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
Ruah Franzmann-Simmert, So., and Kate Pronschinske, So., Tri State Home School Cross Country
TOWN OF MIFFLIN — Sophomores Ruah Franzmann-Simmert and Kate Pronschinske finished first and second to lead the Tri State Homeschool girls to the team tile at Saturday’s season-opening Iowa–Grant Invitational for the second straight year.
Franzmann-Simmert blew away the field of 46 runners with a winning time of 19:31.4, while Pronschinske crossed the finish line with a time of 22:48.7, and fellow sophomore Katie McGuire (27:03.4) also medaled with a 15th place finish to help the Falcons (53) edge Reedsburg (56) by three points for the girls team title.
“Our cross country season got off to a good start Saturday at the Iowa Grant invitational,” said TSHS head coach Reka Wunderlin. “We were very excited to be repeat winners in the team standings.”
Freshman Isaac Harkness led the Tri State Homeschool boys Saturday, crossing the line at 20:55 for 19th place in his first high school race. Sophomore Dominik Langston finished 21st at 20:58.5 for the Falcons (166), who finished seventh as a team.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order)
Andy Loeffelholz, Sr., RB/LB, Cuba City football
Loeffelholz rushed for 148 yards and three scores on 17 carries to lead the Cubans to a surprising 45–14 blowout win over visiting Lancaster last Friday night.
Oliver Post, Sr., TE/LB, Potosi/Cassville football
Post hauled in six passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and recorded five tackles in the Chieftains' 49–20 non-conference win at Richland Center last Friday night.
Owen Seffrood, Sr., RB/LB, Black Hawk/Warren football
Seffrood rushed for a game-high 217 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 15 carries in a 52–0 blowout win over visiting Big Foot last Friday night.
Blake Thiry, Sr., RB/TE/LB, Prairie du Chien football
Thiry, a Division 1 Indiana football recruit, rushed for 132 yards and two TDs on 11 carries, caught four passes for 80 yards and two more scores and had six tackles as Prairie du Chien dominated three-time defending SWAL champion Darlington 35–0 last Friday night. He also had six punts for an average of 46.3 yards per kick to help the Blackhawks' change field position when their offense failed to extend drives. Thiry's 94-yard touchdown run at the end of the second quarter gave the Blackhawks a 21–0 halftime advantage.
Ella Vosberg, Sr., OH, Cuba City volleyball
Vosberg posted a team-high 54 kills and 31 digs to lead the reigning SWAL champion Cuba City Cubans to a 7–0 record and the team title at last week's 24-team Great River Sprawl. Vosberg posted 29 kills in two gold bracket matches, 25–7, 25–16 win over Webster and a 25–27, 25–19, 15–12 comeback win over host Onalaska in the championship match.
