Eagles fall at state

This isn’t the way they wanted it to end. When Sauk Prairie’s girls volleyball team stepped back, though, and looked at the big picture, the Eagles took tremendous pride in what had been accomplished. Sussex Hamilton defeated the Eagles, 25-13, 25-11, 25-23, in the WIAA Division 1 state semifinals last Saturday in Wisconsin Rapids. The Chargers went on defeat Burlington in the state championship, while Sauk Prairie’s first trip to state since 2009 provided a glimpse of where this up-and-coming program could be headed. “I could not be more proud of this team,” said Eagles second-year coach Amy Schlimgen. “This was truly a dream come true for me!   “I would not have believed it if you told me this would be the outcome of the 2020 season when I accepted the position in 2019. This group of girls is very special and I could not have asked for more from them! They were so determined to make the most of this season — and they certainly did!” Throughout the summer, the Eagles had no idea if they’d have a season. Many schools in the Badger North Conference elected not to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Sauk Prairie believed it could take the necessary precautions to have a safe season. For the most part, that’s exactly what happened — and the Eagles proceeded to make it a year to remember. Sauk Prairie went 18-5 during the regular season. The Eagles — who typically are a Division 2 school — were then bumped up a division because there weren’t as many teams competing this fall. That didn’t stop Sauk Prairie from making a memorable run to state, though. In the regional finals, the Eagles defeated defending Division 1 state champion Hartland Arrowhead. And in the regional semifinals, Sauk Prairie downed defending Division 1 state runner-up Oconomowoc. Sauk Prairie then toppled Slinger and Fox Valley Lutheran in sectionals to advance to state for the first time in 11 years. The clock struck midnight for the Eagles, though, against a Sussex Hamilton team that was long, athletic and extremely skilled. “We did not play our best,” Schlimgen said. “And we ran into a very talented, strong team in Hamilton. They had great chemistry and controlled us from the start.” Sauk Prairie trailed, 13-10, in the first set. The Eagles then got back-to-back kills from Olivia Paukner and Aida Shadewald that pulled them within 13-12. But the Chargers went on an 8-0 run and won the first set, 25-13. Hamilton held a 6-5 lead in the second set when it embarked on a 13-2 run to take a 19-7 lead. The Eagles ran off three straight points late in the set — two on kills by Shadewald — but Hamilton remained in control and cruised to a 25-11 win. The Eagles were far more competitive in the third set. Hamilton led, 15-14, when the Eagles ran off four straight points and took an 18-15 lead. Shadewald started the rally with a kill on a feed from Jenna Pistono, then the Chargers had three straight attack errors and Sauk Prairie surged to an 18-15 lead. After a timeout, the Chargers answered with a 5-1 run and grabbed a 20-19 lead. Hamilton led, 24-22, when Olivia Breunig set up Shadewald for a kill to pull the Eagles within 24-23. But the Chargers snagged the next point, ending both the match and the Eagles’ dream season. “We started to come alive and play better ball and gave them one good set,” Schlimgen said. “I hope the girls will always remember it very fondly and the awesome, memorable moments we had and the obstacles they overcame and their determination, focus, and camaraderie.  “I think we went further than what was expected and to make it to state is always the goal and we did that. There still were tears after the match because the ultimate goal was a ball, but there is certainly no hanging of heads about this season!” Shadewald led the Eagles with 12 kills, while both Paukner and Breunig had five. Breunig led Sauk Prairie with 14 assists and Pistono had eight. Alia Schlimgen had 15 digs to lead the Eagles, while Kaitlyn Brickl added 12. Paukner also added two aces. Sauk Prairie fielded an extremely young team in 2020 and could be poised for even bigger and better next fall.  “I hope it will light a fire within the whole program and the future Sauk Prairie volleyball teams to strive for this goal always,” Schlimgen said. “I think another run in 2021 is very possible — whichever division we end up getting put in. The community and school support was incredible and something to be very proud of!”