By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

A number of former local high school athletes have moved on to the next level and are playing sports collegiately across the country.

Periodically, this publication will update readers on local athletes’ exploits at the collegiate level.

In this edition, and the Jan. 3 edition, we will look into how area high school graduates are doing in winter sports across the country.

Oestreich continues career at Platteville

Matt Oestreich, a 2014 graduate of Marshfield High School, is a senior guard for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s basketball team.

Oestreich has started all nine of the Pioneers’ games, averaging a team-high 26 minutes per game.

The point guard, who has started 76 games over the past four seasons for Platteville, is averaging 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and a team-best 2.6 assists per game.

Platteville is off to an 8-1 start, with seven of the victories coming by double digits. The Pioneers host Ripon on Dec. 29 and St. Mary’s (Minn.) on Dec. 30, before opening up Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Jan. 3 at UW-Stout.

Michaelis starting at Crookston

Caitlin Michaelis, a 2015 graduate of Marshfield High School, is a starting guard on the University of Minnesota-Crookstron women’s basketball team.

Michaelis has started all nine games this season for the Golden Eagles, who are off to a 1-8 start.

Michaelis is averaging 35 minutes per game, and leads the team in 3-point shots made (13), is second in assists (19) and 3-point percentage (.394), and third in scoring (10.4 points per game).

Crookston hosts Winona State on Dec. 30 and Upper Iowa on Dec. 31, in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games.

Scheuer coming off bench at Bemidji

McKayla Scheuer, a 2016 graduate of Marshfield High School, is a sophomore guard on the Bemidji State University women’s basketball team.

Scheuer, a sophomore at Bemidji, has played in seven of the Beavers’ nine games, averaging 7.7 minutes per game.

Scheuer has scored 15 points, all coming on five 3-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds this season. She scored nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range, in a loss to Northern State on Dec. 8.