Sports Wrapups: Feb. 21

Whitnall swimming, diving

The Falcons had representation at Friday's WIAA Division 2 state meet for the first time in four seasons and made the most of it with some solid showings.

The 200 freestyle unit of senior Nick Ratkowski, senior Nate Hinson, junior Ben Hinson and junior David Monteilh placed ninth in 1 minute, 31.94 seconds, a full second lower than the qualifying time.

Ratkowski claimed 10th in the 50 freestyle (personal-best 22.99 seconds), moving up five spaces from his seeding.

Diver Nick Bell came in 13th (285.55 points), and coach Laura Citro said she was pleased with the effort. Ben Hinson, senior Alex Bell, Nate Hinson and Ratkowski captured 14th in the 200 medley relay (1:44.95, just .8 off the season-best time).

The Falcons tallied 35 points for 17th in the 31-team meet.

Whitnall wrestling

Mason Howard pulled out a wrestleback match, 11-2, over Max Fisher of Waterford to take second in a WIAA Division 1 sectional at Waukesha West last Saturday to qualify for this weekend's state individual meet.

Howard won his first two matches at 145 pounds but lost 14-6 to Willie Ehlen of Burlington (43-3) in the final.

He improved to 47-5 on the season and posted his 144th career victory, moving into a tie for fourth place in school history with John Zelinski.

He will compete at the Kohl Center in Madison Thursday with a match against Travis Hettinga of Wausau West (43-5).

"He really deserves this for all the hard work and sacrifice he has put in," co-coach John Quinlan said.

Anthony Senthavisouk (36-12) finished fourth at 106, while Evan Olson (138), John McGee (160) and Ty Fischer (170) all fell in the first round. Olson finished 30-21, McGee 36-12 and Fischer 21-18.

"They all had great seasons and went as far as they could," Quinlan said. "Anthony lost to three guys that were all ranked in the top eight in state, but to have 36 wins as a freshman is quite an accomplishment."

Greendale wrestling

Jared Rosen (106 pounds) and Sam Walton (145) both placed fourth in a WIAA Division 1 sectional meet on Saturday at Racine Horlick.

Walton (27-15) won his first match by injury default, then lost his next two. Rosen (15-8) took a 3-2 decision in his first round but also dropped the next two.

Falling in the opening round were Tommy Welch (113), Dustin Donald (160), Jake Rosen (170), Andy Rohde (195), Bobby Hintz (220) and Alex Rohde (heavyweight).

"I couldn't have asked for anything more out of the season," said head coach Robert LaPlante, whose team had eight freshmen on varsity. "Coming in as a first-year coach, I set very high goals for the team and for the most part, we met them. We were able to win a tournament, we won two conference duals, which has not been done in years by Greendale, and we kept a full roster for the entire season.

"It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication all the boys put into the season. We still have a ways to go to get where we want to be, but with the commitment these kids have, I think we will get there."

Franklin girls basketball

Outscoring Kenosha Tremper, 34-11, in the second and third quarters combined, Franklin defeated the Trojans, 57-40, last Friday.

With the win, Franklin improved to 10-3 in Southeast play and 14-6 overall. It currently has a one-game lead for second in league play but will visit league-leader and defending champion Racine Case (13-0, 18-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

In the win over Tremper, the Sabers were actually down 15-12 after the first quarter before going on a 15-4 run in the second period that put them ahead for good.

Cassidy Mihalko had 17 points, Jenny Eickhorst 12, Katie Nord nine and Kayla Plath eight to lead the way. Franklin had five three-pointers in the contest.

The Sabers also beat East Troy, 66-62, in a non-conference game on Monday as Mihalko hit 11 of 13 free throws en route to 25 points as Montana Mack had 21, Nord nine and Eickhorst eight.

Oak Creek girls basketball

The Knights remained in a tie for third in the Southeast Conference with a 61-18 rout of Racine Horlick last Friday.

With the win, Oak Creek improved to 9-4 in league play and 15-5 overall. They are tied with Muskego for third in the SEC. They took on West Allis Central in a non-conference game on Wednesday.

Against Horlick, nine Oak Creek players scored, led by Tamya Sims with 16, and Morgan Kokta and Steph Kostowicz with nine apiece. The Knights were up 20-8 after the first quarter and never looked back.

The Knights had seven three-pointers in the contest led by Kokta with three, while Chandler Gilmeister had two.

Greendale boys basketball

Alex Noggle scored 12 points, Jordan Perez 11 and Matt Habeck nine on a trio of 3-point field goals to boost the Panthers to a 53-41 victory over Wauwatosa West last Friday.

The Panthers outscored Tosa West, 32-20, in the middle two quarters for the victory, which improved them to 8-8 in the Woodland Conference and 8-13 overall.

They lost to Catholic Memorial, 73-52, on Feb. 14. Shawn Markham tallied 10 points and Habeck and Noggle seven apiece.

Greendale visits Waterford at 7 p.m. Tuesday as WIAA Division 2 regional play begins.

Whitnall girls basketball

The Falcons fell to unbeaten New Berlin Eisenhower, 56-28, last Friday night to slip to 7-8 in the Woodland Conference and 10-9 overall.

Elena Busalacchi scored 10 points to lead Whitnall, which welcomes Greenfield (1-14, 3-16) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and travels to South Milwaukee (10-5, 12-6) for a game at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29.

Greendale girls basketball

Taylor DeLong and Maya Boren each tallied nine points, but the Panthers lost, 49-34, to Wauwatosa West last Friday.

Greendale also dropped a 54-28 game to Waukesha South on Feb. 14 as Emily Perszyk scored seven points and DeLong five.

The Panthers (7-8 in the Woodland Conference and 7-12 overall going into this week) welcome South Milwaukee (10-5, 12-6) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and visit New Berlin Eisenhower (15-0, 18-0) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29.

Oak Creek swimming

The senior-heavy Knights recently finished their season in sectional competition.

Seniors included Michael Bennett, Zach Dlugi, Joey Dzierzewski, Wayne Evans, Steve Gajewski, Travis Harrison, Jake Howell, Kyle Hughes, Zack Kaestner, Corey Pientka, Andrew Rettmann, Aaron Sova, Scott Vieu and Kyle Zawacki.

"We finished strong," said coach Tom Fischer. "The team continued to amaze me and they were very satisfied with their accomplishments."

Franklin/Oak Creek boys basketball

The Sabers (8-5 in the Southeast and 9-12 overall), lost their third game in a row with a 64-44 decision to Kenosha Tremper last Friday. They will close out their regular season on Thursday at home against Racine Case (9-4, 14-7).

They earned the third seed in the WIAA Kettle Moraine sectional and will host Kenosha Bradford in a regional semifinal March 2.

The Knights (3-10, 7-12), got 19 points from Jonathan Breen and 16 from Alex Medenwaldt, but it wasn't enough as Racine Horlick rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to pull away from the Knights, 72-55, last Friday.

Oak Creek, which will close out its regular season at Muskego on Thursday, picked up the eighth seed in the WIAA Racine Horlick sectional and will host Greenfield in a regional quarterfinal game Feb. 28. The winner will travel to the sectional's top seed Milwaukee Hamilton for a regional semifinal March 2.

Greendale co-op hockey

The local team ended its season with a 7-4 loss to Kenosha on Feb. 14 in a WIAA regional semifinal contest.

The squad finished with just two victories this year.

- Compiled by Steven L. Tietz and John Rech