Appleton North will face Wisconsin Lutheran in the state tournament. The game takes place at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Appleton North Reaches State Semifinal
Appleton North beat rival Kaukauna in a Division 1 sectional final. This victory has propelled them to a state semifinal, a first for the program.
Senior Nathan Ramus expressed his excitement: “State is so cool. It’s going to be a great experience and all the hard work we put in throughout the last four years and even when we were kids, it’s just going to mean everything to end our careers there. We’ve worked so hard to get here.”
Coach Kellett on Preparing for Wisconsin Lutheran
Coach Chris Kellett acknowledged the challenges of preparing for the tournament. “It’s been a worldwind and for us reaching our goals, that we set at the start of the season, goals that we’ve never reached before,” Kellett said.
He added, “Just trying to get the players to kind of calm down, take a deep breath, and then kind of reset and start over. And then obviously preparing for Wisconsin Lutheran through a snowstorm has been a quite challenging as well.
“So just getting a chance to reset the minds and the body and just get ready to compete.”
Facing the Undefeated Top Seed
Appleton North, seeded No. 4 with a 24-4 record, will compete against top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran (28-0) at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin Lutheran boasts an impressive 86-2 record over the past three seasons.
Wisconsin Lutheran have secured state championships in both Division 1 and Division 2 in the past two years. Despite the odds, Appleton North remains optimistic.
“Wisconsin Lutheran is a great team,” Ramus stated. “We know we’re going to have to beat them at some point, so might as well beat them first night. We know we’ve got to win two games to win state. That’s the goal, so yeah, nothing changes.”
Senior Grant Hardy added, “They were deserving of a number one ranking, you know, all year, they’re a great team, well coached. They went down to South Carolina, you know, they won that tournament. They’re long, skilled, they’re a great team. I think people will overlook the FVA, and how tough that is.
“We’re prepared for this moment, I think. We’re just kind of waiting for the moment to strike, and we’re excited to show the state of what we’re about.”
State Championship Details
The championship final is scheduled for Saturday. It will take place 15 minutes following the completion of the Division 2 championship game.