Ricky Weina seized the moment.

A reserve defensive back for the Northwestern University football team, Weina finally got a chance to play extensively against Indiana two weeks ago.

Weina played the second half against the Hoosiers after Sherrick McManis got hurt, helping the Wildcats in a 29-28 victory.

Weina, a redshirt sophomore from Union Grove, made several defensive gems in the second half.

"I was really excited to get to play," Weina said. "It was an opportunity I had been waiting for a while.

"I was a little nervous when I got in but, as we started playing and got into the flow of the game, I was fine."

Weina's performance against Indiana is even more amazing considering he isn't even on scholarship. After graduating from Union Grove, Weina explored his options at the Division I and Division II levels.

When he didn't receive any scholarship offers, he opted to walk on at Northwestern, not only with the idea of being on the football team but getting a top-shelf education.

"When I was in high school, I sent out films to schools in a 200 to 300 mile radius (of Union Grove)," Weina said. "Once Northwestern came into the picture, it was my clear option.

"It's a great school and they have a great reputation with walk-ons eventually getting a scholarship."

Weina, an economics major with a 3.0 grade point average, helped his cause for a scholarship with his showing against Indiana.

Weina played well at cornerback and excelled on special teams. His blocked punt cut Indiana's lead to 28-17 and sparked the Wildcats to a comeback victory.

"It was pretty cool making something happen," Weina said.

-- Weina isn't the only local player who has helped the Wildcats this season.

Ben Johnson, a Shoreland Lutheran High School graduate, has contributed on defense. A starting strongside linebacker, Johnson has 22 tackles, including 13 solos. He has one fumble recovery.

-- Reid Oldenburg (Burlington) is enjoying a banner senior season for UW-La Crosse.

Oldenburg leads the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in rushing (833 yards on 140 carries), all-purpose yards (150.5) and is second in scoring (78 points).

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound tailback rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles' 35-28 loss to UW-Stout last Saturday.

Oldenburg's teammate, junior Kyle Steffen (Burington), has caught 20 passes this season for the Eagles, third-most on the team.

Another Eagle with Racine County ties - Jonathan Flancher of St. Catherine's - has played in six games with nine solo and two assisted tackles.

La Crosse is 5-3 overall, 2-3 in the WIAC.

-- Mitch Quill (St. Catherine's) is a backup tight end for Eastern Illinois, which is 7-2 overall and ranked 13th in the latest FCS Coaches poll.

Racine native Roy Wittke is the Panthers' associate head coach and offensive coordinator.

Women's volleyball

UW-La Crosse's Brianne Stankus (Burlington) was chosen the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's volleyball player of the week for Oct. 19-25.

Stankus, a senior, averaged 3.67 kills and 3.07 digs in four matches in the La Crosse Invitational. Stankus had a fabulous effort against Clarke (Iowa) College with 17 kills and 17 digs.

-- The UW-Whitewater team has a distinct Racine County flavor.

The Warhawks have three former county standouts on their team, which is 29-6 overall and 6-2 in the WIAC. They are senior libero Annie Berkley (Park), junior middle blocker Katy Krainak (Case) and sophomore middle blocker Megan Peterson (Burlington).

Berkley has 182 digs, fifth most on the Warhawks; Krainak had 187 kills, fifth-most on the team, and Peterson has 17 service aces, seventh-best on the team.

The Warhawks are ranked sixth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II national poll.

Women's tennis

UW-La Crosse's Sarah Schoenwaelder (St. Catherine's) and partner Carlie Bohrman lost in the No. 2 doubles championship match at the recent WIAC Championship at Madison.

Schoenwaelder and Bohrman lost to top seed Ingrid Stensvaag and Annie Smith of UW-Whitewater 8-5.

Schoenwaelder also was a finalist for this year's WIAC Scholar-Athlete award. In order to be nominated for the award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition and on schedule to graduate this academic year.

Stensvaag was chosen for the honor. She has a 3.98 GPA.

-- UW-Oshkosh sophomore Liz Leffler (The Prairie School) was one of six players nominated for WIAC Player of the Week honors. Leffler and her partner Emily Bostick placed fourth in No. 1 doubles competition in the recent WIAC Championships at Madison.

Leffler was also sixth in No. 1 singles competition.