Ready for the dance Patty s Closet loans formal dresses to students in need By LINDA MCALPINE Eighteen-year-old Inga Bunzel glowed as she modeled the hot pink satin and sequined gown she will be wearing Saturday night to the West Bend high schools prom. She and classmate Anna Dickman, who wore a blue strapless floor-length dress with a train, didn t seem to mind walking down the halls at the high schools dressed in their prom attire Tuesday. They were headed to Patty s Closet, a spare room at the school that holds donated formal attire made available to students of both genders who might not otherwise be able to attend functions like prom or homecoming for lack of the proper clothing. Although both girls had already gone through the lengthy process of finding just the right dress from the many choices offered by Patty s Closet, they stopped in for one more look-through. This one fits just right but when I picked it, it was too long for me, so my mother s husband had to fix it, Inga said with a shy laugh as she twirled in her pink gown. And who is your mother s husband? Dawn Goralski, special education instructional assistant, asked Inga. My Dad, Inga replied with a smile. Anna said she planned to stick with the lovely blue gown she was wearing. It fits nice and I like the color, she said. I tried on lots of dresses. It wasn t until the early 1990s that special education students like Inga and Anna began to be included in school festivities such as prom, Goralski said. Patty Brown, the special education teacher that Patty s Closet is named after, implemented the incorporation of special ed students to attend the dances, including prom, at the high schools, she said. She, along with parents, would plan the whole prom experience. I began chaperoning the students at dances about five years before Patty s death in 2005 of cancer. Goralski, along with co-workers Janet Zimmerman, Holly Rogge, Lynn Oppeneer and Jen Mesko organized the collection of donated formal clothes to honor Patty Brown s memory. She was not only known for her passion for teaching special education students, but also for being compassionate and giving, as well as being well-dressed, Goralski said. She would often buy the appropriate attire for dances for students who couldn t afford it or she would bring in her own clothing and accessories. Today, the gently used dressup clothes, from dresses short and cute to long and glamorous and even suits for young men hang on a long portable metal rack built and donated by the students in the Industrial Arts Department at the high schools. It is maintained with help from staff, students and parents who volunteer their time to its upkeep, from sorting the donations to doing alterations and cleaning. I think Patty s Closet is a wonderful idea. I ve been involved with it for four years and it s great that students who have a need don t have to pay to have the same nice things as other students to go to dances, said Joy Schroeder Bunzel, Inga s mother. Cathy Reilly, a special education teacher, does most of the alterations on the clothes so they fit, Goralski said. The clothing is available for any student who can benefit from it, Goralski said. Our
musical and theatrical departments have also used items from Patty s Closet for productions. Most items are recycled and reused, she said. Clothing that is too out of style is donated to our Family Life Department for classes such as Fashion Merchandising and Interior Design. They have the option of updating the item to current fashion or to re-create something entirely new with the fabric, Goralski said. We also donate to Our Place, in West Bend, a day service for developmentally disabled adults in our community for their dances or play productions. This year, eight special education students will dance the night away with their peers at prom at the Washington County Fair Park Pavilion, with the theme of the evening being Rock the Red Carpet. They will go out to dinner at Riverside Brewery in West Bend before the dance. Our students at both high schools and the community have been wonderful and very welcoming to our special needs students, said Goralski. Our high school students truly embrace diversity and they don t treat our special needs students any differently. The school dances, like prom, are the highlight of my year. I just love to watch these students get out there and have fun and be accepted. Linda McAlpine/ Inga Bunzel, left, and Anna Dickman show dresses to Dawn Goralski, special education instructional assistant, right, in Patty s Closet on Tuesday. Linda McAlpine/ Inga Bunzel, left, and Anna Dickman wear and look at dresses for the West Bend high schools prom on Saturday night. The dresses come from Patty s Closet, organized in memory of Patty Brown, a West Bend High School special education teacher who died in 2005 of cancer.
TRACK AND FIELD: WISCONSIN LITTLE TEN CHAMPIONSHIP Champs again West Bend West girls repeat as conference champion By PAT NEUMUTH The 1,600-meter relay is always the final event of the meet and the final two circles around the track for West Bend West s girls track and field team were Amanda Wanie handing off the baton to her older sister Erica Wanie. Theater tradition is to wish someone luck by saying break a leg. Luck had nothing to do with the Wanie sisters success, but they were breaking stuff. Erica Wanie broke the 400-meter run school record, while Amanda Wanie broke the 300 hurdle. Plus, in the 1,600 relay, they finished first, breaking another record. These performances were just the highlight of West s girls team finishing off back-toback outdoor Wisconsin Little Ten championships Tuesday. And they did it emphatically winning by 53.75 points with a total of 196.75 points. Hartford Union took third with 85 points, while Slinger took fourth and East took eighth. Oconomowoc won the boys meet with 183 points. West took third with 103, followed by Hartford with 93 points. East took seventh and Slinger took eighth. Hopefully we can stay at the top of the conference for the next couple of years, West girls coach Jerry Halopka said. It (feels) a lot better than five years ago when we scored 12 points at this meet. Like sisters, they didn t want to talk up their own record-breaking night. Each wanted to say how well the other did. Her 300 record, I think that was one of the best races I ve ever seen out of her. I m so proud, Erica Wanie said about Amanda s 300 hurdles record of 44.82 seconds. She just did so awesome. She s just breaking records like crazy, Amanda Wanie said about Erica Wanie s 400 record of 58.01 seconds. I m really proud of her, too. The two could be arguing on which is more impressive. Erica s 400 record was previously held by Megan Duwell Herrick, who was an All-American at the University of Minnesota. I m honored because she s an incredible runner, Erica Wanie said. Just being mentioned in the same sentence as her just feels awesome. However, Erica Wanie took second behind Wisconsin Lutheran s Ambria Avery in the 400. Erica Wanie blew open a big victory in the 800 in a time of 2:19.95. Amanda Wanie s record is an improvement on what was already the fastest time in the state, which she ran in a time of 45.32 at the WLT Outdoor Relays on May 6. Amanda s victory in the 300 hurdles was her second hurdles victory of the day. She also won her second straight 100 hurdles WLT championship with a time of 16.07. (Hartford s) Hannah Mertens and I always put up a fight together and talk and we re just friendly competitors, Amanda Wanie said. It feels really good. I won the 100 hurdles last year and it s just icing on the cake. Yet these two didn t want to focus on their individual achievements. Being on the same relay team is something they love more than anything. I always trust my teammates, but when you have a sister running with you, you trust them that much more, Erica Wanie said. Of course we are sisters and we fight, but
track is something we both have in common and a passion for it. We work super hard together. The 1,600 relay record was set last year and Erica Wanie was part of that team as well. That team also took second at state. This year s team of the Wanie sisters, Ife Ekunsanmi and Kayla Janto are starting to gel at the right time. Hopefully we can get back to where we were last year, Halopka said. The two girls at the end, it was funny I told them we were running the sisters at the end and they re like, OK. But Amanda wanted to lead off. Erica, she s been anchoring that team for three years, so that s no doubt. Eden Rogers tied her own school record in the pole vault with her second place finish with her jump of 10-6. Elena Heimark won the triple jump, while the 400 and 800 relay teams also won for the Spartans. Hartford s Sam Noennig won the discus with a throw of 136-9, while Slinger s Kiley Sabin won the shot put with a throw of 42-6.25. Ashley Melvin won the high jump for the Orioles (5-1). For the boys, Hartford s Mike Petri won the triple jump (42-10), while Donovaun Britton won high jump (6-2). The Orioles also won the 1,600 relay. West s Alec Miller won the 1,600 (4:17.06) and took second in the 800. WLT Championship West Bend Team scores Boys 1. Oconomowoc 183; 2. Wisconsin Lutheran 130; 3. West 103; 4. Hartford 93; 5. Watertown 73; 6. Beaver Dam 66; 7. East 42; 8. Slinger 11 Girls 1. West 196.75; 2. Wisconsin Lutheran 143; 3. Hartford 85; 4. Slinger 82.75; 5. Beaver Dam 73; 6. Watertown 51; 7. Oconomowoc 43.50; 8. East 27 WLT Individual Champions Boys 100 Shawntrel Garner (WL) 11.14; 200 Shawn Michels (OC) 22.36; 400 Corbin Ellis (OC) 49.73; 800 Eric Brown III (WL) 1:55.18; 1,600 Alec Miller (WBW) 4:17.06; 3,200 Noah Brown (OC) 9:38.32; 110 hurdles Shawn Michels (OC) 14.77; 300 hurdles Shawn Michels (OC) 38.72; 400 relay Oconomowoc 43.27; 800 relay Oconomowoc 1:30.00; 1,600 relay Hartford (Mitchell Berti, Brad Capps, Army Terry, Mike Petri) 3:28.84; 3,200 relay Wisconsin Lutheran 8:15.61; High jump Donovaun Britton (HU) 6-2; Pole vault Tyler Parbs (WL) 13-6; Long jump Shawntrel Garner (WL) 21-6.75; Triple jump Mike Petri (HU) 42-10; Shot put Zach Poker (OC) 60-4.75; Discus Riley Budde (BD) 177-4 Girls 100 Ambria Avery (WL) 12.72; 200 Ambria Avery (WL) 25.74; 400 Ambria Avery (WL) 57.83; 800 Erica Wanie (WBW) 2:19.95; 1,600 Talia Spiegelberg (WL) 5:20.15; 3,200 Caityln Kiekhaefer (BD) 11:55.35; 100 hurdles Amanda Wanie (WBW) 16.07; 300 hurdles Amanda Wanie (WBW) 44.82; 400 relay West (Amanda Sincere, Eden Rogers, Shelly Zancanaro, Janice Woods) 51.08; 800 relay West (Celina Wanta, Kate Schraufnagel, Alexis Wolf, Ife Ekunsanmi) 1:47.11; 1,600 relay West (Ife Ekunsanmi, Kayla Janto, Amanda Wanie, Erica Wanie) 3:59.28; 3,200 relay Beaver Dam 9:33.90; High jump Ashley Melvin (HU) 5-1; Pole vault Taylor Corkum (WL) 10-9; Long jump Taylor Naatz (WT) 17-5.5; Triple jump Elena Heimark (WBW) 34-6.25; Shot put Kiley Sabin (SL) 42-6.25; Discus Sam Noennig (HU) 136-9 John Ehlke/
West Bend East s Katie Opgenorth begins the 800-meter relay race during the Wisconsin Little Ten Championship on Tuesday in West Bend. John Ehlke/ West Bend West s Amanda Wanie, left, competes in the 100-meter hurdles during the Wisconsin Little Ten Championship on Tuesday in West Bend. BOYS TENNIS: EAST 4, HARTFORD UNION 3 Suns hang on, nip Orioles East creates space in conference standings By ADAM LINDEMER HARTFORD West Bend East has put itself in a position all teams want to be in. With just two Wisconsin Little Ten Conference tennis duals left in the season, a conference championship could be on the horizon for the Suns. East gained just a little more breathing room, as the Suns beat Hartford Union on Tuesday, 4-3. The Orioles are the team that s chasing East. I knew we d have some tough matches, East coach Al Carrier said. I was hoping for at least four, and that s what we got. Tuesday was the closest WLT dual match that East has had this year. Congrats to West Bend East, Hartford Union coach Andy Andress said. We had our home match and had something to play for. I knew it was going to be an uphill fight though. Realistically, we needed to take at least six (points) from them, plus get some help. I just don t see (East) dropping eight matches in the next two days. To me, conference is theirs to lose now. The Suns swept the doubles matches and Matt Zurowski got the victory at No. 1 singles, which was the first match completed. The clinching match was at No. 3 doubles, as East s Ryan Wenzlaff and Billy Zimbal won in three sets to give the Suns the fourth victory of the day. Zimbal and Wenzlaff lost the first set, but battled back and won the final two. Carrier shuffled his doubles lineup just slightly and it paid off. I put Josh (Kreger) in at No. 2 doubles, because I think he has to be someplace, Carrier said. He helped out at No. 2 and moving Ryan (Wenzlaff) down helped the No.
3. It was either that or change things completely. Also going three sets, was the No. 2 and No. 3 singles matches. Hartford s Matt Lane (No. 2) and Garrett Doubleday (No. 3) were victorious in those. It was good for it to be competitive, Andress said. We pulled out two (three-set matches) and I was happy about that. It speaks well of the kids. East was on the verge of winning the dual 5-2, but Lane came back from a deficit in the third set, which allowed Hartford to lose just a point in the overall standings. Lane was down 4-1 in the final set against East s Ben VandeZande and worked to pull out the two-hour 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory. I wasn t too concerned when he was down 1-4, like he was in the third, Andress said. He s focused and knows what needs to be done. He made adjustments as the match ebbed and flowed, and that s a sign of his maturity. He s a type of player that s not going to blow you away with ground strokes, but he plays steady and intelligently. He s even-tempered and that shows in his matches and his style of play. VandeZande won the first set of the match. That was a good match, Carrier said. Ben was down in the first and came back. In the third set, he had an early lead and couldn t hold it. Andress added, That match was a test of endurance. Not just physically, but mentally, too. The Suns host Beaver Dam today and travel to Watertown on Thursday. Carrier is confident that his team has what it takes to seal the deal. Now we start all over again, but if we win decently, we got her (the conference championship), Carrier said. And that s why you have to play the matches. EAST 4, HARTFORD UNION 3 Singles No. 1 Matt Zurowski (WBE) def. Marek Schiesser 6-1, 6-1; No. 2 Matt Lane (HU) def. Ben VandeZande 7-5, 5-7, 6-4; No. 3 Garrett Doubleday (HU) def. Jason Johnson 6-4, 6-1; No. 4 Allen Thimm (HU) def. Joey Chevalier 6-3, 6-1. Doubles No. 1 Nick Nguyen/Collin Reinke (WBE) def. Keith Andreck/Weston DeKoning 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 Jake Leitheiser/Josh Kreger (WBE) def. Collin Brault/Andrew Childs 64, 6-2; No. 3 Ryan Wenzlaff/Billy Zimbal (WBE) def. Nicola Perini/Nick Wojciechowski 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. John Ehlke/ West Bend East s Matt Zurowski jumps to return a shot from Hartford Union s Marek Schiesser on Tuesday in Hartford.
ROUNDUP East girls soccer blanks Beaver Dam; Hartford ties West Bend East s girls soccer team shut out Beaver Dam on Tuesday, 4-0. The Suns scored all their goals in the second half. Rachel Stapelfeldt, Hannah Knop, Gabriella Bland and Sarah Jacquot all scored for East. Stapelfeldt, Elisabeth Held and Julia Weninger all had assists for the Suns. East outshot Beaver Dam, 14-5, and Hailey Krewald made four saves for East. BOYS GOLF WLT mini-meet Slinger finished in second place for the second straight WLT mini-meet, with a 172 on Tuesday at Rolling Hills Country Club. Oconomowoc won for the second straight time with a 170, Hartford Union was third (173), West Bend West was fifth (176) and East was seventh (179). Slinger s Steve McLean was the event medalist, shooting a 2-over-par 38, while Cal Meyers shot a 41 for the Owls. Hartford s TJ Podner shot a 3-over 39 and Cody Differt finished with a 43. East was led by Kyle Rebholz s 39 and Daniel Schwalen finished with a 43 to lead West. Krewald Weninger