All-Southern Lakes Conference honors announced
By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
After his play this past season, midfielder Andrew Slack of the Elkhorn Area High School boys soccer team earned the Elks’ 2015 Most Valuable Player award. Slack also earned All-Southern Lakes Conference First Team honors.
Ian Nowell also earned First Team All-SLC honors and is the Elks’ 2015 Defensive Player of the Year. Forward Sid Babu is the Elks’ 2015 Offensive Player of the Year and earned Second Team All-SLC honors.
Leo Loredo, Oscar Garcia and Matt Nelson earned All-SLC Honorable Mention recognition, which means they earned a vote for a spot on either the All SLC First or Second Team.
Ben Burrows earned the Elks’ Most Improved award.
Fort Atkinson beat Elkhorn 1-0 Oct. 24 in a regional final match at Elkhorn and ended the Elks’ season. Elkhorn entered the match seeded No. 1 in the regional bracket. Fort entered as the fifth seed.
The Blackhawks (4-15-1) ended Elkhorn’s five-year streak of WIAA regional titles with the victory. The Elks finished the season with an overall record of 13-6-1.
“It’s a tough way to go out,” Elks coach BZ Kayser said after the match. “We were superior to the other team, but that’s soccer for you. You can outplay a team and still lose.”
The Blackhawks’ Martin Bernabe scored from about 45 yards out on a set piece. Kayser said the Elks backline held at the 18-yard line.
The wind aided the shot on goal. Kayser said the Elks goaltender challenged the shot and ended up slightly out of position.
“That’s a save he makes 99 times out of 100,” Kayser said.
Elkhorn went 7-2 in SLC play and finished second in the regular season conference standings. The Elks lost 3-0 Oct. 13 at Delavan to the Comets in the title match of the Southern Lakes Conference tournament. The Elks entered as four-time defending conference tournament champions.
Dulaney shines in girls volleyball
Natalie Dulaney capped her 2015 season by earning Most Valuable Player honors for the Elkhorn Area High School girls volleyball team.
Dulaney also earned All-Southern Lakes Conference Honorable Mention recognition, which means she earned a vote to either the All-SLC First or Second team.
Rebecca Rondou earned Elkhorn’s Offensive Player of the Year award. Sabine Van Huit earned the Most Improved award and Emily Partington earned the Coach’s Award.
The Elks’ season ended with a postseason loss to a conference rival.
The Elks lost 25-9, 25-10, 25-9 to Westosha Central Oct. 22 in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal match at Paddock Lake.
“It was a tough way to end the season,” Elks coach Justin Diderrich said. “Nothing really worked for us. We now start the offseason, where I am excited to start implementing my program.”
Diderrich assumed control of head coaching duties a short time before the beginning of the regular season. Diderrich and the Elks did not spend much time together before the season started. This will now be his first offseason with the players.
“The Elks played with a lot of heart and battled the entire night,” Falcons coach Charlie Berg said. “They dug several balls, which kept them in several of the rallies. We had to play our best to win the match. There was no letdown.”
Barrett’s sectional run leads golfers
Jessica Barrett advanced the farthest this season of any member of the Elkhorn Area High School girls golf team and earned Most Valuable Player honors for her efforts.
Hailey Czubernaut earned the Elk Award and Jena Jacobs received the Most Promising award. Grace Franz earned the honor as Most Improved.
Barrett carded a 100 after 18 holes Oct. 6 in a WIAA Division 1 sectional tournament at Edgewood Golf Course in Big Bend and finished 29th. Barrett did not advance to the WIAA Division 1 Girls State Golf Meet Oct. 12 & 13 at University Ridge in Madison.
The top two teams and the top three individuals not part of one of the top two teams advance from the sectional tournament to state.
“She played very well,” Elks coach Steve Fisher said after the round. “She just had two bad holes, or she would have been in the low 90s.
“I was happy with how she did.”
Barrett advanced to the sectional tournament Oct. 1 at a WIAA Division 1 regional tournament in Milton at Oak Ridge Golf Course. Barrett shot a 101 over 18 holes on a chilly, blustery day and advanced to the sectional tournament as an individual qualifier.
The top four teams and top four individuals who are not part of the top four teams advance from the regional to the sectional tournament.
