While there were a couple hiccups, it was mostly another stellar all-around weekend for high school athletes in Waukesha.
Team and individual state berths were on the line at WIAA cross country sectional meets and Waukesha schools snatched many of them up.
The Waukesha South boys earned a spot at state this weekend in Wisconsin Rapids after finishing second at the West Allis Hale Sectional at Greenfield Park. The Blackshirts were led by junior Brad Woodford’s second place individual performance, but the team’s depth was on display, as they were the only team to have all seven of its runners in the top 50. South finished with 89 points behind only champion Brookfield Central’s 67.
Waukesha North finished fourth with 131 points, but will be represented at state by junior Jacob Jodat, who finished fifth at the sectional race to pace the Northstars.
On the girls side, Waukesha West punched its ticket to state after a second-place showing as well on Saturday at Greenfield Park. The Wolverines (54 points) were narrowly defeated by Brookfield Central (50) for the sectional title, but like Central had five runners in the top 20. West was led by junior MaKenna Stelpflug (fifth), senior Laruen Sigfred (sixth) and freshman Maria Gesior (eighth).
While the Waukesha North girls team finished a distant sixth with 138 points, the Northstars boasted one of the best runners on the day in Sammi Donovan. The senior took second place and will join all seven of West’s runners at the state meet.
In Division 2, Catholic Memorial finished fourth at the Whitewater Sectional at UW-Whitewater but the Crusaders will be represented at state by junior Maria Novak and freshman Rachel Misna, who finished eighth and 11th, respectively.
The Waukesha West girls volleyball team won a regional title on Saturday as the sixth-seeded Wolverines upset third-seeded Arrowhead on the road in four games. West now hosts second-seeded Germantown at home at 8 p.m. Thursday in the sectional semifinals.
In Division 2, the top-seeded Catholic Memorial Crusaders marched on to sectionals with a business-like performance against East Troy to set up a sectional semifinal match against third-seeded St. Thomas More at 7 p.m. Thursday at New Berlin West.
On the boys soccer front, top-seeded Waukesha West came up one win from its second straight state appearance as it lost to Kettle Moraine, 2-0, in a sectional final match on Saturday. In Division 2, second-seeded Catholic Memorial defeated fourth-seeded New Berlin West, 2-1, on Saturday at Pewaukee to earn its sixth straight state appearance.
In football, Waukesha West began its Division 1 state title defense with a relatively easy 34-7 win over Janesville Parker in the opening round of the playoffs on Saturday night. Catholic Memorial, meanwhile, saw its season come to end in the first round, as it lost to Pewaukee, 42-32 in Division 3 action.