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
Bernhardt completed 15 of 21 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns to four difference receivers and rushed for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns to lead the Platteville to a 41–34 come-from-behind non-conference victory at Columbus last Friday night.
Bernhardt is this week’s choice for the Mast Water Technology SWNews4U.com Athlete of the Week. A 73-yard touchdown pass from Bernhardt to senior Donovan Blevins with 3:48 remaining gave the Hillmen the lead for good after Platteville rallied from a 34–21 third-quarter deficit. The senior quarterback also threw touchdown passes to seniors Brock Schambow and Coleman Brecke and junior Jacob Niehaus. Bernhardt has completed 35 of 50 passes for 593 yards and 6 TDs in two games this year.
“Columbus decided to stack the box and play cover-zero on the outside, and out gameplay against that was to chuck the rock,” said Bailey. “Our offensive line played extremely well allowing Bernhardt to settle into a grove. Our receivers made some big time plays in the passing game, and showed how explosive we can be.”
Bernhardt and the Hillmen will put their perfect record on the line Friday afternoon with a 4 p.m. non-conference game at Westby (1–1). Westby does not have lights on its football field.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Ian Barry, So., Fennimore cross country
The sophomore standout finished third out of 99 runners to lead the Fennimore boys to a fourth-place finish at last Saturday’s Cashton Invitational with a time of 18:23.
Donovan Blevins, Sr., WR/DB, Platteville football
Blevins caught seven passes for 202 yards, including a go-ahead 75-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter, in Friday’s 41–34 comeback victory at Columbus.
Emma Lawrence, Sr., MH, Benton volleyball
Lawrence led the Zephyrs (4–0) with 47 kills, 18 blocks and 88 digs to lead Benton to the championship of last Saturday’s Shullsburg Six Rivers Invitational. Benton defeated runner-up Southwestern 25–17, 18–25, 15–7 then swept third-place Potosi 25–15, 25–22 in the championship gold pool to win the title.
Brody Milz, Sr., RB/LB, Black Hawk football
Milz piled up 210 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns as the work horse of Black Hawk’s offense in a huge 30-12 Six Rivers Conference victory over visiting Potosi/Cassville last Friday night. Milz big night fave his father and coach Cory Milz his 100th career victory and gave the Warriors a leg up for this year’s conference title. Black Hawk finished the game with 359 yards on 58 carries, while holding the Chieftains to just 65 yards on 23 carries.
Trevor Neuroth, Sr., WR/DB, Fennimore football
Neuroth hauled in four passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns in Fennimore’s 56–26 victory at Richland Center last Friday night. He added a fourth TD on a 7-yard run late in the second quarter to give the Golden Eagles a 35–6 lead. Neuroth also had four tackles on defense.
Katie Olson, Sr., OH, Iowa–Grant volleyball
Olson had a team-high 34 kills, 13 digs and six aces in five matches to lead the Panthers (3–2) to a second-place finish at the eight-team Southern Door Invitational last Wednesday. Iowa–Grant’s only losses were to champion Southern Door Eagles.
Skylar White, So., MH, River Ridge volleyball
White posted a team-high 51 kills, 61 digs and four blocks to lead the Timberwolves (7–0) to a perfect 5–0 day to win the championship of last Saturday’s Monticello Six Rivers Tournament. White also had 13 kills and 12 digs in a season-opening 25–11, 25–19, 18–25, 25–17 non-conference victory over visiting Kickapoo last Tuesday night.
