MAST WATER TECHNOLOGY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Michael Douglas

Belmont junior overcomes knee injury, avenges regional loss to earn return trip to state

Belmont junior Michael Douglas won the 285-pound title at last Saturday's WIAA D3 Evansville/Albany Sectional to earn his second trip to the WIAA Individual State Tournament that begins Thursday night at the Kohl Center in Madison. Douglas, who injured his knee in August during the Braves' first football game and missed the rest of the season, was only cleared to wrestle three weeks ago prior to the SWC/SWAL Clash conference tournament.

Belmont junior Michael Douglas won the 285-pound title at last Saturday's WIAA D3 Evansville/Albany Sectional to earn his second trip to the WIAA Individual State Tournament that begins Thursday night at the Kohl Center in Madison. Douglas, who injured his knee in August during the Braves' first football game and missed the rest of the season, was only cleared to wrestle three weeks ago prior to the SWC/SWAL Clash conference tournament.

Jason Nihles

Published: Feb 27, 2020, 6:21 PM

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

Michael Douglas, Jr., 285 pounds, Belmont/Platteville wrestling

Belmont junior Michael Douglas was only cleared to wrestle three weeks ago. Now he is preparing to compete in his second straight WIAA Individual State Tournament, that begins tonight (Thursday, Feb. 27) at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Douglas injured his knee in August, during Belmont's first football game and missed the entire season. He rehabbed throughout the fall and into wrestling season. He was originally slated to come back in December, then it was January, then had a setback it was unclear if he would be able to wrestle at all this season. Finally he returned in February for the SWC/SWAL Clash, three weeks ago where he placed third.

Saturday Douglas (9–1, ranked #7 in Division 3) won the 285-pound title at the D2 Evansville/Albany Sectional to earn a return trip to state. Douglas, who won his opening round match at 285 at state as a sophomore before getting injured in the quarterfinals and forfeiting his next two matches, will return to Madison as a sectional champion after also avenging a regional final loss from the previous week with a 3-1 overtime decision of Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern senior Troy Leibfried (39-6, #1) in the 285 finale on Saturday.

“It’s been a wild ride for Michael this season. It’s great to have him back on the mat," said Belmont/Platteville head coach Emeric Williams. "He’s where he needs to be. He did a great job out there today. (Michael and Troy) are friends off the mat, but they love going at it on the mat. It’s fun to watch, but not so fun to coach. Today, Michael came out on top.”

Douglas defeated Edgerton senior Reed Farrington (38-7, #9) in overtime, 4-2, in the quarterfinals, and pinned Portage sophomore Hayden Steinle (26-18) in the semifinals to earn his spot in the finals. Farrington worked his way to earn a state berth, and then was pinned by Leibfried in the second-place match.

The Belmont senior will face the winner of the preliminary match between Luxemberg-Casco junior Kyle Kroll (41-9, #4) and GET/MM junior Trevor Daffinson (28-5, #6) in a quarterfinal match at state on Friday.

HONORABLE MENTION (In alphabetical order):
Dawson Bowen, Sr., G, Lancaster boys basketball

The dead-eye senior shooting guard scored a game-high 23 points in Lancaster's 62–54 loss to Benton Monday night becoming the third player in program history to score 1,000 career points. Bowen, who also poured in a game-high 29 points and had six assists in a double overtime loss to SWC champion River Valley Friday night, now has 1,004 in 65 career games (15.4 ppg). He joins 1992 LHS grad Mark Houtakker (1,562 in 72 games) and 1999 grad and current Lancaster boys' assistant coach Tom Driscoll (1,016 in 62 games).

Justan Ernst, Sr., G, Belmont boys basketball

Ernst scored in double figures three victories in the past week to lead the improving Braves. Ernst scored a game-and-career-high 17 points, including 9 of 10 at the free throw line, in Monday's 52–43 non-conference win at Pecatonica. He also scored 12 points in Saturday's 48–30 victory over De Soto and had 11 points and eight rebounds in a 57–27 victory over visiting North Crawford last Tuesday night. The Braves, who won just two games a year ago and are 4–63 the past three seasons, are now 9–12 this season under first-year head coach Brad Solberg.

Fennimore senior wrestlers

Nine Fennimore wrestlers, including eight seniors, earn trips to this weekend's WIAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament with top three finishes at the WIAA D3 Westby Sectional last Saturday. Senior Luke Blair (120 pounds), Alex Birchman (132), Mason Lull (145), Aaron Ragels (220) and Logan Klaas (285) each won sectional titles, Aidan Nutter (138) and Will Ahnen (182) finished second and Nick Blaschke (160) placed third. Freshman Jayden Glasbrenner finished second at 113 pounds to earn his first state berth. The eight Fennimore seniors also led the Golden Eagles (12–0) to a Team sectional championship last Tuesday with a pair of dual meet victories over Royall, 69–12, and La Crosse Aquinas, 52–21, at the D3 Brookwood Team Sectional. Fennimore will defend its 2019 D3 Team Title at the D3 Team State Tournament, Saturday, March 7 at the UW–Fieldhouse in Madison.

Joah Fillardo, So., G, Mineral Point boys basketball

Fillardo scored nine of his game-high 33 points in overtime to lift the visiting Pointers (11–9, 9–4 SWAL) to a key 69–64 victory over Fennimore (15–6, 7–6) in last Friday night's SWAL showdown. Fillardo had five 3-pointers in the game. By virtue of the win, Point earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming WIAA Division 4 regional playoffs which begin Tuesday. Fennimore is the No. 4 seed on the same half of the bracket as undefeated, top-ranked Cuba City (20–0, 13–0).

Kiera Holzemer, Sr., G, Cuba City girls basketball

Holzemer scored a game-high 20 points in a 51–27 victory over Riverdale last Thursday night at the Cubans' clinched a share of the SWAL title. Holzemer also scored a team-high 14 points in a 56–44 loss at Prairie du Chien last Tuesday night.

SUPPZ.COM SWNEWS4U ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Fennimore's Tyson Starkey

Starkey delivers in the clutch (twice) as Golden Eagles qualify for first WIAA State Baseball Tournament

Fennimore senior Tyson Starkey hit a pair of walk-off RBI singles (both in the bottom of the eighth inning) to lift Fennimore to a WIAA Division 3 Osseo Sectional title last Tuesday afternoon. He also pitched seven shut out innings in a 1–0 sectional semifinal victory over SWAL rival Cuba City. - photo by Jason Nihles

Tyson Starkey state — Fennimore senior Tyson Starkey hit a pair of walk-off RBI singles (both in the bottom of the eighth inning) to lift Fennimore to a WIAA Division 3 Osseo Sectional title last Tuesday afternoon. He also pitched seven shut out innings in a 1–0 sectional semifinal victory over SWAL rival Cuba City. - photo by Jason Nihles

Updated: Jun 19, 2025, 6:58 PM

Published: Jun 19, 2025, 6:57 PM

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

By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Boscobel Dial

Tyson Starkey, Sr., P/SS, Fennimore baseball
OSSEO — Fennimore senior Tyson Starkey hit a pair of walk-off RBI singles (both in the bottom of the eighth inning) to lift Fennimore to a WIAA Division 3 Osseo Sectional title last Tuesday afternoon and in the process send the #8-ranked Golden Eagles to their first WIAA State Baseball Tournament.

Fennimore (25–3) survived a pair of emotional roller coaster, extra-inning nail-biters at last Tuesday. With bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth, Starkey laced a walk-off RBI single back through the box to score junior Casey Dresen (who ended up the winning pitcher in both sectional games) to beat #4-ranked Westby, 3–2 in the WIAA D3 sectional final at Osseo's Merchants Park.

The Westby defense gifted Fennimore another runner — which turned out to be the game-winning run — when Casey Dresen reached on an error by the left fielder to lead off the bottom of the eighth. After a sac bunt by Henkel (the first bunt of his career), Filardo came up with another clutch eighth-inning hit, when he singled to center to put runners on the corners.

Kinney drew an eight-pitch walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Starkey’s second game-winner of the day — and according to his postgame radio interview — just the second walk-off hit of his baseball life.

Starkey hit a screaming comebacker just to the right of the pitcher into the outfield grass and as soon as he touched first base, and Dresen’s cleats hit home plate, the Fennimore celebration was along the first baseline.

“Two walk-off hits in the sectional by Tyson, two wins in the sectional by Casey with two of his best outings of the season. Two clutch eighth-inning hits by Gianni, who is just a freshman. Unbelievable!,” said Sheckler. “Our pitching — all three guys — were great all day. Our offense struggled in both games, but out pitching kept us in both games and gave us a chance.”

Fennimore opened the day with another heart-racing one-run win — 1–0 to be exact — over Southwest Wisconsin Activities League rival Cuba City (15–9) in Tuesday’ second sectional semifinal to even get to the sectional title game.

Starkey started for the Eagles and struck out eight in seven scoreless innings, but it wasn’t quite enough as the SWAL runner-up Cubans pushed the game to extra on the strength of seven scoreless innings by fellow senior Tyson Richard, who allowed just one Fennimore hit until the final inning.

Casey Dresen (9–0) came on and work a scoreless top of the eighth after Starkey reached the 100-pitch limit and worked around a one-out single and a walk with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

The #8-ranked Golden Eagles (25–3) finally broke through against Richard in the bottom half of the inning when freshman second baseman Gianni Filardo led off with a double and moved to second on junior Jude Kinney’s perfect sac bunt, brining Starkey to the plate.

After taking a first-pitch strike, Starkey lifted the very next pitch into no-man’s land in shallow right centerfield over the second baseman’s head to drive in Filardo with the winning run.

“That game got over and I just shook my head because I don’t know how we won,” said Sheckler. “Twice in that game, I call time out in difficult situations and didn’t know what to tell the guys while I was walking out to the mound. I simply said, okay infield we have to go to the plate on this one, but more than likely Tyson I need you to strike the next two guys out, and he did it both times.”

Starkey and the Golden Eagles (25–4) finished their season with a disappointing 5–3 loss to No. 3 seed Kewaunee (18–5) in Tuesday's WIAA Division 3 State Semifinal game at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. Starkey (7–2) started for Fennimore and pitched well enough to win, striking out five and allowing one unearned run in six innings, but was undone by four Fennimore errors, and three walks. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple and a run scored, and started two doubles plays on the day, one at pitcher, and one while playing shortstop in the top of the seventh inning.

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order)
Casey Dresen, Sr., RF/P, Fennimore baseball
Junior Casey Dresen (who ended up the winning pitcher in both sectional games) reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning and later scored the game-winning run on senior Tyson Starkey's walk-off RBI single to beat #4-ranked Westby, 3–2 in the WIAA D3 sectional final at Osseo's Merchants Park last Tuesday afternoon. Dresen (9–0) relieved starting pitcher Ethan Sheckler in the top of the sixth inning and struck out two in three shutout innings to earn the win. Dresen worked around a leadoff double by Ben Roethel and a one-out error, but Fennimore caught a break on a squeeze bunt gone wrong. Dresen’s second pitch to Quellhorst was high and Roethel was charging down the third baseline. Quellenhorst couldn’t get a bat on the ball, and Sheckler was able to snag the high pitch and run Roethel down for the second out of the inning. Then Dresen struck out Quellhorst to end yet another threat against the Eagles. Dresen also earned the win in the 1–0 victory over Cuba City earlier in the day, pitching a scoreless top of the eighth before Starkey blooped a walk-off RBI single into shallow right field.

Morgan Freeman, Sr, OF, Belmont softball
Freeman capped her stellar prep career as a Brave by going 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk to help Belmont win the WIAA DIvision 5 state championship last weekend. Freeman went 2-for-3 with two doubles, and two RBI in Thursday's 11–0 state semifinal win over Ithaca. Two days later she went 2-for-3 with with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 8–3 championship game victory over No. 2 seed Almond–Bancroft.

Kalli Hodgson, Sr, P/1B, Belmont softball
Hodgson (15–2) pitched four shutout innings, allowing two hits, and went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead Belmont (26–3) to an 11–0 victory over No. 4 seed Ithaca in last Thursday's WIAA D5 state semifinal victory. Hodgson then 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and made seven putouts at first base, which included a nifty snag well over her head on a one-hop chopper, in Saturday's 8–3 state championship game win over No. 2 seed Almond–Bancroft.

Carsyn Ramaker, So., P/SS, Belmont softball
Sophomore Carsyn Ramaker pretty much did it all in Saturday's 8–3 WIAA Division 5 State Championship game victory over No. 2 seed Almond–Bancroft. She started and pitched six strong innings, then played a little shortstop in the top of the seventh inning before coming back to the circle to record the final out of the title game after the Eagles scored a pair of runs on a Belmont error. Ramaker's final pitching line for the day was 6 1/3 innings, two hits, one unearned run, six strikeouts and two walks. For good measure, she also went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored to lead the Braves' powerful offense. Two days earlier, Ramaker went 1-for-2, reached on a hit by pitch, scored two runs, and pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in an 11–0 five-inning semifinal victory over No. 4 seed Ithaca. Ramaker finished the year 11–1 with a 1.84 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched and batted .444 (44-for-100) with nine doubles, one triple, two home runs, 19 RBI, 34 runs scored and eight stolen bases to earn the WFSCA Division 5 state Player of the Year award.