Brookfield East takes title
MEQUON – Brookfield East has set the bar high.
Loaded with two returning allstate players and a handful of others with at least three years of varsity experience, the Spartans proved Saturday that they’re ready to build on last season when they won their first conference title and fell one victory short of its first state tournament appearance.
After an opening-round loss Friday, the Spartans won five straight matches to win the St. Thomas More-Homestead Joust at Homestead. Considering the winner of the tournament often goes on to state, the victory fits right in line with the team’s hopes this season.
“Competing in the conference and getting to state for the first time in our school history,” East coach Chris Polowy said, “it’s state or bust in their minds.”
To win the title, Brookfield East eliminated a couple of Greater Metro rivals. They beat Menomonee Falls, 25-19, 25-21, in the final after coming back to eliminate two-time defending tournament champion Divine Savior Holy Angels in the semifinals, 21-25, 25-22, 15-9.
The team received a No. 9 seed for the tournament and then showed it deserved better.
Here are five takeaways from the Joust.
FRESH FACE: On the way to winning the title, East’s big names came through. Senior outside hitter Gretchen Bruhn, one of the team’s two returning all-state players, finished the tournament with a teamhigh 46 kills and a .239 hitting percentage and had five kills and a .364 hitting percentage in the final. Senior libero MaKenna Berry, the team’s other returning all-state player, was sharp, finishing with 90 digs and impressing Polowy with her level of execution.
The Spartans also got big weekends from seniors Victoria Berry (80 assists), Ella Mortensen (34 kills), Mackenzie Schmirler (30 kills) and Katie Work (10 blocks). A pleasant surprise was Riley Kindt, a 5-foot-9 middle blocker who overcame early-tournament jitters to post a team-high two blocks in the final.
“We have seen her grow almost a season’s worth in one weekend,” Polowy said.
LIGHTNING STRIKES: Lake Country Lutheran finished second to Kettle Moraine Lutheran in the Red Bracket, the fourth of the six brackets. Still, the team did nothing but bolster its standing as one of the top teams in Division 3. The team scored victories over Division 1 opponents Menomonee Falls and Oconomowoc (twice). The team lost a tiebreaker with Falls, 18-16, that would have advanced it out of pool play Friday.
“My biggest takeaway is that we can defend against anything, which is exciting to see,” Lightning coach Janet Bahr said.
PLAYING UP: Waterford, like Brookfield East, played better than its seed. The Wolverines, who are led by Ohio State recruit Mia Grunze, were seeded 22nd out of 24 teams but finished fourth. The showing is a good sign for a team that some expect to make a jump in the Southern Lakes and contend for the title.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: Falls won two tiebreakers on the way to reaching the final. It won the aforementioned tie with Lake Country Lutheran to advance out of pool play and then won a tie-breaker with Appleton North and Homestead to reach the gold bracket.
DEEP BENCH: The Dashers’ quest for a third straight title came up short, but it reached the semifinals and was able to adjust after losing starting middle blocker Aly Larcheid, a junior, to an injury Friday. She was replaced by Ellie Cesarz, a little-used junior.
“Ellie did a great job of stepping up into the role we needed her to do,” DSHA coach Caitie Ratkowski said.