EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
Emma Wein, P, Platteville softball (Stateline Fury U16)
Platteville’s Emma Wein secured another USSSA national title when she helped the Stateline Fury (Illinois) win the Midwest NAFA National Championship in Loves Park, Ill., July 12–16. The Fury went undefeated in the 16U Gold bracket, beating the Chicago Cheetahs in the championship game, 7–2.
This is back-to-back national wins for the Fury at the North American Fastpitch Association event. Wein is a previous national title winner with the Dubuque Stingrays at the UW14 USSA National in 2015.
Wein is the daughter of Kory and Amy Wein of Platteville.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Ryan Wickman, WR, River Valley
Wickman scored the game-winning touchdown on an 8-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter to lead the South All-Stars to a 25–20 comeback win in last Saturday’s Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Small Schools All-Star Game in Oshkosh. The South trailed 20–6 late in the third quarter before scoring the game’s final 19 points to pull off the comeback. Wickman caught the game-winner from Cedar Grove-Belgium’s Josh Weiss with 9:58 remaining. The South defense then stopped the North on fourth-and-1 at the North 41 with 6:34 left in the game to preserve the victory.
Alex Traxler, DB/K, Platteville football
Traxler kicked an extra point and made a handful of tackles while playing safety to help the South rally from a 14-point deficit to win Saturday’s WFCA Small Schools All-Star Game 25–20 last Saturday.
Ben Pluemer, P/3B, Platteville Merchants summer baseball
Pluemer pitched four shutout innings, scored three runs and drove in two others in Platteville’s 14–0 victory at Lancaster last Friday night. Pluemer improved to 3–0 on the summer as the Merchants U18 baseball team finished the summer season a perfect 8–0. Pluemer didn’t allow a run in 13 innings pitched this summer and finished with 20 strikeouts, three walks and just six hits allowed in four games on the mound. He also batted .500 (9-of-18) with three doubles, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored.
