Women’s Volleyball
Blackhawk Technical College’s women’s volleyball team hosted the Wilbur Wright College Rams in the Public Safety Center on the Beloit-Janesville Campus on Sept. 1. The team came away with its first victory, winning all three games in the match 25-22, 25-22 and 25-23.
Coach Brandy Salonga said Carly Castellano, Aviana Kinkel, Amanda Scruggs and Bailey Wall were key contributors to the win.
Then on Sept. 4-5, the Talons competed in the tournament at Malcolm X College in Chicago. Against Kennedy King College on Sept. 4, the Talons went to five sets, winning in the fifth. Castellano, Shauna Rowin-Fox and Americus Pomplun had strong games. The next day went differently. Against Wilbur Wright College, Somarra Boone and Haley White led the charge, but the Talons fell 19-25, 25-27 and 20-25. Malcolm X College outscored Blackhawk despite efforts by Rowin-Fox, Katie Klassy, White and Castellano, ending with scores of 14-25, 21-25 and 24-26.
The team played Kishwaukee College at home on Sept. 7. Results will be shared when available.
The next match is on Sept. 10 when the Talons travel to face College of DuPage at 6 p.m. in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. On Sept. 12, they will compete in the Tri-Match Tournament at Bay College in Escanaba, Michigan.
Women’s Golf
The Talons women golfers competed in back-to-back tournaments last week. On Sept. 1, they took on Kishwaukee College at Riverside Golf Course in Janesville. Lexi Schmidt shot a 109 and won her match vs. Kishwaukee. McKenna Haenel ended with 111, which was good for second place in her match.
Coach Nick Hagen said, "Both Lexi and McKenna played very well in their head-to-head match play rounds today. We were very competitive, and they did a fantastic job of playing consistent golf through the 18 holes. It was a very warm day outside, raining off and on, and great determination was well on display. Proud of both of them."
On Sept. 2, the women competed in the Judson Fall Invitational at Pinecrest Golf Club in Huntley, Illinois. Lexi Schmidt finished second in her group of #1 golfers on the day, posting 38 over par (110). Temperatures reached 91 degrees in Huntley, but Lexi stayed within one stroke of her average. Judson University won the team competition with the team posting a combined 47 over par.
Hagen said, "Lexi's improvement this past month has been great. She had just one penalty shot in 36 tournament holes this week and continues to roll the ball well on the greens. Her pitch shots inside 20 yards around the green have been a highlight, saving her numerous shots each round. Good to see her working on her game in tournament play."
Men’s Golf
Blackhawk’s men’s golf team faced Kishwaukee College at Riverside Golf Course in Janesville on Sept. 1. Ryan Daschner placed second in the dual match tournament, finishing at one over par with 73 (one shot out of first place) and receiving a medal for having one of the top three best scores of the day. Koen Lueck shot 80 and tied for fifth, and Sawyer Dominy shot 84, which was good for eighth place. Both Daschner and Lueck won a full point for the Talons in the full team dual match, but ultimately the Kishwaukee team won for the day by winning six matches.
Coach Nick Hagen said, "Our opponents from Kishwaukee College provided us with great competition today, and we had some very close matches. Just 18 shots among three players was all that separated us from the match win, so there was a lot of good golf today. Lots to learn from in a dual match, and we're looking forward to playing Kishwaukee again in the future."
On Sept. 4-5, they took on Edgewood University at Glen Erin Golf Course in Janesville. Lueck led the Talons with rounds of 80 and 82 (good for 95th place), followed by Daschner and Dominy at +21 each (tied for 96th place) in the Culver's Edgewood University Invitational at Glen Erin Golf Club in Janesville. The two-day, 36-hole tournament saw Lueck and Daschner right at their season stroke average in tournament play, and Dominy finished the second round with his college career low round of 78.
Hagen said, "This was a great tournament for our guys to play, as it was full of talented golf teams. It's good to play against competition like this, as it shows everyone up close what's possible and what needs to be improved. We hit lots of good shots this weekend, and it was really fun watching Sawyer break into the 70s in tournament play."
Their next competition is the Judson Fall Invitational on Sept. 11 at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee, Illinois.