Who was the Milwaukee area’s top prep athlete last week? You tell us.
You can vote for the Piggly Wiggly Milwaukee Journal Sentinel high school athlete of the week until 3 p.m. March 21. You don’t have to be a subscriber to vote. Votes are limited to one per hour per device.
Grace Hibler of the Franklin/Muskego gymnastics co-op was the winner of last week’s poll.
Here are this week’s nominees. If the poll does not display, refresh your browser.
Dooney Johnson, Milwaukee Juneau boys basketball
Milwaukee Juneau will play for its first gold ball in program history on the back of the Gonzaga recuit’s stellar play this past week. Johnson’s masterpiece of the week came in a Division 4 sectional final with a game-high 36 points in a 75-69 victory over Howards Grove to send the Pioneers to Madison for the state tournament, where they earned the No. 2 seed in the bracket.
Natalie Kussow, Arrowhead girls basketball
Kussow was named the 2026 Ms. Basketball winner this past week and then dominated the action in two state tournament games, leading the Warhawks to their fourth state title Saturday, March 14. In a Division 1 semifinal against Pewaukee, Kussow had 26 points with nine rebounds in a 72-49 rout. In a double-overtime thriller against previously unbeaten Wauwatosa East in the title game, the Minnesota recruit tallied 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in an 80-74 classic as Arrowhead won the gold ball.
Mikaia Litza, Wauwatosa East girls basketball
Litza closed her excellent career by helped lead Wauwatosa East to a second ball at state in the last two seasons (D2 gold in 2025). Litza had 14 points and a game-high eight assists, including two clutch free throws in the final seconds of Tosa East’s 62-58 victory over Notre Dame in the D1 semifinals. Two nights later against Arrowhead, the DePaul recruit was an assist shy of a triple-double with a team-high 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in the loss to the Warhawks.
Madeline Volpe, Whitefish Bay girls basketball
A number of Blue Dukes could’ve been nominated, but Volpe’s shooting made a big difference for Whitefish Bay as it captured its first D2 state title with a 64-63 nailbiter over Beaver Dam on Saturday, March 14. In the 78-42 semifinal blowout of Elkhorn, Volpe scorched the nets for 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting with four 3-pointers, four steals and three assists. In the title game victory over Beaver Dam, Volpe hit four more 3-pointers on seven attempts, finishing with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Zavier Zens, Wisconsin Lutheran boys basketball
Wisconsin Lutheran will get a shot at history as it goes for its third straight boys basketball state title this week. Northern Iowa recruit Zavier Zens was superb in the sectional final round against Racine Case, scoring a game-high 31 points with nine rebounds and five assists in a 74-46 victory to move the Vikings to a perfect 28-0.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who will be voted the Piggly Wiggly high school athlete of the week?
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