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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ethan Bernhardt
Platteville's record-breaking QB passes for 433 yards, 5 TDs in playoff win
Bernhardt
Platteville senior Ethan Bernhardt now holds school records for single-game completions (31) and pass yards (433), single-season completions (287), pass yards (2,600) and pass TDs (35), and career completions (287), pass yards (4,136) and TDs (54).

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.

 

Ethan Bernhardt, QB, Sr., Platteville football

     Platteville senior Ethan Berhardt has led Platteville’s new spread offense to incredible heights this fall, helping the Hillmen to a 9–1 record thus far and a share of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference title.

     Last Friday, Bernhardt played his best game to date in an incredible two-year career while continuing his assault on Platteville’s record book. The talented senior signal caller completed 31 of 47 passes for a career-high 433 yards and five TDs, and rushed for a pair or scores, in Platteville’s 54–42 WIAA Division 4 Level I playoff victory over Beloit Turner. Bernhardt is the Mast Water Technology SWnews4U.com Athlete of the Week for a second time this year.

     The 31 completions and 433 yards passing were both single-game school records. Bernhardt is also Platteville’s all-time leader in passing yards (4,136), passing TDs (54) and completions (287), passing Logan Emendorfer (2009–11) in all three categories. He is also the single-season record holder in passing yards (2,600), TDs (35) and completions (179).

     “I believe our offense is capable of putting up numbers like that on a consistent basis,” said Bailey. “We have the talent to do so, and our players have bought into the new system and have been getting better every week. I truly believe that we are the only thing standing in the way of putting up numbers like that every Friday. Ethan Bernhard has been phenomenal, our run game has been jump started by A.J. Barner, and Donovan continues to be a match up nightmare for opposing teams.” 

     Bernhardt can add to all his record totals when Platteville travels to second-ranked and top-seeded Lodi (10–0) for Friday’s D4 Level II playoff game.      

 

 

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):

Madison Albert-Nelson, So., Platteville/Lancaster girls swimming

     Albert-Nelson broke her own sophomore team record with a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly with a new record time of 1:01.86 at Saturday’s 33rd annual Hillmen Invitational. She also placed fourth in the 500 freestyle, and fifth in the 200 medley relay.

 

Ian Barry, So., Fennimore boys cross country

     The Fennimore sophomore finished second out of 122 runners with a time of 17:45.6 at last Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 Fennimore Sectional to earn his first trip to the WIAA State Cross Country Championships, that will be held Saturday at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

Kelsie Goffinet, Sr., S, Benton volleyball

     Goffinet dished out 46 assists and had 10 digs and two aces to help Benton sweep Six Rivers West co-champion River Ridge in Saturday’s WIAA Division 4 regional final at Ridge. The third-seeded Zephyrs (25–2) will face top-seeded Seneca (18–4) in a D4 sectional semifinal match Thursday night at Belmont.

Payton Heinberg, Jr., Darlington boys cross country

     Heinberg took home the boys’ individual sectional title for a second year in a row with a winning time of 17:34.4 at last Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 Fennimore Sectional. Heinberg led the Redbirds to their 10th consecutive sectional title. The #1-ranked ‘Birds will race for their seventh straight D3 state title Saturday at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

 

Lydia Murphy, So., Lancaster girls cross country

     Murphy finished second at Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 Fennimore Sectional to lead the Lancaster girls to their second sectional title in school history. Murphy will be making her third straight trip to state. The Lancaster girls will be making their fourth state appearance as a team. They last qualified in 2015.

Brady Peat, Sr., RB/LB, Iowa–Grant football

     Peat rushed for 261 yards and three touchdowns and also made six tackles in Iowa–Grant’s 22–13 playoff road win over Ithaca in Friday’s WIAA Division 7 first-round playoff game. Peat is currently fifth in the state with 2,015 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns on 293 carries.