EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
by Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal/Fennimore Times
Robby Roe, Sr., WR/DB, Potosi/Cassville football
Cassville standout wide receiver Robby Roe did all he could to help the Potosi/Cassville football team overcome a horrendous start in last Friday's WIAA Division 7 Level 3 playoff game at Cashton. Roe hauled in 12 passes for 165 yards and the Chieftains' lone score of the game, but it wasn't enough as the Potosi co-op bowed out of the 2021 playoffs with a 15–6 loss.
The second-ranked Eagles (11–1) scored on the game's opening drive, a 13-play trek that included a trio of fourth down conversions, and took an 7–0 lead on a 3-yard TD pass with 3:46 left in the opening quarter. Cashton then took a 13–0 lead when Brett Hemmersbach intercepted a Potosi/Cassville pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown just 10 seconds into the third quarter. Later after a goalline stand prevented Cashton from taking a three-score lead, the Eagles recorded a safety to make it 15–0 with 7:07 left in the half.
Roe gave the Chieftains a jolt of momentum when he caught a short slant pass from fellow senior Levi Groom and raced 61 yards for Potosi/Cassville's only points of the night with just 39 seconds left in the half.
Roe, who was an honorable mention all-state selection a year ago as a junior, finished his final season with 43 catches for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Easton Evanstad, Sr., RB, Darlington football team
Darlington senior running back Easton Evenstad rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries to lead the #6-ranked Redbirds over #10-ranked Cuba City, 38-7, in a WIAA Division 6 Level 3 playoff football game on Friday, Nov. 5. Evenstad's 30-yard TD run six plays into the game put Darlington ahead to stay, and he added a 55-yard scoring jaunt in the third quarter to extend the lead to 30-7. He also intercepted a pass on defense.
Emily Fields, Sr., Setter, Platteville volleyball
Fields, a four-year starter for the Hillmen, was named the Southwest Wisconsin Conference volleyball Player of the Year after posting a conference-best 746 assists, 117 kills, 57 aces, an 89.2 service percentage, 42 blocks and 302 digs for the five-time defending champion Hillmen, who finished 22–15 this year and 9–1 in the SWC. Earlier this year, Fields recorded her 2,000th career assist.
Evan Mewhirter, Sr., MF, Platteville/Lancaster boys soccer
Mewhirter was named the Southwest Wisconsin Conference boys soccer Player of the Year after posting 22 goals and 9 assists for the second-place Hillmen, who finished 9–8 overall and 6–2 in the SWC this fall. Mewhirter was a two-time first-team All-SWC selection.
Kylie Reuter, Sr., MH, Potosi volleyball
Reuter was named the Six Rivers West volleyball Player of the Year after posting a team-high 394 kills, a stellar .368 hitting percentage, a team-best 135 blocks, 33 service aces and 81 digs for the Chieftains, who finished 24–7 overall, 10–2 second place in the SRW and won a WIAA Division 4 regional title.
Hailey Stich, Sr., OH, Cuba City volleyball
Stich was named the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League volleyball Player of the Year after recording a team-high 366 kills, a .221 hitting percentage, a team-high 50 aces and a team-best 276 digs for the conference champion Cubans (25–7, 12–0 SWAL), who advanced to the WIAA Division 3 sectional finals.
