Shawano Leader Sports Headlines
Menominee Indian football gets boost from Gruden
Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
The Menominee Indian High School football program will receive a boost from former NFL coach Jon Gruden and his Fired Football Coaches Association, which announced Thursday that they would be making donations of money and equipment to four Northeast Wisconsin schools, including Menominee Indian.
Gruden in Green Bay to call the game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, will host four high school coaches and some of their players, including Menominee Indian coach Chris Clache, for a dinner and clinic Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Green Bay.
“Jon Gruden called me today to formally invite me,” Clache said.
Clache said he’ll bring about a dozen players with him.
The Menominee Indian football team has struggled with numbers in the last few years, finishing this season 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the Northern Lakes Conference.
“We got selected,” Clache said. “It’s a big honor. It’s a huge surprise. There’s a dinner and they’re going to make a contribution to our team.”
Gruden, who was a Packers assistant coach in the early 1990s, started the FFCA after being fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“When he got let go from the Buccaneers, he decided he was going to coach his son’s high school team,” Clache said. “It was there that he realized that they didn’t have a lot of equipment. They didn’t even have practice balls. So he formed this organization.”
The FFCA uses money raised from licensed products for the donations to high school programs. The charity has made four other stops this season.
“I don’t know the exact amount. I just know that he said he’d make a contribution,” Clache said. “He gives these GoPro cameras. They’ll show us how to work them. It’s just another contribution to the program.”
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetKeys to the Game: Packers vs. Falcons
Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
Packers
Start Fast
A hallmark of this Green Bay Packers team this season has been fast starts. After a few early-season stumbles, the Packers have usually taken the lead early in their home games. Sometimes they take huge, insurmountable leads. Other times, like Sunday against the Patriots, they take just enough of a lead to dictate the flow of the game. The fast starts help the defense put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. It also gets the crowd at Lambeau Field pumped up.
Build Lambeau Advantage
The Packers have not had the kind of home field advantage that intimidates opponents in the last few years. Losses in the playoffs and big games had made Lambeau Field seem almost hospitable to opposing teams. This year, for this team, things seem different. The Packers are beginning to make Lambeau into a scary place to play again. Ask any of their opponents this season, even the ones lucky enough to play competitively past halftime. As the Packers push for a No. 1 seed and home field advantage in the playoffs, the Packers have two more chances to put up scary numbers.
Falcons
Pressure Rodgers
To stop the Packers, you have to stop quarterback Aaron Rodgers. If he is calm in the pocket, he can make the Packers offensive attack work against almost any defense. The Packers have plenty of offensive weapons, and Rodgers is quick enough in diagnosis of the defense that he can get the ball where it needs to be. Pressure him, and you can slow that process down. Making Rodgers uncomfortable is easier said than done. You can’t just blitz him. Rodgers is actually better against the blitz, since it takes one defender out of coverage. As the Patriots showed, not blitzing doesn’t work if you can’t get pressure on Rodgers with your front four.
Expect a Shootout
The Falcons simply have to expect to score 30 points. They have to come into this game expecting Rodgers will have some success on their defense. If quarterback Matt Ryan and his offensive weaponry can keep up, the Falcons can stay in this game. If they can’t, they may face the fate of some of the teams that have been blown out by the Packers at Lambeau Field this season.
Extra Points
Must-see Matchup: Julio Jones vs. Tramon Williams
Falcons receiver Julio Jones is a big, fast target for quarterback Matt Ryan. He’s coming off a big day. Last Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals Jones caught 10 passes for a career-high 182 yards. He also eclipsed 1,000 yards for the second time in his career. Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, who faced Jones in college, talked up the fact that he could shut Jones down. It didn’t happen. The Packers, who may be without the services of Sam Shields, will have to find a way to shut Jones down. That responsibility may fall onto veteran cornerback Tramon Williams. Williams has shut down big-time receivers in the past, but Shields has taken the primary receiver most of the season.
Hot Seat: Mason Crosby
It wasn’t an easy night for kicking footballs. The cold temperatures certainly hindered Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski. He missed a 47-yarder late in the game against Green Bay. Packers kicker Mason Crosby also had a miscue. He missed a 40-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter. Of course, Crosby also made four field goals in the game as the Packers’ red zone offense stalled against a good Patriots defense. Crosby has been nearly automatic since a slump in 2012. With the cold weather hitting early this year, Crosby needs to make sure misses are kept rare, especially at Lambeau Field where the Packers are competing for home field advantage in the playoffs.
Hot Streak: Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is so good it is sometimes hard to distinguish his cold streaks from his hot streaks. It is pretty fair to think that Rodgers has been on a roll since the Packers returned from their bye week four games ago. Rodgers has 32 touchdowns this season and only 3 interceptions. His 118.6 quarterback rating is the best in the league. He just came off a game where he out-dueled Tom Brady. Rodgers has played well enough this season that he may be the leading candidate for the MVP award, which he also won in 2011.
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WEEK AHEAD
BOYS BASKETBALL
WHAT: Shawano vs. Merrill
WHERE: Merrill High School
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHY IT MATTERS: Shawano Community High School boys basketball coach Chris Kellett found success last season, leading the Hawks (16-9, 12-4 Bay in 2013-14) to its first regional title since 2010. Kellett’s second season as coach kicks off on the road Friday with a nonconference game against Merrill. With a host of veteran players back and a Bay Conference in flux after the exit of some dominant players, Shawano could be in the running for a conference title.
WEEK THAT WAS
Stat Leader
28
Points scored by Christian Haffner, Gresham Community High School senior, in a basketball game against Hilbert on Tuesday in Hilbert
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetBears pull away from Gillett
Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School senior Hunter VanDerLinden (23) gets by Gillett senior Matt Peterson (5) for a basket during Saturday’s game in Bonduel. The Bears beat Gillett, 44-33.
Seniors Connor Rosin and Colton Dobratz and junior Peyton Czarapata all scored 10 points each, and the Bonduel High School boys basketball team beat Gillett 44-33 Saturday in Bonduel.
Adam Werner’s 18 points were not enough to lift shorthanded Gillett, who lost 44-33 after keeping the game within 3 points until the final minutes.
“The win is good,” Bonduel coach Duke Copp said. “I don’t know if we played as well as we can, but we’ll take the win.”
After falling behind early, Bonduel rallied to tie the game 16-16 at halftime.
In the second half, the Bears built a lead on three early turnovers that led to breakaway baskets.
“We want to run and pressure,” Copp said. “We picked up the pressure full court a little bit tonight. We wanted to get through tonight just playing solid half-court defense. They played really well. They hit shots and made it tough on us.”
“We’ve just got to work on the ball control a little bit,” first year Gillett coach Jeff Cross said. “We had a couple, too many, turnovers. The guys know it. I don’t even have to tell them. Turnovers kill us.”
While Dobratz scored two baskets in the first half, Rosin, a 6-foot-2 guard, and Czarapata, a 6-foot-4 junior, were held scoreless. That changed in a hurry in the second half, as the two sparked the offense and began scoring at will.
“(Czarapata), he’s going to be a big component for us,” Copp said. “Connor, he’s our best scorer. He’s going to need to score. I though he took over in the second half and did a great job.”
Gillett managed to pull to within 32-29 late in the fourth quarter on a pair of free throws by junior Brock Warden.
Two minutes later, Gillett again pulled to within three, 36-33, on Adam Werner’s third 3-point basket of the game, but the Bears closed out the game on a 8-0 run.
“They’re (Bonduel) a good team, good program,” Cross said. “I think my guys played them tough. I don’t want to take anything away from my guys, either. They came out, they battled.”
Werner, a 6-foot-2 senior, led the Tigers with 10 points in the first half, including a pair of 3-pointers that helped Gillett build a 12-6 lead in the first quarter.
“I always knew he could shoot,” Cross said.
Gillett 12 4 9 8 — 33
Bonduel 6 10 14 14 — 44
Gillett (33)
Peterson 1 0-1 2, Bubolz 1 0-0 2, Torres 3 0-4 6, Werner 6 3-4 18, Taylor 1 3-4 5
Bonduel (44)
Pedersen 2 1-6 5, Rosin 5 0-0 10, Dobratz 5 0-0 10, VanDerLinden 2 0-0 4, Czarapata 4 2-2 10, Petcka 1 0-0 2, Marcks 0 1-2 1, Berry 1 0-0 2
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetHawks win first meet of the season
Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior Zach Soper swims the 100 breaststroke event Tuesday during a meet with Lakeland Union at the school. Soper won the event with a time of 1:07.24.
Zach Soper and Griffin Rades each won two events and helped two relay teams take first as the Shawano Community High School boys swimming team opened the season with a 92-77 win over Great Northern Conference foe Lakeland Union Tuesday in Shawano.
“Everybody surprised me,” Shawano coach Walberto Colon said. “It’s very interesting to see how their mindset changes when they start to race. I just need to ensure that they understand that concept going back into school and work. We’re all racing for something.”
Soper, a senior, outpaced his competition in the 100-yard butterfly stroke and the 100 breaststroke. In the butterfly, Soper won with a time of 56.59 seconds. The next closest swimmer was Lakeland’s Evam Andrews, who finished in 1:04.77.
In the breaststroke, Soper finished in 1:07.24, ahead of Lakeland’s Grant Gibson, who finished in 1:20.80.
Rades, a sophomore, finished the 200 individual medley in 2:16.92. He finished the 100 backstroke in 1:02.65.
Those two, along with Adrian Tetting and Jake Klister won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:50.37. Soper, Rades and Klister were joined by Rolando Colon to win the 400 freestyle relay, which was the last event of the meet and sealed the win for Shawano.
Klister won the 100 freestyle event with a time of 57.66.
“From now on, we’re clear on where they are and what they need to be working on,” Walberto Colon said.
Shawano Results
Team Scoring: 1. Shawano 92; 2. Lakeland Union 77
200 medley relay: 1. Shawano (Griffin Rades, Zach Soper, Adrian Tetting, Jake Klister) 1:50.37; 3. Shawano (James Krueger, Cayman Kunschke, Nathan Kane, Kyle Easter), 2:08.57
200 freestyle: 2. Rolando Colon, 2:11.80; 3. James Krueger, 2:43.85
200 individual medley: 1. Griffin Rades, 2:16.92
50 freestyle: 2. Jake Klister, 23.99
100 butterfly: 1. Zach Soper, 56.59
100 freestyle: 1. Jake Klister, 57.66
500 freestyle: 2. Rolando Colon, 6:18.58; 3. Nathan Kane, 6:51.17
200 freestyle relay: 2. Shawano (Adrian Tetting, Nathan Kane, James Krueger, Rolando Colon), 1:50.73
100 backstroke: 1. Griffin Rades, 1:02.65
100 breaststroke: 1. Zach Soper, 1:07.24
400 freestyle relay: 1. Shawano (Jake Klister, Rolando Colon, Griffin Rades, Zach Soper), 3:49.72; 3. Shawano (Austin Lhotka, Connor Angeli, Matthew Cagijas, Tyler Buerman), 5:02.54
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Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School boys basketball coach Duke Copp explains a drill during practice Monday at the school.
Duke Copp is in his second season of heading the Bonduel High School boys basketball program.
After an 11-13 season (5-9 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) a year ago, Copp feels good about where the team is ahead of Saturday’s opener against Gillett.
“I think we’re farther ahead this year than we were last year at this same point,” Copp said. “I was new to these guys, and just learning what their expectations were and what they can do. I think this year, being into it a season, we are way further ahead.”
The schedule is certainly better. The team has had two weeks of practice to get ready for the season, a luxury after an early start last year.
“Last year, after six practices, we had a game, two games that week,” Copp said. “This year we have two weeks of practice before a game. That makes a big difference, too.”
The Bears return four starters from last year in seniors Connor Rosin, Colton Dobratz, Hunter VanDerLinden and junior Trevor Pedersen.
“I have four starters back, which is exciting. … They know what is expected,” Copp said. “A lot of those guys have been two-year varsity players. And they all play AAU ball in the summer.”
Rosin, a 6-foot-2 guard who started the last three years, led Bonduel in scoring last season with 11.5 points per game. Dobratz, a 6-0 guard, had 9.1 points per game. VanDerLinden, a forward, had 6.6 points per game.
For a team that had height issues last season, the addition of 6-4 junior forward Peyton Czarapata could have a big impact.
“He’s 6-4, big kid,” Copp said. “We had him in junior varsity last year, and he basically dominated JV. He’s exactly what we need. We’re probably going to be the smallest team in the conference again, except for he’s our one big guy. He’ll get a lot of use.”
Also back for the Bears are seniors Hunter Berry, Matthew LaBerge, Austin Marcks.
“We have a lot of experience back,” Copp said. “They had a lot of opportunities over the summer to get better; we’ll see if they did enough.”
Juniors Preston Robaidek, Gage Petcka and Garret Riemer also join the varsity team.
To have success, Bonduel will have to navigate a tough CWC-8 conference.
“It’s tough again,” Copp said. “Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia have almost everyone back, and they were in the top half of the conference last year.”
An addition to the Bonduel schedule this year is the Shawano Sundrop Shootout, the basketball tournament held every year at the Kress Center on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
“It’ll be good for fun. It’s a great facility,” Copp said. “It’s a good experience for the kids to be able to play there. Maybe give them a little bit of a tournament setting.”
Bonduel will play Oconto on the first day of the event Dec. 29.
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Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior Courtney Ainsworth looks for a place to go with the ball during a game against Bonduel on Monday in Bonduel.
Lots of experienced juniors and a tough defense will define the Shawano Community High School girls basketball team this season.
The defense has been evident in the Hawks first two games of the season, both loses where Shawano held their opponents under 40 points.
The offense is still lagging, but Shawano coach Ryan Koenig is hoping eight experienced juniors will provide enough shooting.
“They were sophomores last year, got their first taste of varsity,” Koenig said. “This year, with our experience, hopefully it results in more wins, and at the end of the game, knowing what to do with the ball and taking care of the ball.”
Junior point guard Megan Klitzke was an honorable mention a season ago. She’ll be joined by junior forward Erika Dunnam and junior guard Sara Hokenstad. Also in the junior class are Teagan Monfils, Morgan Klitzke (Megan’s twin sister), Sydney Schreiber, Annelies Young and Megan Ward.
Seniors Briana Boda, Courtney Ainsworth also return. Senior Courtney Ainsworth returns to basketball after missing last season with an injury.
“Hopefully that will provide some leadership, those three seniors,” Koenig said.
In this third season as coach, Koenig is hoping the program will have more success after going 5-18 last season.
“We’re expecting more out of them,” Koenig said. “We’re expecting them to understand the concepts behind it. They’re doing a great job picking it up so far. We threw a lot at them this first week and a half.”
Koenig wants more competition for playing time this season, giving minutes to players that are playing well.
“We want to make this a competition,” he said. “It’s not just out here playing with friends, although we are. To become better, we must be more intense with each other.
“You’re playing for playing time every time you step on the court. There’s no given spots this year. I don’t care if you’re a returning starter or not. It doesn’t matter. Whoever is playing best and proving that they want to be out on the court is going to play this year.”
Koenig wants that competitiveness to spread throughout the program, not just the varsity level.
“Last year we tried some new things from the first year to the second year to advance the program,” he said. “It takes a while. There’s nobody that comes in and changes a program in a couple years. It’s a process.”
The varsity team, still searching for its first win of the season, will open Bay Conference play Dec. 5 at Denmark.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetDeer harvest down again
Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz John Huff, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Peshtigo area wildlife manager, and Ally Jeske, of Menasha, a Fox Valley Technical College student, age a doe that was brought to the deer registration station Saturday at Qualheim’s True Value in Shawano.
Jerry Georg Jr., 13, of Plymouth, was looking for his first deer ever opening day of the 2014 gun deer season, after not having luck last season.
Georg did not wait long. By the time the morning was over Georg had filled his and his father’s tag with a doe and a yearling.
“It was exciting. I was pumped up,” Georg said. “The first shot was good. It was in the heart. Then it ran 20 to 30 yards. The yearling came back around by its mom, and I shot that one. It wasn’t the best shot.”
Georg said he was in his stand for about 2½ hours before the deer wandered by.
It was probably easier for Shawano County hunters to sit in their stands this year than last year, when bitterly cold temperatures made the opener tough.
The mild weather on Saturday, though, gave way to rainy and foggy conditions on Sunday that may have limited the harvest.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the deer harvest was down 18.5 percent statewide. There was less of a drop off in Shawano County, where 2,457 deer were registered opening weekend for a 6 percent decline from the previous year. In 2013, 2,625 deer were registered opening weekend.
Most of the decline came from the antlerless harvest. Buck numbers in Shawano held steady: 1,378 this year, 1,386 a year ago. Only 1,079 does were taken this year, compared to 1,239 the year before.
Statewide, a big chunk of the decline came from the northern regions of the state where counties are restricted to buck only to help increase the herd’s numbers.
John Huff, DNR Peshtigo area supervisor, spent his day gathering information on the deer population at the registration station at Qualheim’s True Value in Shawano.
“What we’re focused on is percent of the yearlings that are out there, the antler development of deer, to get an idea of physical condition, the shape that the herd is in,” Huff said. “We use that information to make population estimates and make predictions about what the herd is doing in coming years.”
This is the first year the DNR is allowing call-in registration for deer, but it is still running registration stations like the one at Qualheim’s in many areas. The DNR is also running experiments in select counties to gather information Huff was gathering.
“We’re running a pilot program this year in several counties around the state to see if we can get the same information or similar information by going to meat processors and looking at the deer there,” Huff said. “If that doesn’t get us everything we need, we may be looking toward asking folks to submit jaws or maybe bring their deer in next year. We’re in a transition period. We’re trying to find the best way to get the same information we’re getting now.”
Outagamie and Marinette counties are two of the counties in the area participating in the pilot program this season.
The DNR also said the opening weekend was safe. No hunting-related injuries were recorded.
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Gerrard Diaz [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School junior Megan Klitzke dibbles the ball during a game against Bonduel Tuesday in Bonduel. Shawano lost, 37-29.
The Shawano Community High School girls basketball team’s defense, as it did in its season opener against White Lake Friday night, held its opponent under 40 points.
It wasn’t enough, though, to get a win over Bonduel on the road Tuesday.
Bonduel, coming off scoring 80 points against Coleman, won the game 37-29.
Shawano (0-2) and Bonduel (3-0) struggled to get their offenses going throughout the game. The two teams finished the first half tied 13-13.
“We did a good job, especially in the first half, of controlling the tempo a little bit,” Shawano coach Ryan Koenig said. “The second half, they got us rushing a little bit, got some turnovers.”
“His (Koenig) goal is to hold you under 40 points, and he does a good job with that,” Bonduel coach Missy Dowden said. “They’re very intense with their defense. They’re scrappy.”
In the second half, Bonduel was able to put together a small lead, despite getting in foul trouble late in the third quarter.
Bonduel forced 29 turnovers to Shawano’s 20. The Bears’ switch to a 1-3-1 defense in the second half helped with turnovers and resulted in a few easy layups.
“We started anticipating instead of sitting back on them,” Dowden said. “We forced the issue, and then we got some key turnovers.”
Bonduel hit 14 of its 56 shots, 10 in the second half. The Hawks went 9 of 31 shooting.
Sophomore Hayley Sorenson and senior Jen Dowden led Bonduel with eight points each.
Sorenson scored all eight of her points in the final 10 minutes of the game to help Bonduel keep its lead.
“She’s done a nice job,” Missy Dowden said. “She started the first two games for Taylor Weier, who was out with an injury. She’s quick. She’s really quick.”
Jen Dowden had a game-high 16 rebounds.
Koenig said his team’s defense should be proud of how it played.
“We can play with anybody, any night, I really believe that,” Koenig said. “There’s not a team that we can’t beat. It’s just a matter of a few things. One is rebounding and putting a body on somebody, the other is taking care of the ball. We do that, we’re going to beat a lot of people this year. We don’t do that, we’re not.”
Junior Megan Klitzke led Shawano with 10 points.
“She played a really good game,” Koenig said. “She handled the ball, she attacked the basket, which we needed her to do. She needs to score more than she did last year. She’s an all-conference player that we need to step up and be a leader. I think she took a step in the right direction, definitely.”
In junior varsity action, Bonduel beat Shawano, 47-29.
Shawano (29)
Megan Klitzke 4 2-4 10, Boda 2 4-6 8, Ainsworth 1 2-2 5, Hokenstad 0 2-2 2, Vomastic 1 0-0 2, Shreiber 1 0-0 2
Bonduel (37)
Weier 2 1-1 5, Dowden 2 4-6 8, Reinke 1 1-2 3, Zernicke 1 0-0 3, E. Sorenson 1 1-2 3, Pedersen 2 1-2 5, Collier 1 0-0 2, H. Sorenson 4 0-0 8
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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School junior Sara Hokenstad looks to make a pass during a game against Antigo Friday in Shawano. Shawano lost, 26-21.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School junior Megan Klitzke drives with the ball during Friday’s season opener at home against Antigo. Shawano lost, 26-21.
An already low-scoring Shawano Community High School girls basketball team faded down the stretch to lose its opener 26-21 to visiting Antigo Friday.
The Hawks (0-1) led Antigo (2-0) throughout the first three quarters, but never by more than a few points. Shawano managed to extend a 14-12 halftime lead to 18-14 by the start of the fourth quarter, but was outscored 12-3 the rest of the way.
“The defensive effort was great,” Shawano coach Ryan Koenig said. “No problem there. Our goal is to hold people to under 40 a game. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have won. We have to score the ball.”
The Hawks offense went cold in the second half. The team’s only points came from 6-foot junior forward Erika Dunnam. She scored seven points in the second half on her way to a game-high nine points.
“We obviously had a size advantage,” Koenig said. “We’re trying to get her the ball. We have got to work on certain situations to take advantage of it.”
The coach says the fourth quarter production will improve.
“It proved it was our first game,” Koenig said. “It sure looked like our first time out on the court. … Our end-of-the-game execution, you don’t have it until you play the games. That’s why we have 22 of these. Hopefully we improve every game going forward.”
Shawano got in foul trouble early and often in the game. Antigo got 12 of its points at the free-throw line.
“It was the foul trouble,” Koenig said. “We dug ourselves a hole.”
Antigo went to the free-throw line 25 times. Shawano only 10.
“There’s a huge disparity,” Koenig said. “That’s one of the things we talked about going into the season. We need that to be flip-flopped to be successful. We didn’t do that tonight at the foul line.”
In junior varsity action, Shawano won 47-30.
Antigo 5 7 2 12 — 26
Shawano 7 7 4 3 — 21
Antigo (26)
Belott 1 0-2 2, Petts 1 3-5-5, Payant 1 4-6 6, Kondzela 1 0-2 2, Duff 1 1-2 3, Smits 1 4-8 6
Shawano (21)
Morgan Klitzke 2 0-0 4, Boda 2 0-0 4, Ainsworth 1 1-2 3, Hokenstad 0 1-2 1, Dunnam 3 3-4 9
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet2014 All-Wolf River Media Football Team
Leader Photos by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior Zack Sousek (11), Bonduel High School senior Hunter VanDerLinden (23), SCHS senior Dylan Hintz (50) and Menominee Indian High School senior Alphonso Smith (34) each made the All-Wolf River Media football team at multiple positions this year.
The Bonduel High School football team had a workmanlike attitude all season.
It was never more evident than when Hunter VanDerLinden was on the field, which was most of the game. A senior running back/linebacker, VanDerLinden powered through defenses, played decoy when needed, played stifling defense and — except for three tough games against Central Wisconsin Conference-8 foes Amherst and Shiocton — helped put Bonduel in the win column.
After every big run, after every 1-yard dive for a touchdown, after meeting an opposing running back in the hole, VanDerLinden just got up and started getting ready for the next play. It was an attitude that was shared by the whole Bears squad.
The effort and results on both sides of the ball earned VanDerLinden recognition as Wolf River Media’s 2014 Football Player of the Year.
“Extremely tough, physical player,” Bonduel coach James Westrich said describing VanDerLinden. “He’s consistent week in and week out. There’s some games he didn’t get the yards he wanted, but they (opponents) had a lot of guys responsible for not letting him get the ball.”
Despite the extra attention, VanDerLinden rolled to 1,657 yards in 12 games. Five times he eclipsed 150 yards rushing, including 192 yards against Wittenberg-Birnamwood in Week 4, 196 in Week 6 against Weyauwega-Fremont and 212 in a WIAA Division 5 Level 2 playoff game against Iola-Scandinavia.
“He’s a really smart football player,” Westrich said. “He understands the scheme on both sides of the ball.”
Playing in a three-headed backfield with fellow seniors Dan Tauchen and Hunter Berry, VanDerLinden still managed to pick up 21 touchdowns, 19 on the ground and two more on passes from senior quarterback Colton Dobratz, who was also named to the All-Wolf River Media team at quarterback.
In his four-year career, VanDerLinden rushed for 4,258 yards, setting the Bonduel High School career rushing record.
At middle linebacker, VanDerLinden was the leading tackler for the Bears (9-3, 5-2 CWC-8) most games. His 64 total tackles led the CWC-8.
“(He) never asks to come off the field, never asks to take a break, offense or defense,” Westrich said.
VanDerLinden and Tauchen — also a linebacker — made most of the defensive calls.
“They get everybody else on the right page,” Westrich said. “It was really nice having two senior linebackers that understood the scheme as well as they did.”
That knowledge and experience allowed Bonduel to make adjustments before the snap on both sides of the ball.
“It makes our jobs as coaches a little bit easier, being able to do things on the fly,” Westrich said.
In the playoffs, VanDerLinden got even better.
After putting up 161 yards rushing in a Level 1 playoff matchup with Colby, he dropped 212 — his highest total of the season — on Iola-Scandinavia in Level 2.
Against Amherst, which held him to his lowest total rushing of the season — 58 yards — in their first meeting, VanDerLinden rushed for 109 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry in a quarterfinal playoff loss.
“I saw another level of focus and drive from him in the playoffs,” Westrich said. “He had a great playoff run. He ran the ball extremely well and played defense extremely well in those games.”
2014 All-Wolf River Media Football Team
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
• Colton Dobratz
Bonduel, senior, 6-0, 160 pounds
Awards: Honorable Mention All-CWC-8
Stats: 63 of 134 for 1,048 yards, 7.8 yards per attempt, 87.3 yards per game, 15 touchdowns, eight interceptions, passer rating of 86.3. Third in CWC-8 in passing.
RUNNING BACKS
• Hunter VanDerLinden
Bonduel, senior, 5-10, 215
Awards: All-CWC-8 second team. Bonduel High School career all-time rushing record of 4,258 yards. All-Wolf River Media Player of the Year.
Stats: 232 carries for 1,657 yards, 7.1 yards per attempt, 19 touchdowns, 138.1 yards per game. Best in CWC-8 in rushing.
• Monte Noffke
Gillett, senior, 5-8, 165
Awards: All-Marinette & Oconto Conference first team. M&O running back of the year. Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention.
Stats: 228 carries for 1,691 yards, 7.4 yards per rush, 31 touchdowns, 169.1 yards per game, best in the M&O Conference.
• Alphonso Smith
Menominee Indian, senior, 6-2, 210
Awards: All-Northern Lakes Conference first team. Menominee Indian High School single-season rushing record.
Stats: 144 carries for 1,064 yards, 7.4 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns, 118.2 yards per game. Second in Northern Lakes in rushing.
RECEIVERS
• Skyler Lehman
Clintonville, senior, 6-2, 200
Awards: All-Eastern Valley Conference first team.
Stats: Had 59 catches for 1,114 yards (second in the Eastern Valley Conference), 18.9 yards per catch, nine touchdowns, 123 yards per game (best in the Eastern Valley).
• Connor Rosin
Bonduel, senior, 6-2, 195
Awards: All-CWC-8 second team
Stats: 24 receptions for 566 yards, 23.6 yards per catch (best in the CWC-8), including nine touchdowns (best in CWC-8), 51 yards per game.
OFFENSIVE LINE
• Daniel Torres
Gillett, senior, 6-2, 225
Awards: All-M&O first team
• Isaiah Griesbach
Bonduel, senior, 5-11, 190
Awards: All-CWC-8 first team
• Jordan Richter
Bonduel, senior, 5-9, 192
Awards: All-CWC-8 second team
• Kody Pawlak
Gillett, senior, 6-0, 235
Awards: All-M&O second team
• Dylan Hintz
Shawano, senior, 6-2, 225
All-Bay Conference honorable mention
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
• Isaiah Griesbach
Bonduel, senior, 5-11, 190
Awards: All-CWC-8 first team
Stats: 56 tackles, 48 solo, seven tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles.
• Mitch Umentum
Gillett, junior, 5-9, 160
Awards: All-M&O second team
Stats: 50 total tackles, 31 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, three forced fumbles.
• Dylan Hintz
Shawano, senior, 6-2, 225
Awards: All-Bay Conference second team
LINEBACKERS
• Hunter VanDerLinden
Bonduel, senior, 5-10, 215
Awards: All-CWC-8 first team
Stats: CWC-8 leading tackler with 64 total, 53 solo, one sack, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one interception.
• Creo VanBellinger
Suring, senior, 5-11, 175
Awards: All-M&O first team, Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State honorable mention.
Stats: 166 total tackles, 115 solo tackles (best in the M&O), 17 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, five interceptions, one for a touchdown.
• Donald Beechy
Tigerton/Marion, senior, 5-5, 150
Awards: All-CWC-10 second team
• Zack Sousek
Shawano, senior, 5-10, 170
Awards: All-Bay second team
DEFENSIVE BACKS
• Akeem Bates
Gillett, senior, 5-10, 165
Awards: All-M&O first team
Stats: 40 total tackles, 30 solo tackles, nine passes defensed.
• Michael Pecore
Menominee Indian, senior, 5-10, 150
Awards: All-Northern Lakes second team
Stats: 34 total tackles, 27 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, 11 passes defensed (best in Northern Lakes).
• Hayden Harris
Tigerton/Marion, junior, 5-7, 150
Awards: All-CWC-10 second team
• Jacob Yatso
Oconto Falls, senior, 5-9, 140
Awards: All-Bay Conference honorable mention
Stats: 52 total tackles, 38 solo, one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, nine blocked extra points, one blocked punt, one interception.
SPECIALISTS
KICKER
• Braden Mueller
Shawano, senior, 6-0, 160
Awards: All-Bay Conference honorable mention
PUNTER
• Alphonso Smith
Menominee Indian, senior, 6-2, 210
Awards: All-Northern Lakes second team
Stats: 30 punts, 38.3 average (best in the Northern Lakes Conference), five punts inside the 20-yard line.
KICK/PUNT RETURNER
• Zack Sousek
Shawano, senior, 5-10, 170
Stats: Led the Bay Conference in kickoff returns with 27 for 630 yards. Averaged 23.3 a return. Had five punt returns for 178 yards, averaging 35.6 yards per return.
COACHING STAFF
• Bonduel High School
Coach: James Westrich
Offensive coordinator: Dave LaBerge
Assistants: Chris Rank, Jeff Molkentin and Tony Stoss
Managers: Jen Dowden, Lexi Reinke, Deanna Zernicke, Kailee Pedersen and Cami Harland
Statisticians: Matthew LaBerge, Mitchell LaBerge, Greg Strayer, Bill Wallace, Dan Rosin and Trent Wegner
Notes: Coach James Westrich and his staff have had the Bears in the playoffs four of the last five years, including this year’s Division 5 playoff quarterfinal run and 2010’s run to the semifinals. In his 10th year as coach, Westrich has a 62-41 record in one of the area’s toughest football conferences.
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Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Gresham Community High School girls basketball coach Nick Yaeger draws up a play during a timeout Thursday in a game against White Lake in Gresham. Gresham won, 43-40.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Gresham Community High School sophomore Sydney Jensen takes a shot Thursday during a game against White Lake in Gresham. Gresham won, 43-40.
The Gresham Community High School girls basketball team is in the W column for the first time since the 2012-13 season after taking down nonconference foe White Lake 43-40 in the season opener Thursday in Gresham.
The Wildcats started slowly against White Lake, but soon got its offense going, and rallied to a lead in the second half before holding on to get the win.
“It’s good, obviously, to get the first win of the year in the first game,” Gresham coach Nick Yaeger said. “I still recognize that there is a lot of room for improvement. A lot of room. I don’t think our legs are there yet. We’re going to get better.”
After White Lake jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter, sophomore Sydney Jensen sparked the Wildcats’ offense with a steal and a layup.
“I think there were a lot of girls that were nervous,” Yaeger said. “We have a senior who hasn’t played in two years, a lot of freshman. We got a significant contribution from two sophomores. It took a little bit.”
Gresham rallied to within 16-15 before White Lake regain its footing, taking a 21-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Early in the second half, a jumper by Gresham sophomore Makena Arndt tied the game at 21-21.
Arndt, who would lead Gresham with 12 points, put Gresham ahead 23-21 with 6:53 left in the second quarter.
“She’s a good shooter,” Yaeger said. “She’s always been a little shy about pulling the trigger. She did an excellent job. She shot when she was open. It was great.”
Later in the period, White Lake’s Danielle Peters tied the game at 25-25.
The two teams would tie again at 31-31 in the fourth quarter, before Gresham took control when senior Brianna Stehberger made a basket and a 3-pointer back-t0-back. Stehberger finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“Brianna Stehberger had a phenomenal game fighting down low,” Yaeger said.
White Lake managed to pull to within 42-40 in the final minutes but missed several chances down the stretch.
Senior Nicole Creapeau was fouled with 11.8 seconds left and put Gresham ahead 43-40 at the free-throw line.
Jensen finished with 10 points. Freshman Kamille Davids played well, getting five points and seven rebounds before leaving the game with a leg injury.
Megan Schewe led White Lake with 13 points. Peters finished with 10 points and 19 rebounds.
White Lake 10 11 8 11 — 40
Gresham 2 15 14 12 — 43
White Lake (40)
Peters 5 0-3 10, Schewe 5 3-10 13, Greisnger 4 3-10 11, Clay 1 1-3 3, Kubaeki 1 1-2 3
Gresham (43)
Jensen 5 0-1 10, Arndt 6 0-0 12, Stehberger 5 0-0 11, Hoffman 1 0-0 2, Davids 2 1-3 5, Creapeau 1 1-2 3
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetHigh School Highlights
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bonduel 80
Coleman 34
Jen Dowden scored 24 points and Bonduel improved to 2-0 on the season Thursday with a nonconference win over Coleman in Bonduel.
Dowden also had seven assists. Deanna Zernicke hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points. Taylor Weier had 10 points.
Cory Bushmaker scored 12 points to lead Coleman.
In junior varsity action, Bonduel won 56-19.
Menominee Indian 64
Lena 28
Ania Smith scored 22 points to lead Menominee Indian to a season-opening win Thursday over nonconference foe Lena in Lena.
Erin Wynos scored 12 points for Menominee Indian, and Sasha Peters added 10.
Christina Jagiello led Lena with seven points.
In junior varsity action, Menominee Indian won, 30-24.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood 57
Mosinee 45
Erika Alwes scored 17 points, and Wittenberg-Birnamwood beat Mosinee in a nonconference game Thursday in Mosinee.
Siri Zeinert added 16 points and seven rebounds for the victorious Chargers.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetBears rout Gillett in opener
Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School senior Jen Dowden takes a shot during Tuesday’s season-opening game against Gillett in Bonduel. Bonduel won, 67-17.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School senior Jen Dowden blocks Gillett senior Rebecca Wolfe during the teams’ season-opening game Tuesday in Bonduel. Bonduel won, 67-17.
The Bonduel High School girls basketball team came roaring out of the gate with a 67-17 win over Gillett in both teams’ season opener Tuesday in Bonduel.
Bonduel’s defense jumped on Gillett early, holding the Tigers to seven points in the first quarter. Gillett wouldn’t score again until the second half as the Bears built a 35-7 lead.
By the end, the Bonduel defense had forced 34 turnovers, five on steals by sophomore guard Danee Collier.
“Ball pressure on defense, and then pushing the ball up the court, that was nice,” Bonduel coach Missy Dowden said, “Getting the girls to move.”
Gillett coach Justin Daul gave credit to the Bears for the way they played.
“We knew what we were coming into in this game,” Daul said. “Bonduel is probably one of the better teams in the state. We knew we were overmatched, but I saw good things out of my girls.”
On offense, Bonduel spread the ball around early with seven girls scoring in the first half.
Senior guard Deanna Zernicke, making a return from shoulder surgery after an injury in last year’s WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal, took over the game in the fourth quarter. Zernicke scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the period, including a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers.
“She was holding her head down like, ‘I’m never going to shoot again,’” Dowden said. “She hit a couple of rebound shots, maybe 10-footers, and I was like, ‘OK, let’s call a play.’ She knew it had to be to her. She hit two in a row. … You could see the change. She was pleased.”
Zernicke also was one of the team’s toughest defenders, finishing with four steals and two assists.
Sophomore Hayley Sorenson made four baskets in the first half and finished with 14 points.
“She did a nice job,” Dowden said. “She’s quick. She makes the right cuts. It’s going to be fun to watch her develop.”
Senior Jen Dowden had 10 points, led the team with eight rebounds and had six assists, two steals and two blocks. Alexa Reinke and Emily Sorenson each had seven points.
Gillett sophomore Erin Balthazor led the Tigers with five points.
Missy Dowden credited scrimmaging all day Saturday against four teams for getting the team ready.
“It took care of a lot of little quirks we had to work on yesterday,” she said. “We were able to get a lot of them worked out.”
In junior varsity action, Bonduel won, 46-30.
Gillett (17)
Balthazor 2 1-1 5, Kohls 2 0-0 4, Wolfe 1 2-2 4, Wilbur 1 0-0 2, Loberger 1 0-0 2
Bonduel (67)
H. Sorenson 6 2-2 14, Dowden 4 2-2 10, Reinke 3 0-1 7, Schmidt 1 0-2 2, Zernicke 7 0-0 16, E. Sorenson 3 1-2 7, Collier 2 0-3 4, Pedersen 1 0-0 3, Pues 2 0-0 4
Gillett 7 0 8 2 — 17
Bonduel 15 20 12 20 — 67
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetWE’VE GOT THE FEVER
Jason Arndt, [email protected]
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Kenny Huebner, left, cuts into a deer carcass as Shane Kuhn, center, and Jeff Kuhn prepare to assist Tuesday during Buck Fever Night at the Shawano County Highway Department shop.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Becky Betzner, left, who sells Watkins Home Sale Products locally, discusses some of the items available to hunters with Carol Schneider, chairperson of Buck Fever Night and secretary of the Shawano County Conservation Association. About 30 vendors participated in Buck Fever Night on Tuesday.
Buck Fever Night came with a new twist Tuesday.
The event, held annually on the Tuesday prior to the opening of the gun deer season for roughly 40 years, is intended to get area residents in the mood for the nine-day hunt.
While past events have focused primarily on the men who love to hunt, Carol Schneider, chairwoman of the event sponsored by the Shawano County Conservation Association, opted this year to add more female-friendly vendors and activities for children.
“This year, we have something for the children and ladies,” Schneider said. “It used to always be men only here.”
Schneider estimated about half of the 35 vendors set up in the Shawano County Highway Department shop were new this year.
Amber Bahr, of Cecil, was one of the vendors, selling, among other organic offerings, ointments ideal for relieving aches and pains associated with hunting. She is an independent consultant with Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic.
“There are a lot of females that hunt in this area and there are a lot of women that like to hunt. I am a hunter myself,” said Bahr, who took up turkey hunting for the first time this year.
The changes didn’t deter longtime Buck Fever Night regulars such as 59-year-old Gary Moede, of Shawano, who said he has been a regular at the event for a number of years. He likes sharing hunting stories and checking out the vendors’ booths.
“I enjoy coming in and interacting with all of the different groups that are here,” he said. “It primes people for the upcoming season.
“It brings people out … getting people to think about the next big buck they are going to get.”
Moede, who taught his son and nephew to hunt, recalled one of his successful hunts in the Shiocton area.
“Many years ago, I had the opportunity to be in the right spot at the right time, and I was able to get a nice 10-pointer,” he said.
John Huff, state Department of Natural Resources wildlife management supervisor, said there are many prime hunting spots around Shawano County.
“Shawano County gets pretty heavily hunted, whether it is public land or private land,” he said. “There is a big chunk of hunting land near the Navarino Wildlife Area.”
The Navarino Nature Center manned a booth at Tuesday’s event. Children were able to create buttons customized with deer hunting artwork.
Buck Fever Night door prizes included cash, clothing and hunting gear.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetShawano/Bonduel swimmers compete at state
Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]
The WIAA Division 1 state swim meet in Madison on Saturday was a bittersweet experience for Ali Hanson and Clare Martell, the two qualifiers from the Shawano/Bonduel high school girls swimming team.
The duo, who grew up swimming together since they were 8 years old, were swimming as teammates for the last time.
Hanson, a Shawano Community High School senior, will swim for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay next year. Martell, a junior, will return to try for a fourth-straight trip to state.
“Friday was their last practice together,” said Shawano/Bonduel coach Sharon Hanson, who is Ali’s mother. “They don’t swim on the same club team together. … I think that was a pretty meaningful meet for them. … It was an exciting day.”
Neither swimmer, though, had her best day in the pool.
Ali Hanson, swimming the 50- and 100-yard freestyle at state for the second straight year, improved on her 19th-place finish in the event last year. This year she completed the race in 53.38 seconds, down from 54.00 in 2013, to take 12th.
Arrowhead junior Kelly Jacob won the event with a time of 50.73.
Ali Hanson took 16th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.57. She took 14th in the event in 2013. Jacob also won that event with a time of 23.13.
“She just had a little slower breakouts, coming out from under the water,” Sharon Hanson said. “In the 50 free, it’s just kind of how it’s going to go that day. There’s very little time between where the top 16 are.”
Martell, swimming the 100 breaststroke for the third straight year, finished 13th with a time of 1:07.89, a little more than a second more than her sectional time from last week. Martell placed seventh in the event last year and was 11th as a freshman.
“She just didn’t quite get her tempo in the second split,” Sharon Hanson said. “The first split was right where she wanted to be. She just didn’t find that tempo again. Clare is a very rhythmic swimmer.”
Nicolet junior Gwen Worlton took first with a time of 1:02.73.
For the first time in three years, Shawano/Bonduel did not have a relay team at state, and it might have contributed to Hanson and Martell’s performance.
The coach said the team was very close this season, and not having familiar faces there for support was a big change.
“It’s different to go down with just two people than with a relay team,” Sharon Hanson said. “It’s a lot harder. Not that I’m making excuses, but a race like that 50 free is all about having that adrenaline. … It changes things a little bit on the pool deck, not having that relay there with you.”
Sharon Hanson said she wasn’t sad to see Ali’s high school career close, and is looking forward to seeing her swim at UWGB next year.
“It’s just another thing that I can see that she’s ready for that next step,” she said.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetClintonville swimmer takes fifth at state
Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]
Clintonville High School senior Gabrielle Goerlinger capped her high school swimming career Friday with a pair of top-10 finishes in her third trip to the WIAA State Division 2 Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium in Madison.
Goerlinger, who last week won sectional championships in the 100-yard backstroke and 200 freestyle, earned her highest finish in three trips to state with a fifth-place finish in the backstroke. She managed to shave more than a second off of her sectional time, finishing in 1:00.43.
Georlinger finished 10th in the event last year with a time of 1:01.28 and finished 11th in 2012 with a time of 1:01.67.
The event was won by Baraboo senior Katie Coughlin, who finished in 56.56. Coughlin was followed by Edgewood’s Lauren Bergmann (58.12), DeForest’s Gabby Loeck (59.25) and Grafton’s Natalie Keshemberg (1:00.20).
In the 200 freestyle, Goerlinger took off 2.52 seconds from her sectional-winning time to finish eighth.
She finished eighth in the event last year with a time of 1:59.85.
New Berlin West senior Madison Tew won the event with a time of 1:50.67. McFarland’s Marissa Wolff (1:53.68) was second, followed by New Berlin Eisenhower’s Paige Carter (1:54.43), Edgewood’s Kelly Rodriguez (1:54.44), New Berlin Eisenhower’s Bella Passamani (1:57.42), Whitnall’s Kelly McElvain (1:57.44) and Monona Grove’s Wendy Pfefferkorn.
Shawano/Bonduel swimmers Ali Hanson and Clare Martell will compete in the Division 1 championships Saturday.
Hanson, a four-time state qualifying senior, will swim the 50 and 100 freestyle. Martell, a three-time state qualifying junior, will swim the 100 breaststroke.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetBowler High School booster club hoping for impact
Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]
The Panther Pack Booster Club has been busy since it organized in the spring, and the group hopes to be even busier this winter.
The club, organized to promote and support Bowler High School athletics, sponsored the football team’s opening night tailgate party and held a punt-catching competition during the home football games this season, raising more than $300.
For the basketball season, the group’s major project is setting up area business sponsorships of home basketball games, and planning fan giveaways and activities during halftimes.
“The whole reason we organized the group was to bring in some school spirit,” said Diana Strassburg, one of the group’s members. “We want community support, community members to come out to these athletic events and support these student athletes.”
The group has already lined up support from many local businesses, doing the kind of legwork the players and coaches are not able to do on their own.
“We’re very excited that a good group of community members have stepped forward and asked to give back to the school and the community,” Bowler High School athletic director Jeff DePerry said. “They’ve been very active already, in just a small time.”
The group has also been pushing clothing supporting Bowler High School and Panthers athletics.
“They’ve been selling a lot of spirit wear, just getting our community outfitted in Bowler Panthers spirit wear,” ” DePerry said.
The first event of the winter sports season for the group will be at the first girls basketball home game. Draeger Chiropractic & Laser Center in Antigo donated eight prizes that will be given to fans using a punch board like on the television show “The Price is Right.” The group will draw names at halftime to pick the winners.
“Our club is not making any money on the sponsorships, but all funds are going back to the fans, whether it be spirit wear, business gift cards and other various prizes,” Strassburg said.
With the Panther Pack Booster Club just getting started, DePerry anticipates more good ideas are going to come from the group in the future.
“One of their goals down the road is being able to sponsor our athletic banquets,” DePerry said, citing the work the Shawano Athletic Booster Club and its three banquets a year. “Maybe even being able to provide scholarships to student athletes that are pursuing further educational goals.”
The group hopes it can help increase school spirit and maybe help recruiting.
“We want the student athletes to be proud of their school and the athletic team they play on,” Strassburg said. “We also want to encourage more students to try the different sports that our district offers.”
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Jason Arndt, [email protected]
Photo by Tom Kujawski Bonduel High School running back Hunter VanDerLinden makes it into the end zone against Amherst on Friday in the WIAA Division 5 playoff game in Amherst. VanDerLinden scored three touchdowns, but the Bears lost to undefeated Amherst, 36-20.
Photo by Tom Kujawski Bonduel High School running back Danny Tauchen gains a few more yards after catching a pass against Amherst in the WIAA Division 5 playoff game Friday in Amherst. Amherst ended Bonduel’s season with a 36-20 win.
Amherst put a stop to the Bonduel High School football team’s four-game winning streak and its season Friday with a 36-20 win at home in a WIAA Division 5 Level 3 playoff game.
Senior running back Hunter VanDerLinden ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, but Bonduel was not able to stay with the undefeated Falcons early in the game and unable to make up the deficit in the second half.
Bonduel (9-3, 5-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) also lost to Amherst (12-0, 7-0 CWC-8) during the regular season, falling 54-20 on Sept. 5.
“They are a great ball club and are well-coached,” Bonduel coach James Westrich said. “We did not give up big plays like last time. We made them earn them tonight.”
Junior quarterback Garrett Groshek threw two touchdown passes in the opening quarter as the Falcons built a 14-0 lead. He connected first with Davis Cowden on a 5-yard score and then with Connor Zblewski on a screen pass that went 31 yards to the end zone.
VanDerLinden produced Bonduel’s first points in the second quarter on a 10-yard run. Amherst responded, however, with a 14-yard scoring run by Brandon Piotrowski.
VanDerLinden again answered for Bonduel, throwing an option pass to Hunter Berry for a 30-yard score to cut the Bears’ halftime deficit to 21-13.
“We battled back and came into halftime within eight,” Westrich said.
VanDerLinden added his third touchdown of the game in the third quarter with a 1-yard run.
“He had a great game,” Westrich said. “He scored a running touchdown, passing touchdown and recovered a fumble. He had a great all-around game.”
Amherst produced two touchdowns in the third quarter, on a 9-yard run by Groshek and an 8-yard run by Zblewski, who finished with 151 yards on 25 carries. Groshek completed six of 13 passes for 86 yards and rushed for 98 yards on 29 carries.
The Falcons closed the scoring with a safety in the fourth quarter.
Bonduel’s hopes for a comeback were hurt by two botched punts.
“We had two snaps over the punter’s head and that put us in a bad spot,” Westrich said.
Bonduel quarterback Colton Dobratz completed nine of 21 passes for 159 yards passing.
“He had a good game, but there some dropped passes,” Westrich said.
Berry had five catches for 81 yards, along with six carries for 19 yards.
Weistrich said he would miss this year’s squad and its senior leaders.
“It has been a lot of fun coaching these seniors,” he said.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetShawano/Bonduel swimmers prepare for sectionals
Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Senior Ali Hanson for the Shawano/Bonduel girls swim team during a Sept. 18 meet against Sturgeon Bay at Shawano Community High School. Hanson was named the Bay Conference swimmer of the year and will swim for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s swim team next year.
Ali Hanson wants to get the perfect sweep.
The Shawano/Bonduel senior swimmer was part of a relay team that made it to state her freshman year. Hanson’s sophomore year, she was a part of two state-qualifying relay teams. Her junior year she made it in two individual events and a relay team.
Saturday, Hanson hopes to help her team qualify for state in four events at the WIAA Division 1 sectional in Neenah.
“I’m really excited to see how everything ends up,” Hanson said. “I have two shots at making state and being in the top eight. We have two relays, and each one has a shot at making it to state. I really hope they both make it. It seems like it’s asking a lot, but anything is possible.”
Hanson, the Bay Conference swimmer of the year who will swim for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s team next year, wants to get down to state by qualifying in her two individual events, the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, as well as the medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.
“That’d be just really exciting for me,” Hanson said. “It seems like every year I’ve gotten one more swim at state.”
Hanson holds the top seed in the 50 freestyle in the sectional with a time of 24.49 seconds. Her closest competition is Appleton North junior Abbey Greenway, who clocks in 24.53. The No. 3 seed, Corrin VanLanen, of Pulaski, has a seed time of 24.57.
“It’s kind of a three-way tie,” said Sharon Hanson, Shawano/Bonduel coach, and Ali’s mother. “She’s tied for seventh in the state. That’s the 50 free. It’s kind of, ‘Who wants it more?’”
Ali Hanson is fourth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 53.61. Appleton North sophomore Britt Horn is the top seed in that event with a time of 52.55.
Clare Martell, a Bonduel High School junior, has a chance in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:08.12. That is second only to Bay Port senior Tonya Brice, whose seed time is 1:07.37.
“There’s some really fast times posted already,” Sharon Hanson said. “Clare is going to have a good race. That will be a fun a race to watch. Tonya Brice from Bay Port will be big competition for Clare. They’ve raced each other since they were very little.”
Martell is seeded 12th in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:03.75.
In the 200 medley relay, an event Shawano/Bonduel qualified for state in a year ago, the Hawks are seeded seventh. While Hawks lost Mallory Soper to graduation from that state-qualifying team, it retained both Martell and Ali Hanson. Carlie Hinnefeld and Alyssa Anker round out the team that is seeded seventh at the sectional.
That’s the same team that has a chance in the 200 freestyle relay, which is seeded 10th.
“Those two relay, it’s really going to be what they can do at the meet,” Sharon Hanson said. “Neenah is one of the fastest sectionals.”
State qualifiers will be the winners of each event and up to 24 qualifiers based on time drawn from all six sectionals across Wisconsin.
“We’re not in a position where we’re going to take first place in those relays,” Sharon Hanson said. “We’re in a position where we’re going to have to wait and see once all the times are in.”
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