By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
Waterford sophomore goalie Andi Wenck admitted she wasn’t aware that there was such a thing as Southern Lakes Conference co-player of the year until she won the award.
Wenck was named Southern Lakes Conference co-player of the year for her efforts in goal for the Wolverines. The goaltender was instrumental in helping Waterford turn an 0-7 start into a second place finish in the Southern Lakes Conference with a 5-3 record.
Although she wasn’t aware of the award at one point this season, Wenck certainly isn’t taking the honor for granted.
“When I heard the news that I was named co-conference player of the year, I was stunned,” Wenck said. “Honestly the co-player of the year was not a goal; I didn’t know it even existed. But awards are just a bonus to the outstanding season we had as a team.”
Waterford proved to be just as resilient as they were outstanding. With a losing streak that would cripple many teams, Wenck and the Wolverines never were discouraged and eventually found their form at the start of the conference season.
“It was a really rocky start for us and obviously not what we intended,” Wenck said. “But then we sort of flipped the switch and became a completely different team. I really don’t know how it started, but we just started to succeed together.”
Wenck certainly helped the Wolverines gel this season in goal. With a 1.40 goals against average, Wenck’s outstanding season drew rave reviews from other conference coaches.
Waterford coach Rob Blascoe certainly agrees with his contemporaries.
“Best of all, many of our most talented players, including Wenck, are all returning next season,” Blascoe said.
Wenck will certainly be more experienced next season after playing for the Red Star club team in the MRL premier league. The Red Star team won the state championship in 2013 and looks to be tough again this year with the help of Wenck.
“I am really blessed to have the best of both worlds from high school to club soccer,” Wenck said. “I think club pushes me to excel even farther because playing with girls that are a year older than me, I get my butt kicked sometimes.”
Wenck’s growth process as a goalie came almost by accident, while starting recreational soccer in the fourth grade.
“When I was on the rec team in fourth grade, they asked who was a goalkeeper and right there I thought, that seems easy, I’ll play goalkeeper,” Wenck said. “As the years have progressed, I loved being in front of the net because it’s an adrenaline rush and it’s frightening.”
Wenck’s camaraderie with her teammates, along with eight returning starters to next year’s team, should make Waterford a formidable squad.
Wenck looks to get together with some of the returning players this summer for impromptu workouts.
“We can definitely carry it on to next season with open gyms and having open practices and staying in shape,” Wenck said. “We need to continue to build that fire and return next year even stronger.”
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