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
Calum Crist, Jr., RB/LB, Darlington football
MADISON — Senior Calum Crist was a two-way standout in Darlington's 42–18 victory over #1-ranked Edgar in last Thursday's WIAA Division 6 state championship game.
Crist rushed for 104 yards on 16 carries and was everywhere on defense, posting a team-high nine tackles and a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown to help the undefeated Redbirds (14–0) win their first state title in 30 years and fifth in program history (1987, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2025). Darlington is now 5–9 in state championship games
Crist carried the ball six times for 42 yards on Darlington's opening drive, which was capped by a 20-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Zeke Zuberbuhler to senior Broker Buschor. The Redbirds took a 14–0 lead on an 8-yard TD run by senior Dante Glendenning with 50 seconds left in the first quarter.
On the very next play from scrimmage, Crist picked off an Edgar pass at the 25-yard line and returned it for a commanding 21–0 Darlington led. Crist's pick-6 was a back-breaker for the two-time reigning D7 state champion Wildcats (13–1), who never recovered.
Zuberbuhler tacked on a pair of second-quarter touchdown runs (1, 90) as Darlington built a 35–6 halftime advantage. Crist and the Darlington defense continued to limit the Wildcats. Edgar scored on its first drive of the second half and not again until there 9 seconds were left on the clock.
Crist's nine tackles in the title game bumped his season-total to 69, including 47 solos, 11 tackles for loss with three sacks. He also finished the season with 852 yards and 7 TDs rushing on 95 carries, and five receptions for 71 yards and two more touchdowns.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order)
Kylie Butler, Sr., G, Argyle/Pecatonica girls basketball
Butler poured in a game-high 28 points, 7 steals, 6 rebounds and 6 assists as the #2 Orioles opened the season with a dominating 87–48 blowout win over River Valley on Tuesday night.
Rianna Dye, Jr., C, Platteville girls basketball
Dye posted a 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting and grabbed a game-high 19 rebounds and 4 steals to lead the undefeated Hillmen (4–0) to a 67–55 non-conference win at Dubuque Hempstead Tuesday night. Dye is averaging 12 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 1.4 blocks in #8-ranked Platteville's 4–0 start.
Lexie Olmstead, Fr., G, Lancaster girls basketball
Olmstead burst onto the high school scene with a game-high 30-point performance in her varsity debut while leading the Flying Arrows to a stunning 73–45 road win at Mineral Point in last Tuesday's (Nov. 18) season opener for both teams. Olmstead added eight points in a 51–39 win at Wauzeka–Steuben two nights later.
Zeke Zuberbuhler, Jr., QB/DB, Darlington football
Zuberbuhler rushed for a team-high 133 yards and 3 touchdowns — including a 90-yard TD run in late in the second quarter — and completed 4 of 7 passes for 64 yards and another touchdown in Darlington's 42–18 WIAA D6 state championship game over #1-ranked Edgar last Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium.
