Sports return to normal; highlights include state soccer title

THE SOCCER TEAM at Christian/Lutheran won its first state title. – Photo by Carla Solle

JANUARY

Let the fun begin: For the first time in nine months because of the pandemic, sporting events returned to North and South. … Coach Brett Flipse won his 300th game in his 25th season as Christian boys basketball coach. … North’s Will Hayon now holds every school record – except diving. The junior’s latest record was set in the 500-yard freestyle (4 minutes 41.83 seconds), which put his name next to all 11 swimming events on the school’s record board. … South’s Maddie Ognacevic broke her school’s girls basketball rebounding record when she grabbed 21 of them.  Amy Selk’s record of 18 stood since 2007.

FEBRUARY

Stats like an NBA star: Rose Hahn, it is believed, had the first triple-double in the history of the Lutheran girls basketball program when she finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

MARCH

Trio of notable events: The Sheboygan co-op girls squad won the Bowling Club State Championship for the first time since 2002. … The alternative fall season began for North and South. … The Redwings volleyball team beat Bay Port for the first time since 2007.

APRIL

North breaks school records: North swam in four events at the Alternative Fall State Championship at Waukesha South, and it left with three school records. Kierra Perez set one in the 500 free (5:15.03), Julia Renzelmann did the same in the 200 (1:56.24). and they were also on the record 200 free relay with Libby Cleveland and Gigi Gotzmer.

MAY

North wins most since 2010: The Golden Raiders football team finished the alternative fall season with a 3-4 record after winning a total of just three games the previous six years. It’s the most wins for the school since also having three in 2010,

JUNE

They’re No. 1: For the first time since 2007, Lutheran took first place in the 3,200-meter relay at the Division 3 state track and field championships thanks to junior Logan Zak and seniors Jonah Jurss, Hans Gruben and Matthew Witte.

JULY

They are also No. 1: The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals to claim their second championship.

AUGUST

Back to normal: After the move of fall sports to spring, things were back on track as practice began for swimming and tennis, one day after golf got underway. North and South quickly returned to the football field as well.

SEPTEMBER

USA! USA! USA! After a year delay, the Ryder Cup was held at Whistling Straits and was won by the American team.

OCTOBER

Some rare accomplishments: Kohler/Christian/Lutheran senior Robby Michael threw his 93rd high school touchdown to set the state record that was previously held by Franklin’s Ben Hempel (92) since 2004. … Victoria Garces, a freshman, became the first girl from North since 1988 to receive a medal at the state cross country championship (she took ninth). … It is believed South’s volleyball program has never had a conference coach or player of the year – until now (coach Abby Sigler and Ognacevic).

NOVEMBER

Good times at state: The Christian/Lutheran boys soccer team claimed its first state soccer championship by beating Oostburg in a shootout in the Division 4 final.

DECEMBER

Give them a hand: For the first time since the 1980-81 season, South won a wrestling tournament – in coach Cody Steffenhagen’s hometown, no less. … North named its basketball court after former coach Tom Desotell. … Entering this season, Christian’s boys basketball team lost a combined 23 games in a row to Howards Grove, Oostburg and Kohler. In a span of seven days, the Eagles defeated all three schools.