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Lawinger selected to WFSCA Hall of Fame
Former Platteville softball coach will be enshrined Feb. 8
Lawinger
Former Platteville High School softball coach Jim Lawinger will be inducted into the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Feb. 8 in Wisconsin Dells. - photo by file photo by Jason Nihles
Updated: Jan 16, 2020, 4:51 PM
Published: Jan 16, 2020, 4:30 PM

The Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association has announced its 2020 Hall of Fame class.

Platteville native and former Hillmen softball and girls basketball coach Jim “Louie” Lawinger will be among the five person class, that will be officially inducted Feb. 8.

Lawinger coached varsity softball for 37 years, 35 at Sussex Hamilton near Milwaukee and his final two here in Platteville from 2014–15. 

Lawinger, a standout athlete in his youth first at Platteville High School and later at UW–Platteville, coached in 717 varsity softball games during his 37-year career, posting an overall record of 424–292. His teams won nine conference championships, 15 regional championships, eight sectional championships and competed in eight WIAA state tournaments.

Lawinger, a 1967 graduate of Platteville High School, moved back to his home town in the spring of 2014 to take over the PHS softball. Lawinger promptly led the Hillmen to a 16–6 record in his first season and to a share of the program’s first conference title since 2001. Platteville went 7–13 in 2015, his final season with the program.

Lawinger will be inducted with Dan Bayreuther (Fort Atkinson and Janesville Craig), Joel Claassen (Milwaukee Pius XI), Gary Haus (Rice Lake), and John Peterson (WIAA master umpire from Madison).

The Hall of Fame banquet will take place at the WFSCA coach’s clinic Feb. 8 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Lawinger, who is also a member of the UW–Platteville athletic Hall of Fame as a three-sport athlete, is currently an assistant men’s basketball coach at UW–Platteville. The Pioneers are currently 13–1 overall, 3–0 in the WIAC and ranked #9 in the nation by D3hoops.com.

Lawinger is married to his wife Donna, since 1970, and they have one sonJess (Jessica) and one daughter Jaime Chmielewski (Jon) five grandchildren Jacob, Joshua, Rowan, Miller and Evelyn.
Richland Center girls snap 45-game losing streak
Burns makes three free throws with 3.2 seconds left to lift Hornets to 1-point win over Viroqua
Kylie Burns
Richland Center sophomore Kylie Burns made three free throws with 3.2 seconds left to lift the Hornets to a 55–54 non-conference victory over Viroqua Tuesday night. The win snapped Richland Center's 45-game losing streak. - photo by Erik Olson
Erik Olson
Published: Feb 14, 2025, 5:44 PM

RICHLAND CENTER — Sophomore Kylie Burns converted three straight free throws with 3.2 seconds left in overtime to give the Richland Center Hornets a 55-54 non-conference win here Tuesday night. 

The win was the Hornets’ first of the season and ended a 45-game losing streak dating back to the end of the 2022–23 campaign.

“They never gave up,” said coach Jeremy Kooi of his team which fought back from an early 12-point deficit 

The Hornets rallied to pull within 27–21 at the half and finally tied the game midway through the second half. The lead changed hands several times down the stretch before Regan Schoepp scored from close range to put the Hornets ahead 47–45. Viroqua freshman Allyah Schwenn quickly penetrated and scored to tie the game, 47–47, and force overtime.

In the extra period, Burns accounted for all eight of the Hornets’ points with a three-pointer and five of five from the free throw line. 

Ella Weiss led the Hornets in scoring with 22 points while Burns finished with 16. Jaycee Gander netted six, Carley Mieden five, Schoepp four and Jasmine Hazlerig two.

Schwenn topped all scorers with 24 points for Viroqua. Emily Hubatch scored 14 and Emma Moilien had 10. 

The Hornets were 19 of 30 from the free throw line while Viroqua converted 15 of 29 but only three of six in overtime.