Category Archives: Sports

by | October 8, 2011 · 8:27 am

Rockets Near Playoff Berth After Win

Update: A previous version of this story (and the NOW story linked below) incorrectly stated that South Milwaukee had made the playoffs. That is not the case. South Milwaukee must beat winless St. Thomas More at home on Friday to officially clinch a playoff berth. The Rockets may also qualify for the playoffs if they lose, but there are no guarantees. I apologize for the error.

The Brewers’ win wasn’t the only big one Friday night …

The South Milwaukee football team is close to heading back to the WIAA playoffs after a 28-14 victory over Whitnall.

Check out the full story here, and go Rockets!

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by | September 21, 2011 · 9:08 am

South Milwaukee Sports Update: Big Game For Former Rocket Soccer Star

It didn’t take long for former South Milwaukee High School soccer star Kelmend Islami to make his presence felt at the NCAA Division I level.

Islami scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to give Marquette a 2-1 victory over Michigan over the weekend.

Check out the Marquette Tribune story here. From it:

After not playing the first period of extra time, Islami came on at the start of the second period.

“He didn’t play every minute of this game, but he played invaluable minutes,” coach Louis Bennett said. “I had a funny feeling if we could get him one-on-one in a foot race, he was calm enough (to finish).”

And check out YouTube video of the goal here. The play starts at the 1:38 mark.

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by | September 17, 2011 · 4:43 pm

South Milwaukee Sports Update: Homecoming Week Begins Sunday

I have been added to the email list for Rocket Update, an email from the South Milwaukee School District with updates on Rocket athletics.

This week’s edition includes a schedule of Homecoming events, starting Sunday.

  • SUNDAY (4:00p-6:00p) – 14 Activity Groups & Sports Teams have signed up for the traditional window painting on Milwaukee Avenue. Check the artwork out as you drive by during at the start of next week.
  • THURSDAY (5:45p-7:45p) – Hall Decorating by the each of the 4 classes in the HS
  • THURSDAY (8:00p-8:25p) – Pep Rally in the Sullivan Gymnasium
  • THURSDAY (8:30p-9:45p) – Bonfire just west of the baseball diamond on 15th & Beech
  • FRIDAY (1:58p-2:48p) – Homecoming Assembly & Pep Rally
  • FRIDAY (7:00p kickoff) – Homecoming Football Game v. Wauwatosa West
  • SATURDAY (8:00p-11:00p) – Homecoming Dance
I’ll be sure to post future Rocket Updates when I get them. And go Rockets!

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by | March 18, 2011 · 4:31 pm

Season Ends for South Milwaukee Girls Hoops Team

The South Milwaukee girls basketball team’s season came to an end in the sectional semifinals Thursday night.

The Rockets lost to Oak Creek, 53-40.

Check out some photos from Oak Creek Patch here, and here is a story on the Knights’ quest for state.

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by | March 13, 2011 · 2:59 pm

Sports Update: South Milwaukee Girls Advance to Sectional Semifinal

The beat goes on for the South Milwaukee girls’ basketball team … and next up is a local rival.

After an easy win over Milwaukee South, the Rockets play Oak Creek in a sectional semifinal at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Racine Case. The winner of that game advances to the sectional final on Saturday, potentially against top-seeded Case.

Check out the full schedule here, and click here for the bracket.

And click here for results, schedules, stats and other information on the team from the Wisconsin Hoops Network.

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by | February 12, 2011 · 11:59 am

Rocket Boost: Special Season Continues for South Milwaukee Hoops Team

The South Milwaukee-Whitnall boys’ basketball game story made it into the front page of the Journal Sentinel sports section this morning … and it was good news for the Rockets.

South Milwaukee beat Whitnall, 62-60, to move into a tie with the Falcons in the Woodland Conference Black Division.

Check out the story here. From it:

The South Milwaukee boys basketball team found out plenty about itself Friday night.

The Rockets discovered they might not have a lot of height, but they have a lot of speed. They saw they can use that speed to play tough defense. They found they can make shots if they stay patient. And if they make free throws, they can win big games.

South Milwaukee put it all together for a 62-60 win over Whitnall in a Woodland Conference showdown, moving the teams into a tie in the Black Division at 10-4.

“Tonight we used our quickness, got just enough defensive stops, and we showed patience on offense,” said South Milwaukee coach John Riggins. “This is a big win for us to at least have a chance at sharing the conference championship.”

Learn more about the team here.

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by | February 9, 2011 · 11:16 pm

Big Goals: South Milwaukee Soccer Star Heading to Marquette

From one Marquette alum to another soon-to-be Golden Eagle: Welcome!

South Milwaukee High School soccer star Kelmend Islami has signed a national letter of intent to play for Marquette starting this fall.

Islami was the 2010 Woodland Conference Player of the Year and a second-team all-state pick in leading the Rockets to back-to-back Woodland titles in 2009 and 2010. As you’ll recall, South Milwaukee lost in the state sectional finals in November.

Check out the full press release here. It includes this quote from Golden Eagles coach Louis Bennett:

He’s an exciting player and has strong soccer acumen. His experience growing up playing for an ethnic club like the Croatian Eagles has given him a feel and appreciation for the intensity it takes to score goals. He’s a versatile player, and we’re excited about adding another player to the front five who can help us break through tight BIG EAST defensive units and get production on the score sheet. He runs right at people and scores goals.

Good luck, Kelmend!

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by | February 6, 2011 · 11:21 pm

Celebrating a Packer Title and A-Rod … With Song

Found this little ditty by South Milwaukee musician Eddy J. Lemberger on YouTube … enjoy!

What a game!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smmWumw_EmQ&feature=player_embedded#

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by | January 9, 2011 · 11:56 pm

Don’t Sleep on the South Milwaukee Boys’ Basketball Team …

Update: Here is the Journal Sentinel story on the team’s 69-61 win over New Berlin Eisenhower on Tuesday.

The Rockets are firing.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has named the streaking South Milwaukee boys’ basketball team its Team of the Week. Learn more here, and check out more information on the team on the Wisconsin Sports Network’s team page.

We can only hope the basketball team finds the same success the football team had. Go Rockets!

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by | December 15, 2010 · 9:24 pm

South Milwaukee Pride: Kleppin Shines at NCAA Nationals

A quick shout out to Lauren Kleppin, a South Milwaukee High School graduate who recently finished third in the NCAA Division-2 cross-country championships for Western State College of Colorado.

Read the full story (and see a photo) here. From it:

Kleppin finished the six-kilometer course in 21 minutes and 4.5 seconds, and ran with the breakaway group through the entire race. It’s the highest finish for a Mountaineer in the individual results since Esther Komen won the individual championship in 2006.

Kleppin, a junior, led Western State to a runner-up team finish.

Congratulations, Lauren!

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by | November 7, 2010 · 12:29 am

South Milwaukee’s Special Season Comes to an End

Update: Here is a photo gallery from the game.

In the end, Franklin was just too much.

The Sabres beat the South Milwaukee football team 45-27 on Saturday at Spaltholz Field, ending a season that saw the Rockets advance farther than they ever have in the WIAA playoffs.

South Milwaukee led 7-0 and 14-7 in the game, but Franklin scored 38 unanswered points starting in the second quarter, including a 76-yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the fourth to put it away.

Read the Journal Sentinel story here. Here is the box score.

Congratulations to the Rockets on a great season!

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by | November 5, 2010 · 9:55 pm

It’s Almost Game Time!

The Big Game starts at 5 p.m. Will you be there?

South Milwaukee hosts Franklin in round three of the WIAA Division 2 football playoffs on Saturday at Spaltholz Field, as the Rockets look to continue their deepest run into the playoffs in school history.

To do it, they’ll need an upset. Franklin is the top seed, and the Sabres have outscored their first two playoff opponents by a combined score of 83-32. South Milwaukee, meanwhile, has squeaked out its two victories, including an improbable comeback win over Pius XI last weekend.

Learn more about the game here. See a playoff bracket here.

Tickets are $4 at the gate. Go Rockets!

(I’ll post game results on Saturday night, so check back in case you can’t make it in person.)

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by | November 3, 2010 · 7:43 pm

Celebrating John Galewski, Sam Oliden and the South Milwaukee Football Team

The Journal Sentinel has a great story today about the South Milwaukee football team, its improbable victory over Pius XI on Saturday and its historic run this season.

Check it out here. From it:

John Galewski never did see the officials signal “good.”

“I didn’t see them raise their arms,” the South Milwaukee football coach said. “A bunch of kids behind the goalpost were jumping up and down. . . . Then all mayhem broke loose. It was just a wild, wild thing.

“Football-wise, Saturday was the most incredible thing I had ever seen.”

What Galewski and everyone else at Wisconsin Lutheran College saw was a school-record 52-yard field goal by South Milwaukee senior Sam Oliden as time ran out for a come-from-behind, 26-23 victory over Milwaukee Pius in the second round of the Division 2 playoffs.

“I coach him in football and baseball, and he’s done a lot of wonderful things,” Galewski said. “It wasn’t like I was totally shocked he made it, but that’s a heck of a kick in the pros, much less from a high school kid.”

Don’t forget that South Milwaukee hosts Franklin at 5 p.m. this Saturday at Spaltholz Field in what has to be one the biggest football games in school history. Admission is $4. Here is a flyer.

Go Rockets!

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by | October 31, 2010 · 10:23 pm

South Milwaukee vs. Franklin: Big Game Coming to Town Saturday

The South Milwaukee High School football team is two steps from the WIAA Division 2 state title game … and the first of those steps comes at home.

The Rockets host top-seeded Franklin in their third-round playoff game after pulling of a stunning 26-23 victory over Pius XI on Saturday.

Game time is 5 p.m., according to the WIAA’s updated Division 2 bracket.

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by | October 30, 2010 · 10:36 pm

Rocket Power! Field Goal in Final Seconds Lifts South Milwaukee Football Team to Win

Update: Here are a few more details.

Sam Oliden nailed a 53-yard field goal in the final seconds, as the South Milwaukee football team came back to beat Pius XI, 26-23, in the second round of the WIAA Division 2 playoffs Saturday night.

So, it’s on to round three … and a matchup with top-seeded Franklin on either Friday or Saturday at a location to be determined.

Franklin beat Brookfield East, 36-7, Saturday.

See the full Division 2 bracket here, and go Rockets!

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