Watervliet Press Box
Volleyball beats Comets and wins St. Joe tourney
The Panther varsity volleyball team had another big week, extending their winning streak to 18 matches and 19 straight sets. The week began on Tuesday, Oct. 10 when they hosted Coloma in a match that would determine the winner of the SAC Lakeshore Division. The Panthers swept the Comets 25-16, 25-14, and 25-22 to claim their third consecutive undefeated division crown. On Thursday, Oct. 12 the Lady Panthers played Saugatuck and Holland Black River and swept them both. On Saturday, Oct. 14 the team traveled to the annual St. Joseph tournament and won ten sets and losing none to bring home the championship for the second straight year.
In the Coloma match, the Panthers took control early in the first game and just kept pushing against a spirited group of Comets. The Panthers are so deep that teams cannot line up against one or two big hitters anymore because they have seven girls who can pound the ball over the net. All of them had good games with setter Grace Chisek doing everything but most importantly making perfect sets for her teammates. The Panther defense was also very strong and the Comets were outgunned despite great play from MJ Hamilton.
On Saturday, Oct. 14 the team spent the day at the eight team St Joseph tournament. They opened at 8:30 a.m. with what would be the closest set of the day, 25-22 over Kalamazoo Central. Watervliet dispatched Central 25-10 in the second game then beat Loy Norrix 25-11 and 25-14, and Brandywine 25-21 and 25-21 to close pool play. After a long break they opened bracket play with a 25-21 and 25-14 win over Decatur, then beat up host St. Joe 25-11 and 25-15. The Panthers had three players
with more than 20 kills, five players with 25 digs, four with at least five aces, and four with at least four blocks. Chisek led the day with 92 assists.
The Panther varsity volleyball team hosted SAC Valley (K-Christian) and SAC Central (Martin) division champs on Tuesday this week for an unofficial SAC crossover tournament then begins preparation for yet another tournament run. The Press Box is picking the Panthers to win their third consecutive district title and make yet another trip to a regional title match, which is likely going to be against Pewamo-Westphalia in the finals on Nov. 9 in Fennville.
The postseason opens against Coloma on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at Coloma and then the winner faces Hartford, Bangor, or Bloomingdale for the district title on Nov. 2 in Coloma.
Football beats Parchment
The Watervliet Panther varsity football team broke a three-game skid with a big 31-14 win over the Panthers of Parchment on Friday, Oct. 13. Once more, a rainy and cool fall evening cleared up at game time for another well-played contest between two well-matched teams. Watervliet is out of the playoffs but playing spoiler as they may have ruined Parchment’s playoff plans by handing them their fourth loss to drop to 4-4 and facing 7-1 Constantine next week.
Watervliet took early control with their running game when Owen Epple ran for about 50 yards on a couple trap plays, the second one a 25-yard TD run. On the ensuing Parchment possession Wyatt Epple recovered a fumble at the Parchment 30-yard line, and Owen shook off a big hit to score again from the 11-yard line. Parchment got on the board late in the first quarter, and late in the second quarter Jacob Schaefer connected with Chase Tremblay on a 9-yard TD pass to give Watervliet an 18-6 lead at halftime.
Parchment scored on a short run in the third quarter then Schaefer threw his second TD pass to Wyatt Epple to give our Panthers a 24-14 lead. The game was sealed late in the fourth quarter when linebacker Joe Coulombe intercepted a Parchment pass at their 35 and ran it back for a score. Ben Parritt’s kick was good to close the scoring. Owen Epple and Carson Underwood each ran for 101 yards in the game and Wyatt Epple ran for 82.
The Panthers are now 3-5 and headed to Allegan for the season finale on Friday, Oct. 20.
Cross-Country at Portage
The feisty and small Panther boys cross-country team finished 10th place in a field of 18 teams at the SAC Championship meet on Thursday, Oct. 12. Danny Mandujano finished 5th overall to earn First Team All-Conference for the second year in a row. Luke Isbrecht and Zeke Cordozo ran solid races while Devin Geisler paced himself to a new PR with help from teammates Alex Sexton and Grayson Richards, who were chasing close behind.
The girls team finished 8th at the SAC Championship. Morgan Lowell finished 14th overall to earn 1st Team All-Conference honors, her third such award. Kimmy Romero was the next Panther across the finish line finishing 26th and earning Honorable Mention All-Conference for the second time. Gabby Wisdom and Ella Geisler also ran well on the hilly and muddy course.
The teams run at Kalamazoo Christian Elementary on Oct. 21 before regionals at Portage on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Soccer finishes strong
On Monday, Oct. 9 the Panthers lost to Lawton 7-1, ending their regular season at 3-9-3. Alex Hicks scored the lone Panther goal for the home team.
On Wednesday, Oct. 11 the Panthers beat Constantine to open the district tournament 1-0 to advance to the semifinals against Hartford. The game was scoreless until the 73rd minute when freshman Adrian Hernandez put a perfect corner kick across the front of the net and Alex Hicks beat several defenders to get to the pass and direct it into the net for the only goal of the game. Landin Fuller recorded a shutout with eight saves.
The Panthers then took on 19-0-1 Hartford, who is ranked #3 in D3. Hartford won the match 8-0, ending the Panther’s season.
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