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WIAC Football Athletes of the Week: Sept. 11-17

09/19/2017, 3:00pm CDT
By WIAC

From the WIAC -- 

WIAC Athletes of the Week
(Week of Sept. 11-17)

FOOTBALL
Offense

Ronny Ponick, Sophomore (Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd), Running Back of UW-Whitewater
Ponick totaled 24 carries for a career-high 190 yards, the most by a Warhawk running back in more than one year, to help UW-Whitewater to a 40-21 triumph at Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) on Sept. 16. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry and posted 146 yards in the second half alone, including a game-best 38-yard rush that set up his two-yard touchdown on third-and-goal with 6:00 to play. Ponick’s tough running on a drive that started late in the third quarter helped set up the Warhawks’ go-ahead touchdown on play action early in the fourth.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Platteville, Mark Johnson, Junior, Wide Receiver, Johnston, Iowa
UW-River Falls, Michael Diggins, Senior, Running Back, Andover, Minn. (Centennial)
 
Defense
Harry Henschler, Junior (Janesville, Wis./Craig), Defensive Line of UW-Whitewater
Henschler registered a career-best three sacks and totaled four tackles to help the Warhawks to a 40-21 triumph at Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) to close out non-conference play on Sept. 16. He forced the Bears into a third-and-18 late in the first quarter after a sack for a five-yard loss, and added another sack in the second quarter for a loss of three yards. Henschler collected his third sack of the day on third-and-long midway through the third quarter that forced Wash U. to punt. Henschler’s three sacks were one-third of the nine sacks UW-Whitewater finished with, the most in one game in the past decade.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Platteville, Colin Griffin, Senior, Defensive Line, Geneva, Ill.
UW-River Falls, Mitch Dienger, Junior, Defensive Back, La Crosse, Wis. (Holmen)

Special Teams
Michael Pratl, Junior (New Lenox, Ill.), Kicker of UW-Platteville
In a 38-29 victory over Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) on Sept. 16, Pratl finished five-of-five on extra-point attempts and converted his lone field goal try to produce eight points for the day. With the Pioneers down 29-28 late in the third quarter, Pratl was able to give his team a 31-29 lead to head into the fourth quarter with the 24-yard field goal. Going into the fourth quarter with the lead gave a big swing of momentum to the Pioneers enroute to the win.
 
Also nominated:
UW-River Falls, Angel Bautista, Freshman, Kicker, Minneapolis, Minn. (Fridley)
UW-Whitewater, Jon Weyker, Junior, Defensive Back, Mequon, Wis. (Homestead)

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