Kitzke down, but not out

Posted: March 23, 2009 |(0) Comments

It is not supposed to be like this. Katie Kitzke is supposed to be winding down from basketball and getting excited about softball; not about lifting her right arm over her head.

But for the first time in her life, the spring sports schedule does not hold the most important dates for the three-sport star at South Milwaukee. Kitzke has to be more concerned with looking at the calendar to see when she has therapy or an appointment with a doctor.

"It's so hard," Kitzke said. "I've never been injured. This is the first year I've ever sat out of a game, even when I was back in grade school."

Kitzke's senior year was knocked out of whack Jan. 23, when she dislocated her right shoulder blocking a shot at Racine Park. That ended the basketball season for the two-time CNI All-Suburban Girls Basketball Team pick and took her out of the equation for softball, in which she was also an All-Suburban pick (she also played volleyball).

Kitzke was the standout on a team that struggled. She scored 35 points Dec. 9 in a victory at Kenosha Tremper and was averaging a Southeast Conference-leading 22.4 points a game going into the Park game, the 11th of the season. She had scored five points when she was injured, knocking the average down to 20.8.

Kitzke had surgery Feb. 6. She has not played since, but she was not forgotten.

The CNI NOW sports staff respected her body of work that they voted her to the All-Suburban team for the second straight season. That is not all. Southeast Conference coaches not only voted her to the all-conference, they selected her as player of the year.

"I was really happy," Kitzke said of the recognition. "It was really nice. And it's nice to get the All-Suburban, too. Not finishing the season was kind of depressing, but this makes up for it a little."

She is thankful for the well wishes she has received.

"I did get a card from the Franklin basketball team, so that was kind of interesting and cool, I thought," Kitzke said. "Their whole team signed it, and their coaches."

Kitzke started rehab March 3. She said it is going well.

"I'm already feeling an improvement," Kitzke said. "I just do certain stretches that kind of pull my arm back so it's getting stretched out. I like it because I feel a difference already. I hadn't been able to move it for a long time. It's nice to actually get it moving again."

Kitzke is also getting moving on her plans to continue her education. UW-Oshkosh and UW-Parkside are her most likely destinations.

Kitzke has not been given a firm timetable for a return to basketball activities.

I'm not really sure when I can start shooting again," Kitzke said. "I'm thinking soon, because I am really itching to go. I can't take it anymore."

South Milwaukee coach Tracy Stolte was not sure what to expect when she went to the meeting at which the all-SEC team would be selected.

"Really, it's more of what she is as a person, as well as a player," Stolte said. "She really appreciates it, and he family does, also. It's just nice little rainbow over what was otherwise a huge cloud at the end of the year.

"I really respect that the coaches recognize what she's done."

 

Jerry Karpowicz can be reached at (262) 446-6628. Read his blog at SouthMilwaukeeNOW.com.

Rocket rewind

South Milwaukee's CNI All-Suburban Girls Basketball selections

2008-09: Katie Kitzke

2007-08: Katie Kitzke

2002-03: Beth Halter

2002-03: Kristin Mader

2001-02: Beth Halter

2001-02: Kristin Mader

1996-97: Tracy Malek

1994-95: Rich Vokoun (Coach of Year)

1993-94: Jenny Sweet

1992-93: JoJo Brunner

1992-93: Jenny Sweet

1991-92: Shannon Malek

1990-91: Cindy Gilker

1990-91: Rich Vokoun (Coach of the Year)

1989-90: Rich Vokoun (Coach of the Year)