Sports Wrapups: Feb. 9

Whitnall boys basketball

A three-game winning streak put the Falcons into the sole lead of the Woodland Conference Black Division.

The Falcons downed Brown Deer, 74-65, on Friday night and St. Thomas More, 64-54, on Jan. 31 to improve to 11-2 in the division, one game ahead of New Berlin Eisenhower (10-3), which was upset by Pewaukee, 55-50, on Friday.

Whitnall (15-2 overall entering this week) met South Milwaukee on Tuesday and will now visit Wauwatosa West (2-11, 2-15) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Falcons welcome Eisenhower Feb. 17 and close the Woodland season at Greenfield Feb. 22.

"This conference is balanced on both sides (two divisions)," coach Kent Kroupa said. "The (contending) teams need to be sharp the rest of the way, and they have to win their home games."

Balanced scoring - a hallmark of the team all season - continued on Friday against Brown Deer. Ian Ray tallied 25 points with five 3-point field goals, while Luke Mentkowski added 19 points, Stephen Pelkofer 13 and Sam Mentkowski nine.

Against St. Thomas More, Bryan Nagy led the way with 17 points, followed by Sam Mentkowski with 16 points, Pelkofer 11 and Ray 10.

Oak Creek wrestling

Even though illness left the Knights short-handed, there was still some good news for them at Saturday's Southeast Conference championships, as Mike Heard made his first return to action since early December a good one by winning the 285-pound title.

He had company on the victory stand as Josh Regazzi claimed the 182-pound crown.

"Mike had some rust to break off and I think he did that on Saturday," said Oak Creek coach Matt Sommerville. "He hasn't wrestled in competition since Dec. 3. He has gone through a lot, dealing with a nagging injury."

The two champions led the Knights to a fourth-place finish in the Southeast meet with 155½ points, as Muskego won with 190.

Heard (5-2 on the year) beat a Racine Park opponent on a technical fall before beating a Muskego foe on a 13-5 major decision in the final. Regazzi (28-5) pinned Racine Case (2:36) and Kenosha Tremper (0:24) opponents for his title.

Seth LaBodda at 120 (25-5) and Bryce Agg at 195 (22-10), were both second while Jake Schmidt at 126 (10-8), Don Maas at 145 (16-17) and Jake Brycki at 220 (16-14) were all third.

Franklin wrestling

Titles from Roman Stiff at 138 pounds and Kyle Smith at 170 highlighted an indifferent third-place effort for the Sabers with 164 points at the Southeast Conference meet Saturday.

"We were a little disappointed with our overall finish," said coach Chad Phillippi. "We went into the tournament thinking we had a chance to win, but we also knew we had to have everyone wrestle to their potential to do that. We let a few matches slip away and that was the difference in the final outcome."

Stiff (28-9 on the season), a returning state meet qualifier, pinned both Tremper (0:34) and Kenosha Bradford (5:13) opponents for his title.

Smith (31-8), also a returning state qualifier, pinned a Tremper opponent (1:53) before beating a Bradford foe (10-0 major decision) for his championship.

Colin DeClark (21-7) was second at 132, as was Craig Christian (3-1) at 220. Earning thirds were Xianou Xiong at 106 (27-11) and Gavin Devine at 182 (20-19).

Greendale wrestling

The combo team finished the Woodland Conference season with two dual victories, beating Greenfield, 40-36, on Feb. 1 and New Berlin, 39-31, on Feb. 2.

Winners against Greenfield were Jared Rosen, Tommy Welch, Henry Felerski, Sam Walton, Jake Rosen, Andy Rohde and Bobby Hintz.

Taking victories over New Berlin were Jared Rosen, Welch, Saad Fleifel, Walton, J.P. Carvalho, Dustin Donald and Jake Rosen.

"We were up by one going into the last match and needed a win to secure the victory," coach Robert LaPlante said. "Welch was winning 8-5 in the second period and pinned his opponent to win the dual."

Greendale then tied for seventh place with 65 points in the Woodland Conference Meet on Saturday. Jared Rosen (106 pounds) and Walton (145) finished fourth.

Greendale boys basketball

Both the lights and the Panthers' shooting shut down on Friday night at Greendale High School.

They both eventually came back on, but it was too late for Greendale to avoid a 55-44 loss to St. Thomas More.

With 1 minute, 15 seconds left in the first half, a bank of lights in the gym went out, suspending the game for about 20 minutes as the school pep band likely ran through most of its songs.

The lights returned, but the Panthers' marksmanship was still missing through three quarters, as they managed just six field goals and fell behind 35-18 heading into the fourth.

They finally got hot in the final period, connecting on 9 of 16 shots, including four 3-point field goals, but the Cavaliers stayed ahead by netting 17 free throws.

"We didn't do a very good job of making reads off our ball screens (in the first half)," coach Ryan Fiet said. "We didn't do what we normally do, which is move the ball and find the open guy. We moved the ball much better in the second half, and we got some open looks."

Jordan Perez finished with 12 points, while Alex Noggle had nine and Cameron Rowe and Ryan D'Acquisto each added eight points.

Greendale beat Wauwatosa West, 66-56, on Jan. 31 behind 14 points from Shawn Markham, 13 apiece by Matt Habeck and Noggle and nine from Jacob Sisler.

The Panthers, 6-7 in the Woodland Conference and 6-11 overall going into this week, welcome Greenfield (2-11, 3-14) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and visit Catholic Memorial (10-6) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Greendale girls basketball

Taylor DeLong scored 21 points to lead the Panthers to a 45-25 triumph over St. Thomas More on Friday.

The Panthers lost to Wauwatosa West, 47-41, on Jan. 31 despite 15 points from Emily Perszyk and eight by Olivia Surita.

Greendale, 6-7 in the Woodland Conference and 6-11 overall entering this week, visits Greenfield (1-12, 3-14) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and travels to Waukesha South (7-9) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Greendale co-op hockey

Kyle Hoffmann tallied five goals to help the local squad down Grafton, 10-6, on Saturday for its second victory of the season.

Also scoring for Greendale were Joe Jensen with three goals and Jake Hardin with two. Brian Kennedy collected three assists, while Jensen, Hoffmann and Kahler Cox each added two.

Whitnall boys swimming

The Falcons tallied 315½ points for fourth place in the Woodland Conference Meet at Greenfield on Saturday.

Earning third were Nick Ratkowski in the 100 freestyle (51.24 seconds) and the 200 freestyle relay unit of Ratkowski, Nate Hinson, David Monteilh and Ben Hinson (1:33.59, a state qualifying time).

Taking fourth were diver Nick Bell (321.85 points), Ratkowski in the 50 freestyle (23.48), Alex Bell in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.57) and the 200 medley squad of Ben Hinson, Jake Hodel, Jack Larson and Ratkowski (1:47.85).

"The time drops, team spirit and overall attitude of the team this season has been spectacular," coach George Guddie said.

Whitnall wrestling

Mason Howard (152 pounds) and Ty Fischer (170) both claimed championships for the Falcons at the Woodland Conference Meet on Saturday at Cudahy High School.

"I was thrilled for Ty Fischer," co-coach John Quinlan said. "He was seeded fifth and wrestled extremely well in pulling off upsets of two guys he had lost to this season, and he dominated in the final. I was happy for Mason; he has worked so hard and really deserves the title. He is in the top seven all-time for victories at Whitnall."

Anthony Senthavisouk took second at 106 pounds and thirds were earned by John McGee (160) and Sam Howard (182). Coming in fourth were Joe Price (113), Blake Leslie (120), Alex Sterling (195) and Ethan Harycki (heavyweight).

Placing fifth were Dylan Kellner (126) and Evan Olson (138) and sixths were taken by Amol Mody (145) and Jeremy Brunner (220).

The Falcons tallied 167½ points for fourth place.

Whitnall girls basketball

After a power outage postponed a Jan. 31 game against St. Thomas More, the Falcons shut down Brown Deer, 47-40, on Friday night.

Rachael Shulta led the way with 12 points, while Ann Marie Bay added 11 points and nine rebounds and Elena Busalacchi and Ashley Markowiak contributed seven points each.

The Falcons, 6-6 in the Woodland Conference and 9-7 overall going into this week, visit Wauwatosa West (6-7, 6-9) at 6 p.m. Friday.

Oak Creek swimming

The meet did not end well for the Knights, and that was how they wound up a disappointing seventh with 205½ points in the Southeast Conference championships Saturday.

"We'd have done much better but both the 400 (free) relays were (disqualified)," said Oak Creek coach Tom Fischer.

As usual, the sprint freestyles led the way for the Knights, as in the 50 free, Zach Kaestner was third (23.41), Adam Hock seventh (24.39) and Scott Vieau 10th (24.92). In addition, the 200 free relay team of Travis Harrison, Vieau, Zach Dlugi and Kaestner, was third (1:34.36).

Other top 10 finishes for the Knights included the following: 200 medley relay-Justin Sporleder, Aaron Sova, Jacob Wnuk and Hock, fifth (1:50.6). 200 free-Dlugi, ninth (2:02.66). 100 butterfly-Harrison, ninth (1:00.85). 100 free-Kaestner, eighth (53.55). 200 free relay-Andrew Rettmann, Sporleder, Wnuk and Hock, 10th (1:39.84). 100 backstroke-Sporleder, eighth (1:04.11). 100 breaststroke-Sova, fifth (1:08.62).

- Compiled by Steven L. Tietz and John Rech