Page 8 The Pulse Oct.

23, 2019

IT varsity football scores yet another chilling win

Ricardo Villafan
Staff Writer

Strong northwest winds and
bitter cold temperatures kept
points off the scoreboard for
most of the Indian Trail High
School & Academy’s home-
coming football game against
Oak Creek High School on
Oct. 11.
But in the end, the Hawks
prevailed with a score of 12-0,
improving their record to 6-2
overall and 5-1 in the South-
east Conference.
“I’m glad it was in their
face and not ours,” said Coach
Paul Hoffman. “It definitely
affected the passing game and
kicking game for both teams.
Crosswinds can make for the
ball to do unexpected things
while in the air.”
Despite the frigid tempera-
tures, Jaskwhich Stadium’s
bleachers were full of students,
Indian Trail slot receiver Amariyan Lynch-Gordon grabs the ball as
wide receiver Kameron Lee blocks an Oak Creek Knight at Oct. 11 teachers, and parents.
game. Photo by Jancarlo Hernandez
The Hawks didn’t hold
back against the Knights, and
both teams with their matching
records played strong defense,
not allowing any points on the
board during the first half.
“It was a complete team
game,” Hoffman said, explain-
ing what he thought made the
difference. “Both sides of the
ball stepped up when it was
needed. The consistency of
effort throughout the whole
game by the entire team.”
Hawk defense had three
takeaways that led to two
touchdowns, including a
blocked field goal returned
to the 30 yard line, followed
three plays later by a touch-
down. Senior defensive end
Curtiss Tolefree III recovered
that field goal block, a key
play that changed the momen-
tum in the game.
“It was very exhilarating
because a lot of key moments
in the game start on special
teams, and after that play the
game really picked up pace for
us,” Tolefree said.
Other highlights included
sophomore running back Xavi-
er McWhorter who plowed
forward for 58 yards on 14
carries in the second half and
junior Kameron Lee’s 57-yard
touchdown catch from quarter-
back junior Argjent Ismaili.
“Hawk Family would like
to thank the Hawk Nation for
their support,” Hoffman said.
“It was great to see a big stu-
dent section regardless of the
weather. To play in it is what
we do, but to be a fan in that
weather takes dedication. We
appreciate it.”

Cross Country boys dominate at Kenosha County Championship meet

IT boys varsity cross country aims to qualify for state championship
Jacob Glinski
Staff Writer

Indian Trail High School & Academy boy’s
varsity cross country team has a chance to cap
off its most successful season in school history.
Boasting their best team record as well as the
best overall team time, the runners are enter-
ing what’s known as championship season, the
five-week span of championship races, with the
opportunity to bring home first place titles from
each one.
The team has already established their first
championship title, winning the Kenosha County
Championship meet. Led by sophomore Keegan
Meier’s third place finish, the team totaled an im-
pressive 30 total points, well ahead of Kenosha
Tremper’s 80.
But the real challenge will be the state meet:
On Nov. 2, the 20 best teams in the state will be
in Wisconsin Rapids for the 2019 WIAA State
Championship. IT’s eight boys are anxious not
only to make it to this elite meet, but to finish
within the top 15 teams.
Coming off of a successful 2018 season —the
school’s first state-qualifying season — seniors
on the team are hoping to have a better outcome
than last year’s state meet effort, a 20th place fin-
ish.
According to Athletic.net and Wisconsin
Cross Country Coaches Association Poll, the
boys’ team started the season ranked 15th in the
state after week one and has reached as high as
the No. 13 rank in Wisconsin, coming after the
second week’s meet in Greenfield, where the
boys ran one of the fastest combined time in the
recent years.
Varsity runner and senior Mason Scoggin and
sophomore Nick Klinkhammer stated that they
look forward to the goal of five runners on the
team being under 17 minutes. The feat would set
them up for a potential top 10 finish in state.
On a broader scale, Middleton and Neenah
high schools have consistently been ranked No.
1 and No. 2 statewide throughout the season
thus far. The rankings are also influenced by the
teams’ last year performances, in which Neenah
won the State Championship with 122 points,
edging out Middleton by only 9 points. Varsity boys cross country team finished first out of 19 teams and won
the Franklin Saber Invitational on Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Ariel Lopez
IT credits their successes to the strong sense
of team as well as offseason commitment. Klink-
hammer said the summer conditioning sessions
played a big role in preparing himself both men-
tally and physically for the challenges faced in
the regular season.