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MAST WATER TECHNOLOGY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Hannah Whitish
Barneveld standout named Girls Dream Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Whitish
Barneveld’s Hannah Whitish was named the SWNews4U.com Girls Dream Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading the 2014 Barneveld Golden Eagles to the championship game of the girls tournament before a 64–57 loss to 2007 Cuba City. Whitish led Barneveld to a 110–4 record, four D4 state championship games and state titles in 2014 and 2015 before a standout career at Division 1 Nebraska.

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

Hannah Whitish, PG, Barneveld girls basketball 2013–16

   After nearly three months of research, more research and lots of writing, the SWNews4U.com Southwest Wisconsin Girls Basketball Dream Tournament concluded last week with the 2007 Cuba City Cubans claimed the girls title.

Legendary Cuba City girls’ coach Jeff Pustina led his 2007 Cubans, who went 80–1 and won three straight D3 state titles from 2005–07, first outlast himself and his 2015 back-to-back D4 state championship team in the Final Four, before knocking off 2014 Barneveld in the girls title game 64–57.

Hall of Fame coach Jim Myers’ 2014 Barneveld girls defeated coach Mike Flanagan’s 2019 D5 state champion Black Hawk Warriors in the other Final Four semifinal.

This week we wrap up the 11-part Dream Tournament series by naming boys and girls All-Tournament Teams, highlighting the top players in each tournament.

The All-Tournament teams were selected by a vote of tournament creators/authors Tom Gunnell (Republican Journal/Tri-County Press), A.J. Gates (Grant County Herald Independent/Tri-County Press) and myself (The Platteville Journal/Fennimore Times) taking into account a combination of real life performance in both high school and later college, as well as production in the Dream Tournament. 

Below is our 28-player Girls All-Dream Tournament team.

First Team

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Hannah Whitish, 2014 Barneveld (5’9”, So., Point Guard)
... was named the 2020 SWNews4U.com Southwest Wisconsin Girls Dream Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading the 2014 Golden Eagles to the championship game ... averaged a team-best 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.5 steals per game in six games ... was named the North Regional MOP after leading Barneveld to a 53–42 win over 1976 Lancaster in the regional final, then hit the game-winner at the buzzer in a 51–50 Final Four victory over 2019 Barneveld ... in real life led Barneveld to back-to-back D5 state titles in 2014 and 2015 and helped the Golden Eagles post a 110–4 during her four-year varsity career (2013–16) ... went on to have a standout career at Division 1 Nebraska, where, she was a three-year starter, second-team All-Big 10 pick as a sophomore in 2018, and an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection as a junior in 2019 ... finished sixth in school history with 470 career assists and 19th with 1,228 career points.

Natalie Leuzinger, 2019 Black Hawk (5’9”, Jr., Forward)
...averaged a team-best 20 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game while leading the 2019 D5 state champion Warriors to the Dream Tournament Final Four and was named the East Regional Most Outstanding Player ... was the four-time Six Rivers East Player of the Year and finished her career as Black Hawk’s all-time leading scorer while leading the Warriors to 103–3 overall record ... helped the Warriors reach three state tournaments, finishing second in 2018 (28–1), undefeated state champs in 2019 (28–0) and undefeated in 2020 (26–0) when the D5 state tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... will be a preferred walk-on at the University of Wisconsin next season.

Tami Gleason, 2007 Cuba City (6’2”, Sr., Center)
... averaged a team-high 18 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2.5 assists per game to lead the 2007 Cubans to the championship of the Girls Dream Tournament and was named the West Regional Most Outstanding Player ... posted 19 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in a 64–57 victory over 2014 Barneveld in the Dream Tourney title game ... led the real-life Cubans to an 80–1 overall mark, including a perfect 27–0 in 2007, and three straight WIAA D3 state titles from 2005–07 ... went on to a standout college volleyball career at Division 2 UW–Parkside, where she was twice named third-team all-conference and finished second all-time with 448 blocks and 11th with 827 career kills. 

Jessi Marti, 2015 Cuba City (5’10”, Jr., Guard)
... was named the South Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging a team-best 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game to lead the 2015 Cubans to the Dream Tournament Final Four, where they lost a 66–62 double overtime heartbreaker to eventual champion 2007 Cuba City ... was a two-time SWAL Player of the Year helping Cuba City post a 99–6 mark during her four-year varsity career and reach three straight D4 state tournaments (2013–15), winning back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 ... went on to become a four-year starter at Division 2 Northern State (S.D.), where she averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game as a senior in 2019–20.

Jess Arneson, 1999 Barneveld (5’9”, Sr., Guard/Forward)
... averaged 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 steals in four games to lead the 1999 Eagles to the West Regional Final of the Dream Tournament, where they lost to eventual champion 2007 Cuba City, 67–52 ... led Barneveld back-to-back undefeated D4 state titles in 1998 (26–0) and 1999 (27–0), averaging 16 ppg in four state tournament games ... was named the Six Rivers State Line Division Player of the Year and third-team AP All-State as a senior in 1999 ... went on to play Division 1 college basketball at UW–Green Bay.

Second Team

Shelly Coyle, 1986 River Valley (6’1”, Sr., Forward/Center)
... averaged a tournament-best 36 points, 14.5 rebounds and 5 blocks in two Dream Tourney games for the 1986 Blackhawks ... was named first-team All-State and the 1986 Wisconsin Player of the Year by the Associated Press after leading the Blackhawks (19–3, 13–1) to a share of the SWAL title and becoming the first girl in state history to score more than 2,000 points (2,108)...helped River Valley win back-to-back state softball titles in 1985 and 1986 as the starting shortstop ... went on to play at Division 1 Iowa State, where she was a three-year starter and finished her career with 1,002 points ... was named the Cyclones MVP as a junior in 1989 and first-team All-Big 8 as a senior in 1990 ... averaged 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 102 career games.

Jamie Nebel, 1999 Potosi (5’8”, Sr., Guard)
... averaged 22 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2 steals per game to lead the No. 6-seeded 1999 D4 state runner-up Chieftains to the West Regional final, where they eventually lost to top-seeded eventual champion 2007 Cuba City ... scored a game-high 26 points in a double OT upset of No. 2 seed 1993 Division 3 state champion Cuba City in the Sweet 16 ... was named the Six Rivers Blackhawk Division Player of the Year and honorable mention All-State after leading Potosi (26–1) to the D4 state title game ... went on to play college basketball at Division 2 UW–Parkside, where she made a school record 73 3-pointers (now 3rd all-time) during the 2002–03 season as a senior and is still in the top 10 in career 3-pointers made (120, 3rd) and steals (157, 7th).

Janet Schubert, 1989 Mineral Point (5’10”, Jr., Guard)
... hit a game-winning runner in the lane at the buzzer to lift the 1989 Pointers to a 52–51 upset of No. 7 seed 2011 River Ridge in the opening round ... averaged 22.5 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3.5 steals per game to lead the 1989 Pointers to the second of the Dream Tourney ... led 1989 Mineral Point to a 24–2 record and a berth in the Class C sectional finals ... finished prep career with 1,021 points ... went on to play four years at Division 1 UW–Milwaukee, where she averaged 2.9 points in 104 career games.

Michelle Kozelka, 1986 Prairie du Chien (6’0”, Sr., Forward/Center)
... scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the 1986 Blackhawks’ 64–55 opening round loss to 1976 Lancaster ... was named third-team All-State by the Associated Press after leading Prairie du Chien (20–3, 13–1) to a share of the SWAL title and a regional championships ... went on to become a four-year starter at Wisconsin, where she finished her four all-time with  1,427 points (now 14th all-time) and second with 916 rebounds (now 3rd all-time).

Anja Hellman, 1984 Platteville (5’9”, Sr., Point Guard)
... averaged 23.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.7 steals in three games to lead the 1984 Class B state champion Hillmen to the Sweet 16 of the Dream Tournament, where they suffered a loss to eventual runner-up 2014 Barneveld in the North Regional semifinals ... was a foreign exchange student from Finland and a member of her country’s national title ... led Platteville to a 24–2 record and to the program’s first state title ... went on to play at Division 1 California, where she scored 22 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and was named first-team All-Pac 10 as a freshman in 1986–87 ... later played professionally in Europe.

Third Team

Sami Martin, 2020 Platteville (6’2”, Sr., Center)
... posted 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game to lead the 2020 D3 state co-champion Hillmen to a Sweet 16 appearance in the Dream Tournament .... was a two-time SWC Player of the Year and first-team WBCA D3 first team All-State selection ... led Platteville to a perfect 26–0 record and to the D3 state championship game in 2020 as a senior, but the title game was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... finished her career as Platteville’s all-time leading scorer with 1,571 points in 98 games ... headed to Division 1 Bradley University on a full scholarship in the fall.

Bailey Butler, 2019 Black Hawk (5’7”, So., Point Guard)
... averaged 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals in five games to help the undefeated 2019 D5 state champion Warriors reach the Final Four of the Dream Tournament ... has already scored 1,337 career points in three years and shared the SRE Player of the Year honor the past two years ... helped the Warriors reach three state tournaments, finishing second in 2018 (28–1), undefeated state champs in 2019 (28–0) and undefeated in 2020 (26–0) when the D5 state tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... is headed to Division UW–Green Bay in 2021–20 after the completion of her prep career.

Erin Templin, 2004 Richland Center (6’1”, Sr., Forward)
... averaged 20.5 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in two games to help the 2004 D2 state runner-up Hornets reach the second round of the Dream Tourney ... led 2004 Richland Center to a 23–3 record and a second straight trip to the WIAA state tournament ... went on to play at D1 UW–Green Bay, where she was a two-year starter and the team’s leading rebounder as a senior for the Phoenix.

Rachel Slaney, 2014 Barneveld (5’10”, Jr., Guard/Forward)
... averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game to help the 2014 D5 state champion Golden Eagles reach the championship game of the Girls Dream Tournament ... helped Barneveld win back-to-back state titles in 2014 (28–0) and 2015 (27–1), and post an 82–2 mark during her final three years ... went on to help Madison College win a NJCAA D3 national title and finished her college career at D1 Cleveland State (Ohio).

Inger Hodgson, 2005 Barneveld (5’9”, So., Guard)
... posted 22.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals in two games for the 2005 D4 state champion Golden Eagles in the Dream Tournament ... led Barneveld to a three consecutive trips to the WIAA state tournament and a 70–10 record from 2005–07, including 25–2 in 2005 when the Eagles won the D4 state title ... went to play at Division 1 North Dakota State, where she was a two-year starter and second-team All-Summit League selection.

Honorable Mention

Breland Prochaska, 2012 Fennimore (5’7”, Sr., Point Guard)
... averaged 26 points, 5.5 assists and 4 steals per game to lead the 2012 Golden Eagles to the second round of the Dream Tournament ... was named WBCA D4 first-team All-State after leading the Golden Eagles (22–3, 13–1) to a share of a second straight conference title and a berth in the D4 sectional semifinals ... finished her prep career as Fennimore’s all-time leader in points (1,678), assists and steals ... went on to play at NAIA Clarke University, where she was named honorable mention all-conference.

Ginny Vorwald, 1976 Bloomington (6’0”, Sr., Center)
... scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 45–39 first-round loss to 2012 Richland Center ... averaged 13.5 points and 14 rebounds in two WIAA state tourney games to lead 1976 Bloomington to a Class C runner-up finish ... went on to play in 91 games at the University of Wisconsin, where she was the team’s leading rebounder as a freshman at 9.4 rpg ... finished her four-year college career averaging 5.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Jessica Schultz, 2016 Mineral Point (6’3”, Sr., Center)
... averaged 19 points and 9.7 rebounds per in three Dream Tournament games to lead the 2016 D4 state champion Pointers to a Sweet 16 berth before a 73–64 loss to top-seeded Black Hawk ... earned WBCA D4 first-team All-State and AP honorable mention All-State after leading Mineral Point (26–2, 14–0 SWAL) to the D4 state title ... went on to play at D2 Northern Michigan, where she was named first-team all-conference and led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding as a senior in 2019–20.

Lacey Myers, 1984 West Grant (5’10”, Sr., Forward)
... averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds in three Dream Tourney games to lead the 1984 Class C state runner-up Falcons to a Sweet 16 berth in the South regional ... was named honorable mention All-State by the Associated Press her senior year after leading West Grant to a 24–2 overall record and a Blackhawk Conference title.

Thresia Elskamp, 2009 Potosi (5’9”, Sr., Point Guard)
... averaged 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4 steals in two games to lead the 2009 Division 4 state runner-up Chieftains to the second round of the Dream Tourney ... led Potosi to a 25–2 mark and a perfect 12–0 record in SRW play during 1999 after going 22–3 a year earlier ... went on to help Madison College win a NJCAA D3 national title and finished her college career at Georgia College (Milledgeville, Ga.).

Lily Krahn, 2019 Prairie du Chien (5’9”, Fr., Point Guard)
... scored a team-high 24 points in a first-round loss to 1991 D4 state champion Monticello in the Dream Tourney ... helped the 2019 Blackhawks (20–2, 9–1) win a conference and regional title as a freshman ... already had a Division 1 scholarship offer from UW–Milwaukee entering her sophomore year in high school (2019–20).

Chris Biser, 1985 Ithaca (6’1”, Jr., Center) 
... averaged a team-best 24 points and 15.5 rebounds in two Dream Tournament games for the 1985 Bulldogs ... led Ithaca to a 23–1 record in 1985, a 21–3 mark in 1986 and back-to-back sectional finals...Ithaca went 65–5 during her final three seasons ... went on to have a Hall of Fame college career at Division 2 Fort Hayes State (Kan.), where she was a 1,000-point scorer, three-time all-conference selection and led the team in rebounding three times.

Shana Komprood, 1991 Monticello (5’10”, Sr., Forward)
... averaged 24 points and 15.5 rebounds in a pair of Dream Tourney games to lead the 1991 D4 state champion Ponies, who went 26–1 in 1991, to the second round of the Dream Tournament ... scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Monticello’s 66–55 D4 state championship game victory over Lena in 1991.

Aimee Tranel, 1993 Cuba City (5’6”, Sr., Point Guard)
... averaged 13.7 points, 6 assists and 3 steals per game to lead the 1993 D3 state champion Cubans to a Sweet 16 appearance in the Dream Tourney, before a double OT upset loss to 1999 Potosi ... Tranel, who led Cuba City to three state titles in her fours years as a starter, going 23–3 as a senior in 1993 when she was named the SWAL 1 Player of the Year for a third time ... went on to play at D3 UW–Whitewater.

Jessica Edwards, 1993 Bloomington (5’10”, Sr., Forward)
... averaged 18.5 points and 6 rebounds in two games to lead the 1993 Blue Jays to the Round of 32 in the Dream Tourney ... helped Bloomington (21–4) reach the D4 state semifinals in 1993 ... went on to play at D3 UW–La Crosse, where she was a 1,000-point scorer and two-time all-conference selection.

Mollie Wedige, 2015 Cuba City (6’0”, Sr., Center)
... averaged 15.2 points and 9.6 rebounds to lead the 2015 D4 state champion Cubans to a berth in the Dream Tournament Final Four ... helped the Cubans post an 80–3 mark and a pair of D4 state titles in her final three years at Cuba City ... The Cubans finished a perfect 28–0 in 2015 and 27–1 in 2014.

Gail Diask, 1988 Iowa–Grant (6’0”, Sr., Center)
... averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds, helping the 1988 SWAL 2 champion Panthers win a 16-seed play-in game before a 69–43 loss to eventual Dream Tournament champion 2007 Cuba City ... led Iowa–Grant to a 19–5 overall record and a 10–2 mark in SWAL 2 play to win the program’s first conference title ... went on to play at D1 Western Illinois, where she became a 1,000-point scorer and is still seventh on the Leathernecks’ all-time scoring list.

Kara Crowley, 2015 Dogeville  (5’10”, So., Guard/Forward)
... scored 13 points in a 56-51 first-round loss to 2010 Black Hawk ... helped the 2015 Dodgers win a SWC title and regional title while posting a 21–3 overall record ... finished her prep career at Beaver Dam ... walked on at Wisconsin and played in 14 games off the bench as a junior this past winter during the 2019–20 season.


2020 SWNews4U.com Girls All-Dream Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Player 
Hannah Whitish, 2014 Barneveld
First team  
G - Hannah Whitish, 2014 Barneveld
F - Natalie Leuzinger, 2019 Black Hawk
C - Tami Gleason, 2007 Cuba City
G - Jessi Marti, 2015 Cuba City
G - Jess Arneson, 1999 Barneveld
Second team  
C - Shelly Coyle, 1986 River Valley
G - Jamie Nebel, 1999 Potosi
G - Janet Schubert, 1989 Mineral Point
F - Michelle Kozelka, 1986 PdC
G - Anja Hellman, 1984 Platteville
Third team  
C - Sami Martin, 2020 Platteville
G - Bailey Butler, 2019 Black Hawk
F - Erin Templin, 2004 Richland Center
G - Rachel Slaney, 2014 Barneveld
G - Inger Hodgson, 2005 Barneveld
Honorable Mention  
G - Breland Prochaska, 2012 Fennimore
C - Ginny Vorwald, 1976 Bloomington
C - Jessica Schultz, 2017 Mineral Point
F - Lacey Myers, 1984 West Grant
G - Thresia Elskamp, 1999 Potosi
G - Lily Krahn, 2019 Prairie du Chien
C - Chris Biser, 1985 Ithaca
F - Shana Komprood, 1991 Monticello
G - Amiee Tranel, 1993 Cuba City
F - Jessica Edwards, 1993 Bloomington
C - Molly Wedige, 2015 Cuba City
C - Gail Diask, 1988 Iowa–Grant
F - Kara Crowley, 2015 Dodgeville