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Bug Tussel Triple Threat Athlete of the Week: Brett McConkey, West Salem

09/16/2022, 6:15pm CDT
By Mark Miller

The Bug Tussel 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: Brett McConkey 

School: West Salem High School

Grade: Senior

Football Honors: Second-team all-league selection as a junior in the Mississippi Valley Conference at quarterback ... Passed for 1,313 yards in 2021 while helping West Salem to an 8-2 record under coach Justin Jenn ... Also ran for 625 yards ... Threw 10 touchdown passes and ran for six touchdowns as a junior ... A 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback for the Panthers ... "One game that will stick with me was our conference win against Onalaska, when I threw for a touchdown, received a touchdown, and rushed for the game-winning touchdown. Another thing I am proud of is my average of 7.1 yards per carry that I have sustained throughout my entire varsity career."

Basketball Honors: Key player for West Salem in each of the past two seasons, earning honorable mention all-Coulee Conference honors as a sophomore and second-team laurels as a junior ... Averaged 8.1 points and 10.7 rebounds as a junior while helping West Salem to a 27-2 record and runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 3 State Tournament under coach Mark Wagner ... "One of my most memorable basketball moments was when I had 21 rebounds against Onalaska Luther."

Baseball Honors: Second team all-conference pick as a sophomore and first-team all-league choice as a junior in the Coulee Conference while playing for coach Jamie Olson and the Panthers ... All-State pick for American Legion Post 51 in the summer of 2022 ... "One of my proudest baseball moments was when I threw a no-hitter shutout against Arcadia in the playoffs."

Favorite Sport: "I do not have a favorite sport, but my two favorite sports are football and baseball. I love football because of the relationships that I have built, the work ethic I have developed because of it, and just the all-around complexity of the game. I love baseball because of the game inside of the game. The mental game that you have to play against yourself can make it frustrating, but it is also one of the things I enjoy most about the sport."

Best Part of High School Sports: "The best part of high school sports is the relationships I have developed with teammates and coaches. I know these will last a lifetime."

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "My sophomore football season was weird because of COVID-19. My head football coach, Coach (Justin) Jehn, used to always say, 'Nothing is guaranteed.' This represented that time period well, because we were never certain if we’d be healthy for the next game, or if we would be able to have a next game. This stuck with me because it made me realize that nothing truly is guaranteed, and you shouldn’t take anything for granted."

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "My most memorable moment in high school sports was when I played my last football game with my older brother CJ. Me being the quarterback, and having him be at my side as running back, was something very special to me."

Which Person or Persons Have Served as Positive Role Models in Sports For You: "My dad has served as my biggest role model in sports. Ever since I began showing interest in sports, he encouraged me to work hard. He coached me in all of my sports -- from the beginning of my career, all the way through middle school. He has pushed me to be the best player I can be, and now that he can’t be on the sideline or in the dugout with me anymore, he supports me at all of my sporting events.

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "The best part about playing three sports is being able to compete at a high level month after month."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "The toughest part about playing three sports is the minimal free time for other activities."

Favorite Opponent: "My favorite opponent is Onalaska because of the intense rivalry we have sustained with them."

Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against: "The toughest individual I have ever competed against was Jeremy Lorenz from Brillion in the state basketball semifinal game."

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

Favorite Professional Athlete: Aaron Rodgers 

Favorite College Teams: Wisconsin Badgers 

Cumulative GPA: 3.97/4.0

Most Admired High School Teammate: "My most admired teammate I have ever participated with was my older brother, CJ McConkey. He never backed down from a challenge, and demanded the best out of all of his teammates."

College Plans: "I plan on going to college to major in business." 

Activities Outside of Sports: "Outside of sports, I enjoy hunting, fishing, and spending time with friends and family."

Favorite TV show: Alone.

Favorite Movie: The Revenant

Favorite Subject: Math

Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse

Favorite Website: YouTube

Other Family Members: Charlie, father; Megan, mother; CJ, older brother; Anna, my twin sister; Drew,  younger brother.

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