Big Sports Weekend Includes Conference Title Matchup, State Swimming

The streaking Whitnall boys basketball team can clinch the Woodland Conference title with a win over rival New Berlin Eisenhower at 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Whitnall High School.

The first-place Falcons (17-2, 13-2), who have won their last five games, own a one-game lead over the Lions (16-4, 12-3) with two games remaining. The last time the teams met, Eisenhower escaped with a 60-58 victory Jan. 20.

High school officials are hoping to "Pack the House" and Patch will be on hand to capture the showdown in a photo gallery.

The Falcons set up the first-place showdown with a convincing 69-48 win over Wauwatosa West on Tuesday.

But basketball isn't the only big event for sports fans this weekend.

The WIAA State Swimming Meets are this weekend, with Division 2 action Friday at the University of Wisconsin's Natatorium, where Whitnall had participants in four events, including senior Nick Ratkowski in the 50-yard freestyle and sophomore Nick Bell in diving. The Falcons also qualified in the 200 medley and 200 free relays. Results will be available on the WIAA website later today.

The Division 1 meet is 3 p.m. Saturday, where a host of Greenfield/Greendale co-op swimmers will take center stage. Several of the state qualifiers were ill the week of sectionals.

In wrestling, five Whitnall Falcons will be competing in Saturday's Waukesha West sectional, while seven Greenfield Hustlin' Hawks will compete in the Racine Horlick sectional. Those who survived last weekend's regional were Victor Castro, Alec Adams, Tyler Dorfner, Steven Patrick, Marc Mayer, Justin Singleton and Brandon Tolbert.

Three more basketball teams - Greenfield boys and girls and Whitnall girls - are also in action Friday, and on Thursday, the combined girls gymnastics team which includes Whitnall athletes, won the Southeast/Classic 8 Conference meet.