs and five runs scored through two games for the Eagles (2–0).
Grant Jochum, Jr., P, Southwestern baseball
Bochum did it all in last Thursday’s 2018 season opening victory over Highland, striking out 13 Cardinal batters and allowing just one hit in a 3–0 shutout. He also added an RBI triple in the fifth inning to give the Wildcats a 1–0 lead.
Nathan Mowry, 1B, Shullsburg/Benton baseball
Mowry blasted a solo homer to lead off the top of the eighth inning to cap Shullsburg/Benton’s rally for a 4–3 victory over host Mineral Point in last Thursday’s season opener. Mowry finished 2-for-3 with a walk and the game-winning home run.
Miles Steckling, So., Platteville boys track and field
Steckling placed second in the long jump with a personal-best of 20’11.5” and teamed with Donovan Blevins, Max Allion and Mike Mussara to place fourth in the 4x100 relay to help the Hillmen finished third in Class B with 59 points at last Saturday’s Madison West Relay Indoor track and field meet. Steckling’s long jump is the 10th best jump in school history.
Kaycie Wagner, Jr., P, Platteville softball
Wagner struck out 12 batters and allowed just two runs on four hits to earn the win in Platteville’s 12–2 season-opening victory at Galena on Monday. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs to aid her own cause.