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
Domiziano Salvalaggio, Jr., F, Platteville/Lancaster boys soccer
The Platteville/Lancaster boys soccer team clinched a third straight Southwest Wisconsin Conference title with 5–0 victory over Richland Center last Tuesday on Parents Night.
After a scoreless first half in the varsity clash, Italian exchange student Domizziano Salvalaggio erupted for a four goals in a 10-minute stretch early in the second half to spark the Hillmen victory.
Domi, who now leads the team with 15 goals in 16 matches this season, got the scoring started in the 44th minute on an assist from senior Deon Pearsall. He then added an unassisted goal just three minutes later.
“Domi showed his skill level Tuesday night,” said Flores. “He’s a great player and great kid in general. He has brought tremendous skill to our team this year as is showed by his stats, but he also fits in well with the boys which helps even more! He loves to score goals which is something that our team benefits from.”
Salvalaggio and Pearsall again combined on Platteville/Lancaster’s goal a minute later to make it 3–0 at the 47:40 mark of the match.
Pearsall leads the Hillmen with nine assists this year, and is second with 12 goals, forming a dynamite one-two punch with Salvalaggio (who also has three assists). Freshman Ilija Polebitski set up Domi’s final goal of the night with an assist in the 54th minute.
The Hillmen (10–4–2 overall) improved to 6–0 in the SWC, three full games clear of River Valley (11–4–3, 3–3), while Richland Center (5–11–1) fell to 2–5 in conference play.
“I am proud that the boys set a goal and worked hard to achieve it,” said Hillmen head coach Cristian Flores, who has led the Hillmen to a 44–34–10 mark and three SWC titles in he five years at the helm. “ It makes me happy that we have been able to win the conference title three years in a row because each year has been a different challenge. Each year the team has had its own strengths and weaknesses and this year the boys were able to once again step up and get it done. And earning the title on Parents Night with a packed crowd is awesome!”
Salvalaggio scored two goals and had an assist in Platteville/Lancaster's 5–3 win over Prairie du Chien/River Ridge/Seneca Tuesday night.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order)
Brooklyn Bussan, Sr., Southwestern/Cuba City girls golf
Bussan capped her sensational prep golf career with a sixth-place finish at this week's WIAA Division 2 Girls Golf State Tournament. Bussan shot a 9-over 81 on both Monday and Tuesday to finish with a two-round 162, which was 14 strokes behind D2 individual state champion Belle Kongshaug, a senior from Colfax/Elk Mound. A week earlier, Bussan shot an 86 to finish third at the D2 Racine Prairie School Sectional. She also shot an 82 to win medalist honors at the D2 Evansville Regional.
Brady Dosch, Sr., RB/LB, Richland Center football
Dosch ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from junior Jayden Schoepp in the Hornets' 51–18 blowout victory at Brodhead/Juda last Friday night. The Hornets (4–4, 3–3 SWC) are playing for a playoff berth this Friday night when they host Prairie du Chien (5–3, 5–1) in the regular season finale for both teams.
Shawn Jahnke-Fiedler, Sr., WR/DB, Fennimore football
Jahnke-Fielder caught a game-high seven passes for 102 yards, including the eventual game-winning 16-yard TD pass with 2:53 left in Fennimore's 20–18 SWAL victory over Belleville last Friday night. But SJF's biggest play of the game was a tackle at the goalline on the Wildcats' potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt with 25 seconds left. Jahnke-Fiedler finished the night with five tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks.
Kirstyn Pennekamp, Sr., Platteville/Lancaster girls swimming
Pennekamp finished second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:35.12) and third in the 100-yard freestyle (1:01.06) at Saturday's Platteville/Lancaster Girls Invitational. She also teamed with juniors Clara Marenes and Jada Pedley, and sophomore Zoe Xiao to finish fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay at 4:31.70 to help the Hillmen finish third at the five-team meet.
Wyatt Temperly, Sr., QB, Belmont football
Temperly (8–10, 253 yards) finished a near-flawless night, completing 8 of 10 passes for 253 yards and five touchdowns in Belmont's dominating 57–8 win at Monticello last Friday afternoon. The Braves (7–1) earned the No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 De Soto Saturday at 1 p.m. in a WIAA 8-Player first round playoff game.
