HIGH SCHOOL NOTES

Also: girls compete at state, Christian gets new volleyball coach, Thompson named to all-star team

SCHMIDTKE

Apparently the only thing keeping the Schmidtke boys from winning conference championships is a pandemic.

Max earned Fox Rivers Classic golfer of the year honors in 2018 and ’19 for North, and Mason accomplished the feat on Wednesday. Last season was wiped out because of COVID-19.

“I hope where they put player of the year, they just keep putting on M. Schmidtke because then it will look like one of the two of them won it for a few years in a row,” coach Craig Walters said.

Walters has known the family quite a while, especial since Max played sports with the coach’s sons since second or third grade.

So he knew he was good but was unsure where Mason would be at as a freshman last year.

“Then last summer, he was throwing up some pretty crazy numbers,” Watlers said. “I knew he’d be really good, you just never know being in competitions, how the nerves kick in and all that other good stuff happens in meets, but he’s just solid all the way around.

“His biggest thing is he’s so prepared when he goes to a meet – whether that means he’s gone and played the course ahead of time or his brother gives him little hints and distances from different spots of where to hit the ball – it’s pretty phenomenal watching him.”

The league championship was held at Wander Springs and Mason won medalist honors with a 73. He says his ability to keep the ball out of trouble was the key.

“I felt like I didn’t hit a lot of fairways but I also put myself in good spots,” Mason said. “Like I didn’t have to deal with tree trouble because I feel like that was a big part of beating that course, or going lower on that course. Because I felt a lot of people in my group almost every hole or every couple of holes I was watching them punch out to the fairway. And I always felt I could go at almost any pin where I was putting myself.”

Mason also credits his brother, who was at the meet and is one of his biggest supporters.

“He actually helped me put together my game plan really well,” Mason said. “I remember all the years as a younger kid watching him and was like, man, that’s my dream to follow in his footsteps. So it was a really big thing for me to have him out there and gave him a big hug walking off 18. It just meant a lot to me to have him out there.”

Mason was joined by North senior Evan Spaulding on the all-conference first team thanks to his sixth-place showing at the meet. Sophomore Hogan Miller landed on the second team and senior Kyle Larson received honorable mention.

TEAM GETS FIRST BUT IS SECOND: The Golden Raiders won the tournament but finished second in the overall standings – points from the tourney and regular season are combined – and were just one stroke behind De Pere.

“It was a little disappointing but we knew going in being down five points going into that last meet is a tough thing to overcome, but it almost happened,” Walters said.

SOUTH TAKES SIXTH: The Redwings were led by senior Nicholas Kolar, who earned second-team all-conference (his school’s lone representative).

BIG EAST RESULTS: Lutheran was runner-up in the conference meet on Thursday and finished fourth overall, and Christian took fifth overall after placing sixth in the league championship.

Crusaders’ senior Lizzie Montaba finished the BEC championship in fourth place, good for first-team all-conference. Three of her teammates earned all-league second team in senior Andrew Meador, freshman Elliott Leibham and sophomore Caden Solle, and honorable mention went to junior Jackson Holzheimer.

Eagles’ junior Michael Modahl also made the first team as a result of finishing seventh in the Big East meet.

GIRLS

TEAM IS THIRD AT STATE: The North/South co-op team finished third out of four teams in the alternative fall state tournament in mid-May at Blackwolf Run.

Coach Craig Walters says a ‘rough’ first day did not help matters.

“I think I told one of the kids: you can’t win the state tournament on the first day but you sure can lose it,” he said. “It was fun and a good experience for the kids. Our realistic expectation was probably third, but we were hoping for a few things to go our way and maybe put a little scare in some teams, but that didn’t happen.”

North/South, which also made state in 2019, was led by seniors Zjeneexa Vang and Taylor Peper, as well as junior Ava Wiitstock. All three finished tied for 11th place. Sophomore Hannah Miller came in 20th and senior Kayla Hendrikse ended 25th.

VOLLEYBALL

NEEB

Christian has a new volleyball coach in Melissa Neeb, who replaces Erica Warmus after nine seasons.

Neeb, who lives in Oostburg, played at Randolph – which finished state runner-up during her time – and Lakeland, and has coached her daughters in middle school.

“Coaching any sport – or anything – is unique and challenging, and I have thankfully a flexible schedule that can allow for that,” she said. “And I love volleyball. I had a lot of great memories and a lot of friendships that I’ve built over the years.

“I just hope to share that with the girls, be competitive and push them to a high level.”

FOOTBALL

South defensive lineman Laine Thompson has been selected to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association’s all-star game July 17 in Oshkosh. The senior is on the North team that will play at 6 p.m. at Titan Stadium.

“It’s a privilege and a great honor to be representing Sheboygan in this game,” he said. “I am also so happy to get to play one last time with my good friend Jack Luedtke from Plymouth. We started playing together back in flag football through eighth grade.”