It was a busy weekend for the WIAA, as on Saturday, they crowned state champions across several divisions in two sports.
Four champions were crowned at the 2024 State Boys Soccer Tournament at Southeast Sales Powersports Stadium at Uihlein Soccer Park Saturday.
Third-seeded Middleton (22-3-1) won the Division 1 championship for the second consecutive season with a 2-0 win over fourth-seeded Green Bay Preble (17-4-3).
The Cardinals scored the only goal they would need early in the game at 1:33. Riley Kann directed a header into the net from just outside the goal off a free kick by Luke Weber. Middleton built on its 1-0 halftime lead with goal by Sawyer FitzRandolph, who sailed a 25-yard kick underneath the crossbar off an assist from Jimmy Murphy at the 60:51 mark.
The Cardinals held a 15-5 advantage in shots with a 5-1 edge in shots on goal. Kann and Tony Murphy each had a game-high four shots apiece. Liev Schiffman made one save in 80 minutes to preserve the shutout and be credited with the victory in goal.
Yosef Navarro led the Hornets offensive attack with three shots, and Jesus Garnica put the only shot on goal. Landin Gauthier made three saves and allowed the two goals in 80 minutes.
Middleton wins its third State championship in its 15th State Tournament experience. Green Bay Preble advanced to the championship game and finished runner-up in its 11th tournament appearance.
Top-seeded Waukesha West (15-4-3) claimed the championship in Division 2 with a 2-1 advantage in a shootout following a 0-0 tie with second-seeded Elkhorn (20-0-1) in the tournament final.
Angel Escamilla made three saves without allowing a goal through two overtimes and allowed just one score on penalty kicks to secure the title for Waukesha West.
The Wolverines recorded a 12-11 edge in shots during the game, including a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal. Alfonso Mendez and Noah Liebl each attempted a game-high five shots, including two on goal to lead the Wolverines. Thomas Krause and Liebl accounted for their two successful penalty kicks to provide the margin that determined the outcome.
Romeo Morales made four saves in goal to preserve a scoreless game through two overtimes for the Elks. Elkhorn attempted 11 shots in the game, including three on goal. Rey Paniagua led the offensive attack with five shots, including two on goal. He also delivered the lone successful penalty kick during the shootout.
Waukesha West wins the program’s first State championship in its seventh appearance in the tournament. Elkhorn finishes runner-up in its fifth State experience.
St. Augustine Prep (21-1-1) scored twice in the first half and held Sheboygan Falls (16-5-2) scoreless to win the championship with a 2-0 decision in the Division 3 title game.
Alejandro Gomez scored first for the top-seeded Lions with a 20-yard kick into the net just 42 seconds into the game. Angel Gomez added an insurance score at the 15:02 mark with an unassisted goal by Angel Gomez who placed a shot inside the post from within the box.
The Lions were in control throughout the game as evident by the team statistics. They had a 25-4 advantage in shots, including a 13-0 tally in shots on goal. The Lions also enjoyed an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Individually, Angel Gomez attempted a game-high six shots, and Alejandro Gomez and Adrian Saldana added four shots apiece. Leonardo Sanchez was credited with the victory in goal without having to make a save in 80 minutes.
Victor Aquirre attempted three shots and Brennan Higgins added two attempts to account for the five Falcons’ shots. Ruben Rothaemel played the entire game at goalkeeper, making 11 saves.
St. Augustine Prep captures the program’s first championship in their first-ever appearance in the State Tournament. Sheboygan Falls is runner-up in its first experience at State.
Third-seeded Lake Country Lutheran (19-2-1) blanked top-seeded Shoreland Lutheran (19-3-1) 1-0 to win the Division 4 championship.
After a scoreless first half, the only score of the game came at the 54:04 mark. Tyler Wiedel scored on a header from six yards out to redirect a free kick from 30 yards away by Charlie Konicek.
Nate Bogdanovich attempted a game-high four shots for the Lightning with three requiring saves. Dawson Zur preserved the shutout with four saves to get credit for the victory in goal.
Shoreland Lutheran outshot the Lighting 12-9 in the game and held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. Individually, Gavin Moore and Owen Hahm each attempted three shots to lead the Pacers. Connor Hahm made six saves in 80 minutes in goal.
Lake Country Lutheran captures its first championship in its fourth State experience, and Shoreland Lutheran finishes runner-up in its third tournament appearance.
Top-seeded Divine Savior Holy Angels (47-1) won its third straight Division 1 title with a 25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22 triumph over second-seeded Hamilton (38-8) Saturday evening.
Madison Quest led the Dashers offensively with 18 kills and a pair of aces. Addison Buckner also contributed double figures in kills with 13. Jordan Czajkowski was the leading setter with a team-high 26 assists. The Dashers were formidable on defensive, limiting the Chargers to a .112 hitting percentage. They had 12 team blocks, including a game-high seven block assists by Alyiana McMahon. In addition, Olivia Durst led five Dashers that compiled double figures in digs with 19.
The Chargers were led in kills by Sylvia Wargolet with 10. Both Addison Schoenberger and Eva Finnessy added nine kills. Brooke Baldwin assisted on 42 of the team’s 48 kills in the game, and her three service aces were a game high. Defensively, Emily Zgonc recorded a game-high 22 digs.
The Dashers’ path to the final was paved by a pair of three-game sweeps. They ousted Holmen 25-8, 25-9, 25-11 in the quarterfinals and beat Mukwonago in the semifinals 25-18, 25-8, 25-15. Hamilton advanced with a 25-23, 25-10, 25-15 sweep over Oak Creek in the quarterfinals and a 27-29, 25-12, 25-19, 25-23 victory over Menomonee Falls in the semifinals.
Divine Savior Holy Angels becomes the first program to with three straight titles in Division 1. The Dashers claim their sixth State championship overall in their 13th State appearance. Hamilton finishes runner-up in its fourth State experience.
Catholic Memorial (35-10) won the Division 2 championship at the Resch Center Saturday evening.
The top-seeded Crusaders cruised to a 25-18, 25-10, 25-22 sweep of second-seeded Luxemburg-Casco (30-13) in the championship final.
Jenna Welsch led a balanced hitting attack for Catholic Memorial with 11 kills. Ellen Mowbray and Lucia Brown shared in the setting responsibilities, handing out 16 and 15 assists, respectively. Brown also chipped in with a game-high three service aces. Defensively, Addison Fura recorded a team-high 21 digs to go with four blocks by Brown, Addison Kelenic and Adeline Goedheer.
Luxemburg-Casco featured a balanced hitting attack, but the Crusaders’ defense held the Spartans to a .036 hitting percentage in the game. Campbell Onell led the Spartans with seven kills, and Aubrey Frey and Isabella VanderVelden each had six. Rylan Kaminski recorded a team-high 14 digs to pace the Spartans’ defense.
Both teams advanced to the finals following sweeps in the semifinal matchups. The Crusaders eliminated Shawano 25-15, 25-18, 25-20; and the Spartans rolled over St. Thomas More 25-15, 25-17, 25-17.
Catholic Memorial wins its eight State title in 11 tournament appearances. Luxemburg-Casco finishes runner-up in its 11th experience at the State Tournament.
Second-seeded Barron (37-2) defeated top-seeded Aquinas (28-5) in the Division 3 championship game Saturday afternoon.
After falling in the first set, the Golden Bears won three straight sets to earn a 20-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-22 victory.
Alexis Halverson recorded a game-high 24 kills on 71 attempts for the Golden Bears, which is the fifth-most attempts in a four-set Division 3 match in State Tournament history. Lillian Harmon assisted on 30 of Barron’s 39 kills in the game. The Golden Bears also benefited from 13 service aces, including a game-high five by Abby Miller. Defensively, Miller led four Golden Bears in double figures with 22 digs, and Baylee Shatley contributed with a game-high five block assists.
Samantha Davis and Addison Foor led the Blugolds’ offense with 22 and 16 kills, respectively. In addition, Josephine Lawton distributed a game-high 43 assists. Tessa Miskowski recorded a game-high 23 digs to lead three others in double figures.
The Golden Bears advance to the title game following a 25-27, 25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 15-10 win over Lake Country Lutheran in the semifinals, and Aquinas swept Bonduel 25-18, 25-17, 25-16 to earn its berth in the tournament final.
Barron wins the program’s second State Tournament title in its eighth appearance. In its third State experience, Aquinas finishes runner-up.
Top-seeded Manitowoc Lutheran (38-7) outlasted second-seeded Regis (23-8) to win the Division 4 championship Saturday afternoon.
The Lancers opened a 12-4 advantage in the fifth set and held off a late Ramblers’ rally to win the match 29-27, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22, 15-12.
Ava Stuebs and Marissa Mehlhorn were the leading attackers for Manitowoc Lutheran. Stuebs lead all hitters with 33 kills, which ranks sixth-most in a five-set match in State Tournament history. Mehlhorn compiled 23 kills. Brooke Duveneck and Makiah Krause shared that setting duties, distributing 30 assists apiece. Stuebs and Morgan Jost led four players in double-figure digs with 16 each on defense.
Regis was led offensively by Sydney Marx, who collected 22 kills. Lily Lewis contributed with 11 kills, and Izzy Reichert lead all players with 36 assists. Lewis and Olivia Morning rejected a game-high five shots on defense, and Ava Skwierczynski led the Ramblers with 16 digs.
The Lancers swept Wabeno/Laona 25-13, 25-17, 25-18 in the semifinals to earn its berth in the championship game, and Regis survived a five-set game with Richland Center 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-12 in its semifinal.
Manitowoc Lutheran wins the program’s first WIAA State championship in its second appearance in the tournament. Regis finishes runner-up in the Ramblers’ eighth State experience.
Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran captured the first-ever Division 5 title at the Resch Center Saturday morning.
The top-seeded Lancers (38-4) started with a convincing first-set victory and proceeded to defeat Columbus Catholic (26-16) 25-10, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21 in the championship game.
Gabi Radichel knocked down a game-high 20 kills to lead the Lancers, which recorded a .304 attack percentage in the game. Audrey Arndt recorded 15 kills and both Cheyenne Wales and Sophia Carstensen added 10 kills. Leah Thompson provided assists on all but five of the team’s kills. Carstensen led the defense with four blocks and a game-high 24 digs.
Shelby Wilczek was the offensive catalyst for the Dons. She set an all-tournament, all-set record for aces with 10. She was also the only hitter to notch double digits in kills with 14. Alayna Egle distributed a team high 18 assists. Delia Trader and Abby Kibble were the leaders defensively, with 19 digs and five block assists, respectively.
To advance to the final, the Lancers defeated Sheboygan Christian 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-19 in the semifinals, and the Dons downed Newman Catholic 19-25, 30-28, 25-23, 25-20.
Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran wins its first championship in its second State appearance, and Columbus Catholic finishes runner-up in its first appearance at State.
Hamilton won the championship of the 61st State Boys Volleyball Tournament Friday evening at the Resch Center.
After winning the first set, the Chargers (39-4) needed a rally to overcome a 2-1 set deficit to post 25-10, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21,15-10 victory over former defending champion Middleton (34-5).
Ben Bayer led the Chargers hitting attack with a game-high 36 kills, which ranks third-most in State Tournament history for a five-set match. Henry Mrotek delivered a match-high 54 assists. Defensively, Mrotek and Craig Oberlin each had five blocks, and Ezra Mitchell recorded a game-high 28 digs.
Caden Van Buren paced the Cardinals’ offense with 27 kills, and Vance Ferry also recorded double figures in kills with 17, and Bryce Stuttgen dished out a team-high 51 assets. Defensively, Porter McGee made eight blocks at the net, and Van Buren led the team in digs with 15.
The Chargers defeated Kenosha Indian Trail 25-18, 25-18, 25-11 in the quarterfinals and Germantown 25-22, 27-25, 25-21 in the semifinals to advance to the final. The Cardinals reached the championship game by posting a 25-14, 25-21,19-25, 25-20 win over Westosha Central in the quarterfinals and swept Marquette in the semifinals 25-19, 25-21, 25-23.
Hamilton wins the championship in its first-ever State Tournament appearance. Middleton finishes runner-up in its 15th State appearance.
