On Campus: Johnsburg grad Alex Peete turning heads at Wisconsin-Whitewater

Thanks to six national championships and more than 100 All-Americans, the Wisconsin-Whitewater football program exudes tradition.

Alex Peete was aware of the Warhawks’ winning ways before he arrived on campus. Over the winter, however, he connected with an important piece of school history – three-time, first-team All-America running back Justin Beaver.

“Our nutritionist is good friends with Justin,” said Peete, a Johnsburg graduate. “I got in touch with him, and we talked on the phone a few times. That was pretty cool.”

Beaver is the school’s No. 2 all-time rushing leader (6,584 yards) and won the 2007 Gagliardi Trophy as NCAA Division III’s most outstanding player.

“He told me some little tips, and we talked about confidence,” said Peete, a sophomore. “I learned a lot of stuff from him.”

This season, as the Warhawks’ starting running back, the 5-foot-8 Peete is making a name for himself.

Through the team’s 3-0 start, Peete’s seven rushing touchdowns rank sixth in the nation. He has rushed for 274 yards and averages 5.1 yards a carry for the Warhawks, who are No. 8 in this week’s D-III coaches’ poll.

“His best asset is his eyes,” Whitewater running backs coach Ryan Givens said. “He very seldom makes a bad read. That sets him far apart from other guys.”

Thanks to a low center of gravity and quick feet, Peete began to stand out late last season, Givens said.

“You could tell he was starting to understand a lot of the concepts,” Givens said. “He started becoming very consistent.”

Peete also showed off his big-play ability as the team’s No. 2 back late last year.

In a late-season game against UW-River Falls, Peete got five carries. On his second carry, he broke a 50-yard run.

“I could tell that I had definitely progressed,” Peete said. “That’s a big thing for a freshman.”

Givens noticed the progression during film study with the running backs.

“I’m a big believer in having interactions in my meeting room,” he said. “Originally, he didn’t say much. This year, he’s asking questions and trying to find out more knowledge. Once guys start asking those 200- or 300-level questions, you know that things are clicking.”

To continue his hot start, Peete knows studying film will provide benefits for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season ahead, which begins Sept. 29 at UW-La Crosse.

“Staying in the film room is a big thing,” he said. “You also watch the scout team and see what they’re doing. Some things you can get away with in high school, but not in college. When those (college) linebackers come at you, they’re not stopping.”

Beattie shines for USU: Utah State junior Luke Beattie was chosen Tuesday as the Mountain West Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week.

The honor was the first weekly award of Beattie’s career for the Aggies.

Beattie (Woodstock) led D-I Utah State runners and placed eighth overall at the 7-kilometer BYU Autumn Classic in 21 minutes, 12.9 seconds. The title was a personal best for Beattie.

He helped the Aggies to a second-place team finish in the five-team meet.

Catching on at Valpo: Woodstock grad Mason Sutter is the second-leading receiver for Valparaiso University of the D-I Football Championship Subdivision.

A senior tight end, Sutter has seven catches for 49 yards for the Crusaders (0-2). He had a season-high four catches in the team’s 23-21 season-opening loss Sept. 8 to Duquesne.

Augie contributor: Jacobs grad Karissa Gottardo has a pair of goals this season for D-III Augustana's women's soccer team, which is off to a 6-1 start.

Gottardo, a sophomore midfielder, scored a first-half goal and took three shots in an 8-0 victory last weekend against Lawrence.

Saluki standout: McHenry's Jacob DeWitt was the No. 3 finisher for Southern Illinois' men's cross country team at last weekend's Commodore Classic in Nashville.

DeWitt, a sophomore, placed 58th in the 8-kilometer race (26:56.2) in a field of almost 140 runners.

Immediate Milwaukee contributor: Freshman middle blocker Kleja Cerniauskaite (Crystal Lake South) has a team-high 98 kills and 34 total blocks for D-I Wisconsin-Milwaukee's women's volleyball team.

Cerniauskaite has started every match this season for the Panthers (1-12).

• Barry Bottino writes a weekly column about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at barryoncampus@hotmail.com and follow @BarryOnCampus on Twitter.