Pioneers name athletes of the week, LaMere earns WIAC honors

Cross Country Male Athlete of the Week – Ian LaMere, Jr., (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) –LaMere led the Pioneer men with a win at the BluGold Invite hosted by UW-Eau Claire, which earned him WIAC athlete of the week honors. The junior tied the course record with a time of 24:29. The course record had previously been set by Josh Moen of Wartburg during this National Championship win in 2004.  LaMere led the race from start to finish, leading the next collegiate runner by 18 seconds at the 5K. A chase pack that included three track National Champions started to close the gap with LaMere in the final two miles. While a few individuals were able to get within five seconds of LaMere in the final half mile, he was able to hold them off in the finishing straight to claim the win.

Cross Country Female Athlete of the Week – Kiera Depies, Sr., (Cedar Grove, Wis./Belgium) –Depies was the Pioneers’ top finisher at the BluGold invitational hosted by UW-Eau Claire. Depies finished 13th overall with a time of 22:59. The senior, a two-time All-WIAC runner, ran one minute and 33 seconds faster than any previous race up to this point in the season.  She was only six seconds away from her career best time.

Football Defensive Athlete of the Week – Andrew Robinson, Sr., (Arcadia, Wis.) Defensive End –Robinson’s effort disrupted the Whitewater run game in the Pioneers 17-7 loss to first-ranked UW-Whitewater.  The seniors efforts helped limit the Warhawks to 150 yards on the ground.  He had finished with a total of seven tackles, having three tackles for a loss resulting in a loss of 12 yards.

Football Offensive Athelte of the Week – Patrick Sheehan, Jr., (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) Wide Receiver – Sheehan caught seven passes for 77 yards in UW-Platteville’s 17-7 loss to first-ranked UW-Whitewater.  The junior had a long grab of 21 yards, and averaged 11 yards per catch. 

Football Special teams Athlete of the Week – Ryan Fish, Sr., (Madison, Ind./Madison) Running Back – Fish, a running back,  tallied two tackles on kick-offs for the Pioneers in their 17-7 loss to first-ranked Whitewater.  One of his tackles pinned the Warhawks down at their fifteen yard line.

Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week – Nick Konopacki, Fr., (Batavia, Ill.) Defender –  Konopacki played center back in the Pioneers’ wins over Coe and Wisconsin Lutheran. The freshman is part of a back line that allowed only 15 shots in two games, including the 2-1 double-overtime win over Augustana. 

Men’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week –  Alex Bach, Jr., (Madison, Wis./West) Defender – Bach scored the game winner in Saturday’s  2-1 win over Wisconsin Lutheran taking a pass from teammate Logan Rinderknecht and shooting the ball to the right side of the keeper.

Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week – Katie Rogers, Sr., (McHenry, Ill./McHenry West) Defense – Katie anchored the defense all week. Lacrosse has a high powered offensive and she had the task of organizing the defense against them. Her communication is what stands out the most as well as her leadership on the field as the lone senior on the team.

Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week – Morgan Phillips, Fr., (LaPorte City, Iowa/Union) Midfield – Morgan had the assist on the lone goal in the 2-1 loss against UW-Lacrosse. Most offensive attacks started with her as she distributed extremely well out of the defensive and middle third of the field. Morgan's work rate is what stands out most as well as the yardage she covers both offensively and defensively.

Women’s Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week – Lauren Grady, Sr., (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley), Middle Hitter – The Pioneers went 1-2 on the week playing two teams in the top 19 (19^th-ranked Oshkosh and eighth-ranked Carthage).  Grady’s performance helped the Pioneers capture a win over Kalamazoo College.  She had 33 kills (2.54 K/set) and she hit .397.  The senior had one ace and six total blocks for the week.