NOTE: Each week, the sports editors of swews4u.com; A.J. Gates (Grant County Herald Independent), Jason Nihles (Platteville Journal), Tom "Gunner" Gunnell (Republican Journal) and Erik Olson (The Richland Observer) will combine to nominate our "Prep Performers of the Week" in volleyball, cross country, boys soccer, girls swimming and girls golf. If don't agree with our rankings or you feel we missed a standout performance, feel free to post a comment and plead your case.
PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK (Oct. 4-11)
VOLLEYBALL
Julia Lawinger, (Platteville, sr.) – smashed a match-high 22 kills in sweep of River Valley last Thursday, then spike 20 more kills in 3-2 win over RC this past Tuesday night to give the Hillmen a chance to earn a share of the SWC title with a win over Lancaster Thursday night. Platteville enters Thursday’s match with a 7-2 record in league play only a game-back of the league-leading Arrows (8-1). Richland Center fell to 7-2 in the SWC with Tuesday’s loss.
Rylie Bausch, middle hitter (Potosi, jr.) and Kate Mish, middle hitter (Potosi, jr.) – each had big nights in the past week leading the Chieftains in kills and blocks at different times as Potosi beat Shullsburg (last Tuesday), Cassville (last Thursday) and Highland (this Tuesday) in succession to move to 11-0 in the Six Rivers West and claim at least a share of this year's SRW conference title. Mish had 18 kills and a block in last Tuedsay’s 3-1 win at Shullsburg. Bausch then floored 13 kills in Thursday’s sweep of Cassville, and followed that up with a 7-kill, 13-block performance in Tuesday’s sweep at Highland. Potosi (16-10 overall) closes out the regular season this Thursday night with a road match at second-place River Ridge (8-1), which will be seeking a split of the conference title.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
John Donovan (Platteville, sr.) - finished fourth overall and second in the large schools division with a time of 17:27 at last Saturday's 25-team Albany Invitational to lead the Hillmen boys to a second place team finish in the large schools division.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Laura Donovan (Platteville, jr.) – John's younger sister, placed 20th overall and second on her team, behind overall winner Tricia Serres (14:34), with a time of 17:02, to pace a pack of Hillmen that finished 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th and helped the Platteville girls to a second-place team finish in the large schools division of the Albany Invitational.
GIRLS SWIMMING
No Nominee this week – The Platteville/Lancaster girls' team (6-4, 3-2 Southern Lakes Conference) will host a Southern Lakes Conference triple dual with Edgerton and Lake Geneva Badger.
GIRLS GOLF
The Darlington/Cuba City team and Lancaster's Ashley Ames and Ella Marcue finished their seasons at the WIAAA Division 2 Wisconsin Dells Sectional this past Tuesday.
BOYS SOCCER
Zander Rothering (Richland Center, so.) - scored the lone goal in Richland Center's 1-0 win over Dodgeville/Mineral Point off pass from Kyle Breininger last Thursday to lift the Hornets to their first conference title in six years.
