January 26-February 1
Hannah Martini, Sr., Muskego (H.S.), Swimming & Diving
Martini swept the one (276.10 points) and three-meter (312.00) titles in UWL's dual victory over UW-Stevens Point on January 31. She set a school and Richard Pein Natatorium facility record in the three-meter competition, breaking the school record of 293.40 points by UWL's Kayley Alioto in 2018 and the facility record of 290.25 by Alioto in 2018.
Sedeeq AlObaidi, So., Wheaton, Ill. (Warrenville South), Wrestling
AlObaidi captured the 184-pound title at the Pete Willson Wheaton College (Ill.) Invitational on January 30-31. He went 4-0 in the tournament in helping lead UWL to a second-place team finish. After a first-round bye, AlObaidi won by decision (4-1) over Austin Wilkins of Cornell College (Iowa) in the second round. He won by decision (2-1) over seventh-ranked Austin Brass of Messiah College (Pa.) in the quarterfinals and by decision (5-3) over UW-Eau Claire's Zak McPhee in the semifinals. AlObaidi won the division with a decision (7-3) over the University of Chicago's (Ill.) Jackson Davis.
January 19-25
Madison Vander Sanden, Jr., Middleton (H.S.), Track & Field
Vander Sanden won the shot put (46-10) in helping lead UWL to the team title at the Pat Healy Classic on January 24. Her mark of 46-10 set a meet record. It ranks second on this year's NCAA Division III Honor Roll and first in the WIAC.
Preston Nygaard, Fr., McFarland (H.S.), Swimming & Diving
Nygaard won three events and was a member of two first-place relays in helping lead UWL to the team title at the UW-Stevens Point Invitational on January 23-24. He captured the 100 (55.47) and 200 (2:00.06) breaststroke and 200 I.M. (1:55.08). Nygaard was also on the winning 400 medley (3:24.11) and 400 freestyle (3:10.27) relays. He set school records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, breaking Adam Baryenbruch's record of 55.54 in the 100 breaststroke set in 2021 and Ben Collins' record of 2:03.21 in the 200 breaststroke set in 2025. He also set a UWSP Aquatics Center facility record, breaking the time of 55.74 set by William Buhler of UW-Stevens Point in 2021.
January 12-18
Malia Nelson, Sr., Dover, Minn. (Dover-Eyota), Basketball
Nelson led the Eagles to a 2-0 week, including a win over seventh-ranked UW-Whitewater on January 14 and over UW-Eau Claire on January 17. In UWL's 77-54 win over UW-Whitewater, Nelson scored a game-high 17 points, including going 10-of-12 from the free throw line. She also grabbed four rebounds and recorded an assist and steal. The win was the Eagles' sixth victory in program history over a top 10 ranked opponent. Versus UW-Eau Claire, Nelson scored 12 points while grabbing six rebounds and three assists in UWL's 77-55 win. UW-Eau Claire was receiving votes on the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll. For the week, Nelson averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
Eddie Simes, Jr., Amery (Amery-Pinnacle), Wrestling
Simes won the 174-pound division at the Cornell College (Iowa) Mike Duroe Invite on January 17. He went 5-0, opening with three straight technical falls. Simes won by technical fall (21-6) over Brayden Woods of Luther College (Iowa) in the first round, a technical fall (21-6) over Colton Berg of Wartburg College (Iowa) in the second round followed by a technical fall (24-7) over Max Sokolski in the quarterfinals. He won by sudden victory (4-1) over Hesston Johnson of Wartburg (Iowa) in the semifinals and took the title with a win by decision (5-3) over Nick Alexander of Augsburg University (Minn.).
January 5-11
Madalyn McCormick, So., Coeur d' Alene, ID (Lake City), Gymnastics
McCormick was the top performer in two events to help lead UWL to its best opening meet team score (192.100) in program history at the University of Nebraska Quadrangular on January 10. On the balance beam, McCormick scored a 9.850 to finish fourth overall and record the highest score by a NCAA Division III gymnast at the meet. The score of 9.850 tied the second highest individual score in school history. She led the Eagles with a 9.600 on the uneven bars to finish 13th overall.
Sam Grieger, Jr., Randolph (H.S.), Basketball
Grieger averaged 36.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in two games. He had a school record 46 points at UW-Oshkosh on January 7, breaking Eric Dudek's record of 43 set versus UW-Whitewater on February 22, 1995. Grieger added six rebounds and two assists in the game while going 16-of-28 from the field, including four-of-seven from three-point range, and 10-of-12 at the free throw line. He surpassed 1,000 career points in the game, the 19th player in school history, to reach the milestone. Grieger finished with 27 points, five assists and two rebounds at UW-Platteville on January 10. For the week, he shot 55.1% (27-of-49) from the field, including 44.4% (four-of-nine) from three-point range, and 83.3% (15-of-18) at the free throw line.
December 21-January 4
Sam Grieger, Jr., Randolph (H.S.), Basketball
Grieger averaged 24.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals in three UWL victories. He was named the MVP of the Nicolet National Bank Holiday Tournament at St. Norbert College (Wis.), averaging 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals. Grieger had 17 points, five steals and four rebounds in a win over North Central University (Minn.) on December 29 while finishing with 22 points, four rebounds and four assists in the tournament championship game victory over St. Norbert (Wis.) on December 30. He opened WIAC play with 34 points, five assists and four rebounds in a win over UW-River Falls on January 3. Grieger shot 58.0% (29-of-50) from the field for the week, including 60.0% (six-of-10) from three-point range, and 100.0% (nine-of-nine) at the free throw line.
Wyatt Magolski, So., New London (H.S.), Wrestling
Magolski won the 133-pound title at the Central College (Iowa) Under Armour Invitational on January 3 with a 4-0 record. He opened with a win by fall (1:55) over Mitchell Pins of Wartburg College (Iowa) before a decision (3-0) over Ethan Skoglund of Northwestern College (Iowa) in the second round. Magolski won by decision (13-6) over Eli Sneed of Cornell College (Iowa) in the semifinals and took the championship with sudden victory (5-2) over Jayson Stevens of Cornell (Iowa). Sneed is ranked 12th in the NWCA.
December 8-20
Jenna Welsch, Fr., Milwaukee (Catholic Memorial), Basketball
Welsch helped lead UWL to a 1-1 week with a win over Lawrence University (Wis.) and loss to #19-ranked Bethel University (Minn.). In the 63-57 loss to Bethel (Minn.) on December 19, Welsch led the Eagles with 14 points on seven-of-12 shooting from the floor. She also recorded three assists and a steal. In UWL's 46-39 victory over Lawrence (Wis.) on December 20, Welsch finished with a team-high 10 points while grabbing seven rebounds and recording two assists and two steals.
Tate Flege, Jr., La Crosse (Aquinas), Wrestling
Flege, wrestling in his high school gymnasium at La Crosse Aquinas, improved to 12-0 on the season with a technical fall (16-0, 5:00) win over Alton Mullinax from Aurora University (Ill.) on December 19. UWL improved to 9-0 with a 46-5 victory.
December 1-7
Joanne Banaszak, Sr., Kenosha (Indian Trail), Swimming & Diving
Banaszak helped lead UWL to a third-place finish in the 10-team Rochester (Minn.) Invitational on December 4-6. She recorded second-place finishes in the one (406.20 points) and three-meter (398.90) competition.
Marko Rajkovic, Sr., Franklin (H.S.), Football
Rajkovic caught eight passes for 100 yards and four touchdowns in UWL's NCAA Division III Third Round game at top ranked North Central College (Ill.) on December 6. The four touchdown catches are tied for second in single-game school history. His four touchdown receptions are the most for UWL in a playoff game and also tied for third-most in an NCAA Division III Playoff game.
November 24-30
Ali Sprangers, Sr., Kimberly (H.S.), Basketball
Sprangers was named to the Illinois Wesleyan University Midwest Challenge All-Tournament Team after averaging 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in two games. She scored four points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds versus 17th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan on November 29. Sprangers made her first seven shots including three 3-pointers as she finished with a team-high 17 points and four assists against DePauw University (Ind.) on November 30. She also added four rebounds and one block versus the Tigers.
Gabe Lynch, Sr., Indian Creek, Ill. (Carmel Catholic), Football
Lynch had 16 carries for 93 yards and one touchdown in UWL's 9-7 win at Hope College (Mich.) in the NCAA Division III Second Round on November 29. He scored on a four-yard run with 6:35 left in the first quarter to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead. Lynch moved into ninth in career rushing yards (2,463).
November 17-23
Mycah Beckett, Fr., De Pere (H.S.), Wrestling
Beckett captured the 141-pound title with a 3-0 record at the Augsburg University (Minn.) Auggie Open on Nov. 22, earning all three wins by fall. After a first round bye, he won by fall (:48) over Chase Smith of Augsburg in the quarterfinals and by fall (1:32) over Aiden Downing of Concordia College-Moorhead (Minn.) in the semifinals. He won the title with a fall (:40) over Logan McDonald of Iowa Lakes Community College.
Grant Matthai, Sr., Wauwatosa (East), Cross Country
Matthai placed fifth at the NCAA Division III Championships to earn All-America honors and helping guide UWL to its second straight national title. He completed the 8,000-meter course in 23:53.7 in earning his second career NCAA III All-America honor. Matthai placed third last season. He was making his fourth career appearance at the NCAA III Championships.
November 10-16
Monica Wawrzyn, Fr., Delafield (Kettle Moraine), Soccer
Wawrzyn had three assists as UWL advanced to the NCAA Division III Second Round. She recorded two assists in a 4-0 victory over St. Catherine University (Minn.) in the first round and added an assist in a 3-1 loss to seventh-ranked the University of Chicago (Ill.) in the second round. Wawrzyn started all 23 games this season, leading UWL with 13 assists. Her 13 assists tied Kaitlyn Villars' single-season school record set in 2018.
Tate Flege, Jr., La Crosse (Aquinas), Wrestling
Flege went 4-0 to capture the 184-pound division at the Luther College (Iowa) Open on November 15. After a first-round bye, he won by fall (2:01) over Cal Ries of UW-Platteville in the second round and by major decision (10-0) over Zak McPhee of UW-Eau Claire in the quarterfinals. Flege won by decision (1-0) over Dominic Mann of St. Cloud State University (Minn.) in the semifinals and won the title with a decision (2-1) over Brandt Bombard of Augsburg University (Minn.). Bombard is currently ranked first in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and was a finalist at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship.
November 3-9
Taylor Larson, Sr., Hartland (Menomonee Falls), Volleyball
Larson finished with a match-high 26 digs to help UWL earn a 3-1 win (25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 26-24) over UW-Stout on November 5 and clinch the Eagles' first WIAC tournament appearance since 2021. She averaged 6.50 digs per set and finished with two serve receive errors in 25 attempts. Larson also had three service aces.
Sam Grieger, Jr., Randolph (H.S), Basketball
Grieger was named the MVP of the TowneBank Tipoff Tournament at Virginia Wesleyan University after averaging 31.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds in two games. He scored a career-high 36 points, including the game-winning tip-in, in UWL's 77-75 overtime win over No. 17-ranked Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) on November 7, going 14-of-26 from the field, including two-of-five from three-point range, and six-of-nine at the free throw line. Grieger scored 26 points in the second half and overtime. He finished with 27 points and four assists in the 74-71 championship game victory over No. 14-ranked Virginia Wesleyan on November 8. Grieger scored 19 points in the second half. He shot 54.8% (23-of-42) from the field for the week.
October 27-November 2
Aubree Caya, Jr., Oregon (H.S.), Soccer
Caya had a pair of goals in UW-La Crosse's 3-0 victory over UW-Whitewater on Nov. 1. The two goals gave her a total of 21, setting a single-season school record. She broke the record of 19 set by Jennifer Tischaefer in 1997 and 1999. Caya’s goal at 26:23 gave UW-La Crosse a 2-0 lead and she added a penalty kick goal at 30:01 to make it 3-0.
Grant Matthai, Sr., Wauwatosa (East), Cross Country
Matthai won his second straight WIAC championship on Nov. 1, completing the 8,000-meter course in a league record time of 23:24.5. He broke his own WIAC record of 23:34.5 set last season. Matthai helped lead UWL to the team title and became the first runner in conference history to win back-to-back titles since 2015-16.
October 20-26
Hannah Martini, Sr., Muskego (H.S), Swimming & Diving
Martini won the three-meter title at the UW-La Crosse Eagle Eleven Diving Meet on Oct. 25. She captured the title with a pool record point total of 484.20, breaking the record of 472.15 set by Kayley Alioto in 2018. Martini qualified for the NCAA Division III Regional Meet with her score. She also finished second (434.75) in the one-meter competition in the UW-La Crosse Eagle Eleven Diving Meet.
Jack Janke, Jr., Ellsworth (H.S), Football
Janke caught 14 passes for 186 yards (13.3 average) with one touchdown in UW-La Crosse's 44-13 victory over No. 18-ranked UW-Oshkosh on Oct. 25. He caught a six-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to give the Eagles a 21-3 lead. Ten of Janke's 14 catches resulted in a first down for UW-La Crosse. His 14 receptions and 186 yards both were career-highs. Janke's 14 catches are tied for fourth in single-game school history.
October 13-19
Lucy Duchac, Sr., Sussex (Arrowhead), Cross Country
Duchac placed eighth overall in helping lead UWL to the team title at the Augustana College (Ill.) Interregional Invitational Gold Race on October 18. She completed the 6,000-meter course in 21:58.3. A total of 349 runners completed the course, featuring 11 of the top 30 ranked teams in NCAA Division III. UWL, ranked sixth, won the title with 88 team points.
Aidan Matthai, Sr., Wauwatosa (East), Cross Country
Matthai helped lead UWL to the team title at the Augustana College (Ill.) Interregional Invitational Gold Race on October 18. He placed fourth overall as he completed the 8,000-meter course in 24:18.6. A total of 339 runners completed the race, featuring 14 of the top 30 teams in NCAA Division III. UWL, ranked first, won the team title with 56 points.
October 6-12
Kayla Sexton, Jr., St. Cloud, Minn. (Cathedral), Volleyball
Sexton helped lead UWL to its biggest win of the season as the Eagles defeated 23rd-ranked University of Dubuque (Iowa) by the score of 3-2. She finished the match with a team-high 15 kills. Sexton added 18 digs, one block assist and one receive error in 15 attempts. The win over Dubuque (Iowa) was UWL's first win over a nationally ranked opponent since the 2021 season.
Preston Nygaard, Fr., McFarland (H.S.), Swimming & Diving
Nygaard won the 200 breaststroke (2:06.32) and placed second in the 100 breaststroke (58.85) as UWL opened its season competing against NCAA Division II schools St. Cloud State University (Minn.) and Truman State University (Mo.) on October 11. He was also on the Eagles' second-place 200 freestyle relay (1:26.08) and fifth-place 200 medley relay (1:37.99).
September 29-October 5
Lily Higgins, Jr., Stevens Point (SPASH), Cross Country
Higgins helped lead UWL to a second-place finish at the Joe Piane University of Notre Dame (Ind.) Invitational on October 3. She finished 12th overall with a time of 17:45.2 on the 5,000-meter course. A total of 22 teams and 171 runners competed in the race.
Michael Stack, Sr., Oshkosh (West), Football
Stack went three-for-three in field goals, including a pair in overtime, in UWL's 23-20 double overtime victory at ninth-ranked UW-Whitewater on October 4. He converted a season-long 43-yard field goal with 12:19 left in the game to cut the lead to 17-10. Stack made a 36-yard field goal in the first overtime and then converted the game-winning 36-yard field goal in the second overtime. He was also two-of-two in extra-points.
September 22-28
Taylor Larson, Sr., Hartland (Menomonee Falls), Volleyball
Larson anchored the Eagles' defense as she averaged 5.00 digs per set to help UWL finish the week 4-1. With her 28 digs in UWL’s four set win over Loras College (Iowa), Larson became the 17th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career digs. In UWL's four set win over Lake Forest College (Ill.), Larson finished with 23 digs and two service aces. Her 17 digs, six assists and one service ace helped UWL defeat Edgewood University (Wis.), 3-0. Against Wisconsin Lutheran College, Larson recorded 10 digs, seven assists and two service aces.
Anderson Fortney, Fr., Onalaska (La Crosse Aquinas), Tennis
In singles play at the Midwest Open, Fortney advanced to the quarterfinals in the "B" Draw. He went 3-1, opening with a victory (6-3, 6-1) over Aadityaa Juniwal of Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.). Fortney defeated (6-1, 6-4) Pranav Kannan of MSOE (Wis.) in the second round and earned the win (6-3, 6-0) over Anshul Satav of Grinnell College (Iowa) in the third round. He lost (6-4, 6-1) to Gerado Ramirez Mainou of Luther College (Iowa) in the quarterfinals.
September 15-21
Monica Wawrzyn, Fr., Delafield (Kettle Moraine), Soccer
Wawrzyn had three assists and one goal in a pair of wins as UWL improved to a school best 8-0 start. She had two assists in a 5-0 victory over Simpson College (Iowa) on September 18. Her first assist came on Ella Opie's game-winning goal. Wawrzyn had the game-winning goal in UWL's 5-0 victory over Concordia College Moorhead (Minn.) on September 21. She helped the Eagles' defense record two shutouts as UWL held its two opponents to four shots on goal.
Henry Walsh, Sr., Monona (Monona Grove), Football
Walsh finished with two tackles, including 1.0 quarterback sack and one forced fumble, in UWL's 31-22 win over NCAA Division II Wayne State University (Mich.) on September 20.
September 8-14
Megan Lund, So., Rochester, Minn. (Century), Volleyball
Lund played in all 23 sets this past week as the Eagles went a perfect 6-0. Lund recorded four double-doubles (assists and digs) on the week including a 30 assist and 11 dig performance against College of St. Scholastica. In UWL’s 3-1 win over UW-Superior, Lund finished with 25 assists and 10 digs. Lund finished with the week averaging 5.57 assists and 2.43 digs per set while also averaging 1.0 service aces per match.
Kyle Haas, Jr., Prior Lake, Minn. (H.S.), Football
Haas went 24-of-32 for 272 yards and three touchdowns in UWL's 38-14 win at 17th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) on September 13. He also rushed for 40 yards on eight carries. Haas opened the scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Lynch in the first quarter. His 37-yard touchdown pass to Jack Janke gave UWL a 31-7 lead and Haas finished the game with a six-yard touchdown pass to Keaton Arendt. He completed his first eight passes of the game.
September 1-7
Haley Thoeny, Jr., Lodi (H.S.), Golf
Thoeny won medalist honors a the Blugold Georgianni Invitational hosted by UW-Eau Claire held September 6-7, totaling 162 strokes. After shooting an 84 on Saturday, Thoeny cut six strokes in round two for a 78. Thoeny was the Eagles top finisher and helped lead the Eagles to a second-place finish as a team.
Kyle Hehli, Fr., West Salem (H.S.), Tennis
Hehli, playing his first collegiate match, earned a 7-5, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles over MSOE's Carlos Lopez on September 7.
August 25-31
Tasha Bailey, Graduate Student, Wausau (West); Shelby Roth, Jr., Neenah (H.S.), Tennis
Bailey and Roth won the No. 1 doubles flight at the UW-Whitewater Warhawk Fall Invitational on Aug. 30. The duo opened with a 6-0 victory over Olivia Herzog/Marin Catencamp of UW-Eau Claire followed by a 6-3 win over Paige Sargent/Logan Tom of Grinnell (Iowa) in the semifinals. Bailey/Roth won the flight with a 6-4 victory over Molly Asfeld/Crystina Lee of UW-Whitewater.
