By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
UPDATE: Playing without star senior Nolan Rueter, Burlington came back in all three games of a 3-0 sweep at Westosha Central Thursday night.
The Demons were down, 14-11, in each game, but they showed solid depth and resilience.
“I’m very proud of the five seniors that stepped up,” Burlington coach Tim Gesteland said. “Jon Martin and Ben Geiger were offensive weapons. Austin Epping and Bennett Conrardy played very good defense. Birthday boy Jake DeRosier ran our offense fast. And junior Josh Ketterhagen led us offensively while Eli Miller and Zach Morrow never let the ball touch the ground.”
Rueter, an all-state selection last year, rolled his ankle at Tuesday’s practice. After the match, Gesteland said Rueter will sit out this weekend’s Shorewood Invite but could see time in Monday’s Parent’s Night tilt with Racine St. Cat’s. Though the injury isn’t severe, Gesteland said Rueter will not be rushed back.
Burlington improved to 20-2 overall and 5-0 in the Southeast Conference, good for first place.
Ketterhagen led the team with 12 kills, and Geiger added 10. DeRosier notched 27 assists. Martin, a 6-foot-6 senior, had 11 block kills. Conrardy led the Demons with 13 digs.
Burlington travels to the Shorewood Invite Saturday.
Monday night was the perfect example of why this team is built for the state tournament.
Down 2-0 at home against Racine Horlick, Burlington rallied for three straight close wins to down the Rebels, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-12.
Senior Nolan Rueter dominated the match with 30 kills and three block kills, but it was his energy and leadership that helped the Demons pull off the kind of comeback coach Tim Gesteland said he doesn’t remember seeing in years.
“In games three through five, we eliminated our errors and took control of the match,” he said. “It was a big win, one for the ages.”
Jake Derosier led the Demons in assists with 52. Bennett Conrardy paced the boys with 21 digs.
Burlington returns to conference action Thursday night at Westosha Central before Saturday’s Shorewood Invite, a premiere tournament.
On Sept. 28 at the Fort Atkinson Invite, Burlington went a perfect 4-0 to claim the championship.
Despite losing game one of the title match to Fort Atkinson, 21-15, the Demons bounced back to win games two and three, 21-16 and 15-4.
“Our blocking got stronger in games two and three, our offense ran quicker and we were able to win,” Gesteland said.
Rueter led with 35 kills, and Josh Ketterhagen added 15. Derosier notched 64 assists. Austin Epping paced the club with four aces.
John Martin tallied 10 block kills, and Rueter had seven.
Ben Geiger and Zach Morrow each totaled seven digs.
Burlington also defeated Madison East, Mukwonago and Racine Case on the day.
Lady Demons earn bronze at Sprawl
In the unofficial state tournament last weekend at West Bend Invite, the Burlington girls held their own against the area’s elite.
The Demons finished in ninth place, winning the bronze division in the process.
“I’m pretty happy with how we did,” said coach Teri Leach. “We worked our 6-2 offense again with Ali Rueter setting and hitting. We weren’t far off from some of the best teams.”
Leach said her team showed flashes against the best teams, but the challenge will be to play well for an entire game.
“Moving forward, we need to put in maximum effort the entire match,” Leach said.
Quinn Spieker led the girls with 40 kills, and Rueter added 22.
Robyn Robers led the team with five aces. Emma Fettig recorded 76 assists.
Robers also paced the team in digs with 18, Spieker added 17 and Teagan Taylor notched 16.
Though they lost to Muskego, the Demons picked up victories over Watertown and Oshkosh West.
Leach said the team has a weekend off for a change, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. She is concerned about the team’s injured players, who include Phoebe Hozeska, Tay Lewis and Sadie Tenhagen.
“We haven’t been far off without them,” Leach said. “We’re working with what we’ve got.”
Burlington’s next big test will come Oct. 12 at the Westosha Central Invite. State powers Catholic Memorial and Big Foot will be there, Leach said.
Swimmers win tournament
Sara Wanasek won the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.42), placed second in the 500 freestyle (5:22.52) and swam the anchor leg on the second-place 200 freestyle relay (1:45.64) and the fourth-place 400 freestyle relay (3:53.98) to lead the Burlington High School Co-op girls swimming team to the championship of the nine-team Fort Atkinson Invitational Saturday.
With 11 top-six finishes, Burlington scores 378.5 points to beat second-place Baraboo (371) by 6.5 points.
Wanasek was joined on the second-place 200 freestyle relay by DeAnn Jones, Olivia Wanasek and Ellie Petrie.
Petrie was fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:05.26) and fifth in the 100 freestyle (58.40) and Olivia Wanasek was fifth in the 200 freestyle (2:06.58) and 100 backstroke (1:05.42).
On Tuesday night, Burlington defeated Delavan-Darien, 138-32.
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