Shawano Leader Sports Headlines

SCHS falls 5-2 to Green Bay WestBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Sara Hockenstad, part of Shawano Community High School’s No. 1 doubles team, hits a ball against Green Bay West on Monday at Shawano Community Middle School.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School No. 2 singles players Isabella Carroll runs for a ball during a match against West De Pere on Monday at Shawano Community Middle School.

While the Shawano Community High School girls tennis team singles players lost some close matches, two doubles teams had success against Green Bay West in a nonconference match Monday in Shawano.

With a sweep of the singles matches, West won the meet 5-2, but Shawano’s No. 1 and No. 3 doubles teams earned victories.

The No. 1 doubles team of Sara Hockenstad and Meghan Hoffman had no trouble defeating West’s Stormy Beauchamp and Breanna Johnson, 6-1, 6-1.

“They played really well,” Shawano coach Tom Webster said. “They were aggressive at the net, they were consistent with their serves, they really hustled. I was very impressed with their win today, only allowing the other team two games.”

A patchwork No. 3 doubles team of Nick Ainsworth and Kathryn Kugel, who was filling in for an ill Louisa Keenan, won their first set against Morgan Yates and Mallory Shefchik, 6-3, but dropped the second set, 6-3. The SCHS duo rallied to win the match, taking the third set 6-4.

“Three doubles had never played together before,” Webster said. “I had to bring up Kathryn, who is our first JV person, and they pulled it out. … It takes a while to get used to (playing with someone new). I was impressed with that.”

Shawano’s No. 2 doubles team of Kelly Mastey and Sydney Steinbach lost to Megan Leisgang and Emilie Smith, 6-3, 6-1.

The day’s top match, which took nearly 2 1/2 hours to complete, was at No. 2 singles. Shawano’s Isabelle Carroll took the first set against Skylar Phillips 6-2, but lost the second set 7-5. Carroll went on to lose the third set, 6-4.

“Isabelle had a heart-breaker today losing in three sets,” Webster said. “Two-and-a-half hours on the court, that’s a long time.”

At No. 3 singles, the Hawks’ Hannah Neumann lost to Raeann Daley 7-6 in their first set after a 7-5 tiebreaker. Neumann lost the second set 6-1.

“Hannah had a was a great first set,” Webster said. “She lost 7-5 in a tiebreak against a girl who was very relentless, would get everything back. She had a good battle there.”

No. 4 Holly Schwecke lost to Kalina Bathke, 6-4, 7-5.

Shawano No. 1 singles player Courtney Ainsworth was swept by Janna Uhde, 6-0, 6-0.

“They haven’t played since a week ago Thursday, and I could tell some of them were a little rusty,” Webster said. “Things that we really have to have from the get-go, we really didn’t have. Some people won their first set and kind of let up a little bit and let them back in.”

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GIRLS GOLF

Bonduel second at River Island

The Bears had two golfers in the top 10 and finished second as a team with a score of 429 Monday at River Island Golf Course in Oconto Falls.

Elizabeth Schaal (104) finished seventh overall and Taylor Diemel (105) was 10th for Bonduel. Samantha Schaal carded a 106, Danielle Lautenbach 114 and Alex Brandt 129.

Marinette’s Kayla Thielen was the medalist at 84 and her team won with a score of 364.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Bonduel 3

Manawa 0

Bonduel (5-2, 1-0 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) spread the ball around in a sweep of Manawa on Tuesday in Manawa.

Jen Dowden, Alexa Reinke, Taylor Weier and Hayley Pues each piled up nine kills each. Reinke added 20 digs. Dowden had seven blocks. Miranda Schmidt had 17 assists.

The Bears won, 25-20, 25-19, 26-24.

In junior varsity action, Bonduel beat Manawa, 26-24, 25-15.

Bowler 3

Marion 0

Bowler (1-2, 1-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) swept CWC-10 foe Marion 25-11, 25-17, 25-12 Tuesday in Marion.

Maddy Pamperin led Marion with three kills. Courtney Schricker had 13 digs for the Mustangs.

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Shawano outscored 35-0 in first halfBy: 

Greg Bates, Leader Correspondent

The Shawano Community High School football team was unable to bounce back after Seymour scored on five of its first seven drives en route to a 42-6 loss Friday.

The Hawks (2-1, 1-1 in Bay Conference) had plenty of offense in a pair of wins to start the season. On Friday, Shawano couldn’t muster anything against a big defensive front from Seymour.

Seymour maintained a heavy running game, amassing 372 yards on 47 carries.

“They dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Shawano coach Alan Tomow said. “We knew what we had to do, and aside from Dietzen and the other tackle, size-wise we were very comparable. … The disappointing part is that our program wanted to take that next step tonight and be able to compete with the upper echelon of the conference and we didn’t match their intensity.”

Shawano knew Seymour was going to be tough despite its 0-2 record.

“We knew they had a bunch of good guys,” Shawano senior wide receiver/linebacker Zach Sousek said. “We just really gave it our best shot and we didn’t back down, and that’s what we can really ask for.”

Shawano ended up with 142 yards, while Seymour finished with 413 and dictated the tempo of the game from start to finish.

The Hawks were coming off a tight, two-point victory over New London last week and brimming with confidence. The loss could be a good thing, however, as the Hawks move forward with their season.

“Being 2-0, we knew there was a lot of work to be done, so if anything good can come out of this, this was a humbling experience for us and shows that we’re on the upswing — it’s just we have to keep working and we can’t get complacent,” Tomow said. “There’s a lot of good football to left to be played in Shawano this year.”

Sousek and his teammates are taking the loss in stride and hoping to learn against a quality opponent.

“It’s not a setback,” Sousek said. “We knew that if one day we want to compete for championships we’re going to be that good, so we’re just keeping our heads up.”

Seymour started its second drive of the game at the Shawano 23 after Marcus Cornelius had a nice runback on a punt. Four plays into the series, Zak Sasman found the outside and scored on a 9-yard run.

Shawano worked inside Seymour territory on its second drive, but the offense stalled. A good punt by Sousek pinned the Thunder at their own 5. The field position didn’t matter as Seymour methodically marched down the field, and Cornelius again scored from 9 yards out and it was quickly 14-0.

After a failed fake punt by Shawano, Seymour had another short field at the Shawano 45. Thunder quarterback Brett Banker hit Sasman for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Seymour tacked on another score with 3:34 left in the opening half as Seth Jefson found the end zone from 5 yards out. A missed point-after attempt made it 27-0.

With Shawano trying to get on the board late in the second quarter, Shawano quarterback Cole Huntington was intercepted by Nik Yaeger. Seymour added a Clayton VanLanen 3-yard touchdown and Banker hit Sasman for the 2-point conversion and it was 35-0 with 18.4 seconds remaining in the first half.

After another Seymour score made it 42-0 in the third quarter, Shawano backup quarterback Jack Hanauer connected with Adam Bartz in stride on a fourth-and-7 for a 51-yard touchdown. Bartz had four receptions for 89 yards receiving.

It was the first career touchdown pass for the sophomore signal-caller.

Tomow said he took out Huntington to start the third quarter give him some rest. The QB injured his ankle the previous week. The coach also wanted to give his younger quarterback some reps at the varsity level.

Hanauer finished the night 4 for 10 passing for 70 yards and the score. Huntington was 4 for 13 for 44 yards and two interceptions.

Shawano, which only had 28 yards rushing on 17 carries, was led by Sousek with 29 yards.

VanLanen rushed for 101 yards and Jefson for 86 yards for Seymour.

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Bonduel suffers 1st lossBy: 

Leader Staff

Bonduel High School scored the first touchdown of the game at Amherst, but it was downhill from there, as the Bears lost 54-19 Friday.

The game got away from Bonduel (2-1, 0-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) early and the Bears entered halftime trailing 30-13.

“We had a number of penalties that killed our drives,” Bonduel coach James Westrich said. “Our offense could not get going.”

Bears running back Hunter VanderLinden found the end zone early in the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown and added another from 5 yards out in the second quarter. The senior finished with 58 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Bonduel senior Hunter Berry exploded for a 51-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Berry had 11 carries for 66 yards.

Senior quarterback Colton Dobratz completed seven passes for 59 yards. Wide receiver and senior Danny Tauchen had 18 yards receiving on two catches.

Amherst (3-0, 1-0) was able to maintain possession of the ball led by quarterback Garret Groshek, who had 14 completions for 225 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons balanced Groshek’s game with Brandon Piotrowski’s 82 yards rushing on 10 carries.

“We knew they were going to be tough, we knew they had a tough offense,” Westrich said.

The Bears also fumbled twice but forced no turnovers.

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Coach hopes for success in final seasonBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz The Bonduel High School boys cross-country team runs along County Road BE during practice Wednesday.

The Bonduel High School cross-country teams know this will be the last year James Watry will be their coach.

Watry, who has coached the boys team to Central Wisconsin Conference titles in 2008 and 2013, as well as state team qualifiers in 2012 and 2013 since taking over in 2008, is going to step away after this year.

“I told the kids that here about two weeks ago,” Watry said. “Had a lot of success, The team is looking good for the kids coming back next year. I just needed to step away and recharge and see what happens from there.”

That’s in the back of his mind as he coaches a senior group of boys pushing for one more trip to state and an inexperienced girls team that will need his coaching this year to compete in a tough Central Wisconsin Conference.

“The boys so far haven’t been beaten by anyone in our division,” Watry said. “The girls team, I think it’s going to be a real challenge. Wittenberg-Birnamwood has a really good team, and so does Rosholt. We’re just going to have to see. We’ve got the talent. The question is do I have enough time to get it out this year.”

Seniors Sam Falck, Travis Wollenberg, Austin Marcks and James Watry, the coach’s son, along with junior Josh Schill and sophomore Austin Kurey are the core group that reached state the last two years. Falck finished 21st at the state meet.

Gone from the group through graduation are Isaac Palmer, Bryce Robaidek and Gregg Shafer.

“The last two years we’ve done really well,” Watry said. “Replacing someone like Isaac Palmer is not easy. He was a 17-minute runner last year. We’ve got to try and grow somebody fast here.”

Joining the boys team this year are junior Alex Hammond and freshmen Jacob Moede, Charlie Mews and Craig Rusch.

“The boys team is one of the smallest I’ve had, probably since the first year I’ve coached,” Watry said. “We have a lot of quality returners. We have a couple of people out right now with injuries and that, just waiting to see how that turns out.”

The coach has the opposite problem on the girls side.

“We’ve got the biggest girls team we’ve ever had, but we’re real inexperienced,” Watry said. “Especially with the change to the longer distance. We have some work to do there.”

The WIAA changed the distance of the girls courses this season, from 4,000 meters to 5,000, to match the distance run by the boys.

“It’s just a psychological barrier,” Watry said. “This won’t be an issue next year. It’s all anybody is going to know. It’s the whole thought process of, ‘Oh, it’s so far.’ It’s not. We train the same distance every day as the guys. I keep telling the girls, this is just proof that you’re just as capable as guys. That’s why they made the change.”

The girls’ team lost Mallory Mews, a state qualifier, to graduation. Returning are sophomore Anna Palmer, sophomore Abigail Palmer, senior Aneta Rohloff, sophomore Megan Fischer, junior Marissa Mehlhorn, senior Katelyn Rohr and sophomore McKenzie Mews.

“The only one that graduated last year was Mallory,” Watry said. “We have everybody coming back. It’s just the conference got a little harder this year.”

Joining the team this year are senior Deanna Zernicke and five freshmen: Arianna Factor, Erica Fassbender, Abby Owen, Alana Paholke and Ashlyn Schnell.

AT A GLANCE

Bonduel High School cross-country schedule

Sept. 9 at Wittenberg-Birnamwood

Sept. 13 at Shawano

Sept. 16 Bonduel Invitational

Sept . 20 at New London

Sept. 23 at Menominee Indian

Sept. 27 at Hortonville

Oct. 2 at Rosholt

Oct. 9 at Weyauwega-Fremont

Oct. 16 at Weyauwega-Fremont (Central Wisconsin Conference meet)

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Team still needs to gelBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School middle hitter Hayley Pues bumps a ball during a game Tuesday against Waupaca at the Bonduel Volleyball Tournament. Bonduel went 3-1, losing only to Waupaca.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School senior middle hitter Jen Dowden hits a ball over the net Tuesday against Waupaca. Bonduel went 3-1 in the tournament, losing only to Waupaca.

The Bonduel High School volleyball team went 3-1 to take second in its tournament Tuesday, falling only to undefeated Waupaca in two games.

Down 17-15 in the first game against Waupaca, the Bears managed to rally to a 19-19 tie. The teams traded points until the Comets, who went 4-0 in the tournament, won 25-23. In the second game, the Bears fell behind 11-7 only to rally to a 16-16 tie. The game was against tied at 23-23 before Waupaca won out, 25-23.

“I kind of felt like the little things that were luck definitely weren’t going our way,” Bonduel coach Kim Bodoh said. “We lost those games by just a few points and we missed five serves. That’s the difference in a game right there.”

With a pair of experienced seniors in Jen Dowden and Lexi Reinke, along with junior returning starters Miranda Schmidt, Hayley Pues and Taylor Weier, the Bears are trying to bring along a large number of younger players this year.

“Some miscues with some of the younger players, the sets on and off the net. Working with the younger setters and older hitters, they need to get into their groove,” Bodoh said. “When things weren’t going right, they weren’t going right at all.”

Bodoh knows that getting the group on the same page is a process.

“I think the more that they gel as a team, the more that they play together, those little miscues and communication will get better,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do on the communication side of our team.”

The rest of the tournament went all Bonduel’s way. The Bears beat Omro (1-3) 25-14, 25-21; took down Suring (0-4) 25-22, 25-16; and topped Laona-Wabeno (1-3) 25-21, 25-12.

The win over Laona-Wabeno might have postseason consequences.

“That’s a big win for us,” Bodoh said. “That’s right out of our regional. We beat them in two (games). I’m hoping that, in the long run, come tournament time — which is weird to think about right now in pre-conference play — in the long run that will help us come tournament time.”

Bodoh said not playing any regional teams last year hurt the Bears’ seeding.

As much as the coach knows the Bears need to clean up the miscues on offense, Bodoh is excited about what she has seen from her defense.

“I’m very impressed with our hustle on defense,” she said. “That’s a step up from last year already.”

Dowden finished with 39 kills and 43 digs in the tournament. Weier led the team with seven aces. Schmidt had 35 assists.

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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Gresham 3

Oneida Nation 0

Gresham swept Oneida Nation on the road Tuesday, winning 25-11, 25-12, 25-10.

Nande Carroll lead the Wildcats (1-0) with 10 assists. Brianna Stehberger had eight kills. Nicole Crapo had six assists. Taylor Hoffman had eight service points.

In junior varsity action, Gresham swept Oneida Nation, 25-21, 25-11, 25-17.

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Breaker delivers key two-run single

Brad Breaker hit a two-run line drive to center field to break a 0-0 tie with Plover in the sixth inning of the Badger Amateur Baseball Association grand championship game Sunday, setting up the 2-0 win for the Tigers’ third league title.

Dylan Berg singled, Jon Berg was hit by a pitch and Paul Sellner bunted the runners over to start the inning and set up Breaker.

Tigerton’s Sellner and Plover’s Howie Heinrich kept batters at bay through the first five innings. Both went the distance, with Sellner getting the win and the game’s most valuable player award. He allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out two. Heinrich struck out six, walked one and hit another while allowing two runs on seven hits.

Plover put runners on the corners in the fourth on singles by Eric Fritz and Eric Flowerette, but Derek Lemens grounded out to first to end the inning.

Tigerton’s defense had double plays to end both the seventh and eighth innings.

Erik Kroening and Dylan Berg each had two hits for the Tigers. Breaker was 1 for 4 with two RBIs. Eric Gendusa and Brandon Sivertson each added a hit.

Fritz was 2 for 4 to lead Plover. Heinrich, Bill Held, John Jazenosky, Flowerette and Bryan Brom each had hits.

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Defense forces turnovers to protect 28-26 leadBy: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Fifteen hours after the Friday night kickoff of its home opener against New London, the Shawano Community High School football team left the field victorious Saturday, rallying to a 28-26 win to stay perfect on the season.

The game, which was postponed in the second quarter Friday night because of lightning and restarted Saturday morning, turned on a monster series of plays by Zack Sousek, a senior 5-foot-10 triple threat who caught a touchdown and had a long return Friday night.

Trailing 26-21 in the third quarter, the Hawks' defense forced a New London punt, which was returned by Sousek to the New London 31-yard line. A few plays later, Sousek caught the go-ahead 24-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Cole Huntington (6-1, 180 pounds).

Huntington’s pass arced into the corner of the end zone where Sousek and New London defensive back Connor Hoell both jumped for the ball and got their hands on it. Sousek came over the top of Hoell to grab the ball and ripped it away as the two fell to the ground for the touchdown.

“Zack has been so versatile for us,” Shawano coach Al Tomow said. “He’s a great athlete. We can move him around and have confidence that, no matter who is across from him on offense or defense, he’s going to do a great job. Any time he has the football in his hands, good things are going to happen. He showed that today and last night.”

Both of Sousek’s catches in the game were touchdowns for a combined 79 yards. He also went over 100 yards on returns.

Shawano’s defense, which looked shaky Friday night, took over the game from there as the Hawks worked to protect the 28-26 lead.

New London marched into Shawano territory three times the rest of the game only to be denied. Shawano recovered two fumbles and picked off New London quarterback Dylan Keehn to end the three drives.

“The defense did a tremendous job since we started today,” Tomow said. “We made some adjustments, moved some guys around. They really responded and came out with just a gutsy effort.”

The Hawks' defense has forced 10 turnovers in the first two weeks of the season, including four against New London.

“It’s always good when we get turnovers, but we have to be built to expect not to get them,” Tomow said. “When we do get them, we have to take advantage. We can’t expect them.”

Shawano (2-0, 1-0 Bay Conference) resumed play Saturday morning with New London (0-2, 0-2 Bay) leading 19-7 in the second quarter.

The Hawks, who got the ball on the Bulldog 1-yard line when play resumed Saturday, scored on third-and-1 on a dive by senior running back Chase Henning (6-0, 175 pounds). The touchdown cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 19-14.

A quick drive by New London and a touchdown toss from Keehn to Hoell put New London back up 26-14.

In the final minutes of the half, Shawano drove 67 yards and scored on a keeper by Huntington with 8.9 seconds left on the clock.

Both teams opened the second half with fumbles as rain made the ball slippery.

Tomow said the split game allowed his team to make a few adjustments, and his players responded well to the challenge of coming back in the morning to continue the game.

“We brought them in this morning a little earlier just to get them loose,” Tomow said. “Made sure we had a lot of water. It was unconventional, but it was exciting for us to kind of prep for those kinds of things. Our staff did a good job of managing the situation and making sure the kids were ready to go.”

Huntington finished the game with five completions on 20 throws for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball 13 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target was Adam Bartz, who had four catches for 69 yards. Henning had one catch for 6 yards. He also carried the ball 18 times for 24 yards and a touchdown.

Keehn finished 12 of 20 for 167 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Nicholas Thomas caught four balls for 96 yards. Hoell had 27 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter. He also caught two balls for 19 yards and the second-quarter touchdown. Andrew Clauss had five carries for 10 yards, including a touchdown in the first quarter. Hunter Zaddack had the Bulldog’s other touchdown in the second quarter Friday night.

The fast start has Tomow looking forward to next week’s Bay Conference game against Seymour (0-2, 0-2 Bay), which opened the season with conference losses to Luxemburg-Casco and Menasha.

“We earned it. It wasn’t given to us,” Tomow said. “Nothing is given to us, we’re not entitled to anything. Now we’re coming in with Seymour next week. They’re 0-2, but they are always a top team in the conference. You have to figure they’ll be hungry and ready to go. We expect their best effort and we hope to give them ours.”

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Sousek hot streak continuesBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior receiver Zack Sousek catches a pass and runs away from New London defender Zachari Duenas during Friday’s game in Shawano. Sousek scored on the play, but the Hawks trailed 19-7 with 7:53 left in the second quarter when the game was postponed due to lightning.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School junior receiver Adam Bartz catches a pass Friday against New London in Shawano. New London led 19-7 in the second quarter when the game was delayed by lightning and postponed until Saturday.

It appeared that, as the Shawano Community High School football team gained the momentum against New London on Friday night, Mother Nature decided to put a stop to it.

Trailing 19-7 and set up by a Zack Sousek kick return into New London territory, the Hawks (1-0, 0-0 Bay Conference) had third-and-1 from the Bulldog 1-yard line. Just as the players were getting set for the critical play, lightning flashed in the northern sky to force the bleachers to be cleared and a 30-minute delay.

After a 90-minute delay, as lightning continued to flash on the horizon, officials postponed the game, setting up a restart at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

After the Hawks’ first two drives of the night ended in punts, Shawano got on track in a hurry on its third drive.

Quarterback Cole Huntington (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) found Sousek, a 5-10, 170-pound receiver, on a short throw. Sousek turned up field and burst away from a defender for a 55-yard touchdown.

Sousek scored on a 66-yard interception return in the Hawks’ 28-7 win over Lakeland Union last week.

The score cut New London’s lead to 12-7.

Huntington was 3 for 8 for 88 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Hawks in rushing with three runs for 12 yards. Adam Bartz, a 6-1, 175-pound junior, had two catches for 33 yards. Senior Grant Wainio had two rushes for 5 yards, both on the Hawks’ drive before the delay.

New London (0-1, 0-1 Bay) got rushing touchdowns in the first quarter from senior fullback Andrew Clauss and senior tailback Connor Hoell. In the second quarter, senior quarterback Dylan Keehn found receiver Hunter Zaddack for a 24-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 19-7.

Clauss led New London with 11 carries for 82 yards. Keehn was 2 for 3 for 60 yards and a touchdown.

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FOOTBALL

Washburn 52

Menominee Indian 8

The Menominee Indian High School football team turned the ball over six times, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns, in a 52-8 loss to Washburn.

Running back Alphonso Smith had seven carries for 58 yards for the Eagles (0-2). Michael Pecore had eight catches for 93 yards, and a 31-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Menominee Indian quarterbacks Avery Corn and Dominic Caldwell were a combined 13 for 26 for 140 yards. Corn had a touchdown and an interception. Caldwell had two interceptions.

VOLLEYBALL

Tigerton second at Marion invite

The Tigerton High School volleyball team went 3-2 to take second at the Marion Invitational on Friday, beating out Menominee Indian and Wisconsin Valley Lutheran on tiebreakers.

Manawa won the tourney, going 5-0. White Lake was 1-4 and Marion went 0-5.

Cheyanne Lockman led Marion with 38 points, nine aces and 13 assists. Lexi Brown had 23 points and 12 assists.

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A behind-the-scenes look as the Hawks prepare for their first home game of the seasonBy: 

Tom Beschta, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Tom Beschta Shawano Community High School football coach Al Tomow gathers the players for a brief talk after practice Monday.
Leader Photo by Tom Beschta Coach Al Tomow takes time with the other defensive coaches to study New London’s game film after the team’s workout Saturday.

Editor’s note: Reporter Tom Beschta was granted inside access to Coach Al Tomow and the Shawano Community High School football team as it prepared over the last seven days for its first home game of the 2014 season. Here is his report:

10 a.m. Saturday

Players shuffle from the locker room, past photos of the school’s hall of fame athletes, through the commons chilled by air conditioning that has run all night, and into the Large Group Instruction room, or LGI. They wipe the morning out of their eyes as they finish tugging on their sneakers, shaking out the aches from last night’s game at Lakeland.

The Hawks’ first game of the season was a solid, 28-7 win in which they rushed for 97 yards, passed for 116 and forced six turnovers.

But no win is perfect. That’s why the team is here in the LGI, a college-like classroom humming with soft chatter. It’s time to assess the game film.

As the remaining players slide into the raised rows, coaches take their seats up front. The group is a rainbow of gray, red and black, except for 6-foot, 210-pound senior linebacker Brendan Cummings in a blue shirt, hat spun backward on his head.

Sitting at the computer in front of everyone is head coach Al Tomow, silently scrolling through footage, his signature tan bucket hat sitting on the desk beside him. He looks at the clock, and turns to defensive coach Chris Kellett.

“You’ve got 35 minutes,” Tomow says before leaving the LGI to look over footage of the offense in his office.

Kellett takes his turn at the computer. Time for defensive review.

He lets the first couple of plays scroll by as the players watch the action projected on the large screen overhead. He stops on a play, noticing a player out of position. He rewinds and looks up from the computer screen.

“Our defense is responsibility based,” he tells the players. “If you do someone else’s job, you are going to end up being the one that hurts us. You have to trust each other. When you guys trusted each other, they didn’t get anything last night.”

The footage resumes. A few more plays roll by. The Hawks stuff a run up the middle.

“Guys, right there our defensive line does a pretty darn good job of stuffing that dive up there all night, and we got a pretty good set of linebackers, too,” coach Mike Homan says. “Trust that that guy is going to be taken care of and just go to your responsibility.”

Kellett jumps to the next play. Pause.

“Henning, your responsibility is to come up and fill on that, correct?”

“Yeah,” answers Chase Henning, a 6-foot, 175-pound senior linebacker.

“You do a good job of that.”

A couple of more plays go by. Pause.

“See, now Zack (Sousek) here’s the same thing. Zack, what’s your job when Sam (Kobs) is going?”

“Pitch,” says Sousek, a 5-10, 170-pound senior linebacker.

“Pitch. You come down and tackle the fullback, but we already had (Dylan) Hintz on him. He’s pitchin’ it; there is no one down there then.”

And it continues. Play. Pause. Rewind. Rewind again. Pause. Names are attached to good plays and bad plays. Leiser, Hintz, Gueths, Cummings. Chairs creek as players slowly swing back and forth, staring up at the screen and murmuring to each other.

“Play that one back.”

The room watches as Sousek makes another play.

“Nice play, Zack.”

“Great play, Zack.”

“Nice play, excellent job. Now look at these guys,” says coach Ron Schmalz, who is suddenly out of his chair, motioning toward the screen. “Pursuit. Everybody heading for the ball. That’s why we run pursuit …”

Schmalz is interrupted by laughter as the next play pops onto the screen—an interception thrown directly to Cummings.

Kellet shakes his head.

“This is the worst interception I have ever seen,” he says.

“I was like, ‘Right here, I’m your guy,’” Cummings says.

At 10:35 a.m., Tomow returns, bucket hat in place. He stands at the side of the room as the defensive coaches finish their session.

Homan stands up, facing the players, waving a Nestle’s Crunch Bar in the air.

“I got a little thing for our defensive line,” Homan says. “When we have a win, and we have somebody who played a really good game and they perform in crunch time, they are going to get a Crunch Award. When we give it away, one, two, three and clap, OK?

“So this week, it was a tough choice. All you guys stepped up, gutsy performances, but the best one we had was by Dylan Hintz. Good job, Dylan!”

One. Two. Three. Clap.

Homan tosses the candy bar, which bounces off Hintz’s hands and falls to the floor.

“Oh, come on,” Hintz complains.

Everyone laughs.

“That’s why he’s not a receiver,” Homan jokes.

“Showin’ off those hands,” yells a player.

Schmalz holds up a hand to restore order.

“Keep learning, keep working hard and we will get a game plan put together for New London,” he says.

With that, the defensive meeting is over, and the coaches exit the room, making way for Tomow to review the offense’s performance.

He takes his place at the computer and the room goes silent. The next 25 minutes are filled with compliments, critiques, questions. Tomow quickly picks his way through the plays, legs bouncing as he analyzes his offense’s performance.

“Zack, nice work. … This right here Cole (Huntington) is a last resort. … You gotta run a little harder on this one. … That’s a nice job here, good stuff.”

Tomow pauses the film.

“Here is a rule for offensive players. If I am blocking and I have to peek back, I did not do my job. Just keep moving and find someone to block and stay with that,” he says.

After about 25 minutes, the film ends. Tomow stands.

“OK, nice job, guys. It’s all about the details. We are going to go the gym first, warm up, and we will go from there.”

11:03 a.m. Saturday

The players are in two rows on one end of the gym. Tomow paces in front of them.

“Hintz, warm them up.”

Hintz, a senior captain, calls out the first stretch and the players begin, sneakers squeaking across the wooden floor.

“Quad pulls … side lunges … switch it up,” Hintz shouts as the team grunts with every stretch.

Tomow runs to the opposite end of the gym, checking the time on his phone.

The players finish eight trips up and down the court. Tomow checks the time again.

“Get a drink, make sure your shirts are tucked in, and go to the weight room.”

In the weight room, Tomow flips through his papers mapping out the lifting program as weights crash up and down around him. Players maneuver around each other in the tight space, bouncing from one lift to the next.

The only noise overtaking the clanging of weights and the groans of effort is the country music pounding out of the radio in the corner of the room — and Tomow barking orders.

“Next guy, next round, go!”

The players finish their last lift. The music is shut off and the weights are put away as the team gets ready for abs work.

Tomow is pacing through the players, who are now on the floor.

“Lie on your backs, legs straight out six inches off the ground, then raise them straight up, 90 degrees when I say. Ready? Up.”

By noon, the workout is over. Players gather around Tomow, their shirts stained with the morning’s intensity.

“Nice job this week. It’s always more fun to come in here and get it done after a win,” Tomow says. “We played hard yesterday, but we still have a lot of work left to do this week. New London is going to come in to play hard. Let’s make sure we take care of what we are supposed to take care of.

“Zeke, break them down.”

Junior linemen Zeke Gueths calls it out.

“Family on three. One, two, three.”

“Family!”

The players are finished for the day.

Tomow, however, goes to meet up with the other coaches, who have been watching New London’s game film in a nearby classroom.

Kellett, Homan, Schmalz and David Ambrosius have a number of names written on the whiteboard.

With the players gone, the school is silent as the coaches begin discussing which JV players will move up to varsity for the game. They begin wiping names off the board.

“Those three freshmen we pulled up had an awesome time last night, to be a part of the win,” Tomow says. “The only thing you have to look out for is other guys starting to look around, getting fish eyes, and saying, “Well, why did he got to dress for all those games?’”

The coaches shift from team talk to New London’s game film, watching each play in silence. Tomow scans the TV intensely, leg bouncing. There is an occasional discussion on a specific player or formation.

“Who is that number 12 kid?” Tomow asks.

“That’s the quarterback that was hurt last year.”

“Was that bubble pass to the outside guy again?” Tomow asks.

“Yes, it went to number eight. That seems to be their go-to guy.”

As the footage ends, Kellett breaks the silence.

“I think I’m good, you guys good?”

There is a collective yes.

“All right. Let’s go golf.”

It’s 12:32 p.m., and the coaches break.

6:50 p.m. Sunday

Coach Rob Wolff sits alone in the silent LGI. The hallway outside is dark. The coaches are gathering for an offensive film session that will pick apart New London’s defense, which faced a tough Menasha team in a 41-7 season-opening loss.

The rest of the coaches arrive: Joe Gangl, Austin Gueths, Phil Rizzio and Tomow.

Last through the door is Steve Zais, carrying an eight-pack of Gatorade. He looks at the other coaches sitting in the front row of the large room.

“You never sit in the front row of a movie,” he says loudly. “I am moving up a couple of rows.”

He walks up to the front table, placing the Gatorades between the other coaches.

“I got orange for everybody.”

“That’s pink,” Rizzio says.

“Pink? It looked orange to me,” Zais objects.

Tomow hands out play sheets as Zais takes his seat in the second row and jumps right into the discussion.

“You know, if we get those three interior linemen to go on titan (a play call), we would blow people up like crazy,” he says.

Tomow draws formations on the board, green marker squeaking.

“I think the cat’s out of the bag that Sousek’s a pretty good player, and he is going to draw some attention on that side,” Tomow says. “So we need the other guys to step up. It doesn’t have to be much, but it just needs to be those three or four passes a game to keep New London honest.”

He sits down at the computer again and begins watching plays, both legs bouncing up and down.

“With the balance and the tight end, we really need to run … something,” Tomow ponders, the cursor scrolling over New London players.

The session continues as the coaches casually toss play calls and football jargon back and forth. Anyone listening from the hall would hear a word-association test gone awry.

Snag, release, titan, bubble, slant, mouse, Indiana, wheel, swing, 49er, stitch, 31-Orlando-Z-slant, laser-Denver option, 12-strong-titan-fake-option-left. The coaches write on note pads, marking adjustments they will have to make, and start debating a new offensive play.

Twenty minutes pass. Tomow erases his marks on the board, drawing up new paths for the new play. There is a pause.

“I like it,” Tomow says, scanning the board. “I kind of like it. What are we going to call it?”

The coaches all chuckle as they look at the scribbles.

Tomow jots down the play in his notes.

It’s 8:05 p.m. The session is winding down.

“We will take a look at other personnel stuff,” Tomow says as the other coaches put away their notes. “We will see who the guys are that will give us bigger problems. I will send out the practice plans for the week.”

The projector goes black.

3:30 p.m., Monday

“Where is coach Tomow?”

“Has anyone seen coach Tomow?”

Football players slide up and down the hallway in socked feet, ducking in and out of the locker room. Every time the door swings open, a pungent smell of shoulder pads, shoes and workout clothes escapes aboard the growling sound of a radio. The smell is beginning to take over the hallway, which is busy today.

Junior varsity players are preparing for their first game. Teachers finishing their first day of in-service stroll by. Assistant football coaches talk with the remaining players, who are becoming increasingly scattered, unsure of where they are supposed to be.

“Are we in the LGI? No, wait, are we in the weight room? Where is coach Tomow?”

Tomow suddenly appears from around a corner followed by an entourage of players. He is wearing his bucket hat with khakis and a polo, carrying a duffel bag.

“Freshmen are in the weight room, varsity is starting in the LGI. I am going to change quick, be right out.”

Tomow disappears into the noise and odor of the locker room.

He emerges a few minutes later from a different doorway, only to disappear again at the sound of his name being called. The Lakeland JV team has arrived and needs a locker room.

SCHS Athletic Director Charmaine Schreiber and team manager Erin Cerveny approach.

“What time are you guys done with practice? We are looking for someone to film the JV game,” Schreiber says.

Tomow starts going through the list of available players when junior Jared Tavernier comes strolling down the hallway. Tomow stops him.

“We need a favor of you.”

Tomow is approached by the Lakeland coaches, who strike up a friendly conversation.

“Coach Tomow!” Schreiber is waving from the end of the hallway, trying to tell him she found someone to work in the press box for tonight’s game.

“Coach, do you think we could get some tape before the game?” asks one of the Lakeland coaches.

“Let me see. Sally?”

Athletic trainer Sally Egan emerges from one of the locker rooms.

“Sally, can we get some tape for their players?”

“Sure can, I will come right with you guys,” Egan says, following the coaches to their locker room.

Tomow pauses as the hallway finally clears.

“Crazy day,” he sighs, and heads for the LGI, where film review has already begun.

4:16 p.m. Monday

Tomow enters the LGI, motioning for Kellett to wrap up reviewing the special teams film.

Schmalz jumps in for a quick defensive review.

“Fellas, this team is not bad,” he says. “You have to bring the same level of intensity into this game as Menasha did against them. If you don’t, they will march up and down the field on us.”

He goes through his plays.

“The more we prepare, the better chance we’ll have of being successful on Friday. Study your positions, study the guy over top of you, and see what you are going to be facing. Coach Tomow is going to talk offense now.”

Tomow steps in.

“Expect them to come out really fast and really strong to try to impose their impose their will upon us,” he begins.

He talks through a few plays, then quickly draws up the adjustments from the coaches’ meeting Sunday night. After he explains the play, it’s quiz time.

He tests a few players, eventually checking the time when he has gotten sufficient answers.

“All right, head to the weight room.”

The weight session lasts about 30 minutes.

“Put the weights away and meet on the practice field,” Tomow shouts.

5:25 p.m. Monday

It’s muggy outside. The air sticks to players as they shift from one side of the field to the other, listening to every scenario Schmalz throws at them for defensive strategy.

“If they run a trey to this side, where do my safeties need to be?”

The players adjust.

“When the option comes this way, backers, what’s your responsibility.”

The whistle blows, and it’s time for specialized drills. Linebackers, secondary players and linemen go their separate ways, scattering across the field.

Tomow goes from one group to the next, closely watching the progress of each player and taking notes. He has made just as many laps around the field as the players.

Practice continues at a high pace. The team comes together for full-squad work and then breaks again for drills. Passing routes, blocking form, ball carrying.

By 6:09 p.m., practice is done.

The players take a knee in front of Tomow. The assistant coaches stand behind the group.

“New London thinks they can come in here and beat us,” Tomow says. “I guarantee you they are going to bring some fans, because this is one of the games that they think they can get. I don’t want them to have this one. Keep working and understand we got a long way to go. This is a nice step for us to get us in that direction. Nice effort today. Questions?”

No questions.

2:30 p.m. Thursday

Dylan Hintz strolls into the school before the start of practice, duffel bag swinging in his hand. It’s walk-through day for the Hawks, last practice before New London. A walk-through sounds more leisurely than what Tomow has in mind.

The players are ready to begin in the LGI by 3 p.m. but are more talkative than usual. Tomow quiets them down as he gets the projector going, the overhead lights dimmed.

“Listen up. I want a nice and fast-paced day today. Then we can get out maybe a little early and you guys can go take care of your … freak out, or whatever, at the fair.”

The players laugh at Tomow’s failed joke.

“All right. To start, I want you guys to watch this play that sealed the deal for us against New London last year.”

Color commentary from last year’s 32-26 win over New London blasts from the speakers.

“Cole Huntington drops back to pass. He gets it off. It’s caught by Bryce Bergner, and he’s got room! He breaks it outside and he is going! Unbelievable, with 57 seconds left, Shawano pulls off the unthinkable.”

Tomow pauses the film.

“Remember how that felt? That was probably the one of the most special football moments I have been a part of. It was special for me and it was special for this team, because that was our first win together.”

He looks around the room at the players.

“I want more of those. I want more of that with this group. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity. They are coming into our house, we have got a new look, we have got a new attitude, and we can take care of business. So let’s get to work.”

Film wraps up early today and the players head for the field, cleats clomping over the pavement of the parking lot.

Kellett pulls up to the stadium in his car, slowly cutting off the path of a few players as he grins through the window. He parks and climbs out, joining the team.

As the players reach the field, Tomow starts directing people to their positions.

Kellett and Schalz walk players through their assignments, pointing out key matchups.

Tomow watches carefully as his offense maneuvers through each and every play, face masks grinding together on the line of scrimmage.

It’s 4:55 p.m. and practice closes. A little early, as promised.

Tomow begins his end-of-practice speech as players take a knee.

“The opportunity is right there in front of us. We only have a couple of home games, so let’s take advantage of them,” he says. “Make sure you get to bed early tonight. Don’t be hanging around the fair all night eating all that junk.”

The players smile.

“You know what I mean. Good practice tonight.”

3:10 p.m. Friday

Shawano Community High School is silent. No music. No chatter. No lockers being slammed.

Tomow sits alone in his office, printing out the team’s schedule for the night.

“Hope we get it in, not sure what the weather is going to do.”

It’s been humid all day, and rain is in the forecast.

He checks the time and starts printing play sheets for his quarterbacks’ wrist bands.

Zack Sousek and his freshman brother, Seth, are in the commons at 3:30, surrounded by empty tables. They scroll through their phones as they wait for the team dinner, which starts in a half hour. The other players will be trickling in soon. For now the Sousek brothers sit in silence.

By 3:50, the chow has arrived.

Tomow’s mother, Cheryl Jones, pulls up to the high school, the back of her SUV piled with plastic containers of spaghetti. She prepares all of the team’s pregame meals.

Junior linebacker Alex Vandrisse and junior defensive back Marty Ready come out of the school with boxes to help her carry the food.

“Wow, there’s a lot in here!” Ready says.

They fill up their boxes and head back for the school.

As Jones begins unloading the rest of the food, she notices the crock pot containing the spaghetti sauce has overflowed, filling the back of her vehicle.

“Oh…”

Tomow walks up to her as she points at the mess, rolling her eyes.

4 p.m. Friday

“OK, guys, grab a bowl. Forks are over here. Coach Gueths, want to serve it up?”

Gueths pulls the lid off the slow cooker and raises his eyebrows. He gestures at the quantity of sauce.

“Make it last,” Tomow says as the players fall into line.

Gueths dumps the sauce into the players’ bowls.

“Thanks, coach,” junior lineman Isaiah Moesch says. He grabs a cookie and starts to walk away.

“You get two cookies, you know,” says Schmalz as he watches the players file through.

“Really? Awesome!” Moesch snaps up a second cookie and takes a seat by his teammates.

The coaches sit at their own table as the players eat. Conversation is minimal as the spaghetti disappears rapidly.

Hintz holds up his unfinished bowl.

“Sousek? Want it?”

Zack Sousek shakes his head.

“Other Sousek?”

Seth Sousek shakes his head.

As the meal wraps up, Tomow stands.

“Guys, you have about an hour until we meet in the gym at 5:20 p.m. You can hang out until then.”

The players clear out and the coaches start to clean the tables.

5:20 p.m. Friday

“Let’s get them coached up,” Schmalz says.

The team is lined up for defensive review in the gymnasium.

Schmalz steers JV players by the shoulders, setting up different formations for the defense to assess.

“We have got to hit it tonight and meet them at the line of scrimmage,” he says. “If we don’t, we are in for a long night.”

Tomow lines up his offense.

“Guys, we know our duties, we know what needs to be done. So let’s get after it. This is what we worked for all week.”

6 p.m. Friday

Zack Sousek walks with the specialists to the field, passing fans tailgating in the parking lot. He spots his biggest fan running up to him and stops. It’s his 4-year-old cousin, Daniel Meyer, who has been asking everyone where number 11 is.

He smiles down at Meyer and gives him five.

New London players jog around the field as Hintz calls out the stretches. It does not take long to get warmed up in the humid air.

The players break for individual drills.

6:30 p.m. Friday

“Team captains!”

Hintz, Gueths and Huntington walk to midfield for the coin toss as the offense does final run-throughs.

“Look sharp, guys, we gotta get this right tonight,” Tomow calls out.

6:55 p.m. Friday

Tomow gathers the players in the end zone for a final talk.

“Remember what we worked on. Let’s come out hard and fast against these guys. Let’s get it.”

The team lines up along the goal line as the national anthem blares from the sound system. As it finishes, the team forms a tunnel extended from the end zone, and the starters are announced one by one. The team forms a tight circle at midfield.

Tomow watches from the sideline as the players break it down.

“I believe! I believe! Can do! Can do! Will do! Will do! Go Hawks!”

The Hawks line up to receive the opening kickoff. Zack Sousek is ready to return.

The whistle blows.

7 p.m. Game time.

To see more photos of Countdown to Kickoff, view the Leader's Photo Galleries section at http://wolfrivermedia.smugmug.com/browse.Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Volleyball team will depend on new schemeBy: 

[email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School outside hitter Katelin Senzig goes up for a block during volleyball practice Monday at the school.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School middle hitter Tori Wiskow hits a ball over the net during volleyball practice Monday at the school.

The goal is simple: no worse than third place in the Bay Conference.

That is what the Shawano Community High School volleyball team hopes to do this season, after a seventh-place showing last year.

“I honestly don’t know what to expect out of the Bay Conference,” coach Jean Wolff said. “I just know that as a team, we have lots of team goals. Their goal is to finish in the top three of the Bay Conference, which I think they are completely capable of.”

Getting there will depend a lot on junior Annelies Young, who takes over the lone setting role as the Hawks transition from a 6-2 offense to a 5-1.

“Annalise is going to be the quarterback of our volleyball team,” Wolff said. “… She’s doing a fabulous job running that, very proud of her and anxious to see what she does throughout the season.”

Shawano ran a 5-1 two seasons ago when Wolff’s daughter, Mikayla Schoening, ran the offense.

“When I can run a 5-1, I will run a 5-1 offense,” Wolff said. “I just feel it’s a much more effective offense because all the hitters are depending on one setter. That one setter will know all the hitters’ tendencies and everything. It makes for a more consistent and flowing offense.”

Junior Erika Dunnam returns to the middle for Shawano and will be joined by senior Tori Wiskow, who moves over from the right side to replace graduated senior, and Bay Conference honorable mention, Bella Gonzalez.

“(Wiskow is) truly a middle,” Wolff said. “Now she gets to play her position. We have a very strong middle with Erika Dunnam and Tori. They’re both returning starters from last year. Both are very strong hitters, consistent hitters and they both block very well.”

Also returning are senior outside hitter Courtney Vomastic, senior defensive specialist Madison McBride and sophomore hitter Miranda Washinawatok.

Taking over the right side hitter role is Avery Vomastic, whom the coach called a sensation, earning a starting role as a freshman.

“They’re looking very strong. We’re working hard,” Wolff said. “I’m expecting a lot out of them, so sometimes there’s some frustration in practice. But they are working through it very well. They know what their goal is when we’re doing a drill and why we’re doing that.”

On defense, the Hawks are still trying to sort out their lineup.

“I’m extremely excited to see what our defensive core does,” Wolff said. “Right now, there is competition. I’m still making them compete at practice to see who is going to start defensively, because they are all so good.”

Wolff said there will be 14 players on the team this year, up from the usual 12 because the program had 56 girls try out the first day of practice. Forty-four girls ultimately made it onto one of the three high school teams.

“Our numbers were very high, and I don’t like cutting,” Wolff said.

AT A GLANCE

Shawano Community High School volleyball schedule

Aug. 28-29 at Wisconsin Dells Invitational

Sept. 6 at Kettle Moraine Invitational

Sept. 13 Shawano Invitational

Sept. 16 vs. Menasha

Sept. 20 at Clintonville Invitational

Sept. 23 at New London

Sept. 25 vs. Seymour

Sept. 30 at Denmark

Oct. 2 vs. West De Pere

Oct. 7 at Oconto Falls

Oct. 9 vs. Marinette

Oct. 11 at Lakeland Union Invitational

Oct. 14 at Luxemburg-Casco

Oct. 18 Bay Conference Tournament at Seymour

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Bonduel opens season 2-0By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School senior running back Hunter VanderLinden (23) carries the ball as Blake Stoss (12) blocks during Thursday’s nonconference game against Peshtigo. Bonduel won, 39-12.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School senior Isaiah Griesbach (52) sacks Peshtigo quarterback Eric Ballestad in the end zone for a safety during Thursday’s nonconference game in Bonduel.

The Bonduel High School football team led with defense in a 39-12 win over Peshtigo on Thursday night at Rush Niles Memorial Field.

After a lackluster start, the Bears’ defense dominated Peshtigo, holding the Bulldogs (1-1) scoreless through most of the second quarter and all of the second half.

“I’m really happy with the way we came out and finished the game,” Bonduel coach James Westrich said. “I’m really happy with the way we played the second half. We have a lot of work to do before next week.”

Westrich’s defense added a pair of safeties to the scoring. The first came on a sack in the end zone by senior defensive tackle Isaiah Griesbach (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) in the second quarter and cut Peshtigo’s lead to 12-9.

“Our D-line is aggressive,” Westrich said. “They play hard and they have motors.”

Griesbach finished with seven tackles and three sacks.

The defense forced another safety in the third quarter, when Peshtigo was stopped on its 2-yard line and a fourth down snap sailed over the Peshtigo punter’s head and out of the end zone.

The Bears’ first drive ended when senior quarterback Colton Dobratz (6-0, 160 pounds) got picked off. That set up Peshtigo for a 13-yard touchdown pass to take a 6-0 lead.

Bonduel (2-0) regained its footing with a 51-yard drive capped by a 32-yard touchdown pass from Dobratz to senior receiver Connor Rosin (6-2, 195 pounds). With the successful extra point try, the Bears took a 7-6 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Peshtigo regained the lead on a 63-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Thill to receiver Marcus Sharkey.

Bonduel’s defense would hold Peshtigo scoreless the rest of the way.

“We didn’t play very well in the first quarter, for whatever reason,” Westrich said. “We turned it around in the second quarter, made a couple of adjustments and got a few things we didn’t see on film covered. We did really well in the second half.”

Rosin snagged an interception of Thill later in the second quarter.

“He had a little mistake early on,” Westrich said. “He was sitting too tight and we said to stay deep and let it play out in front of him. That’s what he did there. We have athletes that can break on the ball. We just have to make those breaks. He did a nice job with that.”

Griesbach’s safety came after the Bonduel offense stalled on the preceding drive. Following the safety, the Bears scored on the next play from scrimmage when senior running back Hunter VanderLinden (5-11, 215 pounds) broke through the middle of the line and scampered 45 yards to the end zone.

VanderLinden would finish with 116 yards rushing on 17 carries. Hunter Berry, a 5-6, 125-pound running back, finished with eight carries for 51 yards and a 35-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put Bonduel up 23-12.

“Our backs run hard and they fight,” Westrich said. “It was evident late in the game. Those 3-yard gains were turning into 6-, 7-yard gains.”

Rosin was back in the third quarter, catching a 43-yard touchdown pass from Dobratz.

Late in the fourth quarter, Bonduel defensive lineman Brandon Novitski fell on a loose ball that set up the final score, a 10-yard quarterback keeper by Trevor Pedersen with about 4 minutes left in the game.

Dobratz was 3 for 11 with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Thill finished 3 of 7 for 71 yards passing. Jake Jagielski, who also played some quarterback, was 8 of 19 for 65 yards. The Peshtigo defense had 30 carries for 8 yards total.

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By: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Gillett Secondary School’s Monte Noffke continued his scorching run in the Tigers’ 49-7 victory against visiting Tigerton/Marion on Thursday.

The senior halfback scored two rushing touchdowns to give him seven TDs in the first two games.

The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Noffke scored five touchdowns in the season-opening 62-0 win Friday at Lakeland Union High School in Minocqua.

“I think that added strength has allowed him to break away. He is going to be the workhorse this year,” said Gillett coach Rick Kamps.

Noffke scored twice in the second quarter on 3-yard runs. He finished with 84 yards on nine carries, raising his rushing total to 263 in two games.

Senior Alex Zeitler led the Tigers’ passing attack with four completions for 91 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown toss to senior Akeem Bates early in the second quarter.

Zeitler also demonstrated the ability to be agile out of the pocket, with an 18-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Tigerton/Marion coach Mark Fredy knew the Thundercats would be challenged by Gillett (2-0) and Noffke.

“I remember him from last year and he was very elusive,” Fredy said.

Despite the Thundercats’ loss, Fredy said his team has made progress since the 53-0, season-opening loss to Manawa.

“We made some strides, we are not where we need to be, but we will continue to get better as the year goes on,” he said.

Tigerton/Marion (0-2) marched down to the red zone late in the game but coughed up a fumble, leading to an 80-yard touchdown by senior defensive back Evan Bubolz.

The Thundercats scored their sole touchdown late in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by the team’s leading rusher Donald Beechy. Beechy had 87 yards on 17 carries.

“I thought our kids came out and played well, and offensively, we were able to move the ball more than what we were able to compared to last week,” Fredy said.

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GIRLS TENNIS

Shawano 7

Clintonville 0

Shawano swept Clintonville on Thursday in Clintonville.

The Shawano No. 1 doubles team of Sara Hockenstad and Meghan Hoffman, and the No. 2 team of Kelly Mastey and Sydney Steinbach both won their matches without giving up a game.

No. 2 singles player Isabelle Carroll and No. 3 singles player Hannah Neumann were also flawless in their wins.

No. 1 Courtney Ainswoth won her match against Miki Kuroda 6-0, 6-2.

BOYS SOCCER

Gresham/Bowler 5

Wisconsin Valley Lutheran 0

Neal Cerveny scored two goals and had three saves manning the Wildcats’ goal in the second half.

Todd Otradovic and Drew Haffner each added goals for Gresham/Bowler (2-2-1).

Haffner played goalie the first half, but Wisconsin Valley Lutheran had no shots on goal.

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WEEK AHEAD

FOOTBALL

WHAT: Shawano vs. New London

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Shawano Community High School

WHY IT MATTERS: The Shawano Community High School football team (1-0) opened the season with a solid 28-7 win over nonconference foe Lakeland Union. While senior quarterback Cole Huntington passed for 116 yards, and running back Chase Henning had 60 yards rushing, defense led the way for the Hawks, forcing six turnovers. The Hawks will welcome New London (0-1, 0-1 Bay Conference) for their home opener. New London was slammed by Menasha 41-7 in its season opener.

WEEK THAT WAS

6

Turnovers forced by the Shawano Community High School football team in its season-opening win over Lakeland Union

164

Yards rushing by Bonduel High School senior running back Hunter VanderLinden in the Bears’ 41-13 win over Crivitz on Aug. 21

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Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski HAWKS FALL TO 0-4: Shawano Community High School senior Braden Mueller tries to run the ball past a pair of Ashwaubenon High School defenders Tuesday in Shawano. Shawano lost the match, 3-2, and fell to 0-4 on the season. Jacob Dickmann and Tyler Buerman tallied Shawano’s goals, and Braden Mueller recorded an assist. The Hawks open the Bay Conference season Sept. 4 at Seymour.

GIRLS GOLF

Hawks sixth at Crystal Springs

Julia Beck tied for ninth with a 52 as Shawano finished sixth at a Bay Conference meet Tuesday at Crystal Spring Golf Course in Seymour.

Brianna Zook carded a 54, Emily Smith and Gabby Krueger each shot 64 and Sydney Schrieber finished with a 67.

Marinette and Denmark tied for first at 197. Marinette’s Kayla Thielen was the medalist at 42.

Bonduel girls sixth at Waupaca

Bonduel took sixth at Tuesday’s Eastern Conference meet at Waupaca Country Club.

Samantha Schaal and Elizabeth Schaal each had 55 to lead the Bears, who shot 230 as a team. Danielle Lautenbach came in at 57. Allissa Tilleson shot 63 and Alex Brandt carded 64.

Fox Valley Lutheran (172) won the meet led by medalist Kayla Priebe, who shot a 38.

GIRLS TENNIS

Shawano loses match, splits another

West De Pere blanked Shawano in a quadrangular Tuesday, but the Hawks earned a 4-4 split with New London.

Each match consisted of four singles and four doubles matches.

In the 8-0 loss to West De Pere, Shawano No. 3 singles player Hannah Neumann and the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams of Kelly Mastey and Sydney Steinbach and Nicki Ainsworth and Louisa Keenan, respectively, all lost in third-set tie-breakers.

Getting wins against New London were Neumann, Holly Schwecke at No. 4 singles, Sara Hockenstadt and Meghan Hoffman at No. 1 doubles, and Ainsworth-Keenan at No. 3 doubles.

Shawano fourth at D.C. Everest

Shawano finished fourth at the D.C. Everest tournament Saturday in Weston.

No. 1 singles player Courney Ainsworth took second, falling in the gold medal match. No. 4 singles player Holly Schwecke also took silver. The No. 1 doubles team of Sara Hockenstad and Meghan Hoffman took third place.

Ashland (33.5) won the tournament, followed by D.C. Everest (27), Medford (17.5) and Shawano (16).

BOYS SOCCER

Gresham/Bowler battles to scoreless tie

Gresham/Bowler goalie Drew Haffner recorded 13 saves on 20 shots to help his team hold Stevens Point Pacelli to a 0-0 tie Tuesday in Stevens Point.

Hawks 0-2 at Rhinelander tourney

Shawano lost to Pulaski 7-1 and then fell in a 1-0 squeaker to Tomah at a tournament Saturday in Rhinelander.

Jacob Moesch scored the Hawks’ only goal on the day. It was off an assist by Tyler Buerman.

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Postl earns MVP honors

The Shawano Lobos baseball team had to come from behind to win the 2014 Dairyland Grand Championship 7-6 over Hofa Park on Sunday in Hofa Park.

Bryce Szymanski hit a triple and TJ Arrowood had a two-run home run to give the Lobos an early lead, but Hofa Park answered with a pair of doubles and a home run by Adam Frost in the bottom of the first frame.

Shawano tied the game with a Ben Bystol RBI double in the second.

Frost hit another home run in the fourth inning, and Hofa Park added two more runs in the sixth.

Lucas Postl hit a solo home run, and Eric Stenson scored from third on a double steal in the eighth to get the Lobos to within 6-5.

With two outs in the ninth, Szymanski got a base hit to keep the game going. Arrowood then had an RBI single to tie the game. With runners on first and second, Postl hit a two-run double to deep right center field.

The win was the Lobos’ second in the past four seasons.

Postl was named the game’s most valuable player.

Jimmy Lacy earned the win. He gave up one hit, no runs, struck out four and walked one in 3 1/3 innings. Eric Stenson started the day on the mound, pitching 5 1/3 innings and giving up 10 hits, six runs and one walk. He struck out five.

Dave Landers took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. He struck out two.

Frost was 3 for 4 with two home runs. Matt Zittlow and Tyler Jacobson each added two hits.

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By: 

Scott Owen, Special to the Leader

The second-to-last night of the 2014 racing season saw five drivers make return trips to victory lane Saturday at the Shawano Speedway.

Nick Anvelink, who started in 10th place, won his fifth Late Model feature, and Travis VanStraten secured win number eight in IMCA Stock Car action. It was VanStraten’s fourth consecutive victory.

Matt Oreskovich scored his second IMCA Modified win, and Jason Jach earned his second IMCA Sport Mod feature. Jasper Drengler raced to win number three in the Mighty Four division.

Late Models

Josh Moesch led the opening lap of the Late Model feature before giving way to Aaron Holiday on lap two. Lap three saw Troy Springborn power to the lead after starting in seventh.

By lap five, ninth-place starter Ron Berna moved into second, while Anvelink, who started 10th, raced to third.

On lap eight, Anvelink went to the inside of Springborn to grab the lead. Springborn continued to chase Anvelink until lap 16 when mechanical woes ended Springborn’s night. This moved Berna to second.

Anvelink cruised to his fifth win of the year. Coming to the race, Berna held a 1-point lead over Springborn, but he was able to extend his lead with the second-place finish and Springborn’s problems.

IMCA Modifieds

John Peters led the opening lap of the IMCA Modified feature before the race was stopped for a rollover by Chad Olson in turns three and four. Also involved in the wreck were point leader Marcus Yarie, Derek Kozak, Mitch Stankowski and Mike Bailey.

When the race resumed, Oreskovich took the lead and quickly distanced himself from the rest of the field.

Oreskovich was relatively unchallenged as he won his second race of the year. Jerry Wilinksi took second. Eddie Muenster finished in third. Points leader Marcus Yarie fought back from the early caution to take fourth.

IMCA Stock Cars

Jake Lunderby grabbed the lead at the start of the IMCA Stock Car feature and led the first six laps before a yellow flag slowed the race.

Following the restart on lap seven, Kyle Frederick took the lead from Lunderby.

Frederick would hold the lead for only one lap, though, as VanStraten took the lead on lap eight.

VanStraten cruised to his eighth victory and fourth in a row, extending his point lead over eventual runner-up Mike Schmidt. Justin Jacobsen finished third after starting the race 20th.

IMCA Sport Mods

Wyatt Block raced into the lead on the opening lap of the IMCA Sport Mods feature and held the point position until a caution on lap three.

On the restart of the race, Block, Jach and Jake Solin went three wide for the lead into turn one.

Jach emerged as the leader exiting turn two. Jach would lead the rest of the race for his second win of the year.

Jordan Bartz raced past points leader Lucas Lamberies to finish second. Lamberies finished third and sits atop the point standings entering the final night of racing.

Mighty Fours

Brad Wedde led laps one and two of the Mighty Four feature until Grant Kastning flew into the lead on lap three. Kastning was soon pressured by Drengler.

A lap 10 caution set up a two-lap dash to the finish.

Drengler took the lead from Kastning on the restart and went on to his second straight win. Kastning held on to second.

Josh Slewinski took third in the race and also took over the points lead. Slewinski and Dalton Nelson entered the night tied for the points lead. Nelson’s night ended early, though, after he was caught up in an opening lap incident.

Spectator Eliminators

Brian Welch and Dave Stoffer took home Spectator Eliminator victories.

This week

Races will start at 6 p.m. Saturday as part of the Shawano County Fair. Champions will be crowned in all five divisions. The Shawano Speedway will be busy next weekend with the annual enduro race at 7 p.m. Friday; the trailer race, spectator eliminators and tag race at 1 p.m. Sunday; and the demolition derby at 1 p.m. Monday.

More information is available online at www.shawanospeedway.net.

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