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.

A STORY ON GREEN BAY CATHOLIC CENTRAL, PREMONTRE AND NOTRE DAME...ONE SCHOOL, DIFFERENT NAMES

Back in January of this year, 2026, I inquired if the athletic department of Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay had a season-by-season record of wins/losses on Green Bay Central, Premontre and Notre Dame.  Afterall, the school's name changed over the years, but the program has remained the same   What I received was just a Notre Dame listing 1990-2025.  I then asked for a complete yearly record, because I knew Green Bay Catholic Central had “morphed” into Our Lady of Premontre in the 1960’s and that school combined with others…Green Bay St. Joseph Academy (An all-girls academy) and De Pere Abbot Pennings (An all-boys high school) to become Notre Dame Academy in 1990.  The school only had records for Notre Dame. Still, I knew that there was more to the story.  I figured that the three schools, one continuous football program,’ had at least 400 wins.  As it turns out they have had a lot more victories over the past 85-years than most schools in that timeframe…539.  That places the story of these three in one school’s #18 on the state’s all-time wins list (Noted in the newest updated state records posting).

Now some schools have merged over time with others but there can only be one continuous path and not a two, three or even four-pronged collaboration of records.  Just as an example, Oshkosh High School “morphed” into Oshkosh West to have an all-time record of 506 wins, that morphing occurred because the two schools were declared one or whole when Oshkosh North was built.  There has been just one Catholic high school program in Green Bay since 1941.  The schools have moved because of increased enrollment but the same coaches moved to those new locations.

On September 20, 1941, Coach Marvin “Marv” Miller took 25 of his team, mainly freshmen, sophomores and a few juniors and seniors to Sheboygan to play North High School.  Those young men were raw and untested but they played well.  Down 13-0 in the third quarter Warren Hare scored from the one-foot line for Centrals first ever score.  North scored again an Central went down in defeat.  There would be other losses, 26-0 against Manitowoc, 18-6 vs. Chilton, 19-13 against Menasha St. Mary, a 13-13 tie vs. Algoma and a season final loss to Little Chute St. John.  Central ended with a 0-5-1 record. 

After losing to Algoma 13-0 in the 1942 opener the boys tied both Kaukauna and Kimberly 0-0 before they tasted their first victory, a 19-12 win over Sevastopol.  Another loss, this time to Menasha St. Mary followed by win #2, a 28-0 pasting of Little Chute St. John.  With the season in the books, it about this time that Fox Valley Catholic Conference, the FVCC, was first formed.  Like other things, name changes came along much later when Fox Valley Lutheran High school joined the conference, and it was changed to the Fox Valley Christian Conference.

Marv Miller stayed one more season and Central posted a 2-3-0 record.  Dave Zuldmulder was hired and he left after the 1945 season, having coached the team to a 2-3-1 record.  Magic appeared in 1946 as Norbert “Norb” Christman came onto the scene ad taught the players how to win.  Because Central taught R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officer Training Cadet) the team took on the nickname of the Cadets.  Christman coached the Cadets to 6-2-0 seasons in 1946-48 as they won three consecutive FVCC titles.  He was replaced by Ward Cuff who took the team in his one season to a 6-1-1 record.  The Cadets lost their 1949 opener to a very good Green Bay West team, 13-7, losing late in the game.  There were six consecutive wins, earning another FVCC title before they tied Milwaukee Messmer (One of the top Catholic teams in southeastern Wisconsin) 0-0.  Cuff stayed three more seasons, directing his four squads to an overall 24-4-1 record including the school's first undefeated team in 1950, a 6-0-1 record.

If you are not from the Green Bay area or a Packer historian, the name Ted Fritsch might not mean much to you.  Born in Spencer Ted didn’t start playing football until he attended Central State Teachers College (Now UW-Stevens Point).  He signed as a free agent with the Packers and was a running back and linebacker, playing from 1942-50.  He didn’t serve in the military during World War II due to a perforated eardrum.  He also played basketball in the NBA for the Oshkosh All-Stars and played minor league baseball as an outfielder.  Ted came to Central in 1952.  The newest building of the Central existence was opened in 1955 when Premontre was dedicated.  Ted coached the Cadets from 1952 to 1966 and had a 73-28-4 overall record.  Due to the polio outbreak in 1950 and lasting on and off through about 1956 as well as a severe flu epidemic in 1957, several seasons were cut short.  When he wasn’t coaching or teaching Ted worked for the city parks department.  He was a beloved member of the community.  Ted took a post as director of the city parks in 1966, a position he held until his premature death in 1979 of a heart attack.  The playing field at Notre Dame is named after Ted.

Up next was the Ron Miller era, a 66-20-0 record that included his coaching of one of the states all-time best teams, the 11-0-0 WISAA State Champion Premontre Cadets.  Only Ted Fritsch’s 1955 6-0-0 squad were the schools only undefeated, untied squads.  In eight seasons Millers teams won three FVCC titles, were co-champions once and finished second once.  Despite his winning ways Miller was let go in February of 1976 due to financial reasons and replaced by assistant Dick Hietpas.

Dick would have eight up and down seasons, and his Cadets would go 49-24.  His 1975 team would have an 11-1 record, lose to De Pere Pennings, beat Fond di Lac St. Mary’s Springs twice, once in the WISAA finals for the title. In a 1984 Fond Du Lac Reporter interview Hietpas was non-committal on his termination from Premontre but candid about his many tough matchups against Bob Hyland of St. Mary’s Springs.  Many papers made Hyland out to be a not likable person but Hietpas said that Bob was just intense.  Hietpas said he held no grudges after his dismissal. 

Bob Collins had been a head coach at Nicolet before moving on to coach at Cedarburg and then coming to Premontre in 1984.  He spent two seasons with the Cadets and accumulated an impressive 21-5 record.  His charges were twice WISAA runner-up’s, had one FVCC title and one co-championship.  He left to return to Nicolet as an assistant coach and boy’s athletic coordinator. 

The John Nowak years followed and what a success they were.  From 1987-2016 Nowak ruled the roost, winning a WISAA title in 1992 (10-1), three WISAA runner-up squads and when the WISAA disbanded and Premontre joined the WIAA there was more success.  In 2000 the school was the WIAA Division 3 runner-up with 12-2 record.  Three years later the Tritons (Name changed when R.O.T.C. was dropped) won the WIAA D-3 title with a specular 14-0 posting.  Nowak would take his teams to the WIAA playoffs 16-times, another WIAA title in 2015 (12-2).  In his final year, 2016 the Tritons again made it to the finals only to lose in the finals and have another 12-2 record.  Nowak ended his career with a 224-109 record.

Today, Mike Rader, Nowak’s replacement, has molded a 58-28 record.  Despite a down year in 2018 (1-8) Mike has forged great years in 2023 (11-2 level four finalist), 2024 (14-0 state title) and 2025 (13-1 state runner-up) as of late.   

Discrepancies:

I wrote the above story after very meticulous research of the Green Bay Press Gazette, the Fond du Lac Reporter and the Manitowoc Herald-Times-Reporter.  I wrote the coaches records down in an Exel file year-by year from the dates 1941-89.  I added twice and ended up making the same error.  I mis-added by four games into the schools total BUT I didn’t discover the error until had submitted the incorrect total wins into my state record book.  If you look online at:  State Records you will see that I have the school with 543 all-time wins and ranking #16 on the wins list.  I am sorry and it will be corrected in January but by then the school will have a lot more wins from the 2026 season to move up on that posting.

There's another error that I found dealing with Coach John Nowak’s record listed by the WFCA in their all-time coaching records: Coaching Records.  In the listing it has Nowak with a 225-115-0 record…one more victory and six more losses than what I came up with.  Notre Dame had supplied me with the school’s records from 1990 when it became Notre Dame.  It didn’t include Nowak’s 1986-89 seasons.  I have readded multiple times and I feel my Notre Dame records are correct so that are the totals I have listed above. 

One other error but also in the record book When the record book for 11-players was submitted I had missed having Gren Bay Notre Dame's setting the record for most yards by a junior with 3,436 yards. Colin Brunell of Columbus in 2022 run for 2,897. Kingston's 2025 rushing totals will show up in January.

How ever things work out…changes to the records…there is no disputing that the school has a fine record.

1937 BARABOO…THE UNDEFEATED, UNTIED UNSCORED UPON THRUNDERCATS

I received a note from Kevin Webster who wrote requesting information on the 1937 Baraboo team that his father Charles W. Webster, Jr remembered.  Charles told his son Kevin that the team went undefeated, untied and unscored upon.  I didn’t know of this fact until Kevin’s message was checked.  He was correct.

Nov. 12, 1937 Baraboo News Republic newspaper

Coach Milo Wilson greeted his charges in early September, getting them ready for a new season.  They had posted a 4-2-1 1936 record.  There was always hope for the football squad, but most years ended in a mixed bag of success.  1936 ended on a sour note as the team lost to Portage in their annual Armistice Day game 19-0.  Baraboo had played Portage every November 11^th since 1921, with a second additional early season game in 1922 and 1923 and had only posted a 5-13 record against their archrivals.

But before their first game Coach Wilson put his players through to consultive tough scrimmages on Monday and Tuesday prior to the opening.  On the previous Saturday Wisconsin High had lost 2-touchdowns to 1 vs. Madison West in a tuneup scrimmage and sportswriters were impressed with WiHi’s. performance. Wilson had wanted his boy's ready for the opener but came away VERY unhappy with the Monday and Tuesday team practices results as the reserves took it to the starters.  Things didn’t look good for the opener against Wisconsin High.  Changes in the line were made, and Baraboo was now ready for the bigger Wisconsin High squad.  Big plays were the hallmark against Wisconsin High especially by right halfback Par Steffler who ran 75-yards for one score and returned a kickoff for 80-yards for another in the 18-0 victory.  He also had a 65-yard run from scrimmage.

The next week it was a Friday afternoon game against Viroqua. The thirty players and the coaches jammed into cars for the away game.  A number of players planned on attending the Richland Center-Sparta game later that evening.  Again, there were tough scrimmages early in the week to prepare for what was expected to be a difficult opponent.  Viroqua had held the bigger Tomah team to a 0-0 score on the previous Friday.  Agaonst Viroqua left halfback/team captain Arthur Greenhaigh tossed a 25-yar pass to Steffler who then ran the final 25-yards for a 50-yard score.  He added a three-yard run and an extra point kick.  Other than the scoring stats and a game lineup that is all the offensive/defensive information that the Baraboo News Republic paper offered.

It was a tough battle in another away game verses Reedsburg, a 7-0 victory.  Baraboo played daylight games, but Reedsburg had lights, so it was a novelty, but the game proved to be costly for the Thundercat’s.  Starting halfback Arthur Greenhalgh was injured and lost for the rest of the season.  In the first quarter Greenhalgh was moved out to a flanker spot after the opening kickoff went out of bounds on his teams 35.  Quarterback James Welake handed the ball to Steffler who ran right, got a great block from Greenhalgh and sped 53-yards down the right sideline before being tackled.  Greenhalgh was injured on the play with a dislocated shoulder.  Three plays later Welske scored from the two and Steffler kicked the extra point. Even with some great passing by Welske the team failed to score the rest of the game. One long pass to Steffler ended on the Reedsburg one-yard line yet they couldn’t score.

October 15 brought a home match up with Sparta and the new left halfback was Russ Hall.  Coach Milo Wilson sort of took it easy on his charges as they worked mainly on passing drills.  The other replacement halfback was Howard Thoenig who scored three times on runs and a reception and Steffler kicked the lone extra point in the 19-0 win over Sparta.

The Tomah game was the final road game for the Thundercat’s, and they went into the event cocky and overconfident.  Tomah was ready for Baraboo, and they were held to another 7-0 victory.  The touchdown was created by backup quarterback Ted Deppe who threw the lone score to Russ Hall.  James Welske scored the extra point.

With the team being tied down by Tomah they determined to make a better offensive showing against Richland Center.  Things started slow for Baraboo but in the second quarter Steffler tossed a pass to Thoenig for a 50-yard touchdown. The extra point by Steffler was made. Ted Deppe scored from the one and Steffler converted again.  In the third junior fullback Gerald Haskins went in from the thirty-five on a brilliant run and in the fourth Steffler ran in from the five.  Wilson played many backups throughout the game, adding much needed experience.

Having lost to rival Portage in 1936 19-0, Baraboo wanted to make their annual Armistice Day game the topping to their splendid season.  In the second quarter, with the ball on Portages 27, Wilson called a trick play.  Haskins took a handoff, followed by a lateral to Welske who did the same to Steffler who ran down the right side for the touchdown.  In the third period Jim Welske intercepted a pass and returned it 55-yards for a score.  Steffer missed the second extra point attempt.  With five minutes left in the game and Portage stymied, Steffler ran 35-yuards for the final score and Paul Cloyd kicked the extra point for a final score of 19-0. 

While there were many long runs it was the offensive and defensive lines that really led the team’s efforts.  Not a high scoring squad (123 points) but it was the opportunistic character of Baraboo to succeed, and they did so as one of the 11 known undefeated, untied and unscored (Minimum of seven games played) all-time teams.  It was a tribute that the defense never allowed an opponent to venture inside the Baraboo 15-yard line.  Tomah would end the year second in the conference standings, Portage would finish sixth and the Baraboo Thunderbirds won their first ever South Central high school Conference title.  In scoring, Pat Steffler not only led the conference in scoring with 35 points (Five touchdowns and five extra points) and added three more in the non-conference opener against Wisconsin High. 

Milo Wilson came to Baraboo in 1935 from Lake Mills where he had produced a Rock Valley conference champion in 1934.  His 1935 Baraboo team placed second in the South Central and his 1936 team finished third.  Wilson graduated from the University of Wisconsin having lettered in football and earning a teaching degree.  He stayed at Baraboo until 1940 as a coach, teacher and athletic director when he took a coaching/teaching position at West Rockford High School.  He would coach varsity football, sophomore basketball and teach mathematics and physical education at that school.

THANKS TO KEVIN WEBSTER FOR THE LEAD ON THE STORY.