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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

Eric Kenesie of Kenosha St. Joseph has been selected as the 2023-24 male recipient of the Pat Richter Award from WisSports.net as the U.S. Marines Corps Three-Sport Athlete of the Year.

Kenesie competed in football, basketball, and baseball for Kenosha St. Joseph, achieving great success in all three sports.

In football, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound quarterback/defensive back led the Lancer football team to a 10-1 record, falling in Level 2 to Lancaster for the only loss of the season. He was named a first team all-conference quarterback and defensive back for the second straight season. He also earned WFCA All-Region honors at defensive back for the second straight season while being named to the WFCA All-State team for the first time. For the 2023 season, Kenesie finished with 766 passing yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 465 rushing yards and 6 scores. Defensively he had 32 tackles, five interceptions and a forced fumble.

Kenesie led the Lancers to the WIAA State Tournament in basketball for the second straight season, winning a silver ball for the second time. The senior lead guard was named a First Team All-Metro Classic honoree for the second consecutive season while also being named to the WBCA Division 4 All-State team for a second straight season. Kenesie averaged 24.5 points on 58% shooting while adding 5.2 assists per game as a senior. As a junior, he set the WIAA State Tournament record by scoring 51 points in a Division 4 semifinal victory. For his career, Kenesie finished with 1,550 points, 385 assists, 239 rebounds, and 227 steals in his prep career.

On the diamond, Kenesie was a part of two state teams, including the WIAA Division 3 state championship squad as a freshman and this season's 24-5, Division 3 state runner-up squad. For the third straight year, he was named an all-league outfielder in the Metro Classic Conference. As a senior he also earned All-Metro District honors and was named an Honorable Mention WBCA All-State selection, after earning third team honors as a junior.

When Kenesie was featured on WSN in October, Kenesie said his most memorable moment in high school sports was making the WIAA State Championship game in basketball 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 getting to compete every day at the highest level and being able to do it in three different sports." 

On the best advice he's gotten: "No matter how good I do, it doesn't matter and to work harder than before."

Kenesie has committed to Buffalo to play basketball at the Division 1 level.

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

Past winners of the award include 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).