MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Three UW-Eau Claire student-athletes have been named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Athletes of the Week, WIAC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations Matt Stanek announced today.

Recognized this week were football running back Joel Sweeney (Sr.-Tomah, Wis.) along with tennis players Paige Kuepers (So.-Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) and Renee Nelson (Jr.-Madison, Wis./La Follette) for their doubles play.

At Saint John's University (Minn.) on Sept. 14, Sweeney scored both of the Blugolds' touchdowns in a 17-14 loss.  He had 43 carries for 266 rushing yards, the second-highest total he has reached in his career and the sixth-largest total in school history.  Sweeney now has 3,175 career yards, moving into fifth place on the Blugolds' all-time career rushing yards list.

Kuepers and Nelson were undefeated during the weekend, winning three matches to improve their No. 3 doubles record to 6-0 on the season.  Against UW-Whitewater on Sept. 13, the duo picked up the Blugolds' only win with a 9-7 victory.  On Sept. 14, they defeated their UW-River Falls opponents 8-1 and followed with an 8-4 victory against College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) to end the day.

-KM-