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.

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Name: Jackson Trudgeon

High School: Madison Edgewood

Grade: Senior

Football Honors: Three-year varsity starter and four-year letter winner for the Crusaders ... First-team all-state selection by the Associated Press at wide receiver as a senior ... WFCA All-State pick at wide receiver and honorable mention at defensive back in 2021 ... Rock Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year ... First-team all-league at wide receiver and defensive back as a senior ... Caught 50 passes for 1,060 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 377 yards and another six TDs in 2021 ... 78 tackles and two interceptions on defense ... Set school records for most receptions in a season (55), most receptions in a career (151), most receiving yards in a game (199), most receiving yards in a regular season (903) and overall season (1,060), most receiving yards in a career (2,143) and most receiving TDs in a career (26) ... Also tied for most receiving touchdowns in a regular season (13) and most receiving TDs in overall season (15). 

Basketball Honors: Three-year starter and letter winner for coach Chris Zwettler and the Crusaders ... Earned second-team all-Badger West Conference honors in 2021-22 ... Starting backcourt player for an Edgewood squad that went 16-11 and won a WIAA Division 3 regional title ... Honorable mention pick on the Wisconsin State Journal All-Area team as a senior.

Baseball Honors: Three-year starter and letter winner for the Crusaders and coach Rich Newton ... Batted 4.00 as a junior ... Second-team all-Badger Conference pick as a junior at infield/pitcher.

Favorite Sport: "Football was my favorite sport when I was five years old, and still is to this day. The relationships you build with your teammates are so special, and different from all other sports. The feeling of pure adrenaline that rushes through your body during a football game is exhilarating. I truly love the game of football and have become addicted to being the best that I possibly can at it. ​​​​​​"

Best Part of High School Sports: "The relationships you build with teammates and coaches is unlike anything else. You come together with a different group of guys, and go through many highs and lows with them. High school sports teach you how to deal with adversity and how to handle success. The thing about high school sports that I will miss most is the little things: the bus rides, team meals, and locker room celebrations."

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "From football coach (Jesse) Norris- “Hold the Rope”. This was the motto for our team and is the backbone of our program. It’s all about being there for your teammates, even in the hardest times. Before every game coach Norris would ask all of us if we would hold the rope, if our teammates were holding on to the other end, hanging off the edge of a cliff. This is something that stuck with me, and will continue to throughout my life."

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "My most memorable moment was coming back to beat Monroe this past football season to win the conference championship. We had been down by 15 in the fourth quarter, but managed to come back and win by three. This game was everything me and all of my teammates had dreamed, and worked for. I will never forget that game, and I'm sure my teammates and I will tell stories about this game for the rest of our lives."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "For me the best part of playing three sports is getting to compete year-round. I love competing and doing so at the highest level. Playing three sports allows me to do that and it also allows me to build connections with many different people. Every team I have been on has a different group of guys and I love just building relationships with new people in every new season."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "The transition from one sport to the next is probably the most challenging. You typically only get one or two weeks to get ready for your next sport, and that can be very tough. It’s really hard to be training for an upcoming sport when in-season of a different sport."

Favorite Opponent: "Monroe -- it's always a battle and there is typically a good crowd whenever we play them."

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

Favorite Professional Athlete: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Favorite College Teams: Wisconsin Badgers

Cumulative GPA: 3.89

Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against: "J.T. Seagreaves of Monroe. Having to tackle a 6-foot-6, 225-pound running back was not easy and J.T. always played to the whistle. I also had to guard J.T. in basketball, which was also quite the challenge. I am very excited to get the opportunity to have J.T. on my team next year, and no longer have to compete against him."

Biggest Challenge of COVID-19: "My junior year, football season was a huge challenge with Covid. Our team was one of two teams in Dane County to actually play in the fall, so I am very grateful for that. However, it was not easy whatsoever. All of our games had to be played on the road out of Dane County, and we couldn’t even have a bus. We also had to travel a decent distance, to places like University School of Milwaukee and Wisconsin Lutheran. The biggest challenge was having a team bubble. This meant we could only be around immediate family members and members of our football team, for about 3 months. Looking back on it,  this almost seems like an impossible task, but it really pulled our team together, and set us up for success this season. Although this was definitely a challenge, it was also amazing in the sense that my entire life was football. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. We ended up having a winning season also."

Most Admired High School Teammate: "Joe Hartlieb. Joe was my quarterback all through high school, but he unfortunately broke his collarbone, and missed majority of our junior season. It was very inspiring to see the way he battled through the injury and continued to work each and every day. Joe then bounced back and had a huge senior year, and now will be playing at Michigan Tech. Joe has been one of my best friends since we were five years old, and I have always admired his work ethic and toughness."

College Plans: "I will be playing football at the University of Wisconsin-Madison next year and will be majoring in business."

Activities Outside of High School Sports: Working youth sports camps, 100-plus service hours in high school through various organizations/activities.

I Find it Relaxing to: "Listen to music, be out on a lake or on the beach with friends and family."

Favorite TV show: The Office

Favorite Movie: Rocky IV

Favorite Musical Artists: Drake, Kanye West, Lil Baby

Favorite Subject: Math

Favorite Restaurant: Chik-Fil-A

Favorite Website: espn.com

Other Family Members: Casey, father; Karisa, mother; Ellie and Avery, sisters.