EDITOR'S NOTE: The SWNews4U.com SW Wisconsin Dream Tournament is 68-team March Madness-style high school basketball tournament (for both boys and girls), consisting of the greatest teams in Southwest Wisconsin history, since 1960.
We introduced the girls' bracket and teams April 22-23 and 29-30. Beginning last week (May 6-7), with the boys' first-round selections, we will pick the winners for each round in our area newspapers, until we crown the All-Time champions for both tournaments. We will publish the girls' first-round winners this week (May 13-14).
Below are the team capsules for the girls teams in the North Regional.
1) 2014 Barneveld
2014 Division 5 state championCoach: Jim Myers
Record: 28-0, 12-0 Six Rivers East champion
Tournament run: The Golden Eagles defeated Benton 62-32, Ithaca 64-30, Belmont 52-18 and Gilmanton 69-31 to advance to state, then routed Owen-Withee 71-53 in a state semifinal game. Barneveld completed an undefeated season and avenged a loss from a year earlier by edging Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 36-34 in the D5 championship game. The Royals defeated the Eagles in the 2013 title game by a score of 39-35.
Key Players:
Hannah Whitish (So) 17.1 ppg, 1st-team All-SRE, was named the 2016 Wisconsin Miss Basketball, two-time SRE Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SRE, four-time WBCA D5 All-State selection, 2016 WBCA D5 All-Star, went on to play college ball at the University of Nebraska.
Rachel Slaney (Jr) 15 ppg, 1st-team All-SRE, three-time WBCA All-State selection, 2015 WBCA D5 All-Star, went on to play junior college basketball at Madison College, then D1 basketball at Cleveland State
Mia Whitish (Fr) 6.3 ppg, 2nd-team All-SRE, 2017 WBCA D5 All-Star
Hailey Kleppe (Sr) 4 ppg, honorable mention All-SRE
Maggie Oimoen (Jr) 7.3 ppg, went on to play D3 college basketball at Ripon College where she was a three-time 1st-team all-conference selection
McKenzie Sporle (Sr) 7.1 ppg
Dynasty Note: The Golden Eagles posted a 110-4 overall record during a four-year span, including a 46-0 SRE record en route to four straight league titles. The Eagles matched up against Assumption in four consecutive WIAA Division 5 state title games with the Golden Eagles winning back-to-back gold balls under Myers in 2014 and 2015, while finishing with silver balls in 2013 under Myers and in 2016 under Doug Pickarts, who took over the program after Myers jumped over to coach his son, Matthew, on Barneveld boys’ team. University of Nebraska standout Hannah Whitish appeared on all four state teams, while Slaney starred on the ’13, ’14 and ’15 teams, and Mia Whitish started on the ’14, ’15 and ’16 teams.
2) 2010 Cuba City
2010 Division 3 state championCoach: Jeff Pustina
Record: 29-0, 14-0 SWAL champion
Tournament run: The top-ranked Cubans, who were state runner-ups in 2009, defeated Oostburg 53-40 in the 2010 WIAA D3 championship game to finish off an undefeated season. Cuba City downed Darlington 79-35, Lancaster 43-27 and Belleville 50-26 in regionals, and Cambridge 46-25 and Fennimore 52-22 at sectionals, then Brillion 56-40 in the state semifinal game.
Key Players:
Katie Langmeier (Sr) 12.7 ppg, SWAL Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SWAL, WBCA D3 1st-team All-State, WBCA All-Star, went on to play D3 college basketball at Loras College
Emily Kaiser (Sr) 11.6 ppg, 1st-team All-SWAL, WBCA D3 1st-team All-State, WBCA All-Star, went on to play D3 college volleyball at UW–Platteville
Danielle Matuszak (Sr) 7.4 ppg, 1st-team All-SWAL
Grace Stotmeister (Jr) 6.9 ppg, honorable mention All-SWAL
Megan Pickel (Sr) 5 ppg, honorable mention SWAL
Dynasty Note: Coach Pustina guided the Lady Cubans to a 55-1 overall record over the span of two seasons (2009 and 2010), with two SWAL titles, a D3 state title and a D3 runner-up trophy to show for their efforts. Kaiser, Langmeier, Matuszak and Moor starting for both state teams. In 2009, the Cubans reeled off 26 consecutive wins before suffering their first loss to Amherst 41-37 in the title game.
3) 1976 Lancaster
1976 Class B state championCoach: Jewel Henke
Record: 20-2, 12-0 Southern 8 champion
Tournament run: The Flying Arrows defeated rival Cuba City 42-40 in overtime, Iowa-Grant 56-20 and Prairie du Chien 60-37 in regional action, then Orfordville Parkview 49-34 and Mauston 73-36 in sectional play. Lancaster defeated Omro 46-34 and Clinton 49-41 to win the Class B state championship.
Key Players:
Jodi Eissens (Jr) 11.5 ppg in state tournament, 1st-team All-Southern 8, WIAA Class B All-Tournament Team, went on to play D3 college basketball at UW-Oshkosh
Kim Pecinovsky (Sr) 11 ppg in state tournament, 1st-team All-Southern 8, WIAA Class B All-Tournament Team
Darcie Davies (Jr) 1st-team All-Southern 8, went on to play D3 college basketball at UW-La Crosse
Linda Shaw (Sr) 10.5 ppg in state tournament, honorable mention Southern 8
Karla Lambert (Jr) 8 ppg in state tournament
Joan Krogman (Sr)
Dynasty Note: The 1977 Arrows were again sensational a year later, finishing 15-3 overall and second in the Southern 8 at 12-2, but eventual Class B state champion Cuba City ended Lancaster’s season in the regional semifinals 39-32.
4) 1984 Platteville
1984 Class B state championCoach: Clay Shaffer
Record: 23-2, 12-2 Southern 8 runner-up
Tournament run: The Hillmen defeated Southern 8 champion Cuba City 51-48, Lancaster 39-37 in overtime, and Prairie du Chien 60-49 to win the regional title, then Sauk Prairie 76-35 and Portage 54-49 in sectional play to earn the school’s first trip to state. Platteville then defeated Brillion 81-46 and Ashland 41-28 ton win the Class B state championship.
Key Players:
Anja Hellman (Sr) 20.9 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.3 apg, the Finnish exchange student was named Southern 8 Player of the Year, 1st-team All-Southern 8, AP honorable mention All-State, was the youngest member of the Finland national team, went on to play D1 basketball at D1 California and was named the first-team Pac 10 as freshman, and went on to play professionally in Europe.
Erin Stoffregen (Jr) 16.3 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.0 apg, 1st-team All-Southern 8, 1985 Southern 8 Player of the Year
Karen Feehan (Sr) 5.5 ppg, 2 rpg, 3.4 apg
Debbie Malone (Sr) 10.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, honorable mention Southern 8.
Kay Martin (Sr) 4.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Tina Pearce (Sr) 3 ppg, 2 rpg
Brenda Bumgardner (Jr) 2.7 ppg
5) 1991 Prairie du Chien
1991 Division 2 state championCoach: Dave Kasey
Record: 23-3, 10-2 SWAL 1 runner-up
Tournament run: After a first-round bye, the Blackhawks defeated Monroe 50-37 and Sauk Prairie 54-45 to win the regional title, then beat Portage 60-55 and Verona 65-56 to win the Division 2 Sauk Prairie regional title. Prairie du Chien then defeated Pulaski 43-34 and Ellsworth 56-47 to win the D2 state championship.
Key Players:
Gretchen Trautsch (Sr) 15 ppg, 7 rpg, scored 31 points in the sectional final, 1st-team All-SWAL 1, AP honorable mention All-State, WBCA D2 All-Star
Crystal Boylen (Sr) 10 ppg, 4 apg, 1st-team All-SWAL 1, AP honorable mention All-State, WBCA D2 All-Star
Jill Ashby (Sr) 8 ppg, 7 rpg, honorable mention SWAL 1
Shelly Howe (Jr) 5 ppg, 3 apg
Deirdre Campbell (Sr) 6 ppg, 7 rpg,
6) 2010 Black Hawk
2010 Division 4 state runner-upCoach: Michael Flanagan
Record: 27-2, 12-0 SRE champion
Tournament run: The Warriors defeated Benton 73-17, Pecatonica 55-36, Barneveld 46-40 in regional play, then Albany 54-29 and Central Wisconsin Christian 58-43 in sectionals, then Northwood 42-31 in the state semifinals to advance to the championship game for the first time in school history. Black Hawk fell to Wausau Newman Catholic 64-30 in the 2010 WIAA D4 state final.
Key Players:
Kim Wellnitz (Sr) 13.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.4 spg, was named the SRE Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SRE, WBCA D4 1st-team All-State, WBCA D4 All-Star, went on to play in college at UW–Platteville.
Katie Place (Sr) 8.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.4 spg, 1st-team All-SRE
Rachel Rygh (Jr) 10.1 ppg, honorable mention SRE
Melissa Wellnitz (Jr) 9.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 3.2 spg, honorable mention SRE
Alyssa Piefer (Jr) 3.4 ppg
Chaesta Shager (So) 3.3 ppg
Dynasty Note: Coach Flanagan guided the Warriors to three straight WIAA State Tournament appearances and a 76-6 overall record during the three-year span while winning three straight SRE titles. SRW foe Potosi topped the Warriors (23-3, 11-1) 49-42 in the 2009 D4 semifinal round, while Wausau Newman Catholic defeated Black Hawk (26-1, 12-0) 64-40 in the 2011 D5 state semifinals. Senior Paige Butler averaged 13.9 pointer per game for the 2009 state team and graduated as the Lady Warriors’ all-time leading scorer. Kim Wellnitz broke her record the following year, while Jen Wellnitz, a freshman on the 2011 state team and a UW-Green Bay standout, shattered her sister’s record three seasons later.
7) 1976 Bloomington
1976 Class C state runner-upCoach: Adele Jacobson
Record: 20-3, 8-0 Blackhawk champion
Tournament run: The #3-ranked Bluejays defeated Cassville 41-33, Wauzeka 53-27, Seneca, 39-26 and Black Hawk, 59-49 to win a regional title, then Whitehall 52-37 and New Lisbon 43-27 in sectional play. Bloomington then defeated Ondossagon 48-41 before losing to Marshall in the Class C Championship game 40-36.
Key Players:
Ginny Vorwald (Sr) 13.5 ppg, 14 rpg in state tournament. WIAA Class C All-Tournament Team. Played college basketball at Wisconsin.
Kris Paulus (Jr) 11.5 ppg in state tournament.
Nora Patterson (So) 9.5 ppg in state tournament.
Joyce Martin (Sr)
Kate Parkins (Sr)
Barb Martin (Fr)
8) 1996 Cuba City
1996 Division 3 state qualifierCoach: Jeff Pustina
Record: 23-3, 10-2 SWAL 1 co-champion
Tournament run: The Cubans made their fourth state appearance in seven seasons under Coach Pustina, losing to eventual Division 3 champion Fall Creek, 52-28, in a state semifinal contest.
Key Players:
Hillary Kowalski (Jr) 11.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1st-team All-SWAL 1
Kari Kaiser (Sr) 9.8 ppg, 2.1 apg, 2.1 spg, 1st-team All-SWAL 1
Tina Klein (Jr) 7.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1st-team All-SWAL 1
Missy VanNatta (Sr) 6.7 ppg, honorable mention All-SWAL 1
Holly Pint (Sr) 5.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, honorable mention All-SWAL 1
9) 1983 Seneca
1983 Class C state qualifierCoach: Donald "Ole" Peterson
Record: 21-4, 13-1 Ridge & Valley co-champion
Tournament run: The Indians defeated Ithaca 45-36, Riverdale 44-23, and Weston 60-27 in regional play, then defeated West Grant 68-54, Pepin 74-43 at sectionals, and lost in the Class C state semifinals to eventual champion Gilman 43-41 after leading by 14 points at halftime.
Key Players:
Karen Greene (Sr) 18 ppg, 11 rpg, 4 apg, 1st-team R&V
Lori Olson (Sr) 14 ppg, 5 apg, 1st-team All-R&V
Shelly BIggin (Jr) 9 ppg, 1st-team All-R&V
Heidi Ostrander (Jr) 1st-team All-R&V
Tami Wall (Sr) 1st-team All-R&V
Katie Lynch (Sr) 10 ppg
Dynasty Note: The Indians reached sectionals seven of eight years from 1976-83, but didn’t break through and make it to state until 1983.
10) 2012 Richland Center
2012 Division 3 sectional runner-upCoach: Steve Board
Record: 22-4, 10-0 SWC champion
Tournament run: After a first-round bye, the Hornets defeated Mauston 80-42 and Dodgeville 76-53 in regional play, then Adams-Friendship 69-43 before a heart-breaking 85-82 double overtime loss to East Troy in the D3 sectional finals.
Key Players:
Kelsey Collins (Sr) 16.1 ppg, 4 apg, SWC Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SWC, WBCA D3 1st-team All-State, WBCA D3 All-Star, finished career with 1,115 points
Emily Anderson (Sr) 9.5 ppg, 1st-team All-SWC, WBCA D3 All-Star
Kelley Lynch (Sr) 8.2 ppg, 2nd-team All-SWC
Abbey Beranek (Sr) 8.1 ppg, 2nd-team All-SWC
Kelsey Deets (Sr) 5.7 ppg, honorable mention SWC
Kyle Schultz (Sr) 7.7 ppg
Dynasty Note: As a freshman in 2009, Collins, along with future Viterbo standout Dani Templin (2009 SWC MVP) and future UW–Platteville starter Alyssa Krajco (2011 SWC MVP), led Richland Center to a 19-4, 10-0 mark and trip to the Division 2 sectional semifinals. The 2010 Hornets went 22-3 (10-0 SWC) and returned to sectional and the 2011 team went 21-2 (9-1 in the SWC) and reached the D2 regional finals. Richland Center’s 2012 conference title was the program’s sixth straight and 12th in 13 years.
11) 2015 Dodgeville
2015 Division 3 sectional runner-upCoach: Mark Dooley
Record: 21-3, 9-1 SWC champion
Tournament run: After a first-round bye, the Dodgers defeated Platteville 56-42 and River Valley 44-33 to capture a D3 regional title, and then defeated Adams-Friendship 49-25 to advance to the sectional final game. Unbeaten and eventual state champion Whitewater downed the Dodgers 57-54 in the sectional championship game.
Key Players:
Taylor Stanek (Sr) 12.7 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg, SWC Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SWC, WBCA D3 honorable mention All-State, WBCA D3 All-Star, went on to play D3 college volleyball at Edgewood College
Kara Crowley (So) 10.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1st-team All-SWC, 2017 WBCA D2 All-Star for Beaver Dam, went on to play D1 college basketball at Wisconsin as a walk-on
Hannah Jones (Fr) 10.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.5 spg, 1st-team All-SWC, 2018 SWC Player of the Year, 2018 WBCA D3 1st-team All-State, 2018 WBCA D3 All-Star, went on to play at D1 college basketball at IUPU-Fort Wayne
Megan Pluemer (Jr) 7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Samantha Crowley (Sr) 6.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.6 apg
Kennedy Stumpf (Jr) 4.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg
Dynasty Note: The 2014 Dodgers went 18-6, won a SWC title and lost in the D3 regional finals to Madison Edgewood. As a senior, Jones led the 2018 Dodgers to a 21-3 record, a SWC title and berth in the D3 regional final, but Jones was playing on a badly sprained ankle and Dodgeville fell to Platteville 50-37.
12) 2006 Lancaster
2006 Division 3 sectional qualifierCoach: Brett Rollins
Record: 22-2, 10-0 SWC champion
Tournament run: The Flying Arrows defeated Wisconsin Heights 85-34, Riverdale 60-32 and River Ridge 56-39 in regional action, before losing to eventual D3 state champion Cuba City, in the sectional semifinals 47-35 at UW–Platteville.
Key Players:
Mary Lynn Driscoll (Sr) 17.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1st-team All-SWC
Brianna Klaas (Sr) 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1st-team All-SWC, WBCA D3 All-Star, went on to play D3 college basketball at UW–Platteville
Megan Starrett (Sr) 8.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1st-team All-SWC, went on to play D3 college volleyball at UW–Whitewater
Teresa Logemann (Jr) 7.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, honorable-mention SWC, went on to become a member of the D1 rowing team at Minnesota
Brittany Petrowitz (Jr) 5.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, honorable-mention SWC
Beth Larsen (Sr) 5.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, honorable mention SWC
Dynasty Note: Lancaster went 20-3, shared the SWAL 1 title with Richland Center and advanced to the D2 regional finals before losing to Monroe a year earlier in 2005.
13) 1997 Mineral Point
1997 Division 4 sectional qualifierCoach: Chuck Bennett
Record: 21-3, 11-1 SWAL 2 champion
Tournament run: After a first-round bye, the #7 Pointers defeated Southwestern 59-52 and Shullsburg 58-54 in regional play, then lost to Black Hawk 60-53 in the D4 sectional semifinals.
Key Players:
Karla Gribble (Sr) 21.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, two-time SWAL 2 MVP, 1st-team All-SWAL, 1997 WBCA All-Star, 1997 Telegraph Herald Player of the Year, finished career as Pointers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,570 points, went on to play D3 college basketball at Lake Forest where she earned first-team all-conference honors.
Jamie Eckles (Sr) 16 ppg, 1st-team All-SWAL 2
Steph Yager (Jr) 8 ppg, honorable mention SWAL 2
Tasha Terrill (Jr) 7 ppg
14) 1986 Prairie du Chien
1986 Class B sectional qualifierCoach: Dave Kasey
Record: 20-3, 13-1 SWAL co-champion
Tournament run: The #6-ranked Blackhawks defeated Cuba City 51-29, Platteville 39-36 and #4-ranked River Valley 50-41 in regional play, then fell to Waunakee 45-40 in a Class B sectional semifinal contest.
Key Players:
Michelle Kozelka (Sr) 23.3 ppg, 13 rpg, AP 3rd-team All-State, 1st-team All-SWAL, went on to play D1 college basketball at Wisconsin becoming a four-year starter, 1,000-point scorer and the Badgers’ second all-time rebounder after walking on.
Stacey Boylen (Sr)
Tracey Boylen (Sr)
Laura Charles (Jr.)
Kristin Panka (Sr.)
Dynasty Note: Prairie du Chien won the 1985 SWAL title, but suffered a regional semifinal loss to Cuba City in the Class B playoffs.
15) 2004 Highland
2004 Division 4 sectional qualifierCoach: Gary Pustina
Record: 19-4, 10-2 SRW runner-up
Tournament run: After a first-round bye, the Cardinals defeated De Soto 46-32 and Cashton 46-32 to claim D4 regional championship title, and then lost to Kickapoo in a sectional semifinal clash 39-34
Key Players:
Kristi Hasburgh (Sr) 11.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, st-team All-SRW
Lynsey Esser (Jr) 10 ppg, 2nd-team All-SRW
Whitney Wienkes (Jr) 2nd-team All-SRW
Ali Pustina (Jr)
MaKenzee Linschied (So)
15) 2017 Riverdale
2017 Division 5 sectional qualifierCoach: Scott Mau
Record: 21-5, 10-4 third in SWAL
Tournament run: The Chieftains defeated North Crawford 71-31, Wauzeka-Steuben 65-43 and Seneca 55-36 to win a WIAA Division 5 regional title, then lost to Shullsburg in a sectional semifinal clash 43-34.
Key Players:
McKenzie Couey (Sr) 12.5 ppg, 1st-team All- SWAL
Macy Klebesadel (Sr) 12. ppg, st-team All- SWAL
Autumn Nobel (Sr) 11.1 ppg, honorable mention All-SWAL
Macy Mau (Jr) 8.5 ppg, honorable mention All-SWAL
Dynasty Note: Riverdale went 18-7 (10-4 SWAL) and reached the regional finals a year earlier in 2016.
16) 2002 Albany
2002 Division 4 regional runner-upCoach: Gary Armitage
Record: 21-2, 13-1 SRE champion
Tournament run: The #5-ranked and top-seeded Comets defeated Juda 57-33, Faith Christian 57-29 before a 59-49 upset loss to Madison Abundant Life in the D4 regional finals.
Key Players:
Jessi Briggs (Jr) 1st-team All-SRE
Torrie Mauerman (Jr) 1st-team All-SRE
Katie Graves (Fr) 2nd-team All-SRE
Nikki Freeman (Fr) honorable mention SRE
Dynasty Note: Albany won its first 16 games of 2002 and was ranked #1 in Division 4 until a loss to Pecatonica. The 2001 Comets finished 18-6 (10-4 in the State Line League) and advanced to the D4 sectional finals before a season-ending loss to Randolph 52-48 in 2001. Briggs, Tiff Blumer and Jessie Shell were all 1st-team All-SRE selections in 2001.
