Winning state is main goal
Rhodes, Yass are huge reason Waukesha West ranked No. 1
Special to the Journal Sentinel
When it comes to sharing goals, many players, coaches and teams choose to remain tight-lipped.
Waukesha West senior forward Nat Yass definitely isn’t one of those people.
“Winning state is our goal and we want everyone to know it,” said Yass, a Northern Illinois recruit. “We have a confidence this year, and we definitely think we can win state.” She’s not alone. West has made nine trips to state since 2000 and been a state runner-up four times in the last seven years. If the Wolverines are ever going to shed the bridesmaid label, this seems like the perfect time.
West has a dynamic duo in senior striker Dani Rhodes, a University of Wisconsin recruit, and Yass. And that pair is a huge reason the Wolverines began the year ranked No. 1 in the Journal Sentinel’s area poll.
“Soccer is a weird cruel game; you can be the better team and not always win,” said West coach Dave Zindler, now in his 23rd year. “But we’ve definitely got some top of the roster players that should give us a chance for some big things.”
The dynamic Rhodes is at the top of that list. A year ago, Rhodes won the Gatorade State Player of the Year award and shared the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year honor after posting 44 goals and notching 11 assists.
Rhodes, who already holds the school record for career goals, has blinding speed but also has improved her ball skills. Rhodes thought long and hard about preparing for college by playing with her club team this spring, but decided late that she didn’t want to miss out on a potentially magical season at West.
“I just asked myself, ‘What would I regret not doing the most,’” Rhodes said. “And after everything we’ve put into this, it would feel weird not playing my senior year.”
Yass is one of the state’s premier forwards, as well. Last year, Yass had 23 goals and 22 assists. Yass also is just three assists shy of breaking the career record at West (45).
Yass and Rhodes have played three high school and two club seasons together.
“It’s awesome,” Yass said. “From the start, we just clicked. Our chemistry on the field has just been awesome.” Zindler certainly agrees. “Dani is a goal scorer in the purest sense,” Zindler said. “There are some fast kids in the state, but no one is faster. She also has little, subtle nuances that make her so dangerous.
“And Nat’s touch is as fine as I’ve ever seen. She makes so much happen for our team. Together, they’re pretty special.” West has several other standouts, as well. Carrie Brick, who will play collegiately at Division 2 Fort Hays State, anchors the defense. Josie Zindler, a three-year starter, will lead the midfield. And senior Abbie Lorenz seems primed for a big season in goal.
“I think we’re very talented,” Rhodes said. “We just need to execute down stretch.”
That didn’t happen a year ago when West won the mighty Classic 8 Conference and headed to the postseason as a front-runner in Division 2. Instead, Whitefish Bay stunned the Wolverines in a regional final.
West was hobbled at the end of the 2015 season. So Dave Zindler spent much of the off-season studying injury prevention techniques, and has added items such as yoga and dynamic stretching.
“We had a lot of quad and hamstring injuries,” Dave Zindler said. “We need to prevent the more preventable injuries.” And perhaps capture that elusive state title. “Last year was a really weird way to end the season and we’re pushing so hard this year,” Yass said. “It’s time we win state.”