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Bug Tussel Triple Threat Athlete of the Week: Sydney Bartels, Freedom

02/02/2023, 2:45pm CST
By Norbert Durst

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: Sydney Bartels

School: Freedom High School

Grad Year: 2023

Volleyball Honors: Four-year starter for the Irish... three-time team captain... named team's most valuable offensive player all four years... team MVP as a junior... honorable mention all-North Eastern as a freshman... second-team all-conference as a sophomore... first-team all-NEC as a junior and senior... WVCA honorable mention all-state as a sophomore and senior... AVCA watch list junior and senior year... AVCA Best and Brightest first-team award as a senior... coached by Samantha Puckett... 

Basketball Honors: Four-year varsity performer and two-year starter for coach Mike Vander Loop and the Irish... team's most valuable defensive player as a junior... team captain as a senior... received second-team all-North Eastern and named to the league's all-defensive team as a junior... honorable mention WBCA all-state as a junior... helped Freedom to a Division 3 state runner-up finish, ending the year with a 28-2 record... the 5-11 wing/forward is averaging 8.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 steals per game for the Irish, 17-1 overall and ranked No. 1 in the Division 3 WisSports.net Coaches Poll... 

Track & Field Honors: Enters her senior year as a two-year varsity performer for the Irish... freshman year was canceled due to COVID-19... WISTCA all-state as a member of 4x800 relay team as a sophomore... helped the Irish claim the Division 2 state championship as a sophomore and D2 state runner-up finish as a junior... coached by James Finster... 

Favorite Sport (and why): "My favorite sport is volleyball. I enjoy this sport the most as I enjoy going to practice every day. I also love it as I can see visible progress every time I play."

Best Part of High School Sports (and why): "The best part of high school sports is the people you meet and friendships you form with teammates as well as having a whole community that supports you."

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "I would say the best advice I have received from Coach Vander Loop is to 'control the controllables'. It helps to remind you to not think about what you can’t control and what the other team is doing but to stay present in what you can do and control the way you are playing to better your team."

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "The most memorable moment in high school sports would be the sectional final in basketball during my junior year. This was the moment we officially were going to state and had won sectionals."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "The best part of playing three sports is the opportunity to get different aspects of sports whether it’s more individual or more team. You also get to work more parts of your body than you would in just one sport."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "The toughest part of playing three sports would be making sure to make time to finish my homework and to find time to rest. With also playing two sports at the same time of club volleyball and school basketball I have to stay organized to make sure I am getting all of my school work done and still get a good amount of sleep."

Favorite Opponent (and why): "My favorite opponent I have played in my high school career would be Fox Valley Lutheran, it is always a competitive, fun game for both volleyball and basketball."

Favorite Professional Team: Milwaukee Bucks 

Favorite Professional Athlete: Kerri Walsh Jennings 

Favorite College Team: Wisconsin Volleyball 

Cumulative GPA: 3.88

Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against (and why): "The toughest individual I have played against is Saige Damrow (Howards Grove), she is attending UW-Madison for volleyball and is a very good player."

Most Admired High School Teammate (and why): "My most admired high school teammate is Linnea Willer. I played with Linnea for my freshman and sophomore years of volleyball. She is a very hardworking person who is also positive and encouraging to everyone on the court. She holds others accountable in a kind way. Linnea is thankful for all the opportunities she has and works hard to improve every time she is on the floor."
 
College Plans: "I am undecided about where I would like to attend but will be furthering my education in business or marketing and continuing to play volleyball."

Activities Outside of Sports: "Outside of sports I like to hang out with my friends and family."

I Find It Relaxing to: "I find it relaxing to go for a walk or to paint something."

Favorite TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy 

Favorite Movie: Mamma Mia 

Favorite Musical Artist: Morgan Wallen 

Favorite Subject: Math

Favorite Restaurant: Red Robin 

Favorite Website: Snapchat

Other Family Members: "My family consists of my Dad (Jim), Mom (Rhonda), and older Sister (Sam)."

Tag(s): Triple Threat AOTW  News Archive  GBB News  Girls Track News  News  Norbert Durst