Sports Wrapups: Aug. 24

HOMESTEAD

Girls Golf

Getting to know each other as well as their opponents, the Highlanders defeated Hartford, 347-385, in an 18-hole dual meet held at Coldwater Canyon in the Wisconsin Dells area Saturday.

"It was a great team experience and our best golf of the season," said Highlanders coach John Krueger.

The two teams shared the road trip north to the resort area.

Krueger is dealing with 13 athletes this fall, including letter-winners junior Rebecca Hart, and sophomores Lauren Olson and Rachel Morris. Other varsity contenders include seniors Laura Podolske and Emma Aspell, junior Emily Sweet and sophomore Lauren Smith.

"They're outstanding kids, very coachable," said Krueger. Morris and Olson shot 84 apiece to lead the Highlanders at Coldwater. Homestead took part in the Arrowhead Scramble on Wednesday.

Boys Soccer

The Highlanders took it on the chin, 4-0, to powerhouse Brookfield East on Saturday being outshot 22-6 in the nonconference defeat.

Homestead, which graduated NCAA Division I and University of Akron recruit Gabe Genovesi, will be led this fall by co-captains and midfielders Andrew Lamers and Nico Soto.

All told, there are 11 seniors on varsity including goalies T. J. Ausman and Jake Ziebart, midfielders Zach Mueller, Max Bradshaw and Eric Stemmeler; and defenders David Plavnick, Michael Kress, Nick Yeh and Zak Nye.

The Highlanders will be at the Gusho Invitational in Brookfield where they will play defending state champion Muskego in a 6 p.m. quarterfinal Friday. If they win, they would play the winner of Marquette and Madison Memorial in an 11 a.m. Saturday semifinal. The championship is at 3 p.m. Saturday.

WHITEFISH BAY

Girls tennis

The Blue Dukes got their season off to a sound start, taking fifth in the Brookfield East Invitational and winning the Waukesha South Invite last week.

"It was a pretty exhausting week," said Bay coach Phil Kelbe. "That was a lot of tennis for us. Still, I'm happy to take a 7-1 (dual meet record) out of the first week. I won't complain about that."

The Blue Dukes lineup this fall includes singles players (in order one through four) senior Sophie Lillie (round of 16 at state), senior Natalie Harland, freshman Lily Hayes and sophomore Emily Deblitz.

In doubles, seniors Michelle Croak and Hannah Bostwick, who played with different partners in 2009, will hold down the first position, while senior Elise Wirkus will work with either sophomore Elana Ouimet, freshman Asia Butler or junior Jackie Comerford.

At three, juniors Emma Kortebein and Katherine Giesa will be matched up. All told, there are 35 players out this fall.

"Our singles players have been consistent so far," said Kelbe. "We just need to put the right players together at the other positions."

In the South Tournament last weekend, the Blue Dukes defeated South (6-1), Prairie School (7-0), Rhinelander (6-1) and De Pere (6-1) for the title.

At the powerhouse East tournament held Aug. 17 and 18, Bay beat Kettle Moraine, 5-2, lost to DSHA, 4-3, beat host East, 4-3, and University School, 4-3, for its spot.

NICOLET

Girls tennis

With two freshmen occupying the top singles spots, the Knights look to remain competitive this fall, and they showed that they will be, taking third in the powerhouse Brookfield East Invite, Aug. 17 and 18.

"They're far outplaying my expectations so far," said veteran Knights coach Tim Koppa. "I'm very encouraged by this beginning."

Nicolet is led by freshmen Emily Mone and Sara Miller at the first and second singles spots, respectively, while sophomore Emma Watkin will handle the third spot. The fourth singles position was up for grabs as of press time.

In doubles, seniors Ariel Winter and Rebecca Raj will handle the first spot, while junior Erin Miller and senior Sari Edelman will play at two. The third position also has a number of players vying for it.

At the Brookfield East meet, the Knights beat Greendale, 7-0, and edged host East, 4-3, before falling to eventual runner-up DSHA, 6-1. They then defeated Brookfield Central, 4-3, to nail down the third spot.

The only concern Koppa has at this point, is an unusually low turnout for usually tennis-mad Nicolet. Only 25 to 30 girls came out this fall.

Boys Soccer

The Knights defeated Dominican, 4-0, in Shorewood's Eastside Cup on Friday.

They opened their North Shore season against Whitefish Bay on Tuesday and now will be at Brown Deer on Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. tilt and then at Kenosha Bradford on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest.

Girls Golf

Nicolet took 22nd in the Homestead/ Brookfield Central Classic Aug. 16 and 17.

The Knights turned in a 36-hole score of 856 as Madison Edgewood won with a 656 score.

Amy Hurwitz led the Knights with a two-day score of 183, carding an 18-hole score of 90 on the second day. Emily Murphy came in with a 192 two-day mark recording a 93 on the first day.

No other Nicolet player shot less than a 113 in the team's other rounds.

SHOREWOOD

Boys soccer

The Greyhounds split their opening two games in their own Eastside Cup as they beat Messmer, 9-0, and then fell to University School, 7-6.

Shorewood will now host De Pere on Saturday, at 2 p.m. before opening Woodland play on Monday at home against New Berlin Eisenhower (6:30 p.m.).

Cross Country

The Greyhounds will open their season with their own Early Bird Invite at Kern Park at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The defending Division 2 state champion boys squad will have to do without graduated all-staters Ben Tyler and Peter Drews this fall but will still build around four solid runners including seniors Aidan Mazur, Joe Pendleton and Gavin Schroeder and sophomore John Papke.

Shorewood has won the last 13 conference titles in a row and has six state Division 2 titles since 2000.

Emily Bacchuber, who paced the Greyhounds to a state meet berth last fall, will lead the girls squad again this season.

BROWN DEER

Boys soccer

The Falcons competed well in the Red Division of the Sheboygan South Red Wing last weekend, turning in a 1-1-1 mark, good for a tie for third.

Brown Deer defeated Howards Grove, 4-1, but then fell to eventual runner-up, South, 3-1, before tieing Kenosha St. Joseph's, 3-3, in the third-place game.

The Falcons will host Nicolet at 4:30 p.m. Saturday before opening Woodland play at Pewaukee at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

- Steven L. Tietz