Grid Warriors Fall to Columbia in Conference Matchup

Despite moving the ball fairly well on several occasions and providing a stiff defense for most of the game, Wesclin was simply outlasted in a 32-7 conference loss to Columbia.

The Eagles, now 4-0 on the season, wore out the Warriors by rotating players in on nearly every play, and it showed up as the game went on. Columbia scored one touchdown in each of the first three quarters and added two scores in the final period. Wesclin's lone score came on a nine-yard run from Letwon Williams with 5:57 left in the contest.

The Warriors held Columbia's vaunted running back, John Heineken, to just 82 yards, and only allowed 268 total yards on the game, but couldn't overcome the Eagles' size and depth advantages.

Wesclin is now 1-3 on the season, with homecoming this Friday night as Dupo comes calling.

Soccer Warriors beat Central, fall to Columbia

Wesclin's soccer team split a pair of games last week, beating Central 1-0 Thursday at Breese and falling to Columbia Saturday in New Baden.

Wesclin 1, Central 0

The Warriors dominated the field game, squeezing off 26 shots on goal to just 11 for Central, but couldn't convert often, including missing a couple of open goals, according to head coach Mark Lockowitz. "We played well," Lockowitz, "but we have to concentrate on keeping our focus and booting the easy ones in."

Brad Reibold scored Wesclin's lone goal, eighteen minutes into the second half.

The jayvee Warriors also won their game, 1-0 on a goal by Dylan Mueth.

Columbia 5, Wesclin 3

Wesclin lost a wild one at New Baden park, and lost their starting goalkeeper, Ryan Vincent, in the process, when he took a knee to the face from a Columbia attacker on the Eagles' second goal.

Jayvee keeper Nick Stason filled in admirably in Vincent's absence until the senior returned in the second half. He later learned his nose is broken and he will be on the shelf for a period of time.

Tyler Shaw put Wesclin on the board first, but Columbia scored three consecutive goals before Nick Mastomatteo's unassisted tally closed the gap to 3-2 at halftime. Columbia went up 4-2 before Shaw popped in another one with about five minutes left. Columbia added an insurance goal as Wesclin moved defenders up to attack in a furious final rush.

"I don't like to blame officials for losses, because we have more control over that, but the officiating was substandard," said Lockowitz. "Two of their goals were the result of non-calls by the officials."

Columbia outshot the Warriors 19-12 on the game.

The jayvee Warriors tied Columbia 1-1 after the junior Eagles scored with just 45 seconds left.

Josh West scored Wesclin's goal on an assist from Michael Diekemper.

Lady Warriors split in week's play

Wesclin's volleyball team split a pair of matches during the past week, winning a three-game contest against Carlyle and losing a non-conference matchup with Gibault in two competitive games.

Wesclin 25-25-25,

Carlyle 23-27-12

The Lady Warriors survived a competitive three-game match with Carlyle to notch a conference win on Thursday, traveling cross-county for a 25-23, 25-27, 25-12 victory.

Kayla Drummond had 13 kills to lead Wesclin, while Brittany Wallace also reached doubled figures with ten kills to go with a team-high 15 assists and 14 service points. Gretchen Rieger had eight kills and a team-high 13 digs, and Kelsey Boeser had 11 digs. Jillian Hausman had ten assists for Wesclin, and Alicia Litteken had nine service points.

Gibault 25-25,

Wesclin 22-24

Both games were close, but the Lady Warriors couldn't steal one in a non-league match in Waterloo.

Alicia Litteken and Gretchen Rieger had five kills each to lead Wesclin, and Jillian Hausmann had eight assists. Kelsey Boeser had nine digs, Brittany Wallace had eight, and Erin Ranz and Rieger had five each.

Wesclin's golf team hosted Freeburg at Carlyle Lake Golf Course last Monday, coming out on the losing end of a 174-186 verdict. The bright spot in Wesclin's performance was a drastic improvement over the last time the teams squared off, with Freeburg prevailing by 46 shots.

Brian Phagan covered the nine-hole course in 43 strokes, followed by Kyle Zimmermann's 47, and matching 49's from Shawn Arentsen and Ross Turner.

On Wednesday, the Warrior golfers went to Governors Run and lost to Carlyle. Kyle Zimmermann's 47 and Brian Phagan's 49 led Wesclin.

The Wesclin girls--Angela Athmer and Beth Brueggemann--each posted their best rounds of the year, with 54 and 52 respectively, playing from the red tees.

Monday, Athmer and Brueggemann competed in the Cahokia Conference girls tournament. Athmer posted a 116 over the 18-hole course and Brueggemann shot a 123 on a day when only a handful of players broke 100.

The boys beat Central 182-184 Monday afternoon, with senior Brian Phagan posting his top score of the year, 39. Kyle Zimmermann and Shawn Arentsen both shot 47 over the nine-hold match, and Ross Turner's 49 rounded out the Wesclin scoring.