Shawano Leader Sports Headlines

Drew Payne won three events, but his Gresham/Bowler track and field team finished second Monday in an indoor meet in Antigo.

The Gresham/Bowler boys compiled 86 points, behind only Antigo (106). Wittenberg-Birnamwood (64) took third, followed by Menominee Indian (27) and Marion (25).

Payne won the triple jump, going 41-5 3/4. He also won the long jump with a leap of 21-5 1/2. His time of 1:00.56 was good enough for first in the 400-meter dash.

Also winning events for Gresham/Bowler were Austin Olson (45 hurdles, 7.43), Cody Montez (3,200 run, 11:00.21) and Andrew Pleshek (high jump, 5-10).

Menominee Indian’s Gordon James took first in the 45 dash with a time of 5.94

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood 4x800 relay team of Devin Barnes, Bobby Uttecht, Tyler Weller, Dustin Tomson finished first in that event with a time of 8:51.17. The relay team of Mark Coxen, Aaron Monnot, Trevor Stewart, Brian Szutkowski won the 4-lap event with a time of 1:04.90 and the 8-lap with a time of 2:15.69.

Marion’s Cole Drahfahl won the shot put with a throw of 50-7.

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The Wittenberg-Birnamwood girls won 12 of 16 events on their way to a first-place finish at an indoor track and field meet Monday in Antigo.

Witt-Birn easily outdistanced its competition with 160 points. Antigo (75) took second, followed by Marion (23), Gresham/Bowler (19) and Menominee Indian (17).

Menominee Indian’s Ania Smith threw 41-6 1/2 in the shot put, breaking the record she set two weeks ago at Northland Pines by three feet.

Micah Nier and Mikayla King each won two events for Witt-Birn. Nier won the triple jump, going 32-8 1/2, and won the high jump with a 4-1 leap. King took firsts in the 800 run, with a time of 2:54.15, and the 3,200 run, with a time of 6:10.11. Nier and King also joined Taylor Nier and Erica White Eagle to win the 12-lap relay in 4:13.12.

Mikayla Hartman won the 45 dash with a time of 6.91 and teamed up with Abby Kapitz, Danica Wendler and Amanda Muscha to win the 4-lap relay, in 1:15.42, and the 8-lap relay, in 2:35.48.

Kapitz, Taylor Nier, Alexis Balliett and Nikki Mahan finished the 4x800 relay in 10:08.98 to win that event.

Also taking firsts for Wittenberg-Birnamwood were Kendra Stolz (45 hurdles, 8:61), Balliett (3,200, 14:10.46) and Wendler (long jump, 14-9).

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Shawano boys fifth at Watertown Relays

The Shawano Community High School boys track and field team finished fifth and the girls 10th Saturday at the Watertown Relays in Watertown.

The boys finished with 56 points. Watertown (100.5) won the meet.

The Shawano girls scored four points in the girls meet, which was won by Slinger (93).

The boys were led Daniel Boivin, Evan Braun and Ethan Braun in the pole vault. The team took first in the pole vault relay with a total mark of 34 feet. Boivin was second overall with a vault of 12 feet. Evan and Ethan Braun tied with Watertown’s Isaac Elsen for third at 11 feet.

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For Mike Jirschele, this homecoming was 36 years in the making.

The Clintonville native, who was hired as a coach for the Kansas City Royals this season, made his Wisconsin big league debut Friday in an exhibition game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

The two teams play again Saturday at 1:10 p.m. at Miller Park.

Jirschele spent 36 years playing and coaching in the minor leagues before Royals manager Ned Yost called him up.

“It was exciting. When you go into baseball, whether it’s as a player or a stat member, most of the time there’s one goal and that’s to get yourself to the big leagues,” Jirschele said. “I was fortunate enough to hang on as long as I did and finally get an opportunity to help a big league club.”

Jirschele, who is the Royals’ extra coach, helps out wherever he’s needed. He said the promotion hasn’t changed how he looks at himself.

“I don’t feel any different now than when I was a Triple-A manager,” Jirschele said. “Yeah, you are in the big leagues, but to me it’s just a step up and another job. … You’re trying to get players to get better and win games.”

Jirschele, a fifth-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 1977, played 13 seasons in the minor leagues, mostly in the Rangers’ farm system. After a two-year break, Jirschele got back into baseball in 1992 as a coach for the Royals’ Gulf Coast League team.

After three seasons he was called up to Triple-A to be the manager of the Omaha Royals (now the Storm Chasers), where he would coach from 1995-1997 and then again from 2003 until last season, when the team won a Triple-A National Championship.

“He did such a good job in Triple-A they never wanted to get him out of there,” joked Don Jirschele, Mike’s father, who was a standout athlete himself — playing football at the University of Kentucky for Bear Bryant and signing with the Green Bay Packers.

“Mike put 36 years in, so it’s about time he gets up there, you know?” Don Jirschele said. “He’s worked hard for it.”

A lot of that hard work came before the minor leagues, when the younger Jirschele played most of his games at what is now known as Don Jirschele Stadium. He played Babe Ruth, high school, Legion and for the semipro Clintonville A’s.

“I started with little league here in Clintonville,” he said. “Really all my baseball came right here in Clintonville until I got into professional baseball right out of high school.”

On Thursday, Jirschele was in Clintonville helping his wife, Sheri, get things together for Kansas City and coordinating relatives, including his father, heading to Miller Park for the games Friday and Saturday.

“I have about 30 each day on the pass list,” he said, “And that’s just immediate family. It’s exciting. It’s always fun to have your family around and have them enjoy the time in Miller Park, along with just being able to see them.”

There were, admittedly, some conflicting allegiances.

“I’m still a Brewer fan, too,” Don Jirschele said. “They’re in different leagues, so I can stay with the Brewers in the National and the Royals in the American.”

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School sophomore catcher Kaylee Rynish throws during softball practice Wednesday at Bonduel Elementary School. Rynish and pitcher junior Jennifer Dowden return as the top battery for the Bears.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School pitcher Jennifer Dowden talks to assistant coach Jerry Reinke during softball practice Wednesday in Bonduel.

Boasting a returning battery of junior pitcher Jennifer Dowden and sophomore catcher Kaylee Rynish, as well as three infielders and two outfielders, the Bonduel High School softball team is ready to move on from a frustrating season a year ago.

The Bears were 1-6 in the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 last year, 5-12 overall, but made a run in the WIAA Division 3 regional tournament, getting wins over Crivitz and Peshtigo before losing 4-3 to Shiocton in the regional final.

The lingering cold, which shortened last year’s season and could do it again this year, affected Bonduel, which relied on Dowden’s pitching. The compacted schedule meant more doubleheaders, forcing the Bears to use more backup pitchers and enabling opponents to be more aggressive on the basepaths.

“We’re not going to do what we did last year,” coach Chris Reinke said. “We want to start at a higher level. … We have to prepare for the teams that do a lot of running.”

The Bears’ diamond at Cedar Park was plowed Wednesday, but chances are slim that it will be ready for the home opener against Manawa on April 3.

When the team does hit the field, Dowden will be on the mound. She was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection a year ago.

Rynish will once again be behind the plate after cracking the lineup as a freshman.

“Rynish plays club softball,” Reinke said. “She plays all year round, which is really evident. You can see she’s not just picking up a bat and ball.”

Also back for the Bears are seniors Courtney Schmidt, Morgan Sorenson, juniors Deanna Zernicke and Alexa Reinke and sophomore Miranda Schmidt.

Sophomores Taylor Weier and Hayley Pues as well as freshman prospects Danne Collier, Kailee Pedersen and Brittany Wudtke will be fighting for the remaining starting spots.

Coach Reinke hasn’t set the rosters yet. Where people will play is further up in the air because Zernicke, a third baseman who dislocated her shoulder playing girls basketball, is still having the injury evaluated.

Wudtke, a versatile player who is the daughter of junior varsity softball coach Wade Wudtke, could help fill a spot.

“She has some potential to play the left side of the field, we’ll see. Really all-around good athlete,” Reinke said. “She can catch, she can pitch, she can play infield. She’s one of those kids where, if something happens, I can throw her wherever.”

Dowden, Courtney Schmidt, Miranda Schmidt, Alexa Reinke and Rynish led the team at the plate last season.

“We have a lot coming back,” coach Reinke said. “I think that’s a strength.”

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Runners Isaac Palmer and Hunter Berry logged top-10 finishes and the Bonduel High School boys track and field team finished 18th at the 23-team Stevens Point Area Senior High School Invitational on Thursday.

Palmer placed fifth in the 800-meter run, clocking in at 2 minutes, 10.26 seconds.

Hunter Berry placed eighth in the 1,600 run with a time of 4:55.19.

The 4x800 relay team of Palmer, Ryan Mathew, Eric Ballestad and Sam Falck finished 11th with a time of 9:19.75.

As a team, the boys scored five points to finish tied with Gillett in 18th place. Appleton North (60) won the meet, edging out Stevens Point (59).

Results

Boys

Teams: 1. Appleton North, 60; 2. Stevens Point, 59; 3. Bay Port, 56; 3. La Crosse Logan, 56; 3. Seymour, 56; 6. D.C. Everest, 43; 7. Marshfield, 36; 8. Merrill, 26; 9. Marathon, 24; 10. Baraboo, 23; 11. Neenah, 22; 12. Nekoosa, 18; 13. Cedar Grove-Belgium, 14; 13. Fond du Lac, 14; 15. Luxemburg-Casco, 9; 16. Rhinelander, 8; 17. Wild Rose, 6; 18. Bonduel, 5; 18. Gillett, 5; 20. Oshkosh Lourdes Academy, 2; 20. Necedah, 2; 22. Auburndale, 1; 22. Iola-Scandinavia, 1

4x400 relay: 18. Bonduel (Preston Robaidek, Dan Tauchen, Caleb Dowling, Isaac Palmer), 3:56.94

4x800 relay: 11. Bonduel (Isaac Palmer, Ryan Mathew, Eric Ballestad, Sam Falck), 9:19.75

1,600 run: 8. Hunter Berry, 4:55.19

800 run: 5. Isaac Palmer, 2:10.26; 19. Ryan Mathew, 2:17.90

3,200 run: 22. Sam Falck, 11:48.48

High jump: 25. Dan Tauchen, 5-0

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School junior Alexa Reinke signs a basketball to commemorate the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 co-champion and regional champion girls basketball season at the school’s winter athletics banquet Tuesday in Bonduel. Each of the girls received a basketball signed by the team.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School junior Jennifer Dowden accepts an award from girls basketball assistant coach Dan Stoltenow during the school’s winter sports awards banquet Tuesday at the school. Dowden was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.

Bonduel High School athletes, coaches and parents gathered Tuesday night at Bonduel High School to say goodbyes to senior athletes and celebrate the triumphs of the winter sports season.

There was plenty to celebrate at the annual awards banquet.

“I don’t know what to say tonight, geez!” said Missy Dowden, coach of the regional champion girls basketball team. “We had a great year.”

The Bears finished the season 20-5 and tied with Wittenberg-Birnamwood for the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 title at 12-2. The coach had a drawing of stairs on the team’s chalkboard. She called it the “stairway to state.”

“There were a couple of steps short, but they can see it,” Dowden said.

Jennifer Dowden, a junior forward and the coach’s daughter, was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player. She eclipsed 1,000 career points this season and broke Katie Woldt’s career scoring record of 956 points. Dowden has 1,071 points with another year to play.

“With watching her the last two years, I knew she’d hit it by the time she was a senior,” Missy Dowden said.

The Most Improved Player award went to sophomore Taylor Weier. Junior Deanna Zernicke won the Strongest Defender. Zernicke also broke the team’s record for 3-point shots in a season. Karissa Pedersen had 45 in 2012; Zernicke finished with 49 this year.

Zernicke found out about the record Tuesday night.

“I don’t want to put the pressure on,” coach Dowden said. “The way she started off the year, I thought she’d smoke it.”

Seniors Morgan Sorenson and Courtney Schmidt each won a Coach’s Award.

After the ceremony all of the girls were given commemorative basketballs for their season. The balls had a team picture and roster on it and, after a quick signing session, all the girls’ autographs as well.

The girls junior varsity was also recognized for its 19-0 season. Dowden said having such a good junior varsity team pushed the varsity to be better and will help the program be better next year.

Wrestling

Coach Chris Rank saved an emotional goodbye to Jacob Wudtke for the end, saying that any of the younger athletes in attendance would do well to emulate the two-time state qualifying senior, who compiled a 41-7 record this year at 170 pounds.

Wudtke earned a captain award and shared Most Valuable Player honors with fellow state qualifiers sophomore Garrett Siolka (113, 42-8) and junior Dan Tauchen (152, 39-10). At state, Wudtke and Siolka each finished as runners-up and Tauchen made the podium with a sixth-place finish.

“That was an easy choice for those three individuals,” Rank said. “You certainly didn’t want to have just one or two of them there when all three are worthy of having the award of MVP.”

Sophomore Scott Gunderson (106, 25-13) and junior Sam Kroening (145, 26-8) were named the team’s Most Improved Players. Sophomore Bennett Gunderson (195 26-17) won the Coach’s Award.

The Bears (8-1) finished second behind Wittenberg-Birnamwood and had eight wrestlers compete in the conference meet finals, along with four champions in Wudtke, Siolka, Kroening and junior Travis Wollenberg (126, 33-9).

Boys basketball

Junior Connor Rosin was named the boys basketball team’s Most Valuable Player. Senior Zach Zernicke was named Mr. Rebounder. Junior Hunter VanderLinden was named Mr. Defense.

The boys team finished 11-13 overall and 5-9 in the CWC-8.

Hockey

Shawano Community High School hockey coach Tommie CarlinSchauer recognized two Bonduel athletes on the co-op junior varsity team: sophomore forward Blake Stoss and freshman forward/defenseman Nick Boardman.

CarlinSchauer said with the team’s low numbers this season, having the two was critical to the survival of the program.

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Mallory Soper, left, takes a baton from Isabella Gonzalez during practice Friday at Shawano Community High School.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior Brice Bergner runs during track practice Friday at the school.

What the Shawano Community High School track and field team lacks in numbers, it will make up for with dedication.

At least, that’s what coach Scott Smurawa is hoping.

“We’re down a few, both boys and girls are down a little bit,” Smurawa said. “But what we have, the athletes that came out, are dedicated. It was a very enjoyable week this week because all the athletes are very dedicated.”

The holes on the roster mean the focus for the Hawks will shift.

“With our numbers down a little bit, our concentration is not really the overall team championship score, but more individual champions,” Smurawa said.

Senior Brice Bergner, last year’s Most Valuable Player, returns. He was a sectional qualifier in the 200-meter dash last year.

“I’m excited to see him come back and lead the team,” Smurawa said.

Bergner and fellow senior Carlos Merino, also a team captain and the team’s leading jumper, will lead a group of sprinters that should be a strength for the Hawks.

“We’ll see how they do this year,” Smurawa said. “We’re looking for exciting things from them.”

The coach is also excited to watch senior Kyle Raddant, a distance runner.

Junior Jake Klister (distance) and sophomore Zeke Gueths (thrower) came on strong last year and could make big jumps this year, Smurawa said.

In field events, Smurawa expects the Hawks to be strong in the pole vault, where senior twins Evan and Ethan Braun and junior Dan Boivin return this year.

“We have a few new underclassmen coming up, and we’ll see what they can do, too,” Smurawa said.

Senior Isabella Gonzalez and sophomore Kristina Kurtz are the girls’ returning sectional qualifiers. Gonzalez made it in the high jump, while Kurtz qualified in the 400-meter dash.

The team sent two relay teams to sectionals a year ago, which may be tough to repeat without Teagan Monfils, who was on both the 4x800 and 4x200 relay teams but isn’t competing this season.

Kurtz and junior Kathryn Kugel are the only two returnees to the 4x800 relay team.

Seniors Ashley Knope and Kia Smurawa and sophomore Sara Hokenstad return to the 4x200 relay team.

Kia Smurawa, the girls’ Most Valuable Player last season, will also lead in the jumping events.

“The girls are distributed OK,” Coach Smurawa said. “They have some strong areas. Because of the numbers, we’re not going to be able to fill up the full roster each meet, but I think the ones we put in there are going to score points.”

The Hawks are anxiously awaiting warming weather.

“We’re indoors because of the weather,” Smurawa said. “We’re fortunate the first week because we’re the only sport in season, we started first. It does get tight in these facilities the next couple of weeks here because we’re all fighting for space.”

AT A GLANCE

Shawano Track and Field Schedule

March 22 at Wausau West

March 29 at Watertown

April 15 vs. Denmark, West De Pere

April 22 at Bay Conference Relays (Luxemburg-Casco)

April 24 at Antigo Invitational

April 29 at Luxemburg-Casco

May 1 at Pulaski Invitational

May 6 at Seymour

May 8 at Seymour Invitational

May 13 Shawano Jozwiak Invitational

May 17 Bay Conference Meet (Denmark)

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Hawks’ girls fifth at Early Bird

Led by Kia Smurawa’s second-place finishes in three events, the Shawano Community High School girls track and field team took fifth place Saturday at the Early Bird Invite in Wausau.

Smurawa placed second in the triple jump, long jump and 55-meter dash. Jolene Downs placed fifth in the 55-meter hurdles and Kathryn Kugel placed fifth in the 1,600 run. The Hawks scored 34 points, tied with Wausau East for fifth place. Wausau West (214.5) won the meet.

For the boys team, Daniel Boivin placed third in the pole vault and Brice Bergner was third in the 55 dash. Austin Lhotka placed fifth in the 1,600 run. The boys finished in seventh place with 25.5 points. Marathon (162.5) won the meet.

Betz’s 4th-place finish leads Truckers

Chrissy Betz led the Clintonville High School track and field team with a fourth-place finish in the pole vault, topping 8-6, Friday at the Raider Invitational in Sheboygan.

She also took 12th in the 55-meter hurdles.

Clintonville scored five points and tied for 14th place with Roncalli. Slinger (112) won the event.

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Oconto Falls loses in state semifinalBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz The Oconto Falls High School band and student section cheer on the girls basketball team at the WIAA Division 2 state girls basketball tournament Friday at the Resch Center in Green Bay. The Panthers lost, 64-41.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz McKenna Larsen and coach Mike Kaczmarek talk about the Oconto Falls High School girls basketball season in a postgame press conference after the Panthers lost 64-41 to Kettle Moraine Lutheran in the WIAA Division 3 state semifinal Friday at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

McKenna Larsen tried to do it all.

The Oconto Falls High School senior never backed down, but she was not enough for the Panthers in Friday’s 64-41 loss to Kettle Moraine Lutheran in the WIAA Division 3 state semifinal at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

Larsen, a 5-foot-7 guard, was the Panthers’ only offense at times Friday on her way to a career-high 31 points.

Oconto Falls turned the ball over on its first possession and never led in the game, which was tied only until Kettle Moraine hit its first shot just over a minute into the game.

All of Oconto Falls’ first-quarter points came on 3-pointers by Larsen, which cut the Chargers’ lead to 11-6 with 4:31 remaining in the period. The Panthers, however, didn’t score again until the 5:59 mark of the second period; by that time, they had fallen behind, 23-6.

Kettle Moraine (26-1) maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Larsen scored seven points in the second quarter and nine points — again all of the Panthers’ points — in the third, as Oconto Falls twice cut the Chargers’ lead to 11.

Larsen scored nine more points in the fourth quarter, but Kettle Moraine kept pulling away.

Larsen finished with five 3s on the day. She attempted 21 field goals, just six short of the state tournament single-game record. She also had eight rebounds, five steals and two assists.

“I think everybody’s seen McKenna Larsen,” Oconto Falls coach Mike Kaczmarek Jr. said. “She’s a heck of a kid, heck of an athlete. You saw McKenna at her best today.”

Senior forward Carly Lemke added four points and four rebounds for the Panthers.

The Oconto Falls’ defense, which hasn’t allowed a team to score more than 36 points in the last four games, finally ran into a puzzle it couldn’t solve with quickness. Kettle Moraine’s 64 points were the most given up by the Panthers this season.

A couple of early 3s — a pair by Mikayla Voight, a 5-9 junior guard, and another by sophomore guard Sharla Boehlke — opened things up for the Chargers inside, where Andrea Meinert, Kettle Moraine’s 5-10 forward, was happy to cause fits for the Panthers the rest of the game.

“I had a mismatch down low and our girls did a great job of attacking the outside,” Meinert said. “(Oconto Falls) really couldn’t sink down as much as they wanted to because they couldn’t give up more 3s.”

“Typically, we’re a 1-3-1 team and we thought we had an answer for them,” Kaczmarek said. “Meinert, we could not match up with her.”

Meinart would finish with 19 points and had 12 rebounds. Voight added 19 points, while Lyndsey Soderbeck scored 11.

Oconto Falls (22-4) was outrebounded 34-24 and shot only 27.1 percent from the field. Kettle Moraine made 57.5 percent of its field goal attempts.

“I don’t know if the length of the court got to us,” Kaczmarek said. “Everything seemed to be a little short today. We just didn’t have that No. 2 person to step up for us today.”

After the game Larsen talked about being proud to end her basketball career at state.

“To say I finally got here is a dream come true,” Larsen said. “I wouldn’t want to end it any other way.”

Larsen, who has made it to state in volleyball twice and once in softball, will play softball and volleyball at Winona State University.

Kaczmarek said Larsen is irreplaceable.

“What she has done for the community, for my family — my girls absolutely love her, there’s just a lot of No. 20s going around Oconto Falls right now,” Kaczmarek said. “For a high school coach, we use this week as a recruiting tool. We went through all the elementary schools, all the feeder programs. Everyone wants to meet McKenna.”

Playing the last month with an injured ulnar collateral ligament in her right hand, which will require surgery, Larsen said she put the injury out of her mind during the Panthers’ run.

“I wanted to do it for the team and for coach and for everyone that has been a part of this team,” Larsen said.

Oconto Falls (41)

Lemke 2-10 0-0 4, E. Watzka 1-5 1-4 3, Manns 0-7 1-2 1, Larsen 10-21 5-9 31, Wolf 0-2 2-2 2

Kettle Moraine Lutheran (64)

Schneiss 3-5 3-4 9, Meinert 7-10 5-7 19, Boehlke 1-2 0-0 3, Voight 6-10 4-6 19, Schneider 0-1 1-2 1, Zimmel 1-3 0-0 2, Soderbeck 5-7 1-1 11

Oconto Falls 6 15 9 11 — 41

Kettle Moraine Lutheran 19 15 14 16 —64

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Austin Olsen practices the hurdles in the parking lot of Bowler High School on Thursday. Olsen and teammates Cody Montez and Drew Payne hope to return to state this season.

A trip back to the WIAA state track meet is the goal for three Gresham/Bowler athletes.

Juniors Cody Montez and Drew Payne each qualified for state in individual events last year, while Payne and senior Austin Olsen qualified as part of the 4x100-meter relay team.

Montez finished 14th in the 3,200-meter run at last year’s state meet after spending the season chasing the program’s record time of 10:07.00. His best time was 10:09.80 in last year’s sectional.

“I didn’t make the podium last year,” Montez said. “This year I want to make the podium. That’s my goal.”

Payne’s trip to state caught everyone by surprise. A sophomore participating in track for the first time, Payne qualified for state in the long jump and finished in eighth place.

“It was a huge surprise for me,” Payne said. “I just figured I’d try long jump, and it turned out I could jump 20 feet.”

Payne said he has a lot of room for improvement.

“This year I’m looking to perfect my form,” Payne said. “Last year, I just kind of went with it.”

Payne and Olsen were half the 4x100-meter team with graduated seniors Sawn Bucholtz and Martin Stevens.

“That was the first time we took a relay team to state,” Gresham/Bowler coach Heidi Pleshek said.

Also back for the boys are seniors Andrew Pleshek (high jump), Aaron Bestul (thrower), Blade Cameron (thrower/runner), Brandon Miller (thrower/runner), Trace Miller (high jump/relays), junior Joe Serrano (sprints/relays) and sophomore Levi Ludvigsen (middle distance runner).

The girls team will depend on five returning letter-winners: senior Lindsay Anderson (sprints/discus), juniors Winter DeRoos (high jump) and Shannon Caskey (throws/hurdles), and sophomores Tatelyn Ferguson (800 run) and Chelsea Peters (hurdles/relays).

Also back is senior LaKeisha Williams, who was on the team her sophomore year.

Freshman Alyssa Roe has also caught the coach’s attention.

“You give her a workout and she does it and doesn’t complain,” Pleshek said. “I haven’t seen her run yet, but she’s obviously a distance runner. I’m excited to see what she can do.”

Gresham/Bowler’s numbers overall are down this year. Just 15 boys and eight girls are out, the smallest squad Pleshek has had in her nine years as head coach.

“When I started in Gresham — and it was just Gresham — we had numbers like this,” Pleshek said. “This is really small for us.”

While waiting for snow to melt and tracks to dry, the team will open the season with an indoor meet March 31 at Antigo.

“It’s nice to have an indoor meet this year,” Pleshek said. “There’s something to look forward to. We’re working towards something. As opposed to last year when it was, ‘Here’s when the first meet is supposed to be, but it’s not going to happen.’”

>AT A GLANCE

Gresham/Bowler High School track and field schedule

March 31 at Antigo

April 1 at Wild Rose Invitational

April 3 at Tri-County Invitational

April 8 at Wild Rose Six Pack

April 10 Gresham/Bowler Relays

April 14 at Rosholt Invitational

April 22 at Marion Invitational

April 24 at Menominee Indian Invitational

April 28 at Iola-Scandinavia Invitational

May 1 at Marion Invitational

May 8 at Weyauwega-Fremont Invitational

May 12 at Tri-County Six Pack

May 17 at Central Wisconsin Conference-10 Championships (Rosholt)

May 19 at Manawa Triangular

May 20 at Menominee Indian Triangular

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel’s Hunter Berry runs during track and field practice Wednesday at Bonduel High School.

Bonduel High School track and field coach Jim Watry is excited to see what his athletes can do this season, that is if they can ever get outside.

“Right now, the biggest opponent we have is the weather,” Watry said. “The snow is not going anywhere fast. Even if we get the track open, the field events are invisible right now.”

Watry, as he did a year ago, cleared the Bonduel track with a snowblower in the hopes that it would help speed up the process. A couple of inches of snow Tuesday night dashed those hopes.

Until the snow melts, the teams are limited to indoor meets like the one the Bears had Tuesday night at Seymour. The boys took second in the five-team field and the girls were third.

“Numbers-wise, we have a pretty good sized boys team,” Watry said. “Around 30, which is always good. The girls team we have 17, which is on the small side. It’s going to be a challenge to fill all the events, but we’ll see what develops.”

Hunter Berry, a junior who qualified for sectional in the 1,600-yard run and was the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 champion in the 3,200 last season, is off to a good start. He won 1,600 Tuesday with a time of 5:17.84.

Berry should lead a strong group of distance runners for Bonduel, including senior Isaac Palmer, junior Sam Falck and junior Austin Marcks, who were members of the Bears’ state cross-country team in the fall. Palmer won the 800 run Tuesday.

Also back on the boys team, which finished third in the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 last year, is junior Dan Tauchen, who was a sectional qualifier in the high jump a year ago.

The team added three seniors to the team in Jacob Zeitler (sprints, long jump), Frank Scarlupka (hurdles) and Christian Wilber (sprints).

Watry is also interested in seeing what seniors Ryan Mathew (800 run), Jeremiah Letter (800 run) and Zack Olsen (sprints, shot put) can do this season.

“We’ve got a lot of talent on the boys side,” Watry said. “We’ll just have to see how it all fits together.”

Senior Mallory Mews, who was a sectional qualifier a year ago and three-time state qualifier in cross-country, is the top distance runner for the girls, who were fourth in the CWC-8 last year.

Also back is senior Amber Heller, who came close to setting the school’s shot put record with a 35-foot, 4-inch throw last season. The record is 36-3.

Beyond that, Watry says the girls team is a bit of a mystery right now.

“On the girls side, we have a lot of unknowns,” he said.

Two newcomers who could make an impact are freshman twins Hayley and Emily Sorenson.

“They are very talented young ladies,” Watry said. “Emily was our fastest sprinter last night. Hayley was our top high jumper.”

Emily Sorenson finished fourth in the 55 dash. Hayley was third in the high jump.

Another freshman impressing early is Ashlie Mastey, who finished second in the 400.

Watry said it is too early to make predictions or rule anyone in or out.

“We’ve had five days of practice; we’re no where near in shape yet,” Watry said.

The Bears are in no rush, at least until the snow is gone.

AT A GLANCE

Bonduel Track and Field Schedule

March 24 at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (girls)

March 27 at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (boys)

April 10 Home

April 14 at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

April 22 at Wittenberg-Birnamwood

April 24 at Menominee Indian

April 25 at Rosholt

April 28 at Gillett (girls)

April 29 at Suring (boys)

May 1 at Oconto Falls

May 6 at Oconto Invitational (freshmen, sophomores)

May 8 at Peshtigo Invitational

May 13 at Shawano Invitational

May 17 Central Wisconsin Conference-8 Meet at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

May 22 Home

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McKenzie Thoma and Ashlynn Brisk topped the Central Wisconsin Conference-10 stat books this season and this week were named the league’s Players of the Year.

Brisk, a 5-6 junior guard at Bowler High School, led the conference in assists (71, 3.9 average), rebounds (203, 11.3) and steals (161, 8.9). She had eight triple-doubles.

“She showed progress throughout the year and was consistently the best player on the court every night,” Bowler coach A.J. Miller said.

Thoma, a 6-foot senior guard at Marion High School, was the league’s leading scorer. She was also a first-team All-CWC-10 selection last season.

Thoma led the CWC-10 champion Mustangs with 290 points, one more point than Brisk. Both girls averaged 16.1 points a game.

Marion junior Cassidy Detert was named to the CWC-10 second team, and senior Tanya Dey was an honorable mention.

Menominee Indian sophomore Ania Smith earned second-team honors. Junior Sasha Peters was an honorable mention.

Tigerton senior Erin Robbins made the second team. Senior Emily Wendt was an honorable mention.

In CWC-10 boys basketball honors, Gresham junior Christian Haffner was a first-team selection. He was second in the conference in scoring (335, 18.6) and assists (77, 4.3) Senior Scott Cerveny was a second -team selection. He led the league in assists (84, 4.7).

Marion senior Aaron Hoffman was a first-team selection. Senior Cole Drefahl was named to the second team.

Menominee Indian junior Michael Pecore and freshman Ron Frechette, Bowler junior Cody Montez and Tigerton senior Woodrow Nelson were honorable mentions.

Wild Rose senior Josh Erickson was named the Player of the Year.

CWC-8

In the CWC-8, Bonduel juniors Jennifer Dowden and Alexa Reinke were named first-team all-conference.

Dowden, a 6-foot junior who was a first-team selection last year, was second in the league in scoring (225, 16.1) and rebounding (123, 8.8) and led the league in blocked shots (32, 2.3). She was also third in assists (46, 3.3) and steals (51, 3.6).

Bonduel junior Deanna Zernicke was a second-team selection.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior Mikayla Hartman and junior Micah Nier were first-team selections. Senior Taylor Bushman was named to the second team. Sophomore Siri Zienert was an honorable mention.

For the second straight year, Amherst senior Jamie Pitt was named Player of the Year.

Junior Connor Rosin was a second-team selection for the Bonduel boys. Senior Zach Zernicke was an honorable mention.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior Tyler Milanowski and junior Nick Kapitz were honorable mentions.

Stevens Point Pacelli senior Issac Elliot was named the Player of the Year.

Wrestling

In wrestling, Bonduel had nine wrestlers earn all-conference honors. Garrett Siolka (113, 32-6), Travis Wollenberg (126, 29-6), Sam Kroenig (145, 23-7) and Jacob Wudtke (31-4) earned first-team honors. Scott Gunderson (106, 22-11), Austin Siolka (32-6), Dan Tauchen (152, 32-6) and Mitch Sokolski (28-9) were on the second team. Bennett Gunderson (195, 24-14) was an honorable mention.

Central Wisconsin Conference champion Wittenberg-Birnamwood led the way with 12 wrestlers receiving honors, including CWC Wrestler of the Year senior Ben Vosters (120, 40-1).

Joining Vosters on the first team were Stetson Potrykus (106, 39-4), Bobby Uttecht (132, 31-5), Brenden Randell (138, 28-8), Braxton Potrykus (152, 34-2), Alex Peplinski (160, 35-7) and August Peplinski (195, 36-5). Second-team honors went to Zach Urquhart (113, 31-11), Gavin Czerwonka (126, 29-14), Griffin Magee (145, 27-13), Doug Ostrowski (182, 16-5) and John White Wing (285, 21-6).

Menominee Indian had eight wreslters earn honorable mentions: Vel Hawkins (106, 19-15), Blake Stoehr (120, 24-14), Kyle Winker (126, 37-5), Patrick White (132, 15-15), Antonio Mahkimetas (145, 10-11), Forrest Webster (152, 24-10), James Pecore (182, 25-8), Keenan Richmond (220, 35-8).

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Contributed Photo Shawano Community High School graduate Mackenzie Buss now swims for the University of Louisville in Kentucky. Buss and seven other Cardinal swimmers will compete at the NCAA Championships beginning Thursday in Minneapolis.

Just as she did at Shawano Community High School, Mackenzie Buss is setting records.

The University of Louisville freshman swimmer set a record in the 100-yard backstroke at the Cardinals’ Last Chance meet March 1-2 at the University of Tennessee, finishing in 53.42 to qualify for the NCAA Championships beginning Thursday in Minneapolis.

Buss swam the event four times during the meet before breaking the record on her fifth attempt, a timed trial after the final. Her time topped Krissie Brandenburg’s 2013 record time of 53.52.

“It’s really exciting just to be able to go on the relays,” Buss said.

Buss says the NCAA meet will be unlike anything she has experienced in her swimming career.

“I’ve competed in Olympic trials, but college is a whole different scene,” she said. “Here, you have the best of the best. Not just U.S. swimmers, but foreign swimmers that are swimming here. So it’s almost more competitive.”

The Division 1 Cardinals are sending eight swimmers to the championships and qualified in all five relays. Buss might swim in one or two of the relays.

There will be 281 swimmers and 41 divers at the meet.

The Cardinals and Buss have had success all season, including an American Athletic Conference title.

“That was one of our goals, to win the AAC conference, which we did,” Buss said. “It was so exciting. We actually ended up blowing everyone out of the water, winning by like 300 points, both on the women’s and men’s side. That was so much fun.”

Buss, who holds SCHS records in the 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly and the 100 individual medley and was a two-time state champion in the 100 backstroke, said she could not be happier with her decision to attend Louisville.

“The most surprising thing to me was how well I fit in down there and how much it felt like I was at home,” she said. “I didn’t really expect that coming in. My team is seriously my family. … We’ve done some pretty awesome things this year and I’m really looking forward to what is yet to come.”

The immediate focus is on next week’s championships, though. As Buss skips spring break to train, she’s looking forward to seeing what she and her teammates can do.

“Our team has a couple of girls who could potentially win their events at NCAAs, which would be absolutely crazy to watch,” she said. “It’s going to be exciting.”

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School junior Deanna Zernicke grabs the ball Thursday during the WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal against Auburndale in Wausau. Bonduel lost, 48-39.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School junior Jennifer Dowden drives during Thursday’s WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal against Auburndale in Wausau. Bonduel lost, 48-39.

Jennifer Dowden’s 19 points weren’t enough Thursday as the Bonduel High School girls basketball team lost 48-39 to Auburndale in a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal at Wausau West High School.

Auburndale scored the first six points on its way to a 13-3 first quarter lead. The Bears responded, finally getting some shots to drop and pulling to within 13-11 by the end of the quarter.

Bonduel would pull to within 18-17 by halftime, but Auburndale’s 12-6 run in the third quarter took the Bears out of their game plan.

“They pushed us into a game we didn’t like,” Bonduel coach Missy Dowden said. “We wanted to run our offense and then play good defense. We struggled right in the beginning on our defense. And then on offense, we didn’t work the ball because they had shoved us into such a frenzy in the first quarter.”

Jennifer Dowden, a 6-foot junior forward who scored 10 of her 19 points in the first half, had two 3-point plays in the Bears’ first-quarter rally. She finished the game with eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Alexa Reinke added 10 points, five coming in the fourth quarter.

Adding to the Bears’ problems on offense was an injury to Deanna Zernicke, a 5-6 junior perimeter shooter. Zernicke suffered a dislocated shoulder in the second quarter. She returned in the second half, but could not shoot from outside like she had all season.

“They’re so used to passing the ball around and having Deanna take a shot,” Missy Dowden said. “She could not get the ball up there. If it was a 15-foot shot or shorter, she had the arm for it.”

Auburndale, meanwhile, made most of its points inside the paint. Shannon Yahnke, a junior forward, led the Apaches with 14 points.

“She holds her space well,” Dowden said. “When she boxes out she takes up some room and she controls an area. So when she calls for the ball, she has a nice wingspan to hold everybody back.

While Auburndale finished with only a 24-20 edge in rebounding, the early edge hurt.

“We were not hitting the boards. We were getting pushed underneath,” Dowden said. “I told the girls we need to hit the weight room over the summer. You can’t take this lightly. We’ve got to have every rebound, and every rebound counts.”

Auburndale made 12 of its 17 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter.

Bonduel plans to use the loss as a learning experience, Dowden said.

“They’re coming out here so sad right now,” she said, “but we had a great year. We wanted to win conference — we had a share of it. We wanted to get to regionals and take care of Oconto — we got it. We got to this step and fell a little short of our goal.”

The Bears lose only two seniors, Morgan Sorenson and Courtney Schmidt.

“We have 32 girls in the Bonduel program that want those two spots,” Dowden said.

Bonduel (39)

Dowden 8 2-4 19, Reinke 4 0-1 10, Weier 3 1-2 7, Sorenson 1 0-0 3

Auburndale (48)

Kundinger 2 4-4 9, Linzmeier 3 0-0 6, Gotz 3 3-6 9, Richardson 4 0-0 8, Yahnke 3 8-12 14, Karl 0 2-3 2

Bonduel 11 6 6 16 — 39

Auburndale 13 5 12 18 — 48

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School boys swimmers, from left, Christian Kane, Griffin Rades, Rolando Colon and Zach Soper received team awards at the winter athletics banquet Monday at The Gathering in Shawano.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School boys basketball players, from left, Zack Sousek, Garret Schlise, Jack Lacy, Dylan Hintz, Clint Dallas and Dillon Frechette celebrate winning team awards at the Shawano Winter Athletic Banquet held Monday at The Gathering in Shawano.

Chris Kellett was the final coach to introduce his team and hand out awards at the Shawano Athletic Booster Club’s winter athletics banquet Monday at The Gathering in Shawano.

The first-year boys basketball coach at Shawano Community High School had no problem adapting his season-long theme of family to the larger audience.

“Being a part of Shawano basketball, it’s more than just basketball,” Kellett said. “It’s about all the sports working together in the community. It’s great to celebrate swimming, wrestling, girls basketball, cheer, poms, hockey all in one night. It was fun.”

All the winter sports teams got a chance to brag on their successes at the banquet.

Perhaps the least surprising award of the night went to swimmer Zach Soper, who was named the boys swim team’s Most Valuable Player. Soper became the first Shawano athlete to win two state titles at the same meet when he won the 100-yard backstroke and 100 butterfly at last month’s WIAA Division 2 state championships.

“It feels like everything I’ve done in practice has paid off,” Soper said. “I can improve for next year, but it feels really good.”

Soper was also honored as a captain of the swim team. Christian Kane and Rolando Colon also received captain awards. Griffin Rades was named Rookie of the Year.

Boys basketball

Zack Sousek was selected as the boys basketball team’s Most Valuable Player. The junior guard led the team in scoring and was third in the Bay Conference for assists.

“Zack had a phenomenal year,” Kellett said. “He got 22 out of a possible 24 votes. He earned it. He was our heart and soul and one of our best defenders. He handled the ball the whole time, and without him we would have been in some trouble.”

Garret Schlise was named the team’s defensive Most Valuable Player. Dylan Hintz won the Mr. Hustle award, and Jack Lacy was named most improved. Clint Dallas won the teammate award.

Dillon Frechette won the dedication award, which Kellett added to the program this year.

“Dillon Frechette got a dedication award, which to me is one of the most important awards,” Kellett said. “He came to everything. It showed in his play. He put the time in and I’m very proud of him.”

Girls basketball

Lindsey Kurtz was named the girls basketball team’s Most Valuable Player, leading the team in scoring.

Courtney Vomastic was named most improved. Erika Dunnam won The Enforcer award for rebounds and blocks. Megan Klitzke won the Dime Collector award for assists. Kayla Hokenstad won the coach’s award.

Wrestling

Cody Urban, who qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state individual wrestling tournament at 160 pounds, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and won the Heart of the Hawk award.

Jayce Hinkfuss was named most improved. Mike Meisner and Dalton Parson each won coach’s awards.

Hockey

Triston Krueger was named Most Valuable Player for the varsity reserve hockey team. Blake Stoss was named most dedicated and honored as a team captain. Chancellor Van Dyck was named most improved, and the coach’s award went to Aaron Lammers.

Cheer

Natalie Stepniewski was named the cheer team’s Most Valuable Player. Caitlin Raether won the Spirit of the Hawks award. Brandi Fisken was named most improved. Maya Ihrcke won the Team Builder award. Allison Raddant and Mariah Ruehle both won All-American titles.

Pom-poms

Madison Lemerond was the team’s MVP. Cassandra Whitehouse was named most dedicated, and Leah Larsen was named the team’s Rookie of the Year. The coach’s award went to Rachel Lohrengel. Haleigh Springborn won the Big Sister award. Lohrengel, Springborn and Lemerond all received captain awards.

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14 SCHS athletes earn all-conference honors

Shawano Community High School junior Zach Soper, who won two WIAA Division 2 swim titles last month, earned Great Northern first-team honors in two events, and 13 other SCHS athletes earned conference awards for their play this winter sports season.

Soper, who was named the Great Northern Conference’s Swimmer of the Year at the conference meet Feb. 7, earned first-team honors in the 100-yard butterfly and the 100 backstroke, the two events he won at state.

Seven other Hawks swimmers also received all-conference honors, and Walberto Colon was named the conference’s Coach of the Year.

In the Bay Conference boys basketball awards also announced this week, junior Zack Sousek was named first-team all-conference. Sousek finished third in the Bay Conference in assists with 55.

Sophomore Zeke Gueths earned a second team selection, and junior Jack Lacy was an honorable mention. The Hawks (16-9, 12-4 Bay) finished third in the conference and won a WIAA Division 2 regional championship.

Senior Sandy Cohen, who led Seymour to the Bay championship, was named the Bay Player of the Year.

In girls basketball, Shawano senior Lindsey Kurtz and sophomore Megan Klitzke received honorable mention for the Hawks (5-18, 4-12 Bay), who finished eighth.

Oconto Falls senior McKenna Larsen was named the girls Player of the Year.

Senior Mike Meisner (26-12) earned an honorable mention and was the only SCHS wrestler to get Bay Conference recognition.

The Shawano 200 medley relay team of Soper, freshman Griffin Rades, junior Rolando Colon and junior Jake Klister took first-team all-conference.

Rades earned first-team honors in the 200 individual medley. Colon was first team in the 500 freestyle.

Senior Christian Kane was named second team in the 200 individual medley and honorable mention in the 100 breaststroke. The Shawano 400 freestyle relay team of Klister, Rades, Colon and Soper earned second-team honors.

The Shawano 200 freestyle relay team of senior Craig Kraning, sophomore Kyle Easter, senior Alex Retzlaff and Kane earned an honorable mention.

The SCHS swim team took second in the Great Northern Conference and went 9-0 in its dual meets.

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

BOYS BASKETBALL

First team: Sandy Cohen* and Dakota Oskey*, Seymour; Chandlier Diekvoss* and Cody Schwartz*, West De Pere; Zack Sousek, Shawano.

Second team: David Vlotho and Jake Zeitler, Luxemburg-Casco; Ryan Wolf, New London; Casey Jefson, Seymour; Zeke Gueths, Shawano.

Honorable mention: Mitch Lillge Hortonville, Sean Killoren and Kyle Witthuhn, Hortonville; Jack Lacy, Shawano; Connor Konshak, West De Pere.

* - Unanimous selection

GIRLS BASKETBALL

First team: McKenna Larsen*, Oconto Falls; Maddie Dunathan*, Hortonville; Michaela Roland*, New London; Jennifer Nehls, Denmark; Alexa Roland, New London.

Second team: Carly Lemke, Oconto Falls; Elizabeth Edinger, West De Pere; Lexi Kinnard and Sarah Kinnard, Luxemburg-Casco; Asia Danforth, Seymour; Cassie Hilbert, Marinette; Payton Mix, New London.

Honorable mention: Elizabeth Watzka and Elizabeth Manns, Oconto Falls; Britney Peterson, Denmark; Heidi Huebner, Brie Lippert and Caitlin Hoerning, Hortonville; Lindsay Kurtz and Megan Klitzke, Shawano; Hannah Stefaniak, West De Pere.

* - Unanimous selection

WRESTLING

First team: Dewey Krueger and Nate Trepanier, Oconto Falls; Brock Bergelin and Jacob Reetz, Denmark; Dylan Blemke, Dan Dorner and Luke Destiche, Luxemburg-Casco; Walker Christensen and Kevin Vandenlangenberg, Seymour; Brett Handschke, New London; Nate Rynish, Hortonville.

Second team: Brett Ash, Oconto Falls; Mason Berceau, Luxemburg-Casco; Jacob Barnette, Joe Cliver and Elliott Luker, Hortonville; Bret Collin, Denmark; Alex Everard, Seymour; Eric Peters, Kyle Routhieaux and Austin Worachek, Luxemburg-Casco; Tommy Thurber, New London; Jacob Vogel, Logan Gazella and Hunter Warden, Denmark. Honorable mention: Sam Konitzer, Oconto Falls; Brian Van Rite, Denmark; Josh Vandehei, Luxemburg-Casco; Ryan McMahon, Marinette; Maddie Ruckdashel, New London; Clayton Van Lanen, Seymour; Mike Meisner, Shawano; Keenan Graef, West De Pere.

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The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School wrestling team lost to Pewaukee 28-19 in the WIAA state team wrestling tournament Saturday in Madison.

Pewaukee earned one pin, a major decision and six decisions.

State individual champion Braxton Potrykus (152) defeated 7-3 over Jacob Raschka 7-3 at 152 pounds for one of Witt-Birn's five wins.

Also getting wins for the Chargers were: Ben Vosters (113), 16-3 over Brett Danner; Bobby Uttecht (132), 5-4 over Trevor Greene; Alex Peplinski (160), 12-7 over Matt Fritchen; and August Peplinski (195) 7-1, over Christian Dischler.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

The third-seeded Bonduel High School girls basketball team upset top-seeded Oconto 50-38 to win its first regional championship since 1998 Saturday in Oconto.

The Bears (20-4) will face No. 5 Auburndale (15-10) in the sectional semifinal Thursday in Wausau.

Bonduel’s 28-22 lead at halftime was enough to give the Bears confidence in the second half. Oconto scored just five points in the third quarter as Bonduel pulled away.

“We started taking care of the ball and dealing with their pressure defense a little more,” Bonduel coach Missy Dowden said.

Jennifer Dowden, a 6-foot junior forward fresh off a 30-point performance Friday night, led the Bears with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

“She wants this,” Missy Dowden, Jennifer’s mother, said. “One step at a time, she wants each game.”

Lexi Reinke and Taylor Weier each added 10 pints. Reinke also had seven rebounds and four assists.

Bonduel outrebounded Oconto 32-18.

Laken James, a 5-9 senior, had 17 points to lead Oconto (20-4).

“It was a total team defense,” Missy Dowden said. “Deanna Zernicke was on Laken James and everybody else was on standby with the help defense.”

With Bonduel focused on her, James often dished the ball to Jaelyn Jicha, who finished with 14 points.

“Jisha was hitting the 3s, but we were ready to let her score just so Laken wasn’t doing all of the scoring,” Dowden said. “Once she gets going, you can’t stop her.”

Bonduel (50)

Dowden 5 9-12 20, Reinke 3 1-2 10, Weier 4 2-5 10, Zernicke 3 0-0 8, Sorenson 0 2-2 2

Oconto (38)

James 7 0-0 17, Behnke 2 0-0 4, Meyer 0 3-4 3, Jicha 4 3-4 14

Bonduel 13 15 11 11 — 50

Oconto 11 11 5 11 — 38

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School sophomore Taylor Weier drives to the basket during Friday’s WIAA Division 4 regional game against Crandon. The Bears won, 67-57.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School junior forward Jennifer Dowden lines up a shot during Friday’s WIAA Division 4 regional game against Crandon. Dowden scored 30 points to lead the Bears to a 67-57 victory.

Even when Crandon got within three points with under two minutes to go in Friday’s WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal, the Bonduel High School girls basketball team did not panic.

The third-seeded Bears (19-4, 12-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) — led by junior Jennifer Dowden’s 30 points — closed the door with authority to secure the 67-57 victory and advance to a regional final game Saturday against No. 2 Oconto.

No. 6 Crandon (16-6, 12-2 Northern Lakes) pulled to within 60-57 with 1:30 left on the clock, but the Bears were having none of it. On their next possession, freshman Danee Collier drove a lane for a layup. Then the Bears created a turnover and Dowden, a junior forward, drove for a basket and drew the foul.

Dowden, who went over 1,000 career points in the Bears’ season-finale win over Iola-Scandinavia, went to the line and completed the 3-point play. In the game’s final seconds she’d drain two more free throws and finished the game 13-14 from the line. Eleven of her 30 points came in the fourth quarter as the Bears protected the small lead they maintained through most of the game.

“When they got that 3, you know it’s close, but it’s not something you really worry about it,” Dowden said. “We knew we could handle it. We’ve been in those situations almost every game this season. We always get that. We were just patient, we didn’t panic. We’ve gotten really good with that over the season.”

Despite her 30 points, the 6-foot forward was quick to point out the win was a team effort.

“Everyone is so confident in each other,” Dowden said. “It’s a team effort all the way.”

Bonduel coach Missy Dowden, Jennifer’s mother, was impressed with the offensive play of her team Friday.

“Sixty-seven points, we don’t hit that very often,” she said. “It was a battle.”

The Bears, the CWC-8 co-champions, were up 9-4 midway through the first quarter. Crandon would not catch up until about a minute into the second quarter when Sara Cottrell drained a 3 to give the Cardinals a 15-14 lead.

The Bears were back up 31-24 by halftime, getting a pair of key 3-pointers from junior Dea Zernicke and a pair of inside buckets from sophomore Taylor Weier.

With about 6 minutes left in the game, Crandon managed to get within two, 54-52, when senior Cassidy Neilitz drained a 3-pointer, but Bonduel answered with a 3-pointer by junior Lexi Reinke.

Weier finished with 14 points, and Reinke had 10.

Morgan Sorenson lead the Bears on the boards with nine rebounds. Dowden finished with seven rebounds, in addition to five assists, four blocks and five steals.

Cottrell led Crandon with 15 points. Celia Space added 12, and Amira Erdmann and Neilitz both finished with 10 each.

Facing No. 2 Oconto, which beat No. 7 Stratford on Friday in Oconto, will be a tough test for the Bears.

“I know they have Laken James; she’s really good,” Jennifer Dowden said. “We’ll have to step up our defense. We’ll be all right.”

Crandon (57)

Ostrowski 2 1-2 5, Perry 0 3-4 3, Cottrell 5 4-6 15, Space 3 6-6 12, Erdmann 4 2-5 10, Sulaimon 0 2-2 2, Neilitz 3 2-2 10

Bonduel (67)

Dowden 8 13-14 30, Reinke 4 0-0 10, Weier 6 2-5 14, Zernicke 2 0-1 6, M. Sorenson 2 0-3 4, Pues 0 1-2 1, Collier 1 0-0 2

Crandon 10 14 15 18 — 57

Bonduel 12 19 18 18 — 67

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