Shawano Leader Sports Headlines

Hopinka gets first-ever win in ShawanoBy: 

Scott Owen, Special to the Leader

Contributed Photo Marcus Yarie won the IMCA Modifieds feature for the second straight week Saturday at the Shawano Speedway.
Contributed Photo Mike Mullen won the Late Models feature Saturday at the Shawano Speedway.

Another stellar car count of 124 cars signed in to do battle at the Shawano Speedway on Saturday.

Marcus Yarie stayed consistent, winning his second race in a row in the IMCA Modifieds feature.

“Mighty” Mike Mullen (Late Models), Travis VanStraten (IMCA Stock Cars), Wyatt Block (IMCA Sport Mods) and Jason Hopinka (Mighty Fours) scored their first wins of the season at the track. For Hopinka, it was his first-ever win at Shawano Speedway.

Late Models

Mullen burst onto the Late Models racing scene last year with multiple feature wins. After having engine issues on opening night, Mullen started on the front row of the feature this week and lived up to the “Mighty” moniker.

Mullen led every lap of the 25-lap contest and lapped the field through the 11th position before a caution came out after lap 19. As the field lined up, Nick Anvelink, last week’s winner, started right behind Mullen. Anvelink, who started the race in 12th, kept Mullen in sight but could do nothing with him.

Mullen went on to pick up the win. Anvelink took second, followed by Jared Siefert, Troy Springborn and Ron Berna.

IMCA Modifieds

Clint Fostner led the opening lap of the feature. Lance Arneson made a three-wide pass to move up to second on lap two. On lap four, Arneson went to the outside of Forstner to take the top spot.

By lap five, Yarie had worked his way up to second place and began to reel in Arneson. Lap 12 saw Yarie go to the outside of Arneson in turns three and four and take the lead by a bumper at the start-finish line.

Yarie led the rest of the way, with Arneson on his rear bumper. Jerry Wilinski made a late-race pass on Jaimie Schmidt to finish in third. Benji LaCrosse crossed the line in fifth.

IMCA Stock Cars

Trent Nolan started on the outside front row of the IMCA Stock Car feature and took the lead on lap one. Nolan stayed in the lead until lap four, when Rod Snellenberger snuck underneath in turn three and wrestled the lead away.

A lap six melee slowed the pace of the race and eliminated fifth-place running Brandon Czarapata.

When the race restarted on lap seven, VanStraten made a pass on Snellenberger to take the lead. On lap 11, Snellenberger coasted to the pit area with problems, advancing Dan Michonski to second.

VanStraten led the rest of the race. Michonski, Nolan, Ryan Blank and 16th-place starter Eric Zwirschitz completed the top five.

IMCA Sport Mods

Justin Woller led the first nine laps of the race with heavy pressure from Brock Saunders and Block before giving way to Block. Woller pursued Block for the remaining 11 laps but could not muster a pass. Jason Jach passed Saunders on the last lap to grab third. Saunders and Kyle Raddant finished fourth and fifth.

Mighty Fours

Hopinka led every lap of the Mighty Four feature to win his first career feature at the Shawano Speedway. It was no cake walk though, as former track champions Kasey Gross, Josh Slewinski and Brad Wedde pursued Hopinka and finished second through fourth. Grant Kastning took fifth.

Shawano Speedway

April 23

Race Summary

Late Model Feature: 1) Mike Mullen, 2) Nick Anvelink, 3) Jared Siefert, 4) Troy Springborn, 5) Ron Berna, 6) Tom Naeyaert, 7) Brett Swedberg, 8) Rick Scheffler, 9) Taylor Scheffler, 10) Mark Rose.

Heat 1: 1) Mullen, 2) Jeff Curtin, 3) Doug Blashe.

Heat 2: 1) Joe Reuter, 2) Anvelink, 3) Rose.

Heat 3: 1) Siefert, 2) Springborn, 3) Naeyaert.

IMCA Modified Feature: 1) Marcus Yarie, 2) Lance Arneson, 3) Jerry Wilinski, 4) Jaimie Schmidt, 5) Benji LaCrosse, 6) Clint Forstner, 7) Brian Mullen, 8) Joel Seegert, 9) Jerry Muenster, 10) Jeremie Hedrick.

Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Mullen, 2) Eddie Muenster, 3) Todd Dart, 4) Hedrick, 5) Cole Petit.

Heat 1: 1) Kevin Feck, 2) Yarie, 3) Chris Engels.

Heat 2: 1) John Berna, 2) Jesse Peebles, 3) Jerry Muenster.

Heat 3: 1) Wilinski, 2) Seegert, 3) Arneson.

IMCA Stock Car Feature: 1) Travis VanStraten, 2) Dan Michonski, 3) Trent Nolan, 4) Ryan Blank, 5) Eric Zwirschitz, 6) Brian Ambrosius, 7) Mike Schmidt, 8) Jerry Winkler, 9) Tom Riehl, 10) Luke Uttecht.

Last Chance Qualifier 1: 1) Scott Blanke, 2) Josh Roehl, 3) Travis Springstroh.

Last Chance Qualifier 2: 1) Zwirschitz, 2) Chas VanOoyen, 3) Josh Mroczkowski.

Heat 1: 1) Rod Snellenberger, 2) Nolan, 3) Brandon Czarapata.

Heat 2: 1) Joe White, 2) Winkler, 3) Michonski.

Heat 3: 1) VanStraten, 2) Ambrosius, 3) Riehl.

IMCA Sport Mod Feature: 1) Wyatt Block, 2) Justin Woller, 3) Jason Jach, 4) Brock Saunders, 5) Kyle Raddant, 6) Zach McKinnon, 7) Jordan Barkholtz, 8) Jordan Bartz, 9) Lucas Lamberies, 10) Chris Budzban.

Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Matt Valiquette, 2) Tyler Thiex, 3) Karah Taycher, 4) Dustin Fraaza, 5) Mike Phillips.

Heat 1: 1) McKinnon, 2) Brekken Kleinschmidt, 3) Raddant.

Heat 2: 1) Block, 2) Woller, 3) Brianna Ambroziak.

Heat 3: 1) Jach, 2) Brian Bruechert, 3) Lamberies.

Mighty Four Feature: 1) Jason Hopinka, 2) Kasey Gross, 3) Josh Slewinski, 4) Brad Wedde, 5) Grant Kastning, 6) Dalton Nelson, 7) Lucas Hacker, 8) Matt DeWilde, 9) Hollie Welch, 10) Dylan Pingel.

Heat 1: 1) Welch, 2) Hopinka, 3) Slewinski.

Heat 2: 1) Hacker, 2) Kastning, 3) Taylor Becher.

Heat 3: 1) Pingel, 2) Gross, 3) Wedde.

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Shawano scores twice in final 20 minutesBy: 

Chris Caporale, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School junior Colleen McFarlane attempts to settle a ball for the Hawks during Tuesday’s draw with Seymour at home.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School senior Teagan Monfils fights for the ball in the first half of the Hawks’ 2-2 draw with Seymour on Tuesday. Monfils scored the game-tying goal with three minutes left in the match.

Shawano senior Teagan Monfils scored in the 87th minute Tuesday to give the Hawks a 2-2 tie with Seymour in Shawano.

Trailing 2-0 after Seymour’s Kyla Ryan scored in the 52nd minute, the Hawks started to find their groove, possessing the ball and putting pressure on the Thunder defense.

Megan Klitzke found the back of the net on a pass from Morgan Klitzke with 20 minutes remaining to cut the deficit to one.

“They started pushing harder. That one goal kind of pushed everything from there,” Shawano head coach Bob Croschere said. “We started playing tougher because we were back within the one goal. The first 70 minutes, we kind of just went through the motions and pushed the ball around and didn’t do a lot.”

Seymour, utilizing the speed of forwards Ryan and Anna Froehlich, was able to sprint past the Shawano defense but could not convert on several chances because of junior goalkeeper Carlie Hinnefeld, who posted 25 saves.

Seymour head coach Todd Messner wanted to see a more precise attack from his offense, especially on one-on-one opportunities.

“We have to place it in and do a little better and just pass it into the goal instead of shooting it,” Messner said. “Sometimes, people have the tendency where they are just aiming at the goal, and guess what’s at the center of the goal — the keeper.”

Hinnefeld was quick to make decisions in attacking the ball and putting herself in position to make saves.

“She’s getting that maturity, and the decision-making is there where she knows when to come out and do this,” Croschere said. “She decides early and does it.”

Seymour (3-1-3, 1-0-2 Bay Conference) controlled the possession early on, converting first when Ryan scored 16 minutes into the contest.

Shawano (2-3-1, 1-1-1 Bay) had five good chances within its offense but failed to get a ball past goalkeeper Aubrey Buchholtz.

Ryan scored seven minutes into the second half to double the Seymour lead before the Klitzkes got the Hawks untracked.

Monfils tied the score, off a Morgan Klitzke pass, when the ball glanced off Buchholtz’s hands.

“They felt like if they had a two-goal lead, that was going to be enough to win it,” Messner said. “So, this is going to be tough.”

Croschere wants more consistent intensity from his Hawks.

“If we would have played 90 minutes like we played the last 20, we wouldn’t be walking out of here with a tie right now,” he said.

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Errors hurt Shawano in lossesBy: 

Chris Caporale, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School senior Alli Raddant tries to turn a double play during Shawano’s 9-3 loss to Appleton East on Saturday.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School freshman shortstop Bayleigh Laabs fields a ground ball and looks to make a play at second base. The Hawks lost two of their three contests Saturday in Ashwaubenon.

A six-run third inning, aided by two Shawano errors, put Appleton East ahead for good as the Patriots posted a 9-3 win in the second of Shawano’s three games at the Ashwaubenon tournament on Saturday.

Shawano took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. An error on a fly ball hit to deep left field by freshman Bayleigh Laabs brought in the first two runs. Junior Saige Henning then doubled to center field to score Laabs.

In the top of the third, Appleton East’s Sydney Pfotenhauer hit a bases-clearing double off freshman Emilee Bastar to tie the game. Shaela Roskom added an RBI single and Hannah Werner doubled to center field to put the Patriots ahead, 6-3.

The Hawks were shut down for the remainder of the game by Pfotenhauer and relief pitcher Morgan Neubauer. Shawano got one runner into scoring position in the sixth inning on an error on Sarah Petry’s fly ball, which allowed Erin Cerveny to get to second base.

The Patriots (8-4, 5-4 Fox Valley Association) added one more run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh, with two more errors on Shawano, to seal the victory.

Shawano (4-4, 3-0 Bay Conference) lost its tourney opener to Ashwaubenon (9-0, 4-0 Fox River Classic Conference), 7-0, and later defeated Appleton North, 4-2.

Against North, the Hawks tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on three singles and three errors to take a 4-2 lead. Cerveny put Appleton North (5-4, 4-3 FVA) down in order in the final frame to secure the victory.

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Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School freshman Tori DePerry runs in the 4x200 relay. The Hawks took third place in the four-team girls meet Tuesday in Shawano.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School sprinter Logan Stefl runs the second leg of the 4x200 relay Tuesday at Shawano Community Middle School. The Hawks finished the relay behind West De Pere.

BASEBALL

Bonduel 3

Weyauwega-Fremont 0

Bonduel senior Trevor Pedersen threw a no-hitter, striking out 15 batters without giving up a walk, in a road victory Monday afternoon.

Jordan Boldt had two of the eight hits for Bonduel (6-1, 3-1 CWC-8).

Logan Bosquez took the loss for the Indians (5-4, 3-2 CWC-8). He allowed seven hits and three runs.

Green Bay East/West 3

Shawano 0

Junior Dylan Sumnicht struck out six batters in six innings and allowed one earned run, but the Hawks still fell on the road Tuesday.

Sumnicht walked one batter and gave up four hits for the Hawks (3-5, 3-2 Bay Conference).

Max Vanboxtel earned the win for the hosts (5-3, 4-2 Bay), striking out eight and allowing one hit.

Tigerton 3

Menominee Indian 2

Tigerton was able to score two runs over the final two innings to secure a road victory Tuesday afternoon.

Dayton Latender took the loss for the Eagles (5-3, 5-3 Central Wisconsin Conference-10), allowing nine hits and three earned runs over seven innings.

Grant Gomeyosh had two first-inning RBIs for Menominee Indian.

Tigerton (4-6, 4-5 CWC-10) pitcher Logan Moderson struck out seven batters and allowed one earned run over seven innings.

SOFTBALL

Shawano 24

Clintonville 0

Sophomore Brandi Gueths posted four hits and outfielder Lauren Roloff added two triples in Shawano’s four-inning road victory Monday.

Hannah Hein struck out four batters and gave up one hit in the victory for the Hawks (6-4, 3-0 Bay Conference).

Clintonville moved to 1-8 overall while staying at 1-6 in the North Eastern Conference.

Weyauwega-Fremont 9

Bonduel 0

Senior catcher Kaylee Rynish had two of Bonduel’s four hits in Monday’s road loss.

Junior Cameri Gehm took the loss for Bonduel (5-4, 2-3 Central Wisconsin Conference-8), allowing eight hits and five walks.

The Indians remained perfect on the season at 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the CWC-8.

Seymour 10

Shawano 0

Erin Cerveny struck out three batters and took the loss in Shawano’s six-inning road defeat Tuesday.

Shawano (6-5, 3-1 Bay Conference) committed five errors in addition to allowing 14 hits.

Seymour moved to 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the Bay.

Tigerton 8

Menominee Indian 4

Senior Kelsey Corn took the loss for Menominee Indian, allowing eight runs in seven innings at home Tuesday.

Summer Kopitzke pitched a complete game for Tigerton (2-5, 2-3 Central Wisconsin Conference-10). She gave up nine hits and four walks.

Ania Smith got on base three times, scored one run and drove in another for Menominee Indian (6-2, 6-2 CWC-10).

TRACK

Kurtz, Wendorff lead Hawks at home

Kristy Kurtz and Hannah Wendorff placed one-two in the pole vault and were on the winning 4x400-meter relay team as Shawano finished third Tuesday in Shawano.

Shawano freshman Tori DePerry won the high jump with a height of 4 feet, 8 inches. West De Pere won the girls meet with 111 points.

Shawano placed second in the boys meet.

Zeke Gueths paced the boys team, winning the discus by over 11 feet. Michael Mault earned a victory in the 300 hurdles in 43.72 seconds. The boys took second place, finishing behind West De Pere.

BOYS TENNIS

West De Pere 5

Shawano 2

Shawano’s No. 1 doubles team of Kyle Easter and Manny Morel won in three sets on the road Tuesday.

Easter and Morel defeated Blayd Anzel and Ari Dennis, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Levi Johnson and Donald Chen, at the third doubles position, also won for the Hawks, beating Jordan Wagner and Max Wessley in straight sets.

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Marcus Yarie won his second IMCA Modifieds race in a row at the Shawano Speedway on Saturday.

Clint Fostner led the opening lap of the IMCA Modifieds feature. While Forstner led, Lance Arneson made a three-wide pass to move up to second on lap two. On lap four, Arneson went to the outside of Forstner to take the top spot away. By lap five, Yarie had worked his way up to second place and began to reel in Arneson. On lap 12, Yarie went to the outside of Arneson in turns three and four and took the lead by a bumper at the start-finish line. Yarie led the rest of the way for the win, with Arneson on his rear bumper. Jerry Wilinski made a late race pass on Jaimie Schmidt to finish in third. Benji LaCrosse crossed the line in fifth.

Mike Mullen (Late Models), Travis VanStraten (IMCA Stock Cars), Wyatt Block (IMCA Sport Mods) and Jason Hopinka (Mighty Fours) scored their first wins of the season at the track. For Hopinka, it was his first-ever win at Shawano Speedway.

Racing will continue at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the speedway. Spectator Eliminators return. More information can be found at www.shawanocountyfair.net.

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Boldt leads Bonduel to 10-4 victoryBy: 

Chris Carporale, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School senior Bennett Gunderson extends to catch the ball to get Crivitz junior Kershaw Strumbris out in Bonduel’s 10-4 win Friday.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School sophomore Jordan Boldt pitched six innings, striking out six, Friday against Crivitz. He also tallied a run when he stole home in the sixth inning of Bonduel’s 10-4 win.

Bonduel did not give Crivitz starting pitcher Brock Kueber a chance to settle in Friday.

The Bears put up a five-run first inning and coasted to a 10-4 nonconference victory at home over the Wolverines.

“I really liked, for the most part, that we hit up and down the lineup,” Bonduel coach Mark Margelofsky said. “That’s one of the things that makes for a good baseball team is when you can hurt one through nine.”

In the first inning, Bennett Gunderson singled down the left-field line, scoring Trevor Pedersen, Josh Richter reached base on a misplayed fly ball and Wyatt Erb powered a ball into right-centerfield, plating three runners. Senior Garrett Siolka added the final RBI of the inning, scoring Blake Stoss.

Bonduel tallied another run in the second inning to make the score 6-0, expanded its lead in the bottom of the fourth when Gunderson ran out an infield single to score Trevor Pederson, and scored two in the fifth when Siolka drove in Stoss and Jordan Boldt stole home with the bases loaded. In the sixth inning, Brent Pieper drove in Josh Richter on a fielder’s choice.

The Wolverines had four baserunners in the first three innings on one hit and three walks.

“I don’t think it was nerves. They just didn’t come out and play very well to start,” Crivitz head coach Jeff Dorschner said. “After that, and once they realized it’s not life or death if they don’t win this game, they played.”

Bonduel also ran into some problems and committed four miscues on the basepaths. Erb tripped on second base and got thrown out at third base. Gunderson got caught in a rundown. Siolka got caught trying to turn a double into a triple in the fifth. Senior Brandon Olsen got thrown out at home plate in the sixth inning.

“Those mistakes are worthwhile if we learn from them,” Margelofsky said.

Boldt allowed just one run in the game, struck out six batters and allowed five hits.

The run for Crivitz came in the fourth inning when Tyler Shubert singled to center field, scoring freshman Aaron Torney.

Kueber pitched three innings, allowing six runs, while Cameron Devore pitched in relief, allowing four runs over the next three innings for the Wolverines.

Bonduel (4-1, 2-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) sent Brent Peiper to the mound for the final inning. He walked three batters and gave up three hits and three runs for the Wolverines (2-6, 2-4 Marinette & Oconto Conference) in the final frame.

“Both Jordan and Brent haven’t been throwing in games, so we need to be getting them reps in practice, because that’s asking them a lot to not pitch for weeks and then to step out on the mound,” Margelofsky said.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

Crivitz 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 4 6 1

Bonduel 5 1 0 1 2 1 X 10 13 1

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BASEBALL

Shawano 2

Menasha 1

The Hawks scored a run in the bottom of the 10th inning on an obstruction call, giving Shawano the win in the first leg of a doubleheader between the Bay Conference leaders Friday in Menasha.

Senior Nate Laude struck out eight batters in 10 innings for the Hawks (3-3, 3-0 Bay Conference). He allowed four hits and one run.

Dalton Knaack took the loss for Menasha (4-3, 2-1 Bay), pitching one inning, walking one batter and allowing a run.

Menasha 3

Shawano 1

Junior Dylan Sumnicht pitched six innings for Shawano, striking out four batters in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader in Menasha.

Menasha (5-3, 3-1 Bay Conference) scored all of its runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Nate Mantzel hit a two-out double for three RBIs.

Shawano (3-4, 3-1 Bay Conference) remains tied atop the Bay with the Bluejays.

Gresham 13

Marion 3

Gresham scored five runs in the fifth inning on errors as it built an 11-run advantage Friday on the road.

The Mustangs (0-8, 0-8 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) recorded one run in the bottom of the fifth, but it was not enough to keep the game going.

Ray Creapeau singled in the fourth inning, plating Dustin Tomas and Legacy Skenadore for the Wildcats (5-1, 5-1 CWC-10).

SOFTBALL

Bonduel 17

Crivitz 1

Junior pitcher Brittany Wudtke picked up her second win of the season Friday, allowing two hits in five innings for Bonduel at home.

Kaylee Rynish and Kailee Pedersen each had four hits to lead Bonduel (5-3, 2-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8).

Miranda Schmidt recorded three RBIs for the Bears in the win over Crivitz (1-5, 1-4 Marinette & Oconto Conference).

Menominee Indian 27

Tri-County 0

Menominee Indian senior pitcher Kelsey Corn tallied six RBIs on three hits and allowed just one hit in four innings of work Friday at home.

Corn doubled in the first inning, homered in the second inning and tripled in the fourth inning to lead the Eagles (6-1, 6-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-10).

Seven Menominee Indian batters combined for 15 hits, 18 RBIs and 19 runs against the Penguins (4-5, 4-5 CWC-10).

Gresham 16

Marion 7

Gresham senior pitcher Taylor Hoffman struck out 12 batters in 5 1/3 innings Friday on the road.

Makena Arndt, Mackenzie Hoffman and Dani Huntington each had three hits for the Wildcats (2-2, 2-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-10).

Marion (1-3, 1-3 CWC-10) had one earned run as Gresham committed six errors.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Contributed Photo Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior August Peplinski signs his letter of intent Thursday with his mom, Chris, dad, Jeff, and younger bother, Alex, watching.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior August Peplinski was surrounded by his family and friends Thursday night as he signed his National Letter of Intent to wrestle at North Dakota State University next year.

Peplinski reached the WIAA Division 2 state title match at 195 pounds the past two years. He was a four-time state place-winner for the Chargers, and holds the program’s records for career wins (190) and career pins (115). He also holds the single-season marks with 51 wins and 36 pins.

“He is a great role model by setting high standards in everything he does, not just wrestling,” Wittenberg-Birnamwood coach Troy Ostrowski said. “When I talked to the coach at North Dakota State, I told him that August is a guy that every coach wants in his room, no matter what division he is wrestling.”

Peplinski took his official visit to North Dakota State University in January and made his official decision just a couple of weeks later.

“North Dakota State was really the No. 1 school that I was looking at from the start,” Peplinski said.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Bonduel sophomore pitcher Wyatt Erb struck out seven batters in 6 2/3 innings Thursday in the Bears’ 5-2 victory at Iola-Scandinavia.

After the Thunderbirds recorded back-to-back singles in the seventh inning, senior Trevor Pedersen relieved Erb on the mound. Pedersen allowed one walk, putting the tying run at first base, before getting the next batter to pop out to second base to earn the save.

Erb also led the Bears with two hits at the plate. Five players scored runs for Bonduel (3-1, 2-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-8).

Iola-Scandinavia moved to 2-4 and 1-2 in the CWC-8.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Bonduel High School junior Cameri Gehm allowed just one hit through her first six innings of work Thursday night against Iola-Scandinavia.

The Thunderbirds tallied two hits in the seventh inning, but Gehm kept them off the board in a 4-0 road victory.

With Gehm hitting her spots at the plate, the Bears also provided good defense behind her.

Senior centerfielder Miranda Schmidt made a diving catch in the fourth inning and the Bears recorded 12 ground-ball outs.

“Our defense has been solid,” head coach Chris Reinke said.

Gehm also led the Bears at the plate, driving in senior Kaylee Rynish and junior Kaitlyn Bohr with a double in the second inning. Kailee Pedersen and Schmidt scored the final two runs in the third inning.

Rynish was 1 for 1 at the plate with two walks for the Bears (4-3, 2-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8).

Kendall Johnson took the loss for Iola-Scandinavia (6-3, 3-3 CWC-8). She struck out five, walked three, and allowed five hits and four runs over seven innings.

Gehm, who is 3-2 on the season, struck out one batter, walked three and allowed three hits.

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Junior golfer sits atop Hawks’ lineupBy: 

Chris Caporale, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School junior Josh Mueller wants to become more consistent on the course for the young Hawks golf team.

Just a few meets into the 2016 season, Shawano’s No. 1 golfer, Josh Mueller, is still looking to fine-tune his game.

The junior, who has posted scores of 43, 47, 39 and 46 this season, needs to work on getting more consistent while battling top golfers from across the Bay Conference.

“Hitting the ball before hitting the ground, I guess,” Mueller said of picking the current weak spot of his game. “Just not chunking the ball. Mishits like that, it puts me in bad spots.”

Head coach Dean Kugler would like to see Mueller eliminate some of the mistakes that can lead to higher scores.

“He’s just a young kid. If he wants to be considered a good No. 1, he’s got to keep it under bogey golf, which is 45 or better,” Kugler said. “Forty-seven isn’t good enough. He needs to get it to low 40s to be respectable

“He has to want to (improve). That’s the hardest time to get better. When you are a bogey golfer, that bogey golf to better than bogey golf, that’s the hardest step, so he’s at it.”

Teammates Braxten Surber and Austin Kohl also are scoring regularly in the 40s and pushing Mueller to improve to hold onto the team’s top spot.

“He’s starting to getting to average a 41, which is cool. That would be great,” Kugler said. “We’ll see how the season goes. That’s what I’m looking for out of him.

“If he can average under 43 — a 43 or better — that would be fantastic. The closer he gets to 45, that makes him just another guy.”

Mueller posted a 46 Tuesday at a Bay Conference meet at Crystal Springs in Seymour. Surber carded a 42 and Kohl added a round of 43.

Mueller is still confident in his game and working on scoring more consistently.

“At this point of the season, it’s shaky a little bit,” Mueller said after a round of 39 at Shawano Lake Golf Course on Monday. “I’ve got to improve a few things, but other than that, I’m feeling decent about (my play).”

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By: 

Gary Seymour, [email protected]

Fans of mixed martial arts will learn over the coming weeks whether Conor McGregor takes an early retirement, as suggested in a recent tweet he made, or he attempts to avenge a defeat he suffered earlier this year.

McGregor is a 27-year-old Irishman who’d emerged over the past two years as the sport’s brightest star. A smaller, paler version of Muhammad Ali, he is a supreme trash talker with skill to back up the noise – the perfect merging of attributes for the pay-per-view combat scene. Whether he retires, or returns to his old face-smashing ways, will be closely examined.

There may not be much more written about Joao Carvalho’s last bout, though, and in light of his story having run more than a week ago, it might already be washed out of the news cycle.

Carvalho was the 28-year-old fighter from Portugal who died from brain injuries suffered in a fight with Ireland’s Charlie Ward.

In the wake of his death there were smattering, token calls for the prohibiting of the sport, on the grounds that, like boxing, it’s unsafe.

The basic argument is that, for we fragile hominids there isn’t a great future in getting smacked on the head over and over. The neurological chickens will come home to roost. Over the past 125 years, boxing has produced more than 900 ring-related deaths, on top of the cavalcade of fight veterans with speech and memory problems.

The argument in favor of the existence of professional mixed martial arts has merit: The Ultimate Fighting Championship circuit provides a legitimate career avenue for martial arts experts and college wrestlers who crossed over to UFC, where before there was no such opportunity.

The difference is the issue of the head shots that MMA competitors absorb on a regular basis, and the cumulative effects thereof.

Concussions are such a hot-button issue in the National Football League today that there is a neurologist on hand at every NFL game. In society’s recent noggin-awareness push, there also have been important questions raised about the dangers of repeated headers in soccer.

Often, it takes a tragedy to bring about a departure from conventional beliefs. In the 1960s, high school football coaches were known to taunt players at summer practice, to the effect of, “Might as well drink the sweat coming off your forehead ‘cause that’s all you’re gonna get!”

In the prevailing wisdom of that era, coaches went full Spartan on their teenage warriors. Denying them the water they craved could only make them stronger and tougher competitors. Right?

Then players started dropping dead of dehydration at practice, and it sunk in that burning up athletes from the inside wasn’t such a super idea, and that a drink of water during practice for kids wearing full pads in 90-degree heat was actually a good thing.

But change in conventional thinking doesn’t mean a sport is going away. They will still play games and host fights, only presented as more safety-oriented. If 900 deaths inside the ring haven’t stopped the fight game, don’t look for much movement on No. 901. Bread and circuses are still required fare.

Nor should MMA be decreed away. In a perfect world, there is neither need nor place for a sport in which two people with no personal history between them meet to decide which one can rip the head off the other. But we have what we have. Competitors should just walk away from the sport when they’ve decided it’s the wise move.

Families like the Carvalhos will spend a lot of time wishing they’d urged another avenue for their fallen battler, but in the final analysis they know it might’ve fallen on deaf ears anyway. MMA is tough in every sense, right down to its being a tough way to make a living.

Veteran sportswriter Gary Seymour’s column appears weekly in the Leader. To contact him, send an email to [email protected] this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Kietlinski hits grand slam in lossBy: 

Chris Caporale, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Menominee Indian High School senior Taylor Mahkimetas pitched a complete game, allowing three hits and six runs while striking out nine batters in the 22-9 home victory Tuesday.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bowler High School sophomore Reanne Kietlinski fields a ground ball and throws for a force out at second base. She added a grand slam at the plate the lead the Panthers.

Before Bowler could get an out in the bottom of the first inning, Menominee Indian had already racked up three hits and two runs.

The Eagles did not let up, jumping out to a nine-run lead after two innings and dominating at the plate for a 22-9 five-inning victory Tuesday at home.

“I liked us being aggressive at the plate,” Menominee Indian head coach Bob Smith said. “We were disciplined at the plate, which was more important.”

Senior third baseman Kelsey Corn recorded three RBIs on four hits to lead the Eagles at the plate.

Corn drove in the game’s first two runs with a single. Ania Smith added an RBI double to left field, and Liz Corn finished out the scoring in the inning with a single to left after two Bowler errors.

Kelsey Corn added a solo home run in the second inning. Aaliyah Pecore earned an RBI on a fielder’s choice following two Bowler errors.

“They hit the ball well. If you help them out with an error, that just escalates everything,” Bowler head coach Tim Ploeger said. “You give them an extra out in an inning, that really hurts with a team like that.”

Trailing 9-0, Bowler got on the scoreboard in the third inning. After two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out, sophomore shortstop Reanne Kietlinski turned on a pitch, blasting a grand slam over the fence in left-center.

The Panthers (0-4, 0-4 CWC-10) tacked on two more runs to cut the deficit to 9-6.

“To stay with a team like that for as long as we did, we were happy with the way we played,” Ploeger said. “They believe they can get better and start playing with teams in our conference.”

Mahkimetas bounced back to strike out four Panthers through the next two innings to put the game away as the offense plated 13 more runs.

“I really like how we responded after the grand slam,” Smith said. “We came back out, and they were ready to hit again. They understood that the game wasn’t over.”

Mahkimetas struck out nine and walked four. She allowed three hits and six runs in five innings.

Menominee Indian (5-1, 5-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) has already scored 35 runs in its two games this week,

“I hope it gives us enough confidence in our abilities and ourselves at the plate so we can actually put runs on the board against the top teams in our conference,” Smith said.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E

Bowler 0 0 6 0 0 6 3 6

Menominee Indian 7 2 4 9 x 22 16 1

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Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School senior Megan Klitzke tries to settle the ball early in the Hawks’ 5-3 victory Tuesday at home.

BASEBALL

Rhinelander 11

Shawano 1

Pitcher Joey Tadych took the loss for Shawano in the first game of a road doubleheader Saturday.

Tadych allowed two earned runs while walking four batters in 2/3 of an inning for the Hawks (2-2, 2-0 Bay Conference) in the six-inning game.

Brad Comer earned the victory for the Hodags (1-1, 0-1 Great Northern Conference), pitching six innings and striking out six.

Rhinelander 4

Shawano 1

Adam Bartz led Shawano at the plate, doubling twice in his three at-bats, but the Hawks could not avoid a doubleheader sweep Saturday.

Senior Tasa Grignon took the loss, pitching 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and no earned runs allowed for Shawano (2-3, 2-0 Bay Conference).

Matt Rudolph pitched a complete game and allowed five hits to earn the win for Rhinelander (2-1, 0-1 Great Northern Conference).

Bonduel 10

Wittenberg-Birnamwood 0

Bonduel sophomore Jordan Boldt was 2 for 2 and scored three runs and senior Bailey Dingeldein had four RBIs in Bonduel’s road victory Monday.

Senior Trevor Pedersen pitched five innings for Bonduel (2-1, 1-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-8), allowing three hits. He struck out nine batters.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood (1-3, 1-2 CWC-8) did not get multiple hits in any inning.

Gresham 16

Bowler 9

Six Wildcats earned RBIs in the eight-run sixth inning Monday as Gresham claimed the road victory.

Neal Cerveny, Derek Bowman, Justice Paiser and Dustin Tomas combined for seven hits and 11 RBIs for Gresham (4-1, 4-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-10).

Sophomore Drew Haffner allowed one hit in one inning of work against Bowler (1-3, 1-3 CWC-10).

Menominee Indian 3

Wild Rose 2

Menominee Indian senior Ty Latender picked up the save Monday night on the road, stranding Wild Rose’s game-tying runner at third base.

Menominee Indian (3-2, 3-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) left eight runners on base in scoring position. Grant Gomeyosh and Dayton Latender each had three hits for the Eagles.

Nick Corn allowed one earned run to Wild Rose (3-2, 3-2 CWC-10) in 6 1/3 innings.

Menominee Indian 14

Bowler 0

Pitcher Dayton Latender threw five innings, striking out four batters and allowing four hits, in Menominee Indian’s home victory Tuesday.

Nick Corn and Latender each added two hits and two runs, while Adam Isham posted five RBIs and two runs on three hits for the Eagles (4-2, 4-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-10).

Riley Mohawk walked eight batters in three innings for the Panthers (1-4, 1-4 CWC-10).

SOFTBALL

Pulaski 10

Shawano 3

Saige Henning had five hits and two walks, but Shawano still suffered its first loss of the season Friday in Pulaski.

Sophomore Erin Cerveny struck out six batters in almost nine innings of work. Freshman Emilee Baster closed the game for Shawano (3-1, 2-1 Bay Conference), not allowing a run.

Pulaski moved to 3-1 overall and remained 2-1 in the Fox River Classic.

Ashwaubenon 5

Shawano 2

Sarah Petry hit her first career home run, a two-run shot, but those were Shawano’s only runs in its loss Friday.

Erin Cerveny took the loss for the Hawks (3-2, 2-0 Bay Conference).

The Jaguars remained perfect on the season at 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the Fox River Classic.

Oconto 6

Bonduel 3

Senior catcher Kaylee Rynish led Bonduel with two RBIs in Saturday’s road loss.

Cameri Gehm took the loss for Bonduel (2-3, 0-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8), allowing four hits and four walks. She did not allow an earned run.

Kaitlyn Bohr added two hits for the Bears in the loss to Oconto (4-2, 2-0 Packerland).

Bonduel 20

Wittenberg-Birnamwood 3

Kaylee Rynish again led Bonduel at the plate Monday, recording four hits and five RBIs in the Bears’ five-inning road victory.

Kailee Pedersen added two hits and two RBIs for Bonduel (3-3, 1-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8), which had 13 hits.

Pitcher Cameri Gehm struck out seven batters in four innings and allowed three hits to the Chargers (0-4, 0-4 CWC-8).

Menominee Indian 13

Wild Rose 2

Senior Kelsey Corn tallied five RBIs on five hits in Menominee Indians’ road victory Monday.

Corn also struck out 12 batters in a complete game for Menominee Indian (6-1, 4-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-10).

Elizabeth Corn added a two-run double in the sixth inning to help defeat Wild Rose (2-4, 2-3 CWC-10).

Gresham 35

Bowler 7

Sophomore Hailey Hoffman struck out three batters as Gresham claimed a three-inning road victory Monday.

Makena Arndt led Gresham (2-2, 2-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) at the plate with two hits.

The Wildcats drew 10 walks from the Bowler pitchers. Bowler fell to 0-4, 0-4 CWC-10.

Shawano 6

Green Bay East 5

Shawano sophomore Erin Cerveny hit a two-out, two-run, walk-off double, pushing Lauren Roloff and Alli Raddant over the plate for a Bay Conference victory at home Tuesday.

Junior Saige Henning singled in the bottom of the seventh, giving her three hits on the day before Raddant was hit by Green Bay West (3-2, 1-2 Bay Conference) starter Jaida Reynen.

Shawano (4-2, 3-0 Bay) also got two hits from sophomore Brandi Gueths. Cerveny picked up the win.

SOCCER

Shawano 5

New London 3

Shawano senior Teagan Monfils got a rebound off a post to give the Hawks an early lead in their victory at home Monday and added a second goal in the 26th minute.

Sarah Dickmann also tallied two goals as well for the Hawks (2-3-0, 1-1-0 Bay Conference). Senior Megan Klitzke added a goal in the 72nd minute and posted two assists.

Sophomore Carlie Hinnefeld stopped 14 shots from New London (3-5-0, 0-2-0 Bay).

BOYS TENNIS

D.C. Everest 5

Shawano 2

Shawn Klemens defeated Ilias Ouertain, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 1 singles and Teddy Meyers defeated Tyler Neill, 6-2, 7-6, at No. 3 singles for Shawano’s only two wins Monday at home.

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All five Hawks shoot below 50By: 

Chris Caporale, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School golfer Kobe Schreiber chips onto the green on the first hole at Shawano Lakes Golf Course on Monday. He finished with a 46.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School junior Tyler Buerman watches a putt roll down the ninth hole at Shawano Lakes Golf Course en route to his 49 Monday. The Hawks finished in fourth place with a team score of 173.

Competing at the top of the Bay Conference might not be realistic for the Shawano boys golf team this season, but head coach Dean Kugler had high expectations at Monday’s home meet.

At a conference meet on the 2,898-yard front nine of Shawano Lake Golf Course, the Hawks finished fourth with a score of 173, the team’s best mark so far in the short season.

“Playing at our course, it’s a shorter course, so we’re going to play well,” Kugler said. “Honestly, I think the guys did better today. I think a lot of them went out and worked over the weekend and really wanted to do well today, so it was nice to see that.”

Shawano junior Josh Mueller, the team’s top golfer, shot a 3-over 39, four strokes behind the top performer of the day, New London’s Landon Elsner, and fifth overall.

New London and Xavier are battling for the top spot in the Bay this season. On Monday, Xavier took first with a 155, and New London followed with a 160.

Kugler had hoped for his team to shoot a lower score, but he was happy with his fourth and fifth golfers getting their scores in the 40s.

“Having (Kobe Schreiber and Tyler Buerman) under 50, which they haven’t been in a single meet, the last two guys, I think that’s helpful,” Kugler said.

Shawano’s No. 2 golfer, Braxten Surber, shot a 46, a little high than Kugler would have liked, while junior Austin Kohl scored a 42.

The Hawks have a few areas in which they can improve over the remainder of the season.

“Probably a little more mental game, and then being able to go out there and hit the ball straight every time,” Shawano junior Josh Mueller said.

But with a young team, Kugler is more worried about keeping the bigger numbers off the scorecard, which comes from getting out on the course and practicing every day.

“They come out and get a nine on one hole and then get a birdie on the next hole,” Kugler said. “That kind of consistency comes with playing a lot and practicing a lot.”

Bay Conference Meet

April 18

Shawano Lake Golf Course

Team scores: Xavier, 155; New London, 160; Menasha, 164; Shawano, 173; West De Pere, 174; Seymour, 198; Green Bay West, 255.

Top-10 finishers: Landon Elsner, New London, 35; Sam Schubbe, Xavier, 36; Eric DeSormeau, 36; Gus Mantey, Xavier, 38; Carter Frishaber, Menasha, 38; Josh Mueller, Shawano, 39; Matt Fletcher, New London, 39; Aaron Callahan, Xavier, 40; Mitch Stanchik, Menasha, 40; Shea Fabel, Xavier, 41.

Shawano: Mueller, 39; Austin Kohl, 42; Braxten Surber, 46; Kobe Schreiber, 46.

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Drivers honor MJ McBrideBy: 

Scott Owen, Special to the Leader

Contributed Photo Nick Anvelink won the Late Model feature Saturday at the Shawano Speedway.

An amazing 152 cars and a packed, sold-out grandstand were on hand Saturday for opening night of the 2016 Shawano Speedway season and to pay their respects to track legend M.J. McBride.

McBride, a seven-time track champion who passed way in February, was honored by the track and its competitors as part of an emotional opening ceremony.

Late Model racers Joe Reuter and Brett Swedberg each changed the side panel and car number on the grandstand side of the car to McBride’s legendary number 5. Late Model racer AJ Diemel also changed his car number to look like McBride’s. Additionally, countless others carried smaller 5’s in honor of McBride.

On the track it, was Nick Anvelink, whose father, Terry, was one of McBride’s chief rivals through the years, winning the M.J. McBride Memorial feature. Anvelink, who raced against McBride many times, was dominant in the Late Model race.

Marcus Yarie, Brandon Czarapata, Jordan Barkholtz and Brad Wedde also won features on the memorable night.

Late Models

Much to the chagrin of the rest of the field, perennial favorite Anvelink drew the outside pole position for the 30-lap feature. Anvelink scurried into the lead at the start of the race and went to work. Jeremy Kazynski ran in second for the first four laps.

A lap five caution wiped away Anvelink’s early advantage. On the restart, Tayler Scheffler passed Kazynski for second, while Anvelink pulled away again. In the meantime, 12th-place starter AJ Diemel began working his way toward the front of the field.

At lap 10, it was Anvelink solidly in front, followed by Scheffler and Diemel. Anvelink went to work slicing through lapped traffic with the precision of a skilled surgeon. The race stayed green until a caution flew following lap 26. This would set up a four-lap dash to the finish, with Anvelink restarting in the front and Scheffler and Diemel right behind him.

Anvelink was unchallenged, though, as the race went back to green. Diemel passed Scheffler for second but had nothing left for Anvelink. Tim Buhler and Brett Swedberg rounded out the top five.

In winning the race in wire-to-wire fashion, Anvelink pocketed the $2,000 winner’s share as well as an extra $1,288 for leading every lap.

IMCA Modifieds

Brad Lautenbach led the first two laps of the IMCA Modified feature before succumbing to the pressures of Marcus Yarie. Lautenbach continued to follow Yarie until lap seven when Eddie Muenster put his familiar number 5 car into second. At the end, it was Yarie in victory lane, with Benji LaCrosse emerging in the battle for second. Andy Kleczka, Muenster and Johnny Whitman completed the top five.

IMCA Stock Cars

Gary Kasperek led lap one of the IMCA Stock Car feature before JJ Heinz moved inside and took the lead on lap two. Heinz would stay in front for the next three laps before Brandon Czarapata took the lead with an outside pass on lap five. Czarapata was able to keep Heinz at bay for the rest of the race to score the win. Kyle Frederick finished third. Travis VanStraten finished fourth after starting 19th on the grid. Junior Karcz crossed the line in fifth.

IMCA Sport Mods

Kelsey Hayes drew the pole position for the IMCA Sport Mod feature and looked early on like she would have the car to beat. Hayes was followed closely by Brianna Ambroziak, while Jeff Schmuhl settled into third.

On lap six, Jordan Barkholtz got past Schmuhl for third position. Hayes held a solid advantage out front until a yellow flag after lap seven bunched up the field. On the ensuing lap, Barkholtz got to the outside of Hayes for the lead, but the caution flag flew again, putting Hayes back in front for the restart. On the restart, Barkholtz again went to the outside of Hayes and to the lead in the middle of turns three and four.

A lap 10 caution brought the field together again. Barkholtz was error-free on the restart and kept Hayes in his rearview. Barkholtz went on to win, with Hayes finishing in second. Lucas Lamberies took third, Jordan Bartz fourth and Kyle Raddant came home fifth after starting 18th.

Mighty Fours

The Mighty Four feature saw Mike Meier lead the early stages of the race before defending track champion Brad Wedde powered into the lead. Wedde was chased for the duration of the race by Lucas Hacker and Hollie Welch, who had to settle for second and third, respectively. Matt Brehmer and Kasey Gross rounded out the top five.

Shawano Speedway

April 16

Race Summary:

Late Model Feature: 1) Nick Anvelink, 2) AJ Diemel, 3) Taylor Scheffler, 4) Tim Buhler, 5) Brett

Swedberg, 6) Doug Blashe, 7) Ron Berna, 8) Joe Reuter, 9) Jeremy Kazynski, 10) David Fieber.

Heat 1: 1) Scheffler, 2) Mike Mullen, 3) Diemel.

Heat 2: 1) Anvelink, 2) Berna, 3) Buhler.

Heat 3: 1) Tom Naeyaert, 2) Swedberg, 3) Blashe.

IMCA Modified Feature: 1) Marcus Yarie, 2) Benji LaCrosse, 3) Andy Kleczka, 4) Eddie Muenster,

5) Johnny Whitman, 6) Matt Oreskovich, 7) Brad Lautenbach, 8) Mike Wedelstadt, 9) Jerry Wilinski,

10) Mark Weisnicht.

Consi 1: 1) Cole Petit, 2) Beetle Bailey, 3) Chris Engels.

Consi 2: 1) Jay Matthias, 2) Brian Joski, 3) Lance Arneson.

Heat 1: 1) LaCrosse, 2) Kleczka, 3) Shawn Frelich.

Heat 2: 1) Wedelstadt, 2) Whitman, 3) Oreskovich.

Heat 3: 1) Jeremie Hedrick, 2) Weisnicht, 3) Lautenbach.

Heat 4: 1) Wilinsk, 2) Yarie, 3) Muenster.

IMCA Stock Car Feature: 1) Brandon Czarapata, 2) JJ Heinz, 3) Kyle Frederick, 4) Travis VanStraten,

5) Junior Karcz, 6) Dan Michonski, 7) Rod Snellenberger, 8) Gary Kasperek, 9) Mike Schmidt,

10) Harley Simon.

Consi 1: 1) Tom Riehl, 2) VanStraten, 3) Trent Nolan.

Consi 2: 1) Chris Lowenhagen, 2) Billy LeMieux, 3) Cody Scray.

Heat 1: 1) Kasperek, 2) Aaron Stolp, 3) Heinz

Heat 2: 1) Karcz, 2) Schmidt, 3) Scott Blanke.

Heat 3: 1) Frederick, 2) Jerry Winkler, 3) Snellenberger.

Heat 4: 1) Czarapata, 2) Simon, 3) Michonski.

IMCA Sport Mod Feature: 1) Jordan Barkholtz, 2) Kelsey Hayes, 3) Lucas Lamberies, 4) Jordan Bartz,

5) Kyle Raddant, 6) Chris Budzban, 7) Wyatt Block, 8) Todd Wiese, 9) Matt Valiquette, 10) Kevin

Bethke.

Consi 1: 1) Sawyer Haese, 2) Raddant, 3) Jason Vandenberg.

Consi 2: 1) Kevin Behke, 2) Travis Arenz, 3) Brock Saunders.

Heat 1: 1) Lamberies, 2) Brianna Ambroziak, 3) Dustin Fraaza.

Heat 2: 1) Wiese, 2) Block, 3) Valiquette.

Heat 3: 1) Barkholtz, 2) Ron Besaw, 3) Budzban

Mighty Four Feature: 1) Brad Wedde, 2) Lucas Hacker, 3) Hollie Welch, 4) Matt Brehmer, 5) Kasey

Gross, 6) Grant Kastning, 7) Josh Slewinski, 8) Dalton Nelson, 9) Taylor Becher, 10) Jason Hopinka.

Consi: 1) Hopinka, 2) Nick Everard, 3) Matt DeWilde.

Heat 1: 1) Hacker, 2) Nelson, 3) Wedde.

Heat 2: 1) Welch, 2) Kastning, 3) Becher.

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By: 

Scott Owen, Leader Columnist

Shawano Speedway kicked of its 2016 racing season Saturday night by honoring one of the true legends of racing at the half-mile.

As part of the opening ceremony, M.J. McBride, seven-time Shawano Speedway Late Model champion and charter member of the track’s hall of fame, was honored. McBride, who passed away on Feb. 13, was a fixture at the track for more than 40 years.

Track champions from last season, Ron Berna, Jerry Wilinski, Travis VanStraten and Lucas Lamberies, took their place on the front straightaway with American flags in hand. Behind them was McBride’s son, Dean, at the wheel of Joe Reuter’s Late Model.

Behind Dean McBride, three of M.J.’s longtime competitors — Terry Anvelink, Tom Naeyaert and Doug Blashe — each carried black flags in honor of M.J. Behind those three, nearly every car in attendance lined up in four-wide rows on the track.

I gave a short speech about M.J. and his racing career and about how great of an ambassador he was for the sport, as he was always willing to talk to fans and showed his winning smile.

Following the speech, the crowd rose and joined in a moment of silence before Alyssa Schroeder performed a stirring rendition of the national anthem as all the cars on the track fired up and circled the track.

Once they completed their lap, Dean stopped on the front stretch so the field of cars behind could pass by and pay their respects to M.J.

At this point, tears started to flow for many of those in attendance.

After all the cars had made their way past, Dale Hodkiewicz handed Dean a checkered flag. Dean circled the track with the checkered flag and drove off into the pits as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

In my 13 years of announcing at the Shawano Speedway, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a crowd so appreciative of a racer and all he did for his home track.

It was a great way to honor M.J. For myself and many in attendance, it was a last chance to say thank you and goodbye to a true legend.

Rest in peace, M.J.

Scott Owen is the track announcer at Shawano Speedway.Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Two area high school seniors will sign National Letters of Intent on Thursday to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior August Peplinski will sign a National Letter of Intent on Thursday to wrestle at North Dakota State University.

Pulaski senior Jayde Doell will sign her letter of intent at Pulaski High School at 10 a.m. to play basketball for Bryant and Stratton College in Wauwatosa.

Peplinski, who compiled a 48-1 record this winter, finished second at the Division 2 state wrestling tournament at 195 pounds. The ceremony will take place a 7 p.m. in the high school gym.

Doell will join Bryant and Stratton a Division 2 school, for its inaugural season in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association. Bryant and Stratton will compete in Division 2. She was a second-team all-conference selection in the Fox River Classic Conference this season and has been selected to play in the 2016 All-State Division 2 North team in June.

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Bears find offense in 3-0 victoryBy: 

Chris Caporale, [email protected]

Photo by Jen Kadonsky Bonduel High School senior Miranda Schmidt gets a jump off first base. Schmidt opened the scoring when Brittany Wudtke singled to left field after she had reached on an error.
Photo by Jen Kadonsky Bonduel High School junior Brittany Wudtke pitched a complete game, scattering four hits. It was the first varsity start of her career.

Bonduel softball coach Chris Reinke has been asking her team to be more aggressive at the plate early in the game.

With no hits in three innings Friday, the Bears used a three-run fourth inning and a strong game by junior Brittany Wudtke in the circle for a 3-0 home win over Peshtigo.

“(Hitting) got contagious,” Reinke said. “That’s what we need — somebody to start us off. … So, we got to get hits early and get runners on so it gives us a better opportunity.”

An error ignited the Bears in the fourth. Miranda Schmidt led off with a fly to left field that was misplayed by Madi Martin, allowing Schmidt to reach second base. Wudtke drove in Schmidt with a single. Kaylee Rynish hit into a fielder’s choice and Becca Carpenter singled to right field to advance Althea Berry, who was courtesy running for Rynish.

Kaitlyn Bohr followed with another single, this one up the middle, scoring Berry to double the lead. A wild pitch from Peshtigo’s Amanda Majewski moved the runners to second and third. After Kelsey Krueger walked to load the bases, junior Danee Collier earned an RBI will a single to right field to make the game 3-0.

“A game like this, you make one or two mistakes, game over,” Peshtigo head coach Tom Christensen said.

It was all the offense Wudtke would need, with some defensive help behind her. Krueger made a running catch to end the sixth inning, and Berry made a catch in right field before throwing out Bulldogs sophomore Shae Tonn at third base to end the game.

Bonduel’s defense did not commit an error all game.

The field at Cedar Park, which had been out of commission because of wet conditions since Bonduel opened its season on March 29 against Gillett, forced the Bears to practice inside every day so far this season.

“We have not practiced on a field yet, so we’ve had four games and four times on the field,” Reinke said. “Playing defense like that, I think that’s just a great testament to these kids to play like that when they haven’t had a chance to practice it.”

Wudtke only allowed four hits in her varsity pitching debut, walking one and striking out five.

With runners on second and third base with one out in the top of the fourth inning, Wudtke struck out the next two batters, leaving the runners stranded and the game scoreless.

“We expect to score when we have runners in that position, but obviously, it will not happen every time,” Christensen said.

For the majority of the game, Wudtke had Peshtigo (2-1, 2-0 Marinette & Oconto Conference) guessing at the plate, leading to 10 ground-ball outs from the infield.

“It seemed like she had their hitters really off. Like they were swinging over the ball and ahead of her,” Reinke said. “She just was doing a good job throwing.”

Schmidt, Kaylee Rynish, Krueger and Collier led the way for the Bears (2-2, 0-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8), each reaching base twice. No one on Bonduel had more than one hit, and all of the hits in the game were singles.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

Peshtigo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2

Bonduel 0 0 0 3 0 0 X 3 6 0

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BASEBALL

Pacelli 2

Bonduel 0

After allowing two first-inning runs, Bonduel shut down Pacelli for the next five innings in Monday’s road loss.

Sophomore Wyatt Erb had two hits for the Bears (1-1, 0-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-8).

Starter Matt Helms struck out nine batters in seven innings for Pacelli (2-0, 2-0 CWC-8).

Bonduel 9

Peshtigo 0

Senior Bailey Dingeldein launched two home runs and accounted for four RBIs in Bonduel’s home victory Friday.

Jordan Boldt, Brent Pieper, Blake Stoss and Brandon Olsen each had two hits for the Bears (2-1, 0-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-8).

HIGH SCHOOL SCOREBOARD

BASEBALL

Clintonville 7, Laona/Wabeno 3

C: Jaden Doornink, 2 hits, 2 RBIs; Kyle Finger, 2 hits; Cory Reimer, 2 hits.

SOFTBALL

April 15

Rosholt 12, Marion 0

M: Chyanne Lockman, 2 hits.

Laona/Wabeno 12, Clintonville 2 (5 inn.)

C: Autumn Clark, 2 hits; Allison Stueck, double.

BOYS GOLF

April 15

Riverside Golf Course, Clintonville

Par 35

Clintonville 212, Marion 240

C: Ian Gretzinger, 51; Jarrett Colla, 52; Bob McCoy, 52; Ryan Krieser, 57.

M: Emily Sawall, 55; Claire Joerres, 60; Hailey Ryssow, 61; Anthony Tischauser, 64.

Wyatt Erb struck out 13 Bulldogs (1-1, 1-0 Marinette & Oconto Conference) in six innings.

TRACK

Eagles sweep throwing events

Menominee Indian senior Ania Smith broke her own school record with a discus throw of 134 feet and 1 inch Thursday at the Denmark Invitational.

Along with Smith, Loretta Menchaca and Sa’fire Waupoose all placed in the discus and shot put.

Abitak Martin and Leander Moon both placed in the top three of the boys shot put and discus. Antonio Mahkimetas placed in the shot put, and Amado Bautista finished in the top three in the discus.

The Menominee Indian boys placed second with 68 points, while the girls took fourth place with 20 points. Manawa won both the girls and boys titles.

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