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Triple Threat Athlete of the Week

Hugh V. “Pat” Richter WisSports.net

The Marines 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.

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

At the end of the school year, those awarded with the weekly honor will be eligible for the Pat Richter Award, which will go out to the top boys and girls three-sport athlete of the season.

Hugh V. “Pat” Richter is one of Wisconsin's most-storied student-athletes in state history. He was a three-sport athlete at Madison East High School, competing in football, basketball, and baseball.

He was part of the Purgolders 1958 WIAA state basketball championship team as a junior. As a senior, he led the Big 8 conference in scoring and was named the MVP. The team fell short of a repeat when they lost to the eventual state champ Milwaukee Lincoln in a sectional final 75-73.

In football, he caught six touchdowns in his career and booted 25 extra points for the Purgolders. In addition to lettering for East's high school baseball team, he also played for the Monona Grove Lakers semi-pro baseball team.

A University of Wisconsin graduate, Richter is one of only five men to earn nine varsity letters and the last person to earn such a distinction in school history. He lettered three times each in football, basketball, and baseball.

Richter was a two-time All-American selection in football as an end. He also earned All-Big Ten Conference honors as a first baseman. Richter led the NCAA in receiving as a junior and set a Rose Bowl record with 11 catches for 163 yards in the 1963 game against top-ranked USC. He was a first-round draft pick by Washington in 1963 and went on to play eight seasons in the NFL.  

Hugh V. “Pat” Richter WisSports.net

Richter, who served with distinction as athletic director for 14-plus years at Wisconsin, has received an impressive list of honors during his career. He was named Wisconsin's Big Ten Medal of Honor winner (for academic and athletic excellence) in 1963. He was inducted into the Verizon/CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1995.

He was presented with an NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 1988 for post-collegiate accomplishment and was named to the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame in 1997.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison twice honored Richter during the 2006 football season. On November 4, his number 88 was retired and on November 17 a statue of Richter was unveiled in the Kellner Hall plaza immediately outside Camp Randall. 


Triple Threat Archive





Pat Richter Award Winners -Boys

Year ---Name--- --School--
2022-23 Calvin Hargrove Aquinas
2021-22 Addison Ostrenga Sun Prairie
2020-21 Austin Dahlke Edgar
2019-20 Johnny Kelliher Waukesha North
2018-19 Derik LeCaptain Southern Door
2017-18 Max Alba Franklin
2016-17 Danny Vanden Boom Kimberly
2015-16 Nate Stanley Menomonie
2014-15 Alec Ingold Bay Port
2013-14 Matt Ferris Xavier
2012-13 Jester Weah Madison Memorial
2011-12 Kyle Cody McDonell Catholic
2010-11 Hank Kujak Blair-Taylor
2009-10 Donnie Hissa Northwestern

Pat Richter Award Winners - Girls

Year -----Name----- --School--
2022-23 Meghan Schultz New Berlin West
2021-22 Bridee Burks Lancaster
2020-21 Katie Hildebrandt McFarland
2019-20 Lexi Donarski Aquinas
2018-19 Tara Stauffacher Beaver Dam
2017-18 Caitlin Link Edgewood
2016-17 Lexi Smith Northland Pines
2015-16 Grace Mueller Verona
2014-15 Megan Gustafson South Shore
2013-14 Kennedy Blahnik Algoma
2012-13 Jenna Orr Rice Lake
2011-12 Kailee Kamps Belmont
2010-11 Kendall Wienkes Highland
2009-10 Andie Varsho Marshfield