Sauk Prairie’s best of 2024
It was another stellar year for Sauk Prairie’s boys and girls sports teams, which created many highlights and lifetime memories during the 2024 calendar year.
The Eagles were competitive in the new Badger South Conference with girls soccer and volleyball securing hard-fought conference titles.
But the Eagles soared to greatness in the postseason, participating in five state tournaments – boys and girls swimming in the team competition, as well as gymnastics, girls wrestling and girls track and field individually.
The Star News picked the top-12 stories of the year — one for each month.
No. 7 through No. 12 will run this week, while No. 1 through 6 will run next week.
7) Boys swimming finishes 10th at state
It was another stellar season in the pool for the Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights co-op boys swimming team.
The Eagles finished in 10th place at the WIAA Division 2 state meet held at Waukesha South High School on Feb. 16.
McFarland won the state title with 325 points, while Rhinelander (243), Whitefish Bay (222), Nicolet (158) and Madison Edgewood (154.5) rounded out the top five.
The Eagles finished with 90 points.
“I was pleased with how the boys competed,” Eagles coach Todd Wuerger said. “A top-10 team finish is never easy, but they swam inspired and earned it.”
Sauk/Heights’ 200-yard medley relay team of sophomore Carston Lamont, senior Daniel Klein, junior Adam Kaukl and freshman Ethan Goodman finished seventh in 1 minute, 40.66 seconds. McFarland’s quartet was first in 1:33.60.
The Eagles’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Kaukl, Klein, Goodman and senior Anthony Rosario was eighth overall in 1:31.95. McFarland was also first in that relay, as the Spartans’ foursome finished in 1:25.18.
And Sauk/Heights’ 400-yard freestyle relay team of Kaukl, Goodman, Rosario and Lamont was 10th in 3:22.09. Nicolet’s quartet was first in 3:13.52.
Lamont added an eighth-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing in 54.54 seconds. Lamont was also ninth in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in 52.58 seconds, while Kaukl was 13th in that same race (54.85).
Goodman was 14th in the 50-yard freestyle, racing to the finish in 22.73 seconds. And Rosario was 15th in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in 5:12.10.
“Four of the six guys will be back next year, so that gives us a great nucleus to build from next season,” Wuerger said. “We will certainly miss Daniel Klein, Anthony Rosario and Finn Ruyle and their contributions to the program over the past four years.”
8) Luz Rodriguez
makes girls
wrestling history
It was a testament to her persistence and willingness to try something new.
So, it was a unique journey for senior Luz Rodriguez from team manager to becoming Sauk Prairie’s first female wrestler to compete at the WIAA Individual state tournament.
Rodriguez represented Sauk Prairie at the WIAA Division 1 state girls wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison. She earned the right to compete at state by winning the West Salem Sectional.
Seeded 12th, Rodriguez (7-7) was pinned by fifth-seeded senior Faith Pritzlaff of Whitnall/Greendale in their opening round match at the Kohl Center.
Monona Grove/McFarland freshman Emily Karls, who was seeded 13th, then got a takedown and held on to defeat Rodriguez 2-0 in their consolation round match.
However, making it to state is an incredible feat for any wrestler. But it was more impressive considering it was only Rodriguez’s first season on the mat.
Representing Sauk Prairie as the first female wrestler to compete for the Eagles at state was truly a celebration for Rodriguez.
As a junior, she served as the wrestling manager for the high school program of which her younger brother Kevin was a member.
Rodriguez said Kevin and her friend Kaya Howard, also a wrestler, were the main reasons she decided to give the sport a try her senior year.
“My brother started wrestling in eighth grade,” she said. “I was interested in the sport, but not enough to join the team. It wasn’t until my senior year that Kevin pushed me more to join him on the team.
“As for Kaya, I had inspired her to join the swim team with me, so I guess it was only fair that I joined her on the wrestling team. If it wasn’t for them, I think I would have been afraid to wrestle.”
Rodriguez was a member of the Eagles’ swimming team and played softball. But she also found a competitive yet family-like place in the wrestling program.
“What I enjoy most about being on the team is definitely the feeling of family,” she said. “Coach (Matt) Gaffney believes that our team isn’t just a team, or an individual sport, but a family.”
Rodriguez added that the support she received from her teammates and coaches helped her prevail in a physically and mentally tough sport.
“I think one of the harder things for me was having to stay mentally tough,” she said. “As a wrestler, it became harder to not get down on myself. You really feel the support of the team and them trying to pick you up and it helps.”
Coach Gaffney said he was excited to see Rodriguez have an opportunity to compete at state.
“Luz has been an extremely hard worker,” he said. “With it being her first year, she had a lot to learn and had to learn it fast.
“She battled through some injuries this season, so I’m happy she was healthy at the right time and able to qualify for the state tournament. Coaching her at state was a great experience for both of us.”
9) Eagles’ golf team
takes next step
A year ago, Sauk Prairie’s boys golf team was one of the youngest and most inexperienced in the area.
However, the Eagles’ growing pains from a year ago paid off with a memorable 2024.
“I know that they are expecting big things this year,” head coach Shane Frey said during the preseason. “While having confidence and high expectations is great, they need to continue to put in the time and hold each other accountable and play a smart round every time we tee it up.”
Mission accomplished.
The Eagles contended for a conference title all season long, before finishing the regular season by earning a second-place finish in the final Badger Conference standings.
Sauk Prairie finished third at the conference meet, but combined with the regular season results, finished second overall.
Stoughton won the conference tournament with a 328-team score on May 15. Baraboo was second with a 334, while Sauk Prairie (337), McFarland (339) and Madison Edgewood (353) rounded out the top five.
“We entered the Badger Conference Small tournament in second place in the conference standings, still clinging to hopes of a conference championship,” Frey said. “Our conference mini meets were tight all year.
“Stoughton has had the most consistent scoring and came in the tournament with the lead, but we were confident that we could give them a run.”
Unfortunately for the Eagles, that didn’t happen.
Stoughton recorded three of the top 10 scores, which was good enough for the Vikings to win the conference title and the overall championship.
“I am very proud of the guys,” Frey said. “This was a really, fun conference season, and we were right in the mix the whole year. Our final conference standings had us in second place, which is something they should be very proud of.”
Senior Garret Mittelstaedt led the Eagles with an 82, while sophomore Graysen Dunn shot an 84. Junior Gavin Goetsch added an 85 and junior Gavin Falde shot an 86.
Sauk Prairie then placed third in its own regional tournament, which advanced the Eagles to the sectional meet.
But the Eagles, who were gunning for their first trip to the WIAA state golf championship since 1996, fell short at the Madison Memorial Sectional held at Blackhawk Country Club on May 29.
Middleton won the team title with a four-person score of 301, while Waunakee shot a 313 and claimed the second team berth. Madison Memorial (315), Holmen (326) and Sauk Prairie (338) rounded out the top five at the eight-team sectional.
The top three individuals from non-qualifying teams also received berths to state, but the Eagles fell short in that quest, as well.
“We knew that we would need to have our best day to be in the running to qualify for state,” Frey said. “I really thought a team score in the 320 range was very doable for us and would put us in the mix. While we fell short of that goal, we did have a pretty good day and gained some great experience.
“Making it to sectionals as a team was one of our top goals at the beginning of the season, and so accomplishing that was really exciting for everyone.”
Mittelstaedt and Falde led the Eagles with 83s, while Dunn (84) also had a solid day. Goetsch and senior Colin Harrington both added 88s.
While 338 was a solid score, Frey & Co. knew they’d have to be great on this day to advance.
“They just couldn’t quite get over the hump and really get it going,” Frey said.
Still, it was a tremendous season for Sauk Prairie golf.
“In the end, I am super proud of our team,” Frey said. “We had a great year, made great strides from last year.”
Mittelstaedt, a three-year varsity player, will be tough to replace. Harrington was a two-year varsity member who improved dramatically throughout.
However, the trio of Dunn, Falde and Goetsch all had strong seasons and give Frey a terrific core to build around in 2025.
“We will have a couple of spots in the lineup to fill, but we have plenty of young players that have shown great promise,” Frey said. “They too, need to play a lot in the summer and really push themselves to earn a spot in the lineup. It will be fun to see how things play out next year.”
10) Marty Hanna
hurls no-hitter
Marta Hanna has flashed immense potential the last two seasons for Sauk Prairie’s baseball team.
He emerged as the team’s starting shortstop as a freshman and recorded some impressive outings on the mound, as well.
But nothing compared to Hanna’s performance on the mound on May 4.
Hanna threw a no-hitter to power the visiting Eagles to an 8-0 win over host River Valley in Spring Green. In seven innings of work, Hanna didn’t allow a hit, struck out six and walked three.
A sophomore right-hander, Hanna faced just 22 batters in his dominant, complete-game win.
“It was definitely Marty’s day,” Sauk Prairie manager Darin Pape said. “He had good velocity and control. His greatest advantage was in getting ahead of the hitters.
“He was able to keep them off balance the whole game. He was very focused and didn’t let the delay or anything else derail him.”
That Hanna had to wait an extra week to accomplish the feat against River Valley makes for an interesting backstory to the game.
“We had traveled to River Valley the week prior to play them on a Friday (April 26). However, rain caused us to just get warm-ups in. Then the sky just opened, and we got rained out,” Pape said. “Marty was set to pitch that game as well. However, we had to board the bus for home without playing the game.”
But when the game was rescheduled for the following Saturday, it was nearly a case of déjà vu.
“When we got to River Valley, the rain had caused the field to be very wet yet again,” Pape said. “We had an hour plus delay in preparing the field for play. We didn’t get to take a pregame infield like we usually would. However, we waited it out, and the River Valley coaches did a great job in getting the field ready for play.
“Once we got started, the game itself was never really in jeopardy. We began the game by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.”
And the rest was history.
Hanna also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Senior first baseman Jackson Breunig also had a terrific day, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while senior right fielder Brason Ballweg contributed three hits, too.
But it was Hanna’s day to shine on the mound.
Hanna threw 96 pitches, 60 for strikes. His three walks were all that prevented him from tossing a perfect game. He only faced 22 batters, one over the minimum, and none of the baserunners made it past first base.
“That was a great accomplishment for Marty,” Pape said. “He had great command. He got ahead of hitters, and all his pitches were working. He and (catcher) Bryan Breunig were in complete sync, and the game was almost a perfect game.”
But Pape added that ‘It was a total team effort in the game’.
“We had great offensive support,” Pape said. “And our players contributed with solid defense and no errors on the day.
“This was an exciting game for our whole squad. It was a great team effort. Offensively, we also pounded out nine hits and scored eight runs. Every one of our players that was in attendance that day, got into the game.”
Pape said the Eagles’ defense was also flawless behind Hanna.
“There were a couple of defensive gems preserving the no hitter,” he said. “Every defender did a great job, which is what you need for a no hitter.
“We had some sparkling defensive plays during the game to help preserve the no-hitter. Cayden Hermsdorf made an awesome running catch going back in left field, and Brason Ballweg doubled off a baserunner on first with a running shallow catch in right field. Those two made tremendous catches in the outfield to take away potential hits.”
Hanna finished the season as a member of the all-Badger Small Conference second team along with senior pitcher Austin Pagel. Bryan Breunig and junior outfielder Boden Frosch received all-league honorable mention recognition.
11) Volleyball has memorable season
When the season began, second year coach Allison Steinmetz and Sauk Prairie’s girls volleyball had their share of goals to achieve.
Goal No. 1 was accomplished when the Eagles finished 4-1 at the Badger Small Conference tournament with their only loss coming to Madison Edgewood.
Sauk Prairie recorded a perfect 7-0 record during the conference dual meet season, and when those two components were added together, it gave the Eagles the overall conference title.
“Winning conference was every single player’s goal this season, so it meant so much to our team,” Eagles coach Allison Steinmetz said. “We played hard, worked as a team and had fun.”
The Eagles had a tremendous season which culminated by placing four players on the all-Badger Small Conference team.
Junior Mallory Hartwig, and seniors Greta Shadewald and Gracyn Meyer were named first-team all-conference. Junior Alaina Kraemer was named honorable-mention all-conference.
Steinmetz was also named co-Coach of the Year.
“I’m extremely proud that four of our starters were named all-conference,” Steinmetz said. “Each of the girls have worked so hard and they all deserve this honor.”
Hartwig led the Eagles with 353 kills and had a terrific .330 kill percentage. Hartwig was second on the team with 48 aces, was third in digs (84) and added 14 assists and 39 total blocks.
Shadewald led Sauk Prairie with a whopping 692 assists and was first in aces (78). She added 82 digs, 79 kills and 31 total blocks. Shadewald also eclipsed 1,000 career assists during the Eagles’ match against McFarland on Sept. 19.
Meyer led the team with 84 total blocks and was second with 191 kills. She also added 56 digs and 46 aces.
And Kraemer was third on the team with 116 kills, while adding 85 digs, 29 aces and 34 assists.
However, the season did not end the way the Eagles wanted it to be.
Sauk Prairie was the No. 2 seed in its WIAA Division 1 sectional and hoped for a big postseason run.
The Eagles defeated Madison East 25-11, 25-18, 25-5 in a regional semifinal.
However, Sauk Prairie lost in four sets to seventh-seeded and visiting Madison Memorial, 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22 in the regional finals.
Sauk Prairie, which reached the state tournament in 2020 and 2022, had hoped for a return trip, but saw those dreams end at regionals.
“We suffered a hard loss,” Steinmetz said. “Not the way we wanted our season to end, but I am still proud of all the hard work that my girls put in throughout the season.”
Sauk Prairie finished the year 26-7 and had 11- and 14-match winning streaks.
But Steinmetz said the Eagles were already looking forward to 2025.
“What I remember the most about this season is how much dedication these girls have,” Steinmetz said. “They all love the game of volleyball and put in lots and lots of extra hours on and off the court to make the 2024 season a memorable one. I am beyond thankful for the leadership that all five of my seniors led with this year.
“The girls on our team are remarkable athletes, students and community members and I am honored to have been a part of their 2024 season. I have no doubt that with the returners that we have (in 2025) we’ll be in good hands.”
12) Cross country
teams garner honors
Sauk Prairie’s runners shined at the Badger Small Conference meet and earned spots on both the boys and girls all-conference teams.
Sophomore Aaliyah Bermudo earned first-team all-conference for the girls. Sophomore Savannah Liegel and junior Clarissa Brickl were both named second-team all-conference.
For the boys, juniors Jacob Wiegmann and Austin Smith were named second-team all-league.
Bermudo finished fourth individually at the conference meet in a time of 20:38. The top eight runners receive first-team all-conference honors and the second eight are named second-team all-league.
“Aaliyah ran a great race, building from a slow-ish start to keep passing runner after runner in the second half of the race,” Eagles coach Andy Sherman said. “She is very talented and moved up from a year ago, when she was also first-team all-conference.”
Liegel was 14th at the conference meet in 21:19 and Brickl was 15th in 21:20.
“Savannah is a very strong runner,” Sherman said. “She stayed steady throughout the whole race and fought through a challenging course to finish as a second-team all-conference (runner) for the second year.
“This is Clarissa’s third straight second-team all-conference honor. Clarissa is a very consistent performer. She works hard and that hard work pays off for her in our biggest races.”
As a team, the Eagles gave it their best shot at dethroning defending Badger Small Conference champion Mount Horeb at the Norsk Golf Club.
But the Eagles’ bid to snatch the title away from their conference rivals fell short.
Mount Horeb defended its league title, finishing with 35 points to outdistance runner-up Sauk Prairie (68 points) for the second year in a row.
“We wanted to get our top five runners in front of Mount Horeb’s third,” Liegel said. “But we didn’t make it. We had quite the pack. Hopefully, we’ll get them next year.”
Sauk Prairie made a strong showing in the boys’ race as well, finishing in a tie for fourth place.
Wiegmann was named all-conference for the first time, after finishing in 15th place in the boys race in 18:11.
“Jacob worked very hard this offseason to prepare for this moment,” Sherman said. “He finished as our No. 2 overall runner for the year and I look forward to seeing what he does for us next year as a senior.”
Smith was 16th at the conference meet in 18:14, then dropped his P.R. to 17:36 at sectionals the following week.
“Austin had a great season making the goal of earning an all-conference honor his No. 1 priority,” Sherman said. “He learned a lot and … I am excited to see him continue to keep getting better.”
The Eagles and Reedsburg tied for fourth place with 119 points, but the Beavers won the tiebreaker that was based on whose sixth-place runner performed better.
“I’m real happy with the guys. It came down to the sixth-place runner to beat,” Sherman said. “Our goal is always, if we can’t win, we want to be in that top half. We tied Reedsburg for fourth, and they got us with their sixth guy.
“Our guys ran really well, and I was happy to see Jacob and Austin, who have run together all year long, finish in the top 16. I joke that they hold hands because they’re so tight when they run. To see them both make that all-conference team was awesome.”
