ALL-AREA SPORTS: Wilmot freshman phenom steals the show

Barthel, Hebior, Brenner near top of inaugural squad

Wilmot senior Bobby Brenner led the SLC in QB sacks with nine. He tied with teammate Wyatt Heckel. (Earlene Frederick/Westine Report)
Wilmot senior Bobby Brenner led the SLC in QB sacks with nine. He tied with teammate Wyatt Heckel. (Earlene Frederick/Westine Report)

 

By Jason Arndt

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There was no shortage of accolades this fall sports season, which created a daunting task of compiling a top ten all-area squad comprised of the best performers.

Between Westosha Central and Wilmot Union High School, there are 15 combined sports, and if there were 25-30 slots, it would be much easier.

Before the All-Western Kenosha County results are unveiled with five honorable mentions, there were several standout team performances.

Jason Arndt
Jason Arndt

Wilmot’s volleyball programs are up-and-coming, with remarkable improvement from the girls squad, and the boys team taking the Southeast Conference by storm in its second varsity season.

The Lady Panthers, who won three games in the previous year, made a giant leap, posting a 13-19 overall record (2-6 SLC).

While Wilmot will miss the senior leadership of libero Sawyer Wightman, middle blocker Sam Kirk, right side hitter Teya Gaines and defensive specialist Sam Schloegl, there are reasons to be optimistic.

Early in the season, coach Kevin Raap said junior setter Devin Coleman was challenged to take on a leadership role, after being voted as one of the captains.

Coleman responded with a team-leading 316 assists along with 28 service aces.

Additionally, sophomores Sam Serak had a team-leading 124 kills and Rebecca Bell had a team-best 26 blocks.

Junior Lauren Daniels, who was SLC honorable mention, finished second on the team with 97 kills.

Wightman, the other honorable mention, eclipsed 800 career digs for Wilmot Union High School.

The Wilmot (11-13 overall) boys team entered the season with seven on the varsity squad and ended with nine. They will return junior Sam Rovik and sophomore Alex Tenhagen.

While Westosha Central’s football squad went winless during the season, the Falcons expect to return the bulk of their key performers, including juniors Josiah McDermitt, Logan Hughes, Austin Kurylo and Tre Williams.

McDermitt passed for more than 1,000 yards and produce nine touchdowns for the Falcons.

One of McDermitt’s primary targets, Austin Kurylo, had 23 catches for 450 yards.

Even though Hughes was the feature back, rushing for 450 yards on 86 carries, Williams was a highlight reel with multiple touchdowns eclipsing 80 yards or more.

Both soccer teams endured difficult seasons but it all changed near the conclusion of the season.

The Falcons snapped its losing skid, with a 2-1 win against Burlington High School with from Trace Miller and Seth Seybert.

The following night, the Falcons shut down the Panthers 1-0 with a Seybert goal. Westosha Central (3-15-2 overall) finished 2-6-1 in the SLC.

Wilmot (3-14-4) was led the sophomore duo of Jonathon Mendez and Anthony Poco. Mendez was the team-leader in assists with 10 and Poco netted nine goals.

The criteria for the all-area teams rely upon the following factors: Playing a part in a team’s post-season success, maintaining consistency throughout the season and making their marks at both the regional and sectional levels.

 

FALL ALL-WESTERN KENOSHA COUNTY

Player of the year

Bianca Andersen
Bianca Andersen

Bianca Andersen, freshman, Wilmot Girls Tennis

The freshman held her own during the season, as the Panthers No. 1 singles player, where she advanced to the WIAA Division 1 Sectionals.

Andersen started the season with 11 straight wins and finished with a 17-4 record.

“I am so proud of the season (Bianca) had, and am excited for the next three years,” Obertin said.

 

 

BEST OF THE REST

  1. Rachel Barthel, senior, Westosha Central girls volleyball

On a team loaded with depth and talent, senior captain Rachel Barthel finished in the top three in most categories for the Falcons.

Barthel led the Falcons with 290 kills, finished second with 173 service points and produced 355 digs on defense.

Falcons’ coach Charlie Berg said her contributions go beyond numbers.

“Rachel was our floor leader and motivational player this season,” Berg said. “She remained positive at all times.

The Falcons (30-20 overall) were one game shy of the state tournament.

Despite coming up short, Barthel said it was a pleasure to witness the heavily stacked group of underclassmen.

“I think we came very far in both (the mental/physical) concepts and it was great to watch the girls grow,” Barthel said.

  1. Bobby Brenner, senior, defensive lineman, Wilmot Union

The Panthers thrived on defense during a season where they finished 8-3 (5-2 SLC).

Senior defensive lineman Bobby Brenner, along with teammate Wyatt Heckel, were co-leaders with nine sacks in the SLC.

Brenner also accumulated 45 total tackles.

“I feel like Wyatt and I were the fastest defensive ends in the conference this year,” Brenner said.

Wilmot coach Erick Kaiser said Brenner, along with fellow all-area honorees Heckel and sophomore A.J. Frisby, were instrumental in the team’s success.

Westosha's Meghan Capra advanced to the state tournament in Division 1. (Robert Mischka/Westosha Report)
Westosha’s Meghan Capra advanced to the state tournament in Division 1. (Robert Mischka/Westosha Report)

“All three athletes had phenomenal seasons for us,” Kaiser said. “Bobby and Wyatt allowed our defense to flourish.”

  1. Meghan Capra, sophomore, Westosha Central cross country

It was not easy running in the shadows of her sister, Melissa, who was an accomplished athlete at Westosha Central.

But Meghan was able to produce for the Falcons as the leader of the pack, including a third place finish in the Southern Lakes Conference championships, in spite of lingering flu symptoms.

The following week, Capra advanced to the state meet with a fourth place finish at the Kenosha Bradford sectional.

“Meghan stepped into the front runner role vacated by her sister and did so admirably,” said Keith Olsen, Falcons coach.

  1. Jordan Easthon, senior, Westosha Central boys volleyball

Similar to the girls outcome, the Falcons came up one game shy of reaching the state tournament after losing to Kenosha Indian Trail.

However, Easthon, the Falcons (29-16) leader with 390 kills, said the season showed the South East Conference what Westosha Central was made of.

“Obviously, we would have loved to win that match against ITA, but nonetheless, we showed what Westosha Central Volleyball is, that is all due to coach Wayne Schultz,” Easthon said.

Easthon also contributed defensively with 160 digs and tabulated a .319 hitting percentage.

  1. A.J. Frisby, sophomore, quarterback, Wilmot Union football

The sophomore quarterback led an explosive offense that consisted of an arsenal of weapons in the backfield,Frisby completed 53 of 129 passes for 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns and had 623 yards on the ground on 139 with 19 touchdowns.

“A.J. helped power one of Wilmot’s best offenses of the past decade,” Kaiser said. “He has one of the brightest football related futures as any athlete in the state.”

  1. Jacob Hebior, senior, Westosha Central cross country

Jacob Hebior left the opposition with no doubt his senior season, taking a home SLC Runner of the Year honors and a Sectional Championship.

It was the third time he obtained both Runner of the Year and was hit fourth straight state appearance.

“He is the first Central male athlete to compete in four State meets,” said Olsen. “His contributions to this team and to our program over his stellar speaks for his itself.”

  1. Wyatt Heckel, senior, defensive lineman, Wilmot Union

Like Brenner, Heckel was the co-leader in sacks with nine for a Panthers’ team which finished third behind Lake Geneva Badger and Waterford.

Heckel, who also notched SLC honors as an offensive lineman, produced 47 total tackles, with seven for loss.

  1. Colleen Nolan, junior, Westosha Central girls golf

Entering the Southern Lakes Conference tournament, Westosha Central was ranked fourth, but Collen Nolan and a core of fellow juniors changed that.

Nolan’s fourth-place finish and personal best 86 on an 18-hole course, along with performances by Mallory Scheppa, Lexi Carlson and Claudia Fox jumped to second-place.

“We most definitely knew this was going to be a hard conference tournament,” Nolan said. “But before the match our coach (Dan Peterson) listed off the teams that we needed to beat in order to stay in the top four.”

Nolan noted teamwork was essential for the team bolstering its rank.

“Not only did I shoot my personal best, but I also helped my team shoot our team low, achieving second place,” Nolan said. “I have never felt so accomplished before, which made me beyond happy.”

The Falcons carried the momentum into the WIAA Division I regional in North Prairie, finishing with a 377, one stroke shy of catching Union Grove.

However, Nolan, Scheppa and Carlson all advanced to the Sectional meet in Big Bend.

Although all three came up short of reaching the state meet, there is plenty of optimism for next year.

“The most challenging part of my sectional experience had to be my mental game. I let it get the best of me,” Nolan said.

“Next year we are expecting another amazing year of golf with good freshman coming, but with out team having no seniors all of us will be returning.”

  1. Ellie Turner, senior, Wilmot Union Girls Golf

Ellie Turner anchored a talented Panthers squad that included junior McKenna Stanek and senior Tehya White.

The senior golfer produced four medals, to help maintain the Panthers second-place SLC status.

“I wanted to keep it as not only a leader on the golf course, but as a person at school, and try to bring the team together,” Turner said.

Turner led the Panthers at the SLC tournament with a personal best 84 for third-place finish

“I never shot that low before, and when I did, I cried,” Turner said.

Despite dropping to fourth following the tournament, the Panthers accrued multiple highlights, including winning the Kenosha County Invite, led by Stanek.

In addition to Stanek, Turner said the season would not have been possible without the return of White, who had doubts about returning.

“I said, ‘It is our senior year, you can work hard and I will work with you and the coach will work with you,” Turner said. “We will pull through it.”

 

HONORABLE MENTION

The Falcons trio – George Capelli, Drake Muhlenbeck and Connor Muff.

Capelli produced 247 kills and 158 digs. Muhlenbeck had 281 kills and 140 digs while Muff set the tone with 852 assists.

Kaeley Mueller, Westosha Central girls volleyball – Mueller finished third on the team with 246 kills and second with 67 blocks en route to a first-team SLC honor.

“This year Kaeley Mueller brought spunk to the team!” Barthel said. “She was a key player during crucial moment.”

Abi Marcquenski, Westosha Central girls volleyball – Marcquenski led the Falcons with 142 blocks.

“When Abi and (Kaeley) blocked together, it was always a wall and I knew every time they went up, something good was going to happen,” Barthel said.

Mallory Scheppa, Westosha Central girls golf – Scheppa, along with Nolan, made up a slew of juniors on a squad that finished second in the SLC.

Scheppa, who advanced to sectionals with Nolan and Carlson, notched a personal best 92 at the SLC tournament. She scored a 99 in sectionals.

“She was a huge asset to the team giving us another score that was in the 90s most times and 40s to allow our overall team score to come down.”

Kyle Mackay, senior, Wilmot football

Mackay led the Panthers with 67 total tackles and also tabulated five sacks with two forced fumbles on a defense loaded with weapons.

 


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