EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Friday morning throughout the calendar year.
Do-it-all senior Bridgette Myers has led the River Ridge volleyball program to great heights during her for seasons in the program. Last week, even on a badly sprained ankle Myers led the once-beaten Timberwolves to a second straight WIAA regional title. She is this week's Mast Water Technology Athlete of the Week.
Myers led the team with 25 kills, 12 assists and five digs as River Ridge swept Seneca 25–11, 25–11, 25–17 to win a D4 regional title Saturday night. Just four nights earlier, Myers and the 'Wolves survived a scare when the talented senior suffered a severe ankle sprain and did not return in Tuesday's regional quarterfinal sweep of Kickapoo.
Myers, the reigning Six Rivers West Player of the Year, sat out practice Wednesday but returned to the lineup Thursday night to post a team-high 24 kills, 19 digs and seven assists in a sweep of conference rival Highland in the regional semifinals.
“The girls played very well since they practiced without Bridgette the night before the match,” said River Ridge head coach Diane Langmeier. “They came together as a team and played some great ball. Highland played us very tough in the first game, and it took until about 16 points before we started pulling away from them.”
Myers hed carried Timberwolves to a 21–1–1 overall record this year and the team has not lost since a five-set defeat at Benton on Sept. 1. Myers and company got their revenge against the Zephyrs three weeks later in Patch Grove and went on to win the outright Six Rivers West title with an 11–1 record in league play.
With last Saturday's win over Seneca, the Timberwolves earned a sectional semifinal rematch with Southwestern and fellow Mast Water Technology Athlete of the Week nominee Michelle Budden. The once-beaten Wildcats (24–1) swept River Ridge a year ago on their way to the D4 state championship game.
A year ago Southwestern ended the Timberwolves' season in the D4 sectional semifinals en rout to the D4 state championship game. River Ridge and Southwestern square off tonight at North Crawford High School in Soldiers Grove at 7 p.m.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Teagan Friederick, Sr., Potosi football
The senior rushed for 132 yards and pair of touchdowns and finished with a team-high 15 tackles in Potosi's 46–7 Division 7 Level 1 playoff victory over Johnson Creek Friday night. But the most impressive thing the Potosi start did Friday night, was vocalize his displeasure with his home fans for loudly criticizing the officials after a questionable roughing the punter call. Friederick walked across the field toward the Potosi sideline and address the angry Potosi fans. “Stop the yelling,” said Friederick. “It's not going to help anyone.” Wisdom beyond his years, folks. Kudos, Teagan, for a noticed display of good sportsmanship.
Michelle Budden, Sr., Southwestern volleyball
Budden posted 32 kills and six blocks to lead the Wildcats to a 23–25, 25–12, 25–13, 25–13 victory over Benton in last Saturday's WIAA Division 4 regional final at Hazel Green. Budden also led Southwestern to regional playoff victories over Belmont last Tuesday and Pecatonica on Thursday. In the three matches, she posted 76 kills and 14 blocks.
Faye Bailie, Sr., Platteville volleyball
The senior middle hitter posted 21 kills and 10 blocks off the bench in a pair of regional victories over Richland Center and River Valley. Bailie had 11 kills and a season-high seven blocks in Saturday's regional final win over River Valley. The Hillmen (33–4) had won 23 straight matches going into Thursday night's sectional semifinal match against Wisconsin Dells (31–1).
Dakota Kauffman, Sr., Boscobel cross country
Kauffman won a second consecutive individual WIAA Division 3 sectional cross country title with a time of 16:32, beating runner-up Jaden Komprood by 24 seconds. Kauffman's victory helped the Bulldogs qualify for state as a team.
Megan Volkmann, So., and Crystalyn Mish, Fr., Lancaster cross country
The Arrows' fourth and fifth runners turned in top-25 performances at Saturday's WIAA Division 3 Darlington cross country sectional to help the Lancaster girls finish second behind the host Redbirds and qualify for state for the first time since 1995. Volkmann finished 23rd at 22:32, while Mish placed 24th at 22:36. Lancaster edged out Boscobel by five team points to earn the second and final team berth to state.
Caleb Dahse, Sr., Cassville football
The senior halfback rushed for 143 yards and a pair of TDs as the Comets smashed sixth-seeded Randolph 54–6 in the first round of the WIAA Division 7 playoffs. Dahse also made six tackles on defense.
