Posted: Jan. 18, 2010 |(0) Comments

Falls/Germantown/Hamilton boys swim

Behind victories from the 400-yard individual medley and the 200 medley crews, the Indians were a competitive third in the Greater Metro Conference/Classic 8 Relays on Jan. 12.

"We planned to get a few more (firsts)," said coach Jim Weitzer, "but it was a very competitive meet. A lot of fun. It really went over pretty well with some really nice swims by our younger swimmers."

The Indians, who also beat West Allis in a league dual Jan. 14, will host their own Indian Invite on Saturday with Bay Port and Berlin among the competing teams. Bay Port is coming off an impressive victory in the Appleton North Lightning Invitational on Friday.

Diving will be at 10 a.m. and swimming will start at 1 p.m.

The local co-op scored 101 points in the relays, which was won by Arrowhead with 119 with Waukesha South second (108). The meet, hosted by Falls, had been postponed from the previous week by extensive snows.

Seniors Nick Bietz, Taylor Ladd, Taylor Hernikl and Sean Kimmitt made up the individual medley team that won with a time of 3:50.09, more than a half-second ahead of second-place Brookfield.

The same group also combined for an impressive 1:42.36 winning effort in the 200 medley relay, which was more than a second ahead of Arrowhead.

"Those older guys were pretty souped-up for those races," said Weitzer.

A second was earned by the diving crew headed up by defending state champion Nathan Cox (335.85 points) while thirds were claimed by the 300 backstroke team of Ben Perry, Michael Pellechia, Bietz and Kimmitt (2:49.2), the 300 breaststroke crew of Ben Midlikowski, Evan DuVall, Taylor Hernikl and Ladd (3:15.91); and the 300 butterfly unit of Hernikl, Taylor Kloehn, Midlikowski and Kimmitt (2:45.57).

"Some of our guys did a really wonderful job," Weitzer said.

Germantown girls basketball

After opening the new year with their first two losses of the season, the Warhawks needed a lift, and they got it with an inspired 23-7 run in the fourth quarter Friday that pushed them to a surprising 58-47 win over defending state Division 2 champion Grafton.

"Oh, we absolutely needed this," said Germantown coach Matt Stuve. "We were backed into a corner (five points down), and we had no choice but to come out fighting."

And that fight lifted the Warhawks to a 4-2 mark in the North Shore (9-2 overall), good for a tie for second with Cedarburg (4-2, 8-5) behind unbeaten Nicolet.

Germantown will look to keep its momentum Friday, when it hosts Homestead (1-5 in conference) at 7:30 p.m. The Highlanders just gained their first league win of the season Friday against Milwaukee Lutheran.

The Warhawks did trail the Blackhawks (3-3, 7-4) 40-35, at the end of three quarters but when Rachel Hoft found Melissa Klemm for an open 3-pointer to start the stanza, the run was on.

"We forced seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, any chance we had to get our hands on the ball, we took," Stuve said.

And help came from all quarters. Senior forward Eliza Wortman led the charge, scoring 11 of her 14 points in the quarter including seven-of-nine free throws. Klemm's 3-pointer was part of an impressive 18-point, eight-steal night while Hoft had nine points including all four of her free throw attempts. Germantown would hit 19-of-28 free throws on the evening. Shannon Gilly helped out with six points.

"This was huge," said Stuve. "To come back against a good team like this after dropping a couple of tough ones (to Cedarburg and Nicolet). It was a big challenge and the kids answered it."

Falls girls basketball

The Indians broke a three-game losing streak with a strong defensive effort in beating Wauwatosa East, 47-34, Friday.

"Our game plan tonight was to attack the basket as hard as we could," Indians coach Craig Amundson said. "I actually wound up calling a lot more plays than I normally do, screen and rolls, things like that, and it worked out pretty well for us."

The win improved the Indians to 2-3 in the GMC and 4-8 overall, good for a tie for fourth in the league standings. They will visit league-leading Brookfield Central (5-0, 6-4) at 7:30 p.m. Friday before heading over to DSHA (4-1, 5-6) on Tuesday.

Falls held a small advantage over East most of the evening with the lead being 29-23 at the end of three quarters.

Amundson said that he went with whoever was hot in the second half and noted that Jillian Carlson did a very nice job.

Rachel Defnet had 12 points and Erin Crownover 11 for the Indians.

"We were finally able to break it open with our defense in the fourth quarter," Amundson said.

Germantown wrestling

After a flat performance in a win over Nicolet on Jan. 14, the Warhawks lifted the level of their game Saturday, taking third in the Dave Ratka MAT Tournament.

"We wrestled well bringing home eight medals on the day," said Warhawks coach Casey Gabrielson. "… and this was even without the full varsity team due to injuries and illness."

The Warhawks scored 469 points as Kenosha Tremper won with 495 and Lomira was second with 475.

Germantown had three champions on the day as Cody Szohr (22-3) took the 119-pound bracket, two-time state champ Jesse Thielke 130 (30-0) and Danny Krause 140 (13-4). Earning seconds were Brian Kuhlenbeck at 135 (14-7), Tyler Baran at 145 (12-10), and Joe Multerer at 285 (21-10), Zach Baus at 125 (8-13) and John Trapp at 160 (8-10).

Gabrielson praised the efforts of Szohr and Thielke but was very pleased with the performance of Krause, who was coming back from an injury.

"It is good to have him back," Gabrielson said. "We are a much stronger team with him in the lineup. He is a natural wrestler and knows his position on the mat. It showed on Saturday."

Gabrielson also said that Baus and Trapp had their best tournaments of the year and that Baran is making good progress for a freshman. He also said that Kuhlenbeck is doing a good job of "sneaking up on people."

Multerer also continues to impress at heavyweight and Gabrielson praised the heavyweight assistant, Clayton Neske, for his work with Multerer.

The Warhawks beat Nicolet, 42-32, in a flat North Shore dual meet performance that Gabrielson was not pleased with.

Germantown will visit Grafton todayand then will host Homestead on Jan. 28. Homestead is coached by former Warhawks mentor Barry Bernstein. All alumni of Bernstein's time in Germantown are invited to attend the match.

Falls/Germantown gymnastics

Behind every-event winner Shelby Smykal, the local co-op turned in a sound effort in beating Shorewood 130.75-120-.625 in a Greater Metro/North Shore Conference dual on Jan. 13.

"Shelby had a very nice meet," Indians coach Tracy Howard said. "We've put in a few new things for her and it's starting to come together."

Smykal turned in an all-around score of 34.55 and had a best individual event score of 8.95 on balance beam, which Howard called a "breakthrough."

The Indians, who will be at the Watertown Invitational on Saturday, also got a second on beam and a third on uneven bars from freshman Emma Brose. Howard said the younger performers are really stepping up considering that the team is still missing a few people due to injuries.

"Things are coming along nicely, and we had a great practice yesterday (Jan. 15)," she said.

Menomonee Falls wrestling

The Indians gave up six pins to Greater Metro power West Allis Central and dropped a 54-19 league dual decision Jan. 14.

Falls got pins themselves in the match from Tony Guagliardo at 215 and Tyler Bross at 285.

The Indians, who will be at the Homestead Highlander Invitational on Friday, will make up the Brookfield East home dual meet that got snowed out on Jan. 7 on Jan. 28.

 

- Steven L. Tietz