College update: boys’ basketball player

By Cara L. Dempski

LA CROSSE — It turns out the Colfax girls’ basketball program is not the only one with players who continued to play after finishing high school careers.

Ethin Kiekhafer, a 2014 graduate of Colfax High School, is playing college ball for the Viterbo V-Hawks in LaCrosse. Head coach Wayne Wagner said Kiekhafer has been a great part of the V-Hawks’ men’s basketball program and an asset to the university.

“The initial draw for us with Ethin was that he was a good basketball player and athlete,” Wagner said. “When we got to know him as a person, student and leader, that is what kept us pushing for him to be a part of our program.”

Wagner said he is glad to have Kiekhafer, who he describes as a quality individual from a great family and background. The third-year college student is carrying a full caseload for a major in biology and minor in chemistry. The Viterbo coaching staff has been impressed by Kiekhafer’s ability to make things work academically while playing basketball.

The Colfax graduate has played 38 games in his college career, 12 in the 2015-2016 season, and 26 in the 2016-2017 season. Though he has only scored 60 points between in two seasons, he has pulled down 11 offensive rebounds and 28 defensive rebounds in the same time span.

In addition to his course work and time on the court for practice and games, Kiekhafer represents the Viterbo Athletic Department on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The SAAC is a student leadership organization involved in volunteering both on and off campus.