EDITOR'S NOTE: The Mast Water Technology Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday morning throughout the calendar year.
Trent Kuhl, Sr., G, Southwestern boys basketball
Senior Trent Kuhl scored a game-high 20 points to help his team do what no other Southwestern boys basketball club has been able to do in 29 years, defeated neighboring rival Cuba City. Kuhl scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, including six during the Wildcats 15–9 closing run that helped Southwestern secured a 55–48 SWAL victory last Thursday night at Cuba City’s Jerry Pettitgoue gymnasium.
Southwestern head coach Clint Nemitz said Kuhl was the best player on the floor. “Trent was not going to allow his team to lose that game,” Nemitz told the Telegraph Herald. “What he did was pretty special and it’s something I’m sure he’s never going to forget.”
Nemitz also said it felt like an 800-pound gorilla was taken off his back after ending his program’s 29-year losing streak to the rival Cubans. “I am very happy for the kids and the community,” said Nemitz. “I can’t put into words the emotion and effort that is put into the Cuba City vs. Southwestern game. It is all people talk about to the point of it being nauseating.”
Kuhl’s big second half help the Wildcats erase a 12-point halftime deficit and improve to 3–3 in league play. Two days later, Kuhl scored a game-high 23 points to lead Southwestern (6–6) to a 65–50 non-conference win over visiting Clayton Ridge.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Skye Digman, Jr., girls basketball
Digman recorded her fifth double–double of the season with 19 points and 10 boards to lead first-place Platteville to a 69–46 victory over visiting Dodgeville last Friday night. Digman and the Hillmen are now 9–3 overall and 4–0 in the SWC.
Danielle Ernst, Jr., G, Boscobel girls basketball
Ernst played the best all-around game of her career, posting a team-high 21 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead the Lady Bulldogs to a dominating 63–37 victory last Friday night. Ernst scored 10 points in Boscobel’s 34–6 first-half run that broke open a close game. Coach Jason Hill’s Bulldogs improved to 4–7 overall and 2–4 in the SWAL with their third straight win.
Kelsi Goffinet, Jr., Southwestern/Cuba City gymnastics
Goffinet finished second in the all-around at last Saturday’s Holmen Invitational with a score of 34.5. She won the vault (8.675) and second individually on the floor exercise (9.35). The Wildcats will host the 11-team Southwestern/Cuba City Invitational this Saturday at 11 a.m. at Southwestern High School.
Hunter Matye, Sr., G, Shullsburg boys basketball
The senior point guard scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Miners (11–0, 5–0 SRW) to a dominating 58–38 victory at Highland (8–4, 4–1 SRW) last Friday night to take sole possession of first place in the Six Rivers West. Mayte then scored a season-high 21 points in Saturday’s 51–43 non-conference victory over Montezuma (IA), Iowa’s fourth-ranked team in 1A, in a 2017 Wendy’s/American Trust Classic game at Loras College.
Aaron McCarthy, Sr., 285, Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton wrestling
McCarthy (20–1) posted a 5-0 record with two pins and two decisions to earn his third tournament title of the season. Following an opening round bye, McCarthy registered a 1:41 pin over Viroqua’s Ben Sherry for his 100th career victory. The Cuba City senior added a 1:37 pin over Boscobel’s Kenny Foster and a 4-0 decision over Poynette’s Nick Koss to advance to the championship match, and he locked up the title with a 6-5 decision over I/W’s Carson McCauley. He is currently ranked #9 in D2 at 285 pounds.
Will Schwartz, Sr., G, Darlington boys basketball
Schwartz scored a game-high 21 points to lead second-ranked Darlington (12–0) to a commanding 70–38 non-conference victory over visiting Black Hawk last Saturday, ending the Warriors (9–2), nine-game winning streak.
Justin Tollefson, Sr., 145, Fennimore wrestling
Tollefson (21–6), the top-ranked wrestling in Division 3, won the 145-pound title to lead Fennimore to the team title of last week’s MFL Mar–Mac Invitational. Tollefson was one of five Golden Eagles to finish first at the eight-team event.
Alex Udelhofen, Jr., G, Potosi boys basketball
Udelhofen led the way with 23 points, nine rebounds and five steals to lead Potosi to a 64–56 Six Rivers West victory over visiting River Ridge last Thursday night. The Chieftains improved to 8–3 overall and 4–2 in conference play.
Isaac Wiegel, Jr., 113, Belmont/Platteville wrestling
Wiegel (28–2) went 5–0 to win the 113-pound title at Saturday’s Belmont Scramble and in the process collected his 100th-career victory. Wiegel opened the day with a bye, then posted back-to-back pins to reach win number 99. He then picked up win number 100 with a 13–4 major decision over Fennimore’s Tyler Keeny in the semifinals before picking up a 9–7 win over Janesville Parker’s Brett Perkins in the finals.
