This Week in Athletics

Prairie set to host 2025 WI/IL Border Battle-Saturday, February 1st

The Johnson Athletic Center will host 14 schools (including our Hawks) on Saturday, February 1st, in the 7th annual Wisconsin vs. Illinois Border Battle. The seven-game lineup will be capped with an 8PM matchup between the Hawks and St. Francis de Sales. For the full lineup of games, visit Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook. Admission is $10 and is valid all day. 

 

Boys Swim

The Hawks kicked off a busy weekend with a double dual meet at Burlington on Friday, January 24th, where they earned their second win of the season against Delavan Darien. The Hawks earned two first place finishes in the meet. Nolan Mrotek ’26 took first in the 500 Freestyle with a time of 5:57.17, and the 400 Freestyle Relay of Nathan Breit ’26, Nolan Barrett ’27, Mrotek, and Eli Coughlin ’28 took first with a time of 3:58.58. Earning second place finishes were Breit (200 Free, 100 Back), Mrotek (200 IM), and Barrett (100 Fly).

With a quick turnaround, the team traveled to Wauwatosa East on Saturday, January 25th, where they placed 9th in the Bob White Invitational. Breit brought home first in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 56.34, and Mrotek placed 4th in the 100 Breastroke with a time of 1:08.14

The boys made team history on Tuesday, January 28th, with a win over conference opponent Jefferson Cambridge. This marks the first time in program history that the swim team has earned three conference wins. In the double dual at Lake Geneva Badger, the Hawks had eight first place finishes against Jefferson Cambridge, including Breit (200 Free, 100 Back), Mrotek (100 Breaststroke, 50 Free), Coughlin (200 IM), Barrett (100 Fly), and the 200 Medley (Breit, Mrotek, Barrett, and Coughlin) and 200 Freestyle (Breit, Barrett, Mrotek, and Maksim Rozzoni’ 28) relay teams. Breit (200 Free) and Mrotek (50 Free) also brought home first place finishes against Lake Geneva Badger. Great work, boys! The Hawks have their lone local meet on Saturday, February 1st, competing in the Racine Invite at the Racine Unified Aquatic Center. Swimming events begin at 1:15PM.

 

Boys' Basketball

In front of an energetic crowd in the Johnson Athletic Center on Friday, January 24th, the Hawks lost a competitive 60-45 game against Division 3 third-ranked Racine Lutheran. The team went into the half trailing 25-24, but the Crusaders were able to pull away in the second half. Despite the loss, Coach Jason Atanasoff was proud of what he saw from the team, saying, “It was a tremendous effort tonight by our young men.  They competed hard and left it all out on the floor.  I think tonight was a step in the right direction for our young group.” Ryan Vanoss ’27 led the Hawks with 17 points, including 5 of 9 shooting from behind the arc. 

The Hawks traveled to Martin Luther on Tuesday, January 28th, and fell in an overtime thriller, 64-57. The boys were able to dig out of a 20-6 deficit in the first half to enter halftime, trailing 29-24. After Nolan Greb ’26 hit a three to tie the game at 52 with 30 seconds left, the defense kept Martin Luther from getting a shot off to send the game to overtime. Playing without leading scorer Emmett Wassil ’28 (15 points, six rebounds) after he fouled out with 2:30 to go in regulation, the Hawks could not keep pace in the extra period. In addition to Wassil, Carsen Eeg ’25 (13 points), Nolan Greb ’26 (11 points), and Dalton Ahlensdorf ’27 (10 points, seven rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Hawks. “It was a tough, tough loss,” said Coach Atanasoff. “Martin Luther got two starters back tonight after missing several weeks, and we’re shorthanded a bit, but these boys just fight and battle and compete, and it is a pleasure to be a part of.”

Girls’ Basketball

The Hawks started the second half of their conference season on Saturday, January 25th, as they took on Racine Lutheran. With great defensive pressure, the Hawks held the Crusaders to 17 points while scoring 78 to bring home the decisive victory. JJ Barnes ’25 led the way for the Hawks scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Three other Hawks scored in double figures for Prairie: Amiyah Galica ’26 and Keira Kimbrough ’27 each added 12, while Finley Remington ’27 added 10. 

Taking on conference foe Martin Luther, the Hawks continued their winning and spread the scoring around en route to an 86-38 win over the Spartans in the Johnson Athletic Center. For the second game in a row, the Hawks had four players score in double figures with Barnes again leading the way with a double double of 25 points and 10 rebounds. Galica added 17, Meg Decker ’25 contributed 13, and Remington scored 10. The Hawks play at home again on Friday, January 31st, against Kenosha St. Joe’s on Primary and Middle School Fan Night.

Upcoming Events

Friday, January 31st

• Girls’ Basketball vs St. Joe’s | 6:30PM | The Prairie School (Primary & Middle School Fan Night)

Saturday, February 1st

• Boys’ Swim Invite | 1:15PM | Racine Unified Aquatic Center
• Boys’ Basketball vs St. Francis de Sales (IL) | 8PM | The Prairie School (WI vs IL Border Battle)

Tuesday, February 4th

• Girls’ Basketball vs Dominican | 6:30PM | The Prairie School
• Boys’ Basketball vs Dominican | 7PM | Dominican High School

Thursday, February 6th

• Boys’ Basketball vs St. Catherine’s | 7PM | St. Catherine’s High School

Friday, February 7th

• Girls’ Basketball vs St. Catherine’s | 6:30PM | The Prairie School (Senior Night)