Spring sports preview
![Holding the disc, senior Nathan Thompson waits for an opportunity to pass to senior Timmy Fry. Parkway United’s ultimate frisbee team is made up of students from each of the four Parkway schools. “The one thing I really like about ultimate [frisbee] is the community because it’s so different from any other sport I've been a part of. [My] national teammates are people who we play against in the regular season, so we see each other all the time. It's always fun hanging out with [them],” Thompson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/C96A6823-600x400.jpg)
![Senior Josie Grunzinger watches the football game intently from the sidelines on Oct. 18. Grunzinger stood out to the crowd as the only girl on the football team, encouraging other girls who want to play football to take a chance and go for a sport outside of their comfort zone. “If you think you could [play football] and you want to do it, just try it, because all it takes is to actually try it out,” Grunzinger said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Untitled-design-600x338.png)
![With her arms held high, junior Jenna Rickelman throws the ball across the pool during a girls water polo practice. With hours of practice after school and over the summer, Rickelman saw many improvements in her water polo skills. “When I look at [my] stats, I'm so much better than I was last year,” Rickelman said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-2--600x400.png)
![Putting on his helmet, catcher and senior Tommy Eschbach prepares to get in his primary stance. Despite losing 6-1 against Eureka on April 16, Eschbach didn’t let the tough loss affect his playing or mental health. “It's [so] easy to get caught up in the sport and what you're doing that [after] one bad game or a stretch of games it is hard to remind yourself that your worth as a person isn't directly related to your performance on the field,” Eschbach said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0415-1-1-600x400.jpg)
Junior Kaleigh Kastberg swings into a free kick, turf flying into the air. The varsity girls competed against Nerinx Hall on April 13. “We ended up losing 2-0. We were trying to get a goal back in the last ten minutes, so we gave up a second goal,” Kasper said. “It went well though; I play defense, and so we were trying to shut down as many forwards as possible.”
*All quotes come from the team’s head coach
Baseball
2017 record: 10-15
Coach: Tony McNabb
Assistant coaches: Josh Herrick, Andrew Jett, Jeffrey Rogers and Mike Mertin.
Returning varsity players: Ten
Returning starters: Four
Players to watch: Jack Swiney, Mark Mueller, Daniel Loaney, Trevor Abney
Newcomers expected to contribute: Parker Adams, Tyler Purdum, Tommy Mohan
Team strengths: “Our strength is our hitting combined with speed from several key spots in the batting order.”
Coach’s goals: “Play complete games, have an above .500 record, win the first round of districts.”
Boys Track
2017 record: Third out of nine in the conference meet
Coach: Kevin John
Assistant coaches: Kristen Witt, Melvin Bethany, Jahmall Thomas, Dale Shepherd, Dana McCreary, Chris Lorenz, Steve Sander
Returning Varsity Runners: Eight
Runners to watch: Chris Bass, Matyas Csiki-Fejer, Blake Selm, Cerow Aligab, Andrew Lofgren, Lance Griffith, Reggie Burns, Zane Yates
Newcomers expected to contribute: Ryan Gibbs, Zaven Nalbandian, Luke Ward, James Griffin, Ronnell Burns, Brayden Eddy, Caleb Canatoy
Team strengths: “We’ve got some talented runners and kids who are really excited about the team.”
Coach’s goals: “Take the team to state.”
Girls Track
2017 record: Third out of nine in the conference
Coach: Kristen Witt
Assistant coaches: Kevin John, Melvin Bethany, Jahmall Thomas, Dale Shepherd, Dana McCreary, Chris Lorenz, Steve Sander
Returning Varsity Runners: Nine
Runners to watch: Emily Dickson, Tess Allgeyer, Chloe Hershenow, Harmauhny Faulkner, Mali Siegel
Newcomers expected to contribute: Claire Smout, Emily Sipp, Clara Plast, Kacy Paul, Bella Allegeyer
Team strengths: “We’ve got runners willing to go the extra mile.”
Coach’s goals: “Qualify our 4×800 team for state again, and win our conference.”
Boys Volleyball
2017 record: 4-14
Coach: Susan Anderson
Assistant coaches: Amy Guerin, Andrew Carter, Kristin Judd
Returning varsity players: Six
Returning starters: Four
Players to watch: Mitch Wills, Mitchell Vierling, Andrew Eickmann
Newcomers expected to contribute: Grant Young, Cameron Neisler, Noah Gwin
Team strengths: “Our team chemistry is much better than it was last year. We also have some new talent that I think will have an impact on the team.”
Coach’s goals: “Have a winning season and grow as players.”
Girls Soccer
2017 record: 10-10
Coach: Annie Wayland.
Assistant coaches: Mike Skordos, John Sloop, Matt Schneider
Returning varsity players: 13
Returning starters: Four
Players to watch: Dani Meyer, Alex Foelsch, Sophie Vietor, Blakely Gibeaut, Emma Moss
Newcomers expected to contribute: Leah Selm, Natalie Adler, Kaylee Hull
Team strengths: “Team chemistry and having a good balance of work and play. They really push each other to get better.”
Coach’s goals: “Win conference and win districts, this has always been a challenge but this year we have the right group of girls to do it.”
Boys Tennis
2017 record: 8-2
Coach: Katelyn McCreary
Assistant coaches: Lew Conley
Returning starters: Four
Players to watch: Matt Boyd, Matt Dixon, Billy Rayfield
Newcomers expected to contribute: Sri Jaladi, Shubham Vyas
Team strengths: “Hard-working kids who are excited to learn the game.”
Coach’s goals: “Have a winning season. Play tough against our rivals.”
Water Polo
2017 record: 26-5
Coach: Charlie Cutelli
Assistant coaches: Brian Welch, Brittney Hess
Returning starters: Five
Returning varsity players: 10
Players to watch: “We don’t recognize individuals, only the team.”
Newcomers expected to contribute: McKay Morgan, Alex Seyer
Team strengths: “We’ve got some natural goal scorers, and some speedy swimmers.”
Coach’s goals: “Get to final four in state.”
Girls Lacrosse
2017 record: 11-6
Coach: Emily Lovercheck
Assistant coaches: Chris Johnson, Tom Herpel
Returning varsity players: Seven
Returning starters: Four
Players to watch: Lauren Ottensmeyer, Alyssa Obermeyer, Claudette Roscamp, Aerin Karrenbrock, Sam Walkoff, Kiara Milo
Newcomers expected to contribute: Katie Mendonsa, Jenna Mercer
Team strengths: “Speed, we have the ability to get up and down the field quickly.”
Coach’s goals: “Improve upon last year, grow together on and off the field.”
Boys Golf
2017 record: 6-5
Coach: Greg Schade.
Assistant coaches: Jill Bertram.
Returning varsity golfers: Four
Players to watch: Kyle Andersen, Jack Gieseking, Andrew Yazdi, Andrew Sherrill.
Newcomers expected to contribute: Arthur Fabella, Parker Bierman, Mikey Joyce
Team strengths: “Everyone is willing to put in the work, we have a good attitude about the season.”
Coach’s goals: “Do well in our conference and get as many guys to qualify for districts as possible.”