Sports

SPORTS Berlin cheerleaders take fourth, look forward to next season

By Karnpal Cheema

After the cheer team’s third place finish at the state tournament last year, many members of the team are dissapointed after taking fourth out of seven teams at regionals.

The team missed state qualfying by only 10 points, a very small margin by cheerleadng standards.

Junior Morgan Ondrejka feels strongly about the team’s shortfalls at regonals.

“After spending three months of hard, grueling practices you get only two minutes and thirty seconds at regionals to prove yourselves,” Ondrejka said. “We had a few unfortunate mishaps, and they showed at the wrong time.”

Captain Emily Olson has a different perspective.

“We had a hard routine this year and went against some really good schools,” Olson said. “But, I still think that if we tried harder at practices, and did not goof around as much we could have done better.”

Held in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, the tournament consisted of seven teams including, Shawano High School, Crivitz High School, Winnebago, Lutheran academy, Westfield High School, New London High School and Berlin.

The three state qualifiers were, Crivitz, Shawano and Winnebago Lutheran Academy.

The team will be losing a few seniors. “There is a lot of talent on the team, and if they try hard enough they’ll do well next year,” Olson said. The rest of the team is also optimistic for next year.“I feel like the team will be really good next year,” sophomore Hannah Voeltner said. “We are expecting a lot of eighth graders to come out for the team, and the more we have, the better.”

Future Sports: Similar teams battle for one world series

By Quinn Thompson

It seems as though the World Series has just come to an end, but baseball teams are already preparing for a new year. Mandatory spring training for all players is underway as some teams with new lineups try to improve from last season.

The Boston Red Sox stole the headlines in the off season by aquiring two upper echelon players.

Former San Diego Padre, Adrian Gonzalez, and former Tampa Bay Ray, Carl Crawford, will lock up the first base and left field position on defense and fill in holes offensively for the Red Sox. They will compliment players like David “Big Papi” Ortiz, former MVP Dustin Pedroia and perennial allstar Kevin Youkilis, making Boston’s lineup the most dangerous in baseball.

Boston’s duo at the pitching position, Jon Lester and Clay Buckholtz, proved themselves as two of the top pitchers in baseball.

Lester finished the year with 19 wins and 225 strikeouts while Buckholtz recorded a 2.33 earned run average in 28 games as a starter, winning 17 of them.

John Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett complete a Red Sox pitching rotation that no team would want to face in a five or seven-game series.

Boston had a disappointing season last year when they failed to reach the playoffs, which is why they were so active in the pursuit of becoming an elite team in the MLB again.

However, the Red Sox are not the only team trying to make a statement this upcoming season.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been a powerhouse baseball team for a while now and show no signs of slowing down.

Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins contiuned to lay the foundation for a solid offense, while the Phillies pitching staff became the best in baseball.

Any team featuring starting pitchers Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels is going to make a deep run in the playoffs.

The Red Sox and Phillies will match up in the World Series at the end of the year. Boston will win another championship and has the tools to continue winning for many years to come. Photo Submitted Berlin’s cheerleading team forms a pyramid at their division’s regional tournament in Wisconsin Rapids, WI on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011.

Swimmers earn medals at state

By Jostun Pomplun

Berlin once again had a strong showing at the state swim meet in Madison on Feb. 18.

The Indians were represented by juniors Dylan Young and Greg Hameister and seniors David Carlson and Greg Klassa. Alternates were junior Matt Curtis, senior Josh Eastberg and freshman Adam Collins.

All four swimmers did well in the meet. Even with only four swimmers, the Indians were able to place eighth out of 28 teams in Division II.

“I was very pleased with the boys’ performances,” Coach Bill Clewien said.

Young, Hameister, Carlson and Klassa were in the 200-yard medley relay which finished fifth and the 200-yard freestyle relay which finished sixth.

Both relays set new school records. The previous records were set in 1993.

Hameister participated in the 100-yard butterfly where he finished sixth and the 100-yard backstroke where he placed ninth.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the season, even though I didn’t win,” Hameister said.

Klassa competed in the 100yard freestyle, placing ninth, and the 100-yard breaststroke finishing sixth.

“I was very satisfied with my results at the state meet,” Klassa said. “I was overwhelmed.”

Young was in the 200-yard freestyle placing thirteenth and the 100-yard butterfly ending up in ninth.

“I was really happy since it was the first time I made it to state individually,” Young said.

Any finish in sixth place or higher in an event was enough for a swimmer to stand on the podium and receive a medal. Hameister and Klassa each earned three medals.

“I am extremely proud of not only these four boys, but the entire team,” Clewien said. “They exhibited great team spirit all season long and always strived to do their best, which made for a very enjoyable coaching experience for me.”

After a successful season capped with a trip to state, the returning swimmers have high expectations for next year.

“I hope we can put a good team together losing a couple seniors,” Hameister said. “I hope to go to state next year again.”

Photo: EDGE Photography

Senior David Carlson was a member of the two record breaking relay teams at the state meet.

LaBuda wrestles his way to state tournament

By Quinn Thompson

Boys wrestling season has come to an end. The sesaon did not turn out as well as some wrestlers hoped, but for Mason Labuda, the season was a success.

Prior to the sectionals meet, LaBuda shared his thoughts on the season.

“I am satisfied with my season. Personally. I struggled in the middle of the season, but it happens to the best of us,” LaBuda said. “The team could have been more fluent in the weight classes, but that is something we will have to improve on.”

At this point, LaBuda was not aware of the fact that he would be advancing to state, and was just trying to focus on the sectional meet to prepare for state.

“I have to keep an open mind, go out there and wrestle my best,” LaBuda said. “I should be okay and hold my own.”

Labuda was not the only wrestler to compete at the sectional meet. Senior Jesse Gonzalez and junior Eric Chier also competed in the sectional meet, but failed to qualify for the state tournament.

Now that the season has come to a close, Gonzalez has advice to offer others who want to come out for wrestling, and for returning wrestlers who want to make it to the post-season.

“For next year, stay in shape and go to wrestling camps this summer,” Gonzalez said.