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Triple Threat Athlete of the Week: Wesley Keller, Richland Center

04/26/2021, 10:15am CDT
By Mark Miller

Name: Wesley Keller

School: Richland Center

Grade: Senior
 
Soccer Honors:
 Honorable mention all-Southwest Wisconsin Conference selection as a junior and senior ... Chosen as the Most Improved Player of the Richland Center squad following the 2019 season.  

Basketball Honors: Three-year varsity letter winner for the Hornets ... An athletic 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 16.8 points and 11.1 rebounds as a senior while helping Richland Center to a 14-6 record and the league title under coach Brian Puls ... First-team all-Southwest Wisconsin Conference performer as a senior, and a second-team choice as a junior ... Team MVP as a senior and a 2021 WBCA All-Star player ... Also contributed 3.8 blocked shots per game while shooting 53 percent from the field. 

Track & Field Honors: Won the Southwest Wisconsin Conference high jump title as a sophomore ... Also won the WIAA regional high-jump crown in 2019 while finishing third at sectional and 10th at the state meet ... Personal-record of clearing 6-feet, 4-inches in the high school ... Personal-record of 38'9" in triple jump and 105-10 in the discus.

Favorite Sport : "This is a hard choice between basketball and track, but I would have to say basketball in my favorite. The team aspect of basketball is what brings it to the top. With track, you just do not have the close relationship you do with your teammates as you do in basketball. I have had great success in both sports."

Best Part of High School Sports: "Getting to compete alongside your friends and being able to meet different people through various sporting events. I have traveled around the state and neighboring states through my AAU career and played with and against some great players."

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "It would have to be winning a conference title this year in basketball, the first time for the school since 2011. Qualifying for state track my sophomore year was also a big moment."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "You always have something to do and are always staying active. I get to work with three outstanding coaches -- coach (Jesse) Boyarski in soccer, coach (Brian) Puls in basketball, and coaches Flick, (Leif) Carlson and (Paul) Wiertzema in track. All of my coaches have helped me become successful and saw potential in my athletic ability."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "Time management is probably the biggest struggle. You lose a lot of your free time throughout the year when you are in three sports. I am also involved in band and choir, so concerts and contests have made my free time minimal, too."

Favorite Opponent: "My favorite opponent is River Valley. It is our biggest and oldest rival."

Favorite Professional Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers

Favorite Professional Athlete: "Giannis Antetekounmpo because he has a great attitude and is a great player."

Favorite College Team: Wisconsin
 
Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against:
 "Cade Meyer of Monroe at the sectional and state track meet. I never met him on the basketball court, but he is tough in that sport, too."

Biggest Challenge of COVID-19: "Staying motivated during the shutdown. When all your sports and plans were being canceled, it was hard to find anything to look forward to. I was looking forward to my junior year in track to see if I could improve on my heights. It was very disappointing to miss that season. This has made me very determined to make my senior year a memorable one."

Most Admired High School Teammates: "My good friend, Easton Darling. He's a well-rounded athlete and was always very determined. He is someone you could look to be a leader. I have been playing sports with him since first grade. I will miss being his teammate and wish him luck in the future."

College Plans: "I plan to go to UW-Eau Claire and compete in track and field. I will be studying biology."

Activities Outside of Sports: "I was in 4H for nine years and showed sheep and dairy cattle. I also was involved in the woodworking project where I have built an end table, cooler stand, lawn ornament and garden bench. Through 4H, I volunteered my time with roadside cleanup, Salvation Army bell ringing, dishwashing at the Ithaca Lions pancake breakfast, and working our annual Richland County Dairy breakfasts. Music has been an important part of my life as well. I have been in band and choir since sixth grade and I also took piano lessons growing up. I am a member of the National Honor Society and was part of the Science Club."

I Find it Relaxing to: "Sit on a boat in calm water on a nice day and fish. I bought my own boat last summer and look forward to using it this summer."

Favorite TV Show: Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Favorite Movie: Any of the Marvel movies

Favorite Musical Artists: Guns 'n Roses

Favorite Subject: Science

Favorite Restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings

Favorite Website: YouTube

Other Family Members: Ryan, father; Michelle, mother; Paige, younger sister. 

Tag(s): Triple Threat AOTW  News Archive  BBB News  News  Boys Track News  Mark Miller