Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

The Bug Tussel Wireless Triple Threat Athlete of the Week is an honor given on WisSports.net to the top senior boys and girls three-sport athletes in the state. Players are recognized each week on WSN, with the a boys and girls winner of the Pat Richter Award at the end of the season to the best three-sport athlete of the year.

The goal and mission of Bug Tussel Wireless is to level the playing field for rural residents despite where they may live. Whether you work from home, your office is downtown or you are manning the family farm, they believe residents should be connected without having to compromise speed, price, quality, service or the environment.

Name: Laney Halbach
School: Hilbert High School
Year: Senior 

Volleyball Honors: Four-year starter for the Wolves... coached by Kristen Remington... honorable mention all-Big East as a freshman... sophomore year she had a short season due to being out with mono... as a junior she was named first-team all-conference and Red Division Player of the Year... she helped her teams reach sectional finals as a freshman and senior.. finished her career with 829 kills, 181 aces, and 539 digs... 

Basketball Honors: Enters her senior year as a three-year starter and captain for the Wolves... coached by Jamie Wiese... helped team advance to a Division 5 sectional final as a freshman... named second-team all-Big East as a sophomore and first-team all-league as a junior... she averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.0 steals per game as a junior for the 15-10 Wolves... enters her senior year with over 1,000 career points... 

Track & Field Honors: Enters her senior year as a two-year varsity performer for the Wolves... her sophomore year was wiped out due to COVID-19... Big East champion in 100m and 300m dash as a freshman... qualifier for the state meet in the 300m low hurdles as a freshman... broke the school record in the 100m high hurdles as a freshman and rebroke her own record as a junior... conference runner-up in 100m and 300m hurdles as a junior and qualified for state meet in long jump, finishing ninth... 

Favorite Sport (and why): "I would say it really depends on what sports season it is. I enjoy each sport more when it’s 'in season'. But if I really had to choose between them I would probably choose volleyball." 

Best Part of High School Sports (and why): "Definitely the memories and friendships you make with your teammates. As a freshman playing varsity sports, I became friends with many of the upperclassmen, who I still hang out with and talk to this day. Now as a senior, I like to do the same thing that they did for me and help take in the underclassmen." 

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "My dad has been coaching me my entire life in some respect, and I cannot even remember or choose the most important one. He doesn’t sugar coat things and he’s hard on me, and I like that." 

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "Honestly it was my entire freshman year. The teammates that surrounded me and the opportunity I had to contribute to the successful teams was surreal. Those girls took me in and made me a part of their family, literally; we made a family tree and I was the baby."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "Each sport has something different that makes it unique. I love the team aspect of playing volleyball and basketball, but I also like how track focuses on the individual but is still a team."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "Playing three sports is a lot of hard work. You are constantly on the move. Your free time gets cut to weekends mostly, and sometimes you don't even get that. We usually only have a week off before we go from one season to the next, so there isn’t much time to let your body rest before it’s 'go time'. Throw in trying to balance school work and other extracurriculars like Honors Choir and our school musical makes for super busy days." 

Favorite Opponent (and why): "Jaydin Vosters (St. Mary's Catholic); I met Jaydin at a volleyball camp in probably 7th or 8th grade.  I get to compete against her in all three of my sports. We are very competitive on the court, but we are good friends off the court, even with being from a rival school." 

Favorite Professional Team: "I don’t really have one, but enjoy watching college sports!" 

Favorite Professional Athlete: Zion Williamson

Favorite College Team: Duke Basketball or Wisconsin Badger Volleyball

Cumulative GPA:  3.91

Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against (and why): "I don’t really have a specific individual in mind, but the Howards Grove volleyball and basketball teams are always really good competition and super fun to play against."  

Most Admired High School Teammate (and why): "Makaylee Kuhn; She was a senior when I was a freshman. She was insanely smart and incredibly talented. She took me under her wing and helped me become the athlete I am today. We are very similar, both leaders on and off the court, and this didn’t make it the easiest to play together as we liked to butt heads. But this helped us both become better athletes and leaders." 

College Plans: "After high school, I plan to attend UW-La Crosse to study Accounting. I plan on running track and hope to also play volleyball for UWL." 

Activities Outside of Sports: "I love my sleep!" 

I Find it Relaxing to: "Crochet and do embroidery." 

Favorite TV Show: That 70’s Show

Favorite Movie: Burlesque

Favorite Musical Artist: Khalid/Bazzi

Favorite Subject: Math

Favorite Restaurant: Perkins

Favorite Website: WisSports.net 

Other Family Members: "My parents John and Tracy, and older brother Jack."