1966…THE HIGH-FLYING CRUSADERS GO UNBEATEN

There were big changes in 1966 as Earl Wilke retired after coaching Madison Edgewood football for 37-years.  Wilke had coached nine undefeated teams…the school claimed ten but in one of those seasons they played a “Charity game” in 1945 against Chicago Mt. Carmel and lost.  The ten claimed undefeated seasons were 1937, 1939, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1962 and 1964.  In his final season, 1965, the team went 7-1-1 as he closed out an overall 201-66-19 career record.  This record included two seasons at Stoughton, 1927-28 (5-5-2), before spending time at Edgewood.  

Wilke stepped down at a December 1965 banquet and was replaced by George Chryst who had started at Edgewood in 1962 as an assistant football and basketball coach. With Wilke stepping down Chryst took over both head coaching positions as well as becoming the school’s athletic director.  1966 would be the next great Crusader season.

WFCA Photo of Coach George Chryst

Things started slow for Edgewood as they opened in the rain against Sun Prairie.  The weather slowed their attack even though the Crusaders outgained the Cardinals 302 total yards to 159.  Using a new spread offense, often with a man in motion most of the yards gained was by passing but starting quarterback Geoff Poole tossed three interceptions to slow down the potential scoring.  The win came down to a fourth quarter 27-yard field goal by Mike Rynes to win.  Poole was 14 of 27 for 213 yards but even with the interceptions Chryst was encouraged with the overall team performance. 

The next seven games the Crusaders would use Poole’s arm to open up the run game.  Edgewood had normally been a running team but in 1965 Tim Sweeney quarterbacked the team and set several seasonal passing records.  However, after graduating, Geoff Poole took over and showed he could do just as well in directing the team with his arm and sometimes his legs.

Poole would break all school single season passing records in 1966 with games of 10-15-0-197-4 vs. Middleton, 5-7-2-100-4 vs. West Bend, 15-27-1-237-4 vs. Rockford Harlem and three touchdown passes in each game against St. John’s, Wisconsin Lutheran and Arrowhead.  His season passing totals were 81-122-6-1549-24.  The 24 touchdown passes were tops in the state for the season.  No wonder the Wisconsin State Journal and the Capitol Times dubbed the team as “the high flying Crusaders”.  While he didn’t run that much he did have an 81-yard touchdown run against West Bend and 73 yards total against Beaver Dam.  There were a few losses in his scrambling as he only gained 173 yards rushing on the year but he kept opponents honest when needed.  He would earn Special Mention on the A.P. All-State team as well as All-City honors.

Geoff Poole...Wisconsin State Journal

End John Flad was the area’s top rated receiver with28 receptions, 509 yards and 11 touchdown receptions., earned All-City, A.P. Special Mention and U.P.I. honorable mention All-State awards.  John Bennett, the “other” offensive end for the crusaders, caught only 10 passes but gained 240 yards and scored five times and earned All-City.  Guard Mile Martin earned first team All-City and first team All-State on the U.P.I. listing.

Wisconsin State Journal All-City Team

Two guys in the backfield were the main clogs on a very balanced running attack.  They didn’t pick up big yardage but were consistent.  John Verhelst ran for 382-yards and caught passes for 222 while scoring five times.  He earned second team All-City but received Honorable Mention All-State as a defensive back by the U.P.I.  Teammate Mike Mentzer led the team with 388 yards on the ground and caught passes for 509 yards.  Mentzer scored four times and was second team All-City.

Team p[hoto taken after game #6...Wisconsin Staite Journal

As a team the Crusaders gained 1,619 yards on the ground (202.4 yards per game) and 1,643 yards passing (205.4 yards per game).  The team total, 3,362 yards was huge for this time as was the 407.7 yards per game.  On defense they allowed 760 yards rushing, 533 yards passing for a total of 1,293 yards or, only 161.6 yards per game.  The 288 points scored by the team was a new season record.

Of all of the previously great Edgewood team’s this may have been the best and it certainly was a great start as a head coach for George Chryst.    Spending the next seven years at Edgewood, Chryst would direct his charges to a 43-10 record before moving on to UW-Madison for six seasons as an assistant then take over as head coach at UW-Platteville from 1979-92 as well as serving as the school’s athletic director 1981-90.  Tragicly, in December of 1992 Chryst died suddenly and left a career of making an impact on those whom he came into contact.  He was named to the WFCA Hall of Fame in 1994.

THE 1990’S BEST…PART 2

As I mentioned in PART 1 there were, as usual, many hard choices.  In Part 2, that hasn’t changed.  Picking the top coaches and players for the decade was difficult.  

                             THE TOP COACH

So many top HOF coaches brought a number of teams to the state finals.  Now having many championship teams or even second place runner-up squads didn’t make you THE TOP coach but it didn’t hurt.  Looking at a list of great coaches has led me to having to pick TWO as #1 for the 1990’s.

Bob Hyland of Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs had seven teams make it to the WISAA finals with six being champion.  This small school often faced larger schools like Milwaukee Marquette, Green Bay Notre Dame and Waukesha Catholic Memorial in the finals. As mentioned in earlier stories, Bob started in 1971 with a winless season but ended in 2024 as the state’s all-time winningest coach and he currently is listed as the #3 all-time national winner with 522 total wins.

Tied for the decade’s best coach is Monroe’s Pat Martin who took four trams to the title and coached two second place teams.  He tied Manitowoc’s Ron Rubick (1984-86) with three consecutive titles (1990-1492).  He also took the Cheesemakers to the title in 1986 and second place in 1987.  Martin, interestingly, graduated from St. Mary’s Springs in 1965, six years before Hyland began coaching there.

The man Martin often matched up against was Menomonie’s Joe LaBuda who was also a four-time title winning coach with two teams that came in second.   Between Monroe and Menomonie there were some great contests.  Douglas McArthur of Darlington was an even three titles and three number two spots.  He also took his Redbirds to their first title win in 1987.

Other great coaches from the 1990’s were Alex Hilber of Mayville, Paul Engen of Appleton West, Tom Taraska of Hartland Arrowhead, current Edgar coach Jerry Sinz, Jeff Setz of New Berlin West.  Milwaukee Marquette’s Dick Basham directed his Hilltoppers to three WISAA titles and a runner-up spot while Waukesha Catholic Memorial’s Dick Young took home two WISAA titles and three second place trophies.  There were many other top coaches to consider but these stood out.

                            THE TOP PLAYERS

As I stated it was hard to choose the top coach (s) but in reality, it was just as hard picking the Player of the Decade.  Early in the 1990’s Jake Morris of Elk Mound was the top player of many people.  Jake gained 2,767 yards in 1992 and scored 41 touchdowns on the ground as he led his team to the state finals only to lose to Edgar 14-7.  During the year he returned eight punts for scores, led the state in scoring for the second consecutive season and had seven 200+ yard games rushing.  With 5,447 career rushing yards and 530 career points scoring he finished #1 all-time in those two categories.  His career scoring broke the record set in 1918-20 seasons of 485 by Superior’s John Hancock.  As good as Morris was in 1992, he did not lead the state in rushing.  Nathan Harms of Owen-Withee gained 2,820 yards.

The decade was coming to a close when a running back from Random Lake destroyed state rushing and scoring records and earned Player of the Decade but first, the top overall offensive, defensive and honorable mention players.

1990’s PLAYER OF THE DECADE

Luke Hagel of Random Lake burst onto the scene in 1996 as the sophomore became a starter in the backfield after playing at times in 1995 as a freshman backup.  Hagel ran for 1,441 yards and scored 29 touchdowns in 1996.  In 1997, as a junior, he scored 317 points on 42 touchdowns, 48 extra-point kicks, one two-point conversion and 9 field goals.  His 317 points replaced the 296 points that Jake Morris had collected in 1992 for tops in a single season.  Random Lake went 11-1 in 1997, falling to Wittenberg-Birnamwood 35-15 behind that school’s three 1,000-yard rushers while the Rams relied on the bruising rushing of Hagel.  Luke gained 2,139 yards that year.   

Luke Hagel, 1998

With 3,741 career rushing yards in his first three seasons.  Much was expected of him as a senior in 1998.  He didn’t disappoint.  The 6’1, 195-pound running back/kicker/linebacker was ready to lead Random Lake to Madison.  The Milwaukee Journal suggested to readers for them to see the states best player was to take a little trip north of the city to Slinger to see him as that was the closest the Rams would play to the metro area.  They would beat the Owls in the season opener 28-6 with Hagel picking up 205 yads, three touchdowns and four extra points.  The numbers would just grow from then on.

Random Lake would go 12-2 overall but lose to 21-14 to Colby in the finals as Hagel carried 45 times for 233 yards and both touchdowns and extra point’s along with 7 tackles.  His season totals were 2,652 yards on the ground, 42 touchdowns, 42 extra point kicks, one two-point conversion and one field goal for a total of 301 points.  All in all, Luke gained a career total of 6,495 yards (Then a state record) and scored 802 points.  Hagel also stared in three other sports while at Random Lake…basketball, baseball and track., earning sixteen letters.

Luke Hagel scores against Colby in the D-4 title game, Nov. 19, 1998

As senior the standout was named the Wendy’s High School Heisman for the state as well as earning WFCA Player of the Year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel State Player of the Year and the AP’s top player.  The earning of the  Wendy’s award came with a trip to New York City to see the Texas Longhorn running back Ricky Williams receive the Heisman Award, given to the top college player. Luke decided to attend Ripon College so he could play both football and baseball.  He played both sports his first year at Ripon, then football only as a sophomore and then baseball exclusively baseball as a junior and senior.  His fine collegiate career led him to being named to Ripon’s athletic hall of fame.

THE 1990’S BEST…PART 1

Just like in any other decade there were so many teams, games, coaches and players to consider for the best in the 1990’s.  Even those honorable mentions were tough to decide even though there were some outstanding performances to choose from. 

                                  THE TOP TEAMS

                                HONORABLE MENTION

Columbus, 1990, went 13-0, winning the D-4 title.

Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs…1990…WISAA champion, 13-0.  Scored 354 points and allowed 119 as the Ledgers beat Waukesha Catholic Memorial 27-7 in the title game.  This was the first of six WISAA 1990’s titles (With one runner-up squad in the decade).

Mayville was in the finals three consecutive times in the 1990’s.  They lost in O.T. 21-14 to Stanley -Boyd in 1991.  The team, under Alex Hilber all three times, returned in 1992 and lost to Baldwin Woodville 11-7.  The two teams would meet again in 1994 (14-0) and this time Mayville won in a blowout 47-0.

Osseo-Fairchild, 1996, was the first team to earn a 14-0 season record in D-5 although in the same championship games played at Camp Randall Columbus in D-4 on Thursday also went 14-0.  The next day, Hartland Arrowhead in D-1 earned a 14-0 record.

Glenwood City, 1997, also went 14-0 as they won in D-5 beating a solid Waterloo team 36-14.  

 Oak Creek, 1997 and 1998, were teams loaded with talent as the Knights finished in second place each year to Marshfield (21-14) and D.C. Everest (14-12).

Owen-Withee, 1992 and 1999.  Coach Terry Laube directed his teams to 13-0 seasons

Edgar, under Jerry Sinse, made three appearances’, beating Elk Mound 14-7 in 1992, losing in 1998 to Wrightstown 29-8 and then winning it all in 1999 to Iola-Scandinavia 22-6.

Schofield D. C. Everest…The 1998 Evergreens scored 563 points but allowed what would be the second most points allowed by a championship team 268 points. (Second place Lancaster in 2011 allowed 317 points).  They did have one shutout (48-0 over Merrill in game four) but had a barn burner of a game against Wisconsin Rapids in game two, 70-63.  It was a team full of offense and just enough defense to win.

Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs…1999…The Ledgers opened the decade with a WISAA title.  In between 1990 and 1999 they won six titles…1991 (13-0), 1995 (12-0), 1997 (8-4) and 1998 (10-2).  1999 proved to be the teams best of the decade as they went 12-0, scoring 465 points and allowing only 91.  They went 10-2 in 1992,finishing in second place.

THE TOP 10

                            #10…1998 Flambeau

The last championship 13-0 team to win a title and the first squad to score 600+ points in a season (618).  The Falcons posted 10 shutouts, allowed only 45 points and won the D-6 title 26-14 over River Ridge. They clearly were the best D-6 team of the decade.

                     #9…1994 Hartland Arrowhead

After going 12-1 in 1993 and winning the D-1 title, the Warhawks in 1994 went undefeated, 13-0, and beat Muskego 19-16.  Full of talent Arrowhead featured Waukesha County and State Player of the Year linebacker Donny Eicher.  Offensive lineman Matt Snyder, linebacker Kevin Brown, defensive lineman Mike Seifert and defensive back Jonathan Hughes earned state  and county honors and played college ball.

                   #8…1990 and 1991 Darlington

Despite losing one game in 1990 (12-1) and two in 1991 (11-2) the Redbirds made the 1990’s their decade as they made seven total trips to the finals.  Never undefeated but were led always by a powerful running game. 

                         #7…1995 Darlington

This Redbird team (12-1) had the first of two consecutive squads featuring three 1,000-yard rushers…juniors Doug McGowan, David Lau and Travis Crist.  They would turn the trick as seniors in 1996 which would be coach Douglas McArthur’s fourth D-5 title (1987, 1990, 1991 & 1995).  In 1997 (13-1) new coach Dennis Bogacz would earn a runner-up trophy.

                       #6…1992 Appleton West

Coach Paul Engen led the 1992 West Terrors (13-0) to three consecutive D-1 appearances, winning over Kenosha Tremper 17-7 after losing to them in 1991 17-14. The Terrors would lose to Hartland Arrowhead 21-7 in 1993.

                  #5…1994 Hartland Arrowhead

The Warhawks (13-0) won three titles in the 1990’s (Also in 1993 and 1996) and another in 2007 under coach Tom Taraska.  Because of the number of teams in the Southwest Conference, they didn’t play Muskego until the title game, a 19-16 win.

               #4…1994 Milwaukee Marquette

The WISAA champion had eight shutouts and allowed only 40 points as the Hilltoppers beat Waukesha Memorial for the second time in 1994.  They beat the Crusaders 17-0in the regular season finale and 31-0 in the title game.

     Now the tough choices between two schools

If the 1990’s featured Darlington in seven title games, the decade belonged to Monroe (Four titles and two runner-up places) and Menomonie (Four titles and one 2^nd place showing).

                           #3…1994 Monroe

The Cheesemakers went 13-0 and won the D-3 title.  Pat Martin directed his teams to near perfection in the 90’s.

                      #2…1993 Menomonie

Yes, Menomonie lost a game during the regular season to Cambridge (MN) in game two 47-0.  Cambridge was ranked #1 at the time and the Mustangs rebounded to score over 360 points the remaining 11 games.  Coach Joe LaBuda directed his team (12-1) to the D-2 title.  In the semi-finals they defeated Monroe 6-3 in a game I will mention later as the game of the decade.

                           #1…1992 Monroe

Well, 1992 (12-0) was really the best Monroe season but it was hard to choose.  The 1993 Cheesemakers were part of a number of teams that won 43 consecutive games.  This streak was the 3^rd longest in state history at the time behind Manitowoc (48 games, 1983-87) and Wausau (46 games, 1940-46).  1992 saw Monroe score 468 points (A school record) and allow only 32.  Their 35-0 win over Kaukauna in the D-2 title was the teams ninth shutout in 12-games as they allowed only 32 points.

                                     THE TOP GAME

So many good choices but the best was probably the 1993 D-2 semi-final game between Monroe and Menomonie.  My second choice was a high scoring barn-burner in 1998between D.C. Everest, a 70-63 winner over Wisconsin Rapids.  The M & M matchup took place on November 6 at Logan High School in La Crosse.  Both teams had scored well and defended well going into the game.  Monroe had a outscored their opponents 398-101 while Menomonie had outscored their foes 399-151.  Monroe held a 11-0 season record and a 43-game win streak while the Indians were 10-1.

The final score was 6-3 with Menomonie ending the win streak.  Coach Pat Martin for Monroe was paranoidly upset with the results of the game.  Not to see the win streak end but just not being to win another title.  He felt his team was the better team.  All-state running back, junior Nate Blaser led the Cheesemakers with 120 yards on 29 carries.  In the drive to set up their only field goal he had runs of 26 and 37-yard gains.  He had one more big gainer, 22-yards, but also had 19 carries of 2-yards or less.  Blaser was held to only 13 yards in the first half as the Indian defense put the clamps on him.   Kicker Brad Stangle missed two attempts in the first half of 36 and 27 yards before putting his team on top 3-0 with a 29-yard field goal late in the game.

Menomonie countered with All-state back Adam Roach who had 100-yards on 28 carries with “big” gains of 10 and 11 as the Cheesemakers held him down.  It all went down to 5’7. 160-pound Brent Miller who kicked field goals of 22 and 28.  Miller had never attempted a field goal for his team.  He replaced Brady Wilkins in the season final win after the former went down with an injury.  Menomonie had several key injuries in the game but they prevailed and went on to win the D-2 title the next week, a 49-31 win over Ashwaubenon.

Next up…the top coach and players of the decade.