CommunityWatch

Brookfield East announces its arrival

By Mike Daly

Aug. 24, 2012 11:51 p.m. |

If the Brookfield East Spartans hoped to fly under anyone’s radar this season, they can forget about it now.

The Spartans officially became one of the area’s top teams to watch Friday night after opening the season by going on the road and demolishing perennial powerhouse Waukesha West, 29-0.

“I thought it was going to be a slugfest, and in many respects, it was,” Brookfield East head coach Tom Swittel said. “We just kept pounding away and grinding, and I think we were a little bit stronger and faster and probably in a little bit better shape, and that may have had something to do with it. I’ve never seen a perfect football game, and I’ve never seen an individual play a perfect game, but we did play well tonight, that’s for certain.”

The Spartans impressive defensive performance was led by senior standout defensive end Alec James. James notched three sacks and was a constant presence in the backfield. When he wasn’t shutting down the Wolverines’ offense, he was the power back for Brookfield’s running game. James’ thunderous 30-yard run in the second quarter set up the Spartans’ first touchdown. The drive was completed with a 10-yard touchdown pass on a beautiful jump ball from Zach Damico, who hit Brian Smith in the back corner of the endzone on third down.

“I think a lot of people thought we couldn’t beat them,” James said. “Not to be arrogant, but we have confidence in ourselves and everyone on this team knew we could beat them. It’s a really good win, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the playoffs, so celebrate tonight and tomorrow it’s about moving on to the next one.”

James, who earlier this month committed to play at Wisconsin next fall and drew interest from Michigan State and Clemson, among others, said knowing his future plans helped put his mind at ease.

“I went into minicamp not committed, and I was a little worried about getting injured and where I would go,” he said. “So when I committed, it just felt like a huge weight off my shoulders, and I could focus even more.”

As impressive as James was, he didn’t surprise his coach, who’s grown accustomed to such performances.

“What I can say about Alec James is that he’s the best football player in the state of Wisconsin, bar none,” Swittel said. “He is incredible, and we’re just lucky to have him.”

Spartans senior running back Zach Schober also caused his fair share of headaches for West’s defense. Schober’s 16-yard run in the second quarter put the Spartans up 14-0 going into the half. Schober finished with 73 yards on eight carries.

Damico added a 37-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Kyle Wirtz iced the outcome with a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

Waukesha West head coach Steve Rux said his team might have more growing pains than in years past. It was a trying night for the Wolverines, who lost two-way starter Dylan Chmura early in the first quarter to an injury. It was Chmura’s first game since his sophomore season after sitting out last year with a torn ACL.

“We’ve just got to make sure that we learn from it and make sure we’re better the next time we come out,” Rux said. "It’s not like some of our teams from the past; this is the 2012 team, we’ve got a lot of young players who’ve got to step up and play varsity football. I thought we were up against a very good football team. For a lot of guys it was their first experience out here on a Friday night. I think we’ve got to be in better condition, but I’ve got to hand it to Brookfield East. That’s a fine team and they’ve got some great speed.”

The Wolverines will try to rebound next week against visiting Classic 8 foe Mukwonago.

“Our guys have good character; they’ll be able to bounce back from it,” Rux said. “Mukwonago’s a tough team and we’ll have our hands full.”

Meanwhile, Swittel said he wasn’t worried about his group being overconfident for next week’s Greater Metro Conference opener against visiting West Allis Central.

“I’m harder on them after a win than I am after a loss,” he said. “I guarantee you I’m not going to let there be any overconfidence.”

Menomonee Falls cross country photos now online

Aug. 24, 2012 12:03 p.m. | We've just published a photo gallery of more than 15 images from yesterday's grade level cross country invite in Menomonee Falls.

Brookfield Central's Carl Hirsch won the boys junior/senior race in 15 minutes, 22.84 seconds on the 5,000-meter course. Lauren Cunningham of Nicolet won the girls competition on the 4,000-meter course in 15:14.79.

Go to Menomonee Falls grade level invite photo gallery

Brookfield Central tops Mukwonago in thriller

Aug. 23, 2012 10:57 p.m. | Vantwon Melton caught an 11-yard touchdown pass in the corner with 14 seconds to go, lifting Brookfield Central's state-ranked football team to a thrilling win over Mukwonago on Thursday in a spirited prep football season opener, 19-18.

Melton's catch from junior quarterback Riley Richarz capped an 11-play drive that navigated 80 yards in 1:35. The conversion came on third down after the Mukwonago defensive back slipped on the turf at MHS , leaving Melton wide open.

Central failed on the two-point conversion, and in a last-gasp effort, Mukwonago's Ty Behling picked up the ensuing squib kick and ran it back to the Brookfield Central 27-yard-line with five seconds on the clock. But a 44-yard field goal attempt from Dan Timmers was short.

The Lancers trailed much of the night but pulled within 18-13 with 5:19 to go in the game on a 1-yard touchdown plunge from DeMario Harris. Mukwonago's drive stalled at the Central 44-yard line, leading to a punt that bounced out of bounds narrowly across the goal line for a touchback, mere inches from being down at the 1-yard line.

Timmers hit on a 35-yard field goal just before halftime to give Mukwonago an 18-7 lead at the break. The Indians, under first year coach Clay Iverson, started that drive to 3:09 to go when Tyler Wozny batted a ball into the air in single coverage and came down with an interception. That happened one play after Timmers went around left edge for a go-ahead 10-yard touchdown on 4th and 2.

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Longtime municipal leader Henschel is sole contender in Waukesha

By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Aug. 21, 2012 3:58 p.m. | Waukesha - Former Elm Grove and Whitefish Bay village manager Edmund Henschel is the only contender under consideration as the next Waukesha city administrator and a job offer could be in the works, Mayor Jeff Scrima said Tuesday.

The city selection committee interviewed him last week before he headed out of state for the rest of the month. Then, after the committee reviewed additional semifinalists' applications with a consultant, the committee decided to pursue Henschel without interviewing anyone else, Scrima said.

He said a job offer "may be in process" by the city's human relations department and the search firm. An announcement could be made in early September after Henschel returns, Scrima said.

Henschel, a Waukesha resident, has 27 years of municipal management experience in Elm Grove, Whitefish Bay and Clio, Mich., and 12 years of municipal consulting experience, according to his application. He is executive director of the Wisconsin City/County Management Association.

Scrima said Henschel's experience in negotiating a settlement to the 1980s "sewer wars" between the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and nine outlying suburbs called FLOW, for Fair Liquidation of Waste, would be particularly relevant to Waukesha "if he ends up joining our team."

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Waukesha County Board chairmanship to remain full time

By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Aug. 20, 2012 1:58 p.m. | Waukesha - Waukesha County Board Chairman Paul Decker and other members of the board's Executive Committee on Monday put to rest any notion that the chairman's job should be part time.

"We know it takes more to being in the chairman's position than a lot of people recognize," Decker said in explaining how his time has been occupied since taking over the chairman's job in April.

Initially, he was among those who apparently underestimated what it took to do the job.

Before assuming the role, Decker had publicly stated he would run for the chairmanship on the belief that a majority of county supervisors would vote to reduce the job to part time. He said full use of technology and County Board staff would allow him to handle the job as well as his own business, a technology innovation consulting firm.

County Executive Dan Vrakas called on the County Board to consider the move shortly after Jim Dwyer, the County Board chairman for 18 years, was defeated in his re-election bid for county supervisor. The County Board chooses its chairman from among its members.

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