Brookfield, Tosa spring sports tidbits

Published on: 4/20/2010

Here are some of my observations on the spring so far...

Freshman Taylor Held is keeping it all in the family. Last year sister Brittney, now a sophomore, handled the mound duties. She was basically holding the fort for her little sister. Coach Dawn Mooney-Lazu has done an excellent job with a program which had been suffering. Brittney moved to 1B and with slugging Jessica Meichtry at 3B and the slick DP combo of SS Andrea Schneider and 2B Lindsay Wille, Taylor has a solid infield behind her. Look for Lancers to contend.

With Amanda Kalupa on the mound, the crosstown rival Spartans are also a threat. But East almost was upset by an improved, but winless, Tosa East team last week, taking eight innings to finally get a 1-run win.

BE's Kyle Rhode is on the state's honor roll in the jumps (triple and long) and hurdles. East coach Mike Steiner's program has tradition and talented athletes are coming out every year so Steiner can reload, not rebuild.

Look for a feature on Central's pole vaulter supreme Matt Krogmann in a few weeks. He took first in the Gain Invite and the Horlick Invite last week and is fourth on the honor roll. It seems like BC coach Mark Pulkownik has a garden of field event studs, because the Lancers are always near the top of the league in the vault, shot and discus.

Get out and watch BC soccer tonight (Tuesday) as No. 1 DSHA comes to Brookfield in a battle of two of the top four teams in Wisconsin.

It will be interesting to see how fast Central and East rebuild their doubles teams, even though it might not matter with No. 1 Marquette the GMC favorite again.

East's Kyle Henning was the medalist at the Wisconsin Dells Invite last Friday and Saturday, he shot a 75-71.

East soccer is loaded with veterans (Kate Reigle, Katelyn Kotek, Rebekah Roller, etc.) and young talented (sophomore Taylor Swittel and freshman goalkeeper Erin Wachowiak). They are ranked No. 2 behind the powerful Dashers of DSHA.

Chidera Obasih and Katelyn Malcore each won three events last the Lady Spartan last week and Hannah Trasser excelled in the distance events again, as Central coach Danna Bowe's squad is loaded once again this spring.

The mile relay (Emma Watson, Alex Smitn, Nicole Kashian and Claire Gordee) and 800 relay (Kaleigh Wurster, Yolanda Coleman, Danielle Shumpert and Gordee) each won at the Lady Spartan Invite for the Red Raiders. Max Kilpin continues to be the star of the young Raiders boys teams.

Nice to see the talented Cara Walls on the Tosa East soccer team. Walls has been an outstanding club soccer player.

The Tosa East softball team is looking for their first win in three years, but Megan Arndorfer's team is much improved and should break into the win column this season. The Tosa West team is improved under new coach Ed Raue. Look for Kathy Schmutzer and Alison Coppersmith to lead that offense.

Led by (state qualifiers) Nick Skanavis, Michael Rankin and Pete Conis, as well as Tracy Johnson, look for the Raider tennis team to be solid this year.

As for Tosa West, let brown do it, as in Keith Brown, who scored in multiple events at the Mike Gain Invite. As for the girls, can you say Ashlee Ballinger, who won the high jump at the Lady Spartan. She has her eye on the state meet once again (17th on the honor roll).

First-year Coach Jon Gulrajani has Tosa West's kickers at 2-3. If you want to see a now-stop, hustling soccer player, go watch senior Jackie Glaser.