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
Jaxcyn Berntgen, Sr., Setter, Platteville volleyball
EDGERTON — Platteville (19–8) then overcame an early morning loss to Janesville Craig and rattled off six straight best-of-three victories to win last Saturday’s eight-team round robin Edgerton Invitational. Platteville senior setter Jaxcyn Berntgen was named the tournament MVP, while sophomore middle hitter Rianna Dye joined Berntgen on the All-Tournament Team. Berntgen posted a tournament-best 165 assists, 52 digs, 24 kills, six blocks and a team-high 10 aces in seven matches to earn tournament MVP honors. In the process she also surpassed the 2,000 assist mark for her varsity career at Platteville.
“The girls once again had the determination to finish matches,” said coach Denise Berntgen. “We went to three sets a few different times in the day and each time they came back and won. Each girl did their part and it was a fun way for our seniors to end their last high school weekend tournament with first place.”
Bertgen has been leading the way for the Southwest Wisconsin Conference-leading Hillmen, who improved to 6–0 in conference play with 25–20, 25–20, 25–19 sweep at Lancaster Thursday night. Berntgen had 34 assists and nine digs in the win. Two days earlier, Berntgen had 34 assists, 10 digs and fours kills in 25–21, 25–18, 25–20 sweep of visiting River Valley.
Platteville began an incredible 9–1 week with a 22–25, 25–17, 17–25, 25–23, 15–8 comeback victory over visiting Dodgeville (11–8) last Tuesday night. Berntgen had 34 assists, 16 digs and six blocks in the win.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order)
Jauron Blevins, Jr., WR/DB, Platteville football
Blevins caught five passes for a career-high 120 yards and 2 TDs, including an incredible one-handed catch in the third quarter, in last week's 44–22 comeback win at SWC rival Lancaster last Friday night. He also recorded a pair of tackles on defense.
T.J. Pink, Sr., QB, Platteville football
Pink completed 18 of 31 passes for 326 yards and 5 touchdowns last Friday night in his best game this year to lead the Hillmen (2–3, 2–1 SWC) to a 44–22 comeback win at rival Lancaster. Pink, who is the reigning SWC Offensive Player of the Year, has now completed 83 of 147 passes for 1,027 yards 9 TDs and 2 interceptions in five games.
Luke Patterson, Sr., and Leah Patterson, So., River Ridge cross country
The River Ridge brother–sister duo of Luke and Leah Patterson took top honors at last Tuesday's North Crawford Goat Hill Classic. Luke won the boys' race with a time of 19:04.4, while Leah took top honors in the girls' race with a winning-time of 23:03.2. While Leah won the Goat Hill Classic for the second straight year, Luke became the first River Ridge boy to finish first at an invitational. Three days later, both Luke and Leah established new school records at the Greg Bell Memorial Night Race in Boscobel with Luke posting a time of 17:30 to finish 18th, while Leah placed 17.59.1 to place 10th in the girls race.
