The Fenwick boys’ water polo team had but one game on their minds going into the Stevenson tournament last weekend: The potential match-up with Brother Rice.
Fenwick finally got its revenge on the Crusaders, who had trumped the Friars four times earlier in the year, with a hard-fought 5-4 victory in the semifinal game on Saturday. Fenwick went on to win the tournament with a perfect record of 4-0.
“It was a big win for us,” said Fenwick head coach Dave Perry of the victory over Brother Rice. The Friars (21-5, 6-1) will more likely see their rivals again in the finals of this weekend’s Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference tournament, which will be held at Fenwick.
Five Friars scored in the win: Mark Melnyk, Luke Baldwin, Oscar Calderon, Tom Parolin, and John Barrett. Paul Grusecki anchored the defense with five steals, while covering Brother Rice’s top player in Nick Nicola.
Fenwick also had wins over Mundelein, 10-5, Lake Forest, 17-3, and Naperville Central, 9-2.
With the win over Brother Rice, Perry said his team now has its confidence back. “The team knows now that they can beat them. We’ll more than likely have to ratchet up the defense again this weekend.”
Brother Rice, the No. 1 seed going into the MCAC tourney, scored three of its four goals on the extra-man situation last week. “That’s where we’ll need to improve before Saturday,” said Perry.
The No. 2 seed Fenwick will face Mt. Carmel in the opening round on Friday (6:30 p.m.). The title game is set for Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Vault leads to seventh
Liz Wilkie pole vault of 10-feet led the OPRF girls’ track and field team to seventh place at the 15-team Glenbard West Invitational on Saturday.
Wilkie took first place in the event, and the Huskies finished with a score of 49. Hinsdale Central took top honors with 90.
The Huskies travel to Wheaton Warrenville South on Friday (4:30 p.m.), the last meet of the regular season before the West Suburban (Silver) Conference Meet at York on May 6.
Huskies still rolling
The OPRF volleyball team remained on course in its quest for a State title by edging Morton 25-19, 25-17 last week.
UCLA-bound Sean O’Malley led the Huskies (15-2, 1-0), with an ace, 11 kills four digs, and one block. Lawrence Collerd racked up 26 assists, two kills and four digs. Chris Lewis and Chris Ernest chipped in six kills apiece. Lewis added 10 digs, while Ernest tallied an ace and six digs.
The Huskies resume WSC play at home against Lyons Township on Thursday (6 p.m.). They’ll travel to Downers Grove South for a tournament on Friday and Saturday.
Scharpf steps down
Matt Scharpf announced last week that he has stepped down as head boys’ soccer coach at Fenwick.
“It was a very difficult thing to do but the time the team deserved was not available to me any longer,” Scharpf stated in an e-mail to the media last week.
Tony Hepburn, head coach of the Fenwick girls’ soccer team, will replace Scharpf.
