Bensen leads with four awards
The West Bend Current set a school record with 21 individual awards from the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association in a statewide contest for high school journalists. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Anthony Schlass
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2017
Filed under School News and Features
New Head Coach: East Volleyball Nets Former Marquette Player
Photo courtesy of Marquette University.
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
As fall 2017 rolls around, there will be some new blood associated with the East volleyball program. Former Marquette volleyball player Sara Blasier will be the new head coach for the Lady Suns.
Blasier grew up in Slinger and is the oldest of four kids in her family. However, she played for West Bend West High School her ninth grade year and later transferred to Slinger High School for her remaining three. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
The Comeback Kid
Odness returns to the court after severe knee injury
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
West Bend East senior Elizabeth Odness wasn’t used to becoming emotional before a basketball game. But she had never had to wait six months to play, either. Continue reading
Big Men on Campus
West grads help lead major university athletic programs
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
Two ambitious individuals from West Bend have upgraded from playing high school sports to directing big time collegiate athletics.
Both Craig Pintens and Mike Houck are highly respected officials at their respective universities. Pintens, a 1994 West High School graduate, is now at the University of Oregon and is the Senior Associate Athletic Director. Houck, a 1990 West graduate, is at the University of Oklahoma and serves as the Assistant Athletics Director/Strategic Communications. Continue reading
A Special Breed
West junior finds success in the saddle
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
Katelyn Schultz is not your prototypical student-athlete, but she recently accomplished one of her greatest feats.
Schultz, a West junior, competes in horse competitions and this year she went to Nationals, the largest single breed show in the world, and her horse won.
“It’s something I never thought would happen because it’s really expensive, but my parents support me so much. I was so shocked. You never think you’re going to be the one to win,” Schultz said.
Even with all of her success, Katelyn does have an everyday obstacle: She was born without depth perception, making sports like volleyball and basketball difficult to play. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Sports
Come Sail Away, Come Sail Away with DJ
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
If you ever catch yourself on Big Cedar Lake during the summertime you’ll most likely cross waters with DJ Jaessing.
The high school senior operates sailboats on the water for leisure and competition, and earned his first victory this year. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
And Then There Were Four
Albrecht commits to Purdue
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
It was just a matter of time before West shortstop Evan Albrecht followed in the footsteps of his three West teammates and lifelong best friends.
By committing to Purdue University, Albrecht becomes the fourth Division I baseball commit for the Spartans, behind teammates Anthony Schlass (Oklahoma), Nathan Burns (Oregon State) and Jack Thelen (Wisconsin-Milwaukee). Albrecht, a junior, has played two seasons for the Spartans and has two more to go.
The recruiting process was not the most enjoyable for the sure-handed shortstop. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Talent, Discipline and Plenty of Snow
Devenport’s work ethic earned her a state championship
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
During her junior season, West skier Sarah Devenport won the girls giant slalom state championship in La Crosse with a time of 32.72.
It nearly made her ill. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
It’s Good to Be Back
West junior returns to her team after a traumatic injury
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
After spending a year sidelined, Rachel Walecki returned to the soccer field in May.
Walecki tore her ACL during her sophomore soccer season and it’s been a long battle to get back on the field with her West teammates. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Field of Dreams
By Justin Scherzer, Current Staff
Not one, not two, but three West athletes will realize their dreams of playing Division I baseball. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
See a Show: The Well Pennies Perform with Orchestra Students
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
The WBHS orchestra is teaming up with the Well Pennies to put on a concert Friday in the West Bend Silver Lining Arts Center.
The Well Pennies are a husband and wife folk pop group based out of Boston, Massachusetts. The acclaimed group consists of four members from all over the United States, from the Seattle area all the way to the East Coast. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
Swimming with Sharks
Skenandore and Fitzgerald set new school records
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
The West Bend co-op swim and dive team is led by two stud competitors, East senior Dakota Skenandore and West sophomore Bryan Fitzgerald.
During the state tournament on Feb. 20 in the UW Natatorium, Skenandore finished second in Division 1 and Fitzgerald took 12th place in the 200-yard individual medley (IM) with a time of 1:58.54 and eighth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:46.84. This past season Skenandore was ranked third and came out second (490.55) at state, behind only Kenosha Tremper’s Brandon Spencer (343.75). Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Wanie: On Track for Spring Sports
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
As of late, sophomore Katherine Wanie has been battling more mentally than physically with her sports.
Wanie, who is a three-sport athlete at West, has been recently sidelined with a rare condition with fewer than 20,000 cases in the U.S. per year. Sitting out has been psychologically difficult. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Go West, Young Man
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
West junior Nathan Burns has verbally committed to play baseball at Oregon State University. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Keberle Will Stay in Wisconsin
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
East junior Lexi Keberle has verbally committed to play tennis at the University of Wisconsin.
After winning two state titles in her first two years of high school with a record of 61-0, Keberle committed to Wisconsin on Aug. 15. The verbal commitment is a promise between both Keberle and the university that a formal signing will occur during her senior year. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2015
Kopish leads with three prizes in statewide journalism contest
Students at West Bend East and West High took home seven individual awards in the 2015 NEWSPA contest for student journalism. The West Bend Current also earned blue ribbon honors for online publication. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
New Silver Lining Arts Center Kicks Off with Wisconsin Indie Pop
Peter Thomas, cellist with the Milwaukee rock band I’m Not a Pilot, visited WBHS orchestra students on March 17. I’m Not a Pilot will perform at the grand opening of the Silver Lining Arts Center.
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
If you have seen the high school of late you have probably noticed the renovation near the auditorium.
West Bend High School Athletes for the Arts welcomes you to the grand opening of the new Silver Lining Arts Center on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Award-winning Milwaukee rock band I’m Not a Pilot will headline the performance, and members from the high school orchestra and band will join them for several songs. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
Gundrum Wins!
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
It only took 22 years for the East community to celebrate another individual state champion in wrestling. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
East Wrestler Takes Down Obstacles
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
Imagine being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, more specifically spastic diplegia, and still having the heart to pursue the things you love. East senior Alex Vickney has done just that. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Former Sun Will Be a Badger
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
Next year, football fans in West Bend will have a reason to cheer a little bit louder for the Wisconsin Badgers. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Sports
West Basketball Bounces Past Rule Change
New defense regulation hasn’t been a problem for the Spartans
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
Starting a new season comes with adjustments for any team. The 2014-15 West Bend West basketball team is adjusting to a WIAA rule change regarding ball handler/dribbler contact. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Keberle: Grace Under Pressure
Tennis ace repeats as state champ, raising expectations higher than ever
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
Lexi Keberle is accustomed to winning—just ask the 61 opponents she’s defeated so far in high school.
In her short high school tennis career, East sophomore Keberle has not lost a single match and is 61-0. She also has two state singles titles under her belt, including last month’s victory over the second-seeded Emily Kolbow from Arrowhead. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Sports
East Suns Welcome Female Kicker
Stapelfeldt proves that football is not just for boys
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
As a soccer star, Rachael Stapelfeldt has always used her strong leg on the field, but this fall she surprised many local sports fans by using that leg to kick field goals. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
The West Bend Current 