Szyldowski secures first team all-SLC

Westosha, Wilmot put two players each on girls SLC honor team

By Dan Truttschel

Sports Correspondent

Both the Wilmot and Westosha Central girls basketball teams recently placed two players apiece on this year’s All-Southern Lakes Conference squads.

Leading the way was Wilmot senior Rachel Szyldowski, who was named to the first team. She was joined by junior teammate Olivia Klahs, who was an honorable mention selection.

Earning post-season honors from Central were seniors Jaela McGill, second team, and Madi Stanczak, honorable mention.

Waterford standout senior Madison Blair was named the SLC’s player of the year.

Wilmot closed the year at 12-12 overall and was 7-7 in the SLC. Central finished at 11-11 and 5-9 in conference play. Waterford and Union Grove tied for the title at 13-1.

Szyldowski, who also was a first-team pick as a junior, finished with 238 points (9.9 per game) and a team-high 134 rebounds (6.4). She made 81 of 189 field-goal attempts, 48 of 75 free throws, had 12 3-pointers, 35 assists, 42 steals and a team-high 40 blocked shots.

“Rachel had a good season, especially down the stretch for us,” Wilmot coach Keiya Square said. “I think at the beginning of the season, she was pressing a little, thinking she had to do too much. She was so valuable to us on both ends of the floor.”

Szyldowski’s ability to play in the post or step outside and knock down a 3-pointer made life difficult for the opposition, Square said.

“As the season went on, she became harder and harder to defend,” he said. “She really gave us another dimension, being able to step out and hit the three. Other teams had to know where she was at all times.”

Square added he was proud of the improvements in her game that Szyldowski made from her freshman to senior seasons.

“She grew a lot on and off the court,” he said. “Her range increased each year and she became a rebounding and blocking machine. She learned how to use her body and was able to do a lot of different things on the court.”

Klahs had 116 points this season (4.8), 80 rebounds (3.8), 40 assists, 30 steals and 11 blocked shots. She made 44 of 96 field goals, 19 of 50 free throws and five 3-pointers.

“Olivia was solid for us,” Square said. “At times, she was up and down, but when she was playing well, she was the best player on the floor.

“She was second in rebounds despite playing guard, and she turned into our best on-the-ball defender.”

 

Central features two

In her final high school season, McGill had 215 points (12.6 per game), 75 made field goals, was 26 for 51 from the free-throw line and made 26 3-pointers.

The year was split in two for her, Central coach Jerod Boyd said, with the second half being a better indication of her skills.

“The second half of her season was great,” Boyd said. “She averaged 17 (points) a game the second half, but just had a rough start.

“After an attitude change midway through the year, she was our leader. She was our go-to scorer whenever we needed a big basket. Her scoring mentality improved tremendously, and she found ways to get easier shots.”

Boyd said McGill became more of a complete player as the second half of the year unfolded.

“We switched our base offense halfway through the season, so she took it upon herself to be more of a distributor,” he said. “Her emphasis was on getting the ball to her teammates in hopes we could work it inside and out.

“Defensively, she was a lot more consistent in comparison to last year. Her on-the-ball defense was second to none on our team.”

Stanczak had 145 points (8.1), 46 made field goals, was 20 for 35 from the free-throw line and had 16 3-pointers.

While her scoring numbers weren’t quite what Stanczak hoped for, Boyd said she helped the team in other areas.

“She was our glue that kept everyone together and always played hard no matter what kind of game she was having,” he said. “She was our leading rebounder and took the most charges, which were the little things that didn’t get on paper.”

 

All-Southern Lakes Conference

Girls Basketball

First team – Madison Blair (sr., Waterford), Lily Quinn (sr., Badger), Ellen Stang (sr., Burlington), Sam Hartl (sr., Union Grove), Rachel Szydlowski (sr., Wilmot), Jenna Bouffiou (sr., Waterford).

Second team – Abbie Kolacke (sr., Elkhorn), Jordan Weidner (sr., Union Grove), Frankie Pettit (jr., Union Grove), Tiffany Stiew (sr., Waterford), Jaela McGill (sr., Westosha Central).

Honorable mention – Sam Tisa (jr., Badger), Jenn Freeman (soph., Badger), Jessa Burling (frosh., Burlington), Kenna Timmerman (soph., Delavan-Darien), Megan Skoczylas (jr., Elkhorn), Jenelle Shiffler (soph., Union Grove), Shauna Machine (sr., Waterford), Madi Stanczak (sr., Westosha Central), Olivia Klahs (jr., Wilmot).

Player of the Year – Madison Blair (sr., Waterford).


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