Knights Update: Boys Basketball and Hockey Teams off to Rousing Starts

This is a roundup of athletic results and upcoming events at Nicolet High School, courtesy of Athletic Director Kirk Krychowiak:

The boys basketball team began its season with a home win against West Bend West last Tuesday night. Corey Smith and Treland Jenkins led the scoring attack with 16 and 15 points respectively as the Knights came back late to pull out a hard fought 57-53 win.  Also scoring in double figures were Eugene Bonner (13) and Tyler Miller (10).  

On Saturday, the team traveled to Wauwatosa West and beat the Trojans 73-52 to run their record to 2-0.  Four Knights scored in double figures including Greg Pigg who led with 19. Miller had 13 and Jenkins and Bonner had 10 apiece.  This week, the boys will tip off at Homestead in the North Shore Conference opener. Frosh and JV will play at 5:45 and the varsity at 7:30 p.m. Then the boys will play in the NY2LA tournament at Homestead on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. vs. West Allis Central.

The girls basketball team began its season at home last Friday against Milwaukee King and survived early struggles to win 53-46.  The Knights were led by senior Brittney Fair's 27 points and Briana Gray's 18. After falling behind early, the girls fought back and beat a quality opponent to open their defense of last year's state title.  Senior Courtney Smith, who along with Fair is the Knights only returning starters from last year's team, had 7 steals that led directly to points and Lanoira Duhart contributed 14 rebounds.  This week the frosh and JV will host DSHA on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  The team will then open its conference season at home against Homestead on Friday with the frosh and JV playing at 5:45pm and the varsity at 7:30pm.  Then on Saturday, the varsity will play in the NY2LA tournament vs. DSHA at Homestead High School at 4:30 p.m.

The boys swim/dive team kicked off its season last Tuesday night at Homestead High School and pulled out a big upset win 96-89.  Winning events for the Knights were Jamie DeGraff, Matt Bootsma, Rommie Hoffman, Grant Wilkie, Mike Mills, Matt Lerner and Evan Siverhus.  A depleted JV squad fell 89-78.  The team then hosted their annual Knights Sprint Inviational on Saturday and finished sixth out of 14 teams. Highlights for the Knights included Kyle and Evan Siverhus who placed in the finals of the diving competition as did Jamie DeGraff and Matt Bootsma in the swimming portion.  This week, the team will travel to Milwaukee Lutheran for another conference matchup on Tuesday then on Friday will go to Grafton High School for the conference relays.  On Saturday, the Knights will swim in the Milwaukee Riverside Invitational.

The wrestling team hosted its second annual Nicolet Scramble Wrestling Tournament last Saturday with 18 teams. Highlights were John McKay's championship at the 220-pound division. Bryan Dineen finished third at 145. Wilhelm Fehlhaber finished sixth at 160 and Nate Patton finished sixth at 285. This week, the team will travel to Milwaukee Lutheran on Thursday (6:30 JV) & (7:30 V).  Then on Saturday, the varsity team will wrestle in the Sheboygan Falls High School Invitational and the JV team in the Port Washington High School Invite.

The Nicolet/University School girls hockey co-op team opened its conference season with a 5-3 victory over Arrowhead last Thursday at USM. Nicolet's Abby Berman scored a goal in the first period for the Wildcats. The Wildcats faced Beaver Dam last Friday and won 6-0 to run their record to 3-2 overall.  This week, the team will skate a home tournament on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Nicolet/Whitefish Bay boys hockey co-p team will had their first game Thursday night at Beaver Dam and their first home game at MSOE last Saturday vs. Arrowhead.  They got off to a great start last week with 2 impressive wins: a 5-0 win over Beaver Dam and a home opener win against Arrowhead in overtime Saturday night winning 4-3. Saturday sophmore goalie Sean Leahy had an amazing 44 saves and the winning goal was scored in the first 48 seconds of overtime by junior Nick Sullivan off a great assist by senior Jacob Frasier.  Game options this week include home games at MSOE's Kern Center on Wednesday at 6:15 vs. Catholic Memorial or Friday 5:30 versus Beloit.  Or come cheer on the team against conference rival Homestead on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Ozaukee Ice
Center.  JV games follow varsity games each night.  

Leahy appeared in the "Players to Watch" section of the Journal Sentinel last week.  Leahy was 11-3 last year with a 2.61 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.  He made second-team all North Shore Conference as a freshman last year.  Head Coach Maco Balkovec had this to say about Sean: "The bigger the game, the better he plays. He will take us as far as he is willing to carry us this season, and he loves that challenge."

The gymnastics team will open its season at home on Wednesday this week vs. Grafton/Cedarburg at 6:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14, the California Pizza Kitchen will hold a fundraiser with  Nicolet's Booster Club.  Please come and enjoy a meal, lunch or dinner at this local restaurant.  One idea you may want to consider is to celebrate the holidays. What a perfect time to schedule your Christmas party ...lunch or dinner!  Come all, no matter if it is an office event, a school club gathering or just friends celebrating the holidays.

The Nicolet Athletic Department is working on the 2011-12 Winter Sports Program.  In an attempt to fundraise through advertising, we are asking for help with a placement of an ad. Please contact Nicolet Athletic Department Webmaster Nate Brooks at nate_brooks@nicolet.k12.wi.us or 414-351-7568 for more details.