SEASON FINALE FHN hockey team pulls through with a 6-18-2 record after starting out their season with a win
by Abigail Akers
aakers454@g.fhsdschools.org
This season, the Knights hockey team started their season on top. On Oct. 21, the Knights played Holt High and beat them 4-2, with sophomore Aiden Stowers and senior Blaine Longmore each scoring one goal and sophomore Brandon Emert scoring two. “Scoring goals is exciting and rewarding,” said Emert. “It gets you pumped up and motivated to score more.” They weren’t as fortunate in their second game and lost to FHH 0-13. Coming off a tough loss, FHN faced FZS and Lutheran HS South and won both games. “It takes a lot of practice,” sophomore player Matthew Wells said. “You have to be patient, it will come to you.” Unfortunately, FHN then lost five games in a row. They found a way to come back and tied their next game against Eureka. Coming off a tie, FHN battled St. Mary’s and beat them 13-0. “We won more games this year,” Wells said. “I want to see us expand and do better next year.” On Dec. 7, the Knights started an unfortunate losing streak. They lost the rest of their December games and their first January game. The losing streak ended when FHN beat Holt on Jan. 4.
In a hockey game against FZS on Dec. 21, sophomore Matthew Wells engages in a face off with an opposing player. This is his second year on the varsity team. “It’s a fun sport, I grew up around it when I was younger and started playing it and haven’t stopped loving it ever since,” Wells said. (Photo by Riley Witherbee)
“We would like to improve team communication and puck movement throughout next season,” Emert said. The Knights went on to compete against John Burroughs, FHC and Duchesne. The Knights lost against John Burroughs with Stowers scoring the only goal and John Burroughs scoring eight. Their next game, junior Aaron Caldwell scored one goal and Emeret scored two, but unfortunately the Knights lost against FHC 5-3. On Jan. 17, the Knights played Duchesne where Caldwell scored one goal and Wells scored two but lost 6-3. For many of the members of the team, scoring a goal is an event that comes with excitement and a sense of victory.
“I am always super happy and excited after scoring goals,” Wells said. With the Knights six wins, 18 losses and two ties, they headed into their last game. On Jan. 24 the Knights battled FZW. In one of their last games of the season, they won the game three to one. Caldwell scored the first goal for the Knights. Shortly after Emert scored the game winner. Stowers went on to seal the win by scoring an empty netter. While the team lost their last two games, the team is optimistic and is really looking foward to the next season. “We are all very close, you know,” Emert said. “We consider each and every one of us like brothers and sisters.”
A HISTORICAL VICTORY
Freshman Lillian Steigerwald becomes the first female wrestler at FHN to win GACs and qualify for the state tournament by Parker Kilen
According to Fowler, Steigerwald competed in a very tough wrestling match and was able to pull On Jan. 14, the FHN wrestling team competed away with a strong victory. in GACs at St. Charles West and freshman Lillian “It shows a lot of promise you just never know from Steigerwald became the first girl in FHN history to year to year who’s going to be there,” Fowler said. win GACs. “But [Steigerwald] shows up, works her “It was an exciting match,” head girls butt off and is aggressive on the mat and wrestling coach Sean Fowler said. “It we look forward to this as just being the could have gone either way. She was beginning of a great career with us.” wrestling a fantastic athlete, so she On Feb. 6, Steigerwald placed third Take a look at one of our wrestling pulled ahead and then pinned her. It at McCluer North and on the following livestreams: was very exciting. It was gratifying.” Monday it was announced to the school bit.ly/NSWLS Steigerwald did jiu-jitsu and has really that Steigerwald qualified for the state shined as a true athlete in the wrestling wrestling tournament. program. “My big goal is to get my name on “[Steigerwald]’s a really hard worker,” senior that wall and by doing that you have to qualify teammate Erin Fleming said. “She did little league for districts and then state and place at state,” wrestling but she came into the season basically Steigerwald said. “[The team] feels like my second like a first year. She just really pounded the rock and family and I feel I can be myself around them.” grinds super hard in the room, she works really hard in practice.” pkilen0503@gmail.com
WATCH
Freshman Lilian Steigerwald gets off the mat after winning a match against Washington High School. Steigerwald pinned her opponent to win the match within the first round. She is one of the three girl wrestlers on the team. (Photo by Kaili Martin)
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SPORTS | 02.19.20 | FHNTODAY. COM
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