This Week in Athletics

Prairie Names New Girls' Varsity Volleyball Coach

After two seasons of transition, the girls’ varsity volleyball program appears set for stability after the school named Kei Kondo varsity head coach earlier this month.

“I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity,” said Kondo. “Volleyball is a lifelong passion of mine and I’m looking forward to passing on that love for the game to everyone regardless of prior experience. I believe in using the program to help students grow into confident, respectful, and well-rounded individuals.”

Kondo, who was born and raised in Japan, has vast playing and coaching experience. He has led teams at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels, including a stint at the University of Chicago where he served as an assistant for the women’s program before becoming head coach for the men’s club team.

Kondo and his family resided in San Francisco prior to relocating to Wind Point in 2024. He and his wife, Mandy, have two children in Primary School and another who will begin Early School in the fall.

Last season, Kondo served as an assistant for Prairie’s varsity girls’ volleyball team as well as head coach for junior varsity. To Kondo, success on the court is a byproduct of getting players involved and teaching them to love the sport.

“My intention is to provide a positive and meaningful experience for everyone in the program,” said Kondo. “I hope to provide both a competitive athletic environment for those students who seek it, as well as opportunities to learn the sport along with the values of commitment, teamwork, and leadership for others.”

 

Boys’ and Girls’ Track

The Hawks competed in back-to-back meets over the past weekend. On Friday, the Hawks held their own in a competitive meet featuring many larger schools, with four of the top ten finishes. Amiyah Galica ’26 led the team with a first place finish in the 300 Hurdles and a seventh place finish in the High Jump. Winter Schienke ’25 medaled with a sixth place finish in the Shot Put, while the 4×100 team of Izzy Baumgardt ’25, Larkin Hrouda ’25, Galica, and JJ Barnes ’25 finished in seventh place. At Milwaukee Lutheran the next day, the girls placed fourth overall and totaled twelve top-ten finishes! Bringing home second place finishes were Carly Lopez ’25 (400M), Baumgardt (100 Hurdles), Helina Slamka ’28 (High Jump), Schienke (Shot Put & Discus), and Jackson Meier ’27 (1600M). Bridget Cafferty ’25 took third in the 400M; Ty Ouradnik ’27 (800M) and Meier (110 Hurdles) took fifth place. Maurice Carter ’26 finished sixth in the High Jump. Slamka (800M) and Madelyn Baumgardt ’28 (High Jump) earned seventh place finishes.

In a girls-only meet at Brookfield East on Wednesday, April 16th, the Hawks again had a strong showing with multiple medalists and PRs. “The meet went fast,” said Coach Neal Johnson. “That led to not as much recovery between races for some girls, but they still performed well.” Bringing home a win in the 4×100 was the relay team of Galica, Barnes, Hrouda, and Anmi Tao ’26, with a time of 54.27. Galica also medaled in the High Jump (second place) and 100 Hurdles (third place). Schienke also medaled twice, with a second place finish in the Shot Put and a seventh place finish in the Discus. Alex Dickey ’26 was right behind Schienke in the Discus in eighth place. In the mid-long distance races, Cafferty finished in third place and PRed in the 800M, Lopez took fourth in the 1600M, and Izzy Baumgardt finished sixth and PRed in the 400 M. Erin Gerdes ’26 rounded out the medalists with an eighth place in the 100 Hurdles.

Boys' Tennis

The boys opened their season with matches against Thomas More and Racine Case on Saturday, April 12th at Prairie. The Hawks beat Thomas More 5-2 behind strong showings from Brayden Comaris ’27 (#2 Singles), Colin Smith ’28 (#4 Singles), Jon Orth ’25 and Musa Rahman ’25 (#1 Doubles), and Alex Solodio ’25 and Gabi Kuvshinikov ’25 (#2 Doubles) who all swept their opponents 6-0, 6-0. Kelly Baker ’25 and Victor Rossi ’28 (#3 Doubles) won their match 6-1, 6-1. The game against Case ultimately did not go the Hawks’ way, losing 3-4, with four matches going into tiebreakers. Orth and Rahman cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 victory, while Smith won his match 6-0, 6-1. The Hawks went 1 for 4 in tiebreaker matches, with Eric Baptista ’28 (#3 Singles) notching the win, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6. Comaris (6-2, 1-6, 11-9), Solodio/Kuvshinikov (7-6 (7), 3-6, 10-4), and Baker/Rossi (1-6, 6-4, 10-8) all played competitive, close matches but ultimately fell in tiebreaker sets. 

 

Girls’ Soccer

The Hawks traveled to Waterford High School on April 14th and came away with a 2-0 victory over the Wolverines. Though the team was a little slow from the start, Coach Joe Manley credits the girls for making adjustments and building their way into the game. Meg Decker ’25 opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Able to limit Waterford up front, the Hawks continued pressing, allowing Decker to add her second goal off a direct free kick outside the 18-yard box. 

Taking on Kettle Moraine Lutheran, a quality opponent in our sectional, the next day, the Hawks settled into the game and controlled possession. Overcomplicating things in the first half, the Hawks led just 1-0 at the break on a goal by Norah Boerner ’25. Simplifying things in the second half and continuing to create chances, the Hawks put the game away with a hat trick from Decker in the second half. Keira Kimbrough ’27 assisted on two of Decker’s goals, with the third assist coming from Nikki Ginestel ’27. “I am proud of the way we continued to execute in the second half, especially with every available member of the team contributing to the victory and playing their role,” said Coach Manley. 

 

Boys' Golf

The Hawks hit the links on Tuesday, April 15th, and won the conference mini-meet at Oakwood Golf Course. The Hawks posted three top-ten finishes on their way to shooting 179, an impressive 16 strokes ahead of second place Thomas More. Jack Ulrich ’26 paced the Hawks with a personal best score of 42 to take second place. Jack Regner ’25 followed with a score of 43 to finish in third place. Cai Yoo ’26 finished in sixth place with a 46. Congratulations on your great start to the season, boys!

 

LP Baseball

LP Baseball traveled to Port Washington on Saturday, April 12th, and put together a competitive game before falling short 13-5 to the Pirates. Sebastian Korthase ’28 hit a double and scored a run for the LPs. Kyler Godson ’28 also scored a run, while Owen Larsen ’27 had three strikeouts in 3 innings on the mound. 

Taking on undefeated Martin Luther in a home and away series on April 14th and April 16th, the LP struggled offensively. Paired with some defensive miscues, the team couldn’t get the best of Martin Luther. In the home game, the LPs fell 11-1 in 5. Korthase hit another double, while Noel Turek ’28 had four strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. On April 16th, the LPs fell 13-0 in 5 innings. Jack Hood ’27 hit a triple, one of only two hits tallied in the game.

 

Upcoming Events

*Events are subject to change due to weather. Click here for the most up to date schedule.

Saturday, April 19th

• Boys’ Tennis Quad | 9AM | The Prairie School

Tuesday, April 22nd

• Boys’ Tennis vs St. Thomas More | 4PM | St. Thomas More High School
• LP Baseball vs St. Catherine’s | 4:30PM | Horlick Athletic Field

Wednesday, April 23rd

• Boys’ Golf Invite | 10AM | South Hills Golf Course
• Girls’ Soccer vs Racine Lutheran | 5:30PM | The Prairie School

Thursday, April 24th

• LP Baseball vs St. Catherine’s | 4:30PM | Horlick Athletic Field (Silver Spikes Game)

Friday, April 25th

• Girls’ Soccer Invite | TBD | UW-LaCrosse