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, Boscobel Dial

David Nies, DE, River Ridge football
OSHKOSH — In game of the very best small school football players in the state, River Ridge's David Nies was a star among stars. Nies, a 6'5", 225-pound lineman, recorded five tackles officially (should have been credited with seven), three for loss, two sacks and forced two fumbles in last Saturday's Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Small Schools All-Star Game at UW–Oshkosh's Titan Stadium.

Nies started at left defensive end and played all but two series in the South's 25–7 loss. The NCAA Division II Winona State recruit was the South's biggest defensive weapon. Nies sacked the North's Robby Michael in the final minute of the first half, then on the very next played combined with Mineral Point's Owen Ward to force a fumble near midfield which set up the South's only score of the game. Mineral Point's Bo Hanson returned the fumble to the North 40-yard-line. 

Two plays later Cuba City's Beau Kopp threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Cedar Grove–Belgium's Sam Peiffer with just 13 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the South deficit to 12–7 heading in the halftime.

Nies also stuffed Stevens Point Pacelli's Brycin Cashin for a two-yard loss on the final play of the first half. In the second half, he tackled Michael after a 7-yard gain, then later sacked Michael for an 8-yard loss on 4th-and-6 at the South 23 in the fourth quarter.

Nies and senior QB/LB Logan Drone led River Ridge to its best season in nearly two decades this fall, helping coach Wade Winkers' Timberwolves post an 7–3 overall record and 6–1 mark in conference play to earn a share of its first Six Rivers title since 2004. Nies was named the Six Rivers Conference Defensive Player of the Year last fall after recording 61 total tackles (38 solo), 24 tackles for a loss and a team-high 10 sacks, while forcing three fumbles and recovering one. On the offensive line, Nies played a vital role in River Ridge gaining 1,130 yards through the air and 2,368 on the ground, while averaging 29 points per game. Nies was named first-team All-SRC on both sides of the ball at offensive tackle and defensive end. He was also a first-team All-SRW performer for the River Ridge boys basketball team that went 24–2 last year and won a third-straight conference title, averaging 13.4 points and 6 rebounds per game.

HONORABLE MENITON (in alphabetical order):
Logan Drone, MLB, River Ridge football
Drone started at middle linebacker and finished with six total tackles in last Saturday's WFCA Small Schools All-Star Game. Drone was named the SRC Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback and first-team All-SRC LB last fall for the co-champion Timberwolves (7–3, 6–1) recording a team-high 93 tackles, 43 solo stops, and 9 tackles for loss on defense.

Beau Kopp, QB, Cuba City football
Kopp started at quarterback for the South All-Stars in last Saturday's WFCA Small Schools All-Star Game and completed 13 of 24 passes for 106 yards and the team's only touchdown — a 28-yard strike to Cedar Grove–Belgium's Sam Peiffer with 13 seconds left in the first half. He also rushed for 12 yards on three carries in the 25–7 loss. Kopp was named the SWAL Offensive Player of the Year last fall after completing 146 of 244 passes for 2,143 yards, 24 TDs and 12 interceptions, and rushing for 416 yards and 12 TDs to lead the Cubans (9–3, 5–1 SWAL) to a second-place finish in the seven-team SWAL.

Stephan Munson, LB, North Crawford football
Munson started at linebacker for the South All-Stars and recorded a game-high 15 tackles in last Friday night's 8-Player All-Star Game at UW–Oshkosh's Titan Stadium. Despite Munson's best efforts, the South lost the game 23–6

Owen Vogelsberg, MLB, Potosi/Cassville football
Vogelsberg was credited with a team-high 10 tackles (four solos) in Saturday's WFCA Small Schools All-Star game. Vogelsberg earned WFCA Small Schools All-State honors at inside linebacker last fall after leading the co-SRC champion Chieftains (10–2, 6–1 SRC) with 169 totals tackles (41 solo) and 16 tackles for loss.