Runners making strides; football team shuts out Parkview
By Adam Knoll
After an up and down beginning to the season, the Whitewater High School boys soccer team is starting to believe that they can be a factor in the conference championship. A good test was in front of them as they faced rival Big Foot in a game to decide the conference lead.
Roberto Navejas opened up the scoring early in the 13th minute, a score that Big Foot would counter in the 26th. In the 30th minute, Jacob Haeft, off of a direct kick from Alonso Banda, put the Whippets up 2-1.
The battle then shifted to the midfield where ball control and attack counters became the policy. Whitewater was able to preserve their lead until the half.
Of course, being the team that they are, Big Foot came out of halftime pounding the ball, scoring in the 51st minute and again in the 66th.
Unable to find a rhythm offensively, Whitewater tried to sustain a consistent attack but was foiled.
However, in the last minutes of the game, Mark Cuevas converted a direct kick into the back of the net in the 87th minute to even the game. The battle for first ended in a draw.
“(I’m) not disappointed with the overall play of this squad,” coach Rene Menager after the game. “Big Foot came in well prepared to play, they have a solid team.”
Runners solid; boys first, girls second in season-opener
In the squad’s first competition of the season, the Whitewater High School cross country team seems to be making progress.
James Ehlen and Jon Zidmars finished 2nd and 3rd, respectfully, to lead the team to win the individual team title over Mukwonago. Jimmy King finished ninth and Nathan Barrett placed 15th allowing the top four runners to earn a medal.
“Many runners from last seasons team ran significantly faster in less than ideal conditions from a year ago which is a great place to be right now,” head coach Chad Carstens said.
The Lady Whippets ran strong as well, placing four runners in the top eight and helping the team finish second only to Mukwonago, a Division 1 program.
Sarah Ziolkowski won her first Whippet Challenge title this year with a personal best of 20:22. Andrea Sandoval’s work over the summer proved valuable as she leapt up to third place this year in the meet. Freshman Allisan Barrett and Junior Abby King ran well together coming home in seventh and eighth.
Shut out of Parkview
John Saylor ran for 172 yards and a score as the Whippets earned their first victory of the season, a 27-0 shutout over Parkview last week.
Jordan Peterson, who scored twice during the game on two carries, opened up the scoring in the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run. Saylor added a score in the third before Peterson put the game away on a 15-yard run.
Mitchel Ruhl added a 10-yard touchdown pass with 9:48 left in the fourth quarter to Sam Liebbrand to finish off the scoring for the game.
After being held to just seven points in the first three gams of the year, the Whippets were able to turn on some scoring of their own while winning a conference game for the first time this season.
Coming up next for the Whippets is a match against East Troy on the road. The Trojans lost last week and can ill-afford to drop another one while looking for a playoff seat. The Whippets meantime, are looking to be the spoiler in that scenario.
