EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
Brody Milz, RB/LB, Sr., Black Hawk football
Black Hawk senior Brody Milz led the charge as the third-ranked undefeated Warriors got off to a quick start and defeated visiting Potosi/Cassville 28–7 in a WIAA Division 7 Level 3 playoff game last Friday night.
The senior fullback scored on a 57-yard run on Black Hawk’s first offensive play to give the home team an 8–0 lead just three minutes into the game. He added a 1-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter to close out the scoring finished with 164 yards on 19 carries.
Milz also led a stingy defensive effort that limited the Chieftains to just 140 yards of offense, including 82 yards rushing on 31 carries.
“The boys hustled their tails off and beat a really, really good football team,” said Black Hawk head coach Cory Milz. “Just an outstanding defensive effort out of these kids. Boy, that was a dog fight. We got to them early, but Potosi/Cassville came roaring back in the second and third quarters. It was a physical game. I’m very proud of our kids.”
The Warriors advance to face ninth-ranked Fall River (11–1) in a D7 Level 4 game Friday night at 7 p.m. at Middleton High School. Fall River knocked off fourth-ranked and previously unbeaten Wild Rose (12–1) 8–7 in a Level 3 contest last Friday.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Madison Albert-Nelson, So., Platteville/Lancaster girls swimming
The Platteville sophomore earned her second trip to the WIAA girls swimming state championships with a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.72) at last Saturday’s WIAA D2 Stoughton Sectional. Albert-Nelson is seeded 12th going into Friday’s state championships that will be held at the UW Natatorium in Madison at 6 p.m. She placed 13th in the 100 fly at last year’s D2 state meet.
Skye Digman, Sr., MH, Platteville volleyball
Digman earn Southwest Wisconsin Conference Co-Player of the Year honors last week after leading the Hillmen to a 29–10 season and an undefeated conference championship. Digman led the Hillmen with 509 kills, 111 blocks, 37 aces and a .264 hitting percentage.
Emma Lawrence, Sr., MH, Benton volleyball
Lawrence slammed a team-high 18 kills and had seven digs, two blocks and an ace in Benton’s 25–23, 25–20, 25–15 WIAA Division 4 state semifinal loss to Oshkosh Lourdes last Friday morning. Lawrence was also named the Six Rivers West Player of the Year last week. She finished the year with team highs in kills (492), blocks (102), aces (57), digs (517) and hitting percentage (.437).
Madison Rizner, Sr., MH, Richland Center volleyball
Rizner was named the SWC Co-Player of the Year for a second straight season after leading the Hornets to a 32–9 record and a second-place finish in the SWC at 8–2. Four of Center’s nine losses were to Platteville. Rizner led the Hornets with 401 kills, 383 digs, 91 blocks and a .369 hitting percentage. She also had 36 aces and a 92.1 service percentage.
Brinley Wood, Jr., OH, Cuba City volleyball
Wood was named the SWAL Player of the Year last week after leading the Cubans to a 31–7 overall record and a perfect 12–0 mark in league play. She led the Cubans with 341 kills and a .254 hitting percentage and also had 120 blocks, 147 digs and 27 aces.
