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The 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 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 Triple Threat Athlete of the Week is presented by the U.S. Marine Corps. The award recognizes student athletes who embody the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline across multiple sports. The mission of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Milwaukee is to find qualified men and women in Wisconsin and the surrounding area interested in becoming a United States Marine. Marines maintain the legacy of the Marine Corps by winning our nations battles and returning to their communities as quality citizens whether they are active duty or reservist. The coveted title of Marine applies only to those who graduate from the Recruit Depots or Officer Candidate School. RS Milwaukee will provide any qualified man or woman the opportunity to attend the training required to become a Marine - Enlisted or Officer.

Interested in speaking with a Marine Corps recruiter? Go to: https://rmi.marines.com/request-information/RSmilwaukee

Blake Thiry of Prairie du Chien has been selected as the 2024-25 male recipient of the Pat Richter Award from WisSports.net as the U.S. Marines Corps Three-Sport Athlete of the Year.

Thiry competed in football, wrestling, and track and field for Prairie du Chien, achieving great success in all three sports.

In football the 6-5, 225-pound senior led Prairie du Chien to an 11-2 record, a SWC conference title and was a big reason why the Blackhawks advanced all the way to the state semi-finals, falling a single point shy of the state championship. Thiry was a first team all-SWC running back, linebacker, and punter while also being named the conference Offensive Player of the Year. On top of that, Thiry was a first team All-State running back and was named the WFCA Small School Offensive Player of the Year. For the season Thiry rushed for 1,800 yards and 32 touchdowns, adding 40 receptions for 955 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively he had 50 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, an interception, and a defensive touchdown. He also averaged 47.3 yards per punt on 16 punts.

Come winter, Thiry capped off his incredible four-year wrestling career by finally capturing gold at the state wrestling meet. In the 215-pound weight class in Division 2, Thiry won the individual state championship, his first gold medal. Over the course of his senior season, he went 55-3.

In the spring season, Thiry completed his prep athletic career with a huge weekend at the WIAA State Track and Field Meet. He won a gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles, the long jump, and triple jump, while finishing runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles in Division 2. He set personal and school records in all four events on the biggest stage, finishing the 110-meter hurdles in 14.16 seconds and the 300-meter hurdles in 38.00 seconds. Thiry won the long jump at 23-06.75 and the triple jump at 47-00.00. The 38 points won by Thiry singlehandedly won Prairie du Chien a bronze trophy in Division 2.

When Thiry was featured on WSN in November, he said his most memorable moment in high school sports was winning four medals at the WIAA state track and field meet as a junior.

He also commented on the best part of high school sports and the best advice he received from a high school coach...

On the best part: "The best part of high school sports is the competing environment and seeing the growth in yourself and your teammates. My favorite part is seeing the process work out from the start of your high school career to the end."

On the best advice: "Trust the Process. The results and success you want will not come easy or right away. Trusting the work you put in and your coaches will help you get to where you want to be."

Thiry's head track and field coach Josh Rabbit provided a some insight regarding Thiry and here are a few quotes.

"You couldn't have chosen a better example of hard work and dedication paying off... Blake has some amazing talent and genetic gifts but he has done so many things in his process to maximize these gifts. He bought into the process. He worked endlessly. He lived right.  He ate right.  He treated his classmates and community with respect and honor.  He was an exceptional student- but that took a ton of hard work... But while other kids were wasting time, he was locked in figuring it out. He never got in trouble at school.  He was humble and kind.  National honor society. He is a true unicorn."

"My favorite Blake story happened this year after graduation. Most kids take graduation weekend to relax, reflect on what they have done, and enjoy being out of high school. Blake-  he texted me 45 minutes after his graduation ceremony to see if I was avaliable to get the track shed open for him so he could work blocks for his hurdle workout. Those are the moments that separate Blake."

"My favorite Blake story happened this year after graduation. Most kids take graduation weekend to relax, reflect on what they have done, and enjoy being out of high school. Blake-  he texted me 45 minutes after his graduation ceremony to see if I was available to get the track shed open for him so he could work blocks for his hurdle workout. Those are the moments that separate Blake."

"I can't say enough about Blake.  And he will never brag about himself.  So some of us have to. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of this kid and everything he stands for. He is the pride of PDC.  You all did it right."

Thiry has committed to Indiana to play football at the Division 1 level.

To view our initial profile of Thiry as part of our U.S. Marines Corps Triple Threat of the Week series, click here.

Past winners of the award include Eric Kenesie of Kenosha St. Joseph (2023-24), Calvin Hargrove of Aquinas (2022-23), Addison Ostrenga of Sun Prairie (2021-22), Austin Dahlke of Edgar (2020-21), Johnny Kelliher of Waukesha North (2019-20), Derek LeCaptain of Southern Door (2018-19), Max Alba of Franklin (2017-18), Danny Vanden Boom of Kimberly (2016-17), Nate Stanley of Menomonie (2015-16), Alec Ingold of Bay Port (2014-15), Matt Ferris of Xavier (2013-14), Jester Weah of Madison Memorial (2012-13), Kyle Cody of McDonell Central (2011-12), Hank Kujak of Blair-Taylor (2010-11), and Donnie Hissa of Northwestern (2009-10).