JUDA - There are 21 students in the senior class at Juda High School, and in a span of 15 days, two of them became 1,000-point scorers in their basketball careers.
Matt Schmitt surpassed the milestone on Jan. 31 in a 53-38 loss to Black Hawk. Chelsea Burkhalter surpassed it on Feb. 14 in a 67-37 loss to Barneveld.
"It's pretty rare," Schmitt said. "To score 1,000 points and to have her go through it too is great to go through it together. It's a big relief. I have been working really hard at it. It takes a lot of stress off my shoulders."
While it may be rare to have two 1,000-point scorers in the same senior class in the same year, Burkhalter is savoring the accolades.
"It's crazy," Burkhalter said. "Not many people score 1,000 points. To have two do it in the same class and same year is a big accomplishment not only for us, but our school."
The last boys basketball player to score 1,000 career points was Chad Kesler in 1993. The only other girls basketball player to eclipse 1,000 career points was Ellen Kiser in 2012.
There are a lot of similarities between Schmitt and Burkhalter's athletic paths in high school.
On many nights, Schmitt and Burkhalter are in the stands cheering for each other at games.
"It's a small school and we are all close," Schmitt said. "It's been fun watching her play. She's a strong player. She has experience, and they have good team work. They can trust her."
Both are four-year starters. Despite battling an ankle injury that robbed him of half the season last year, Schmitt was honorable mention all-conference in the Six Rivers East. Burkhalter was first-team all-conference last year. Both Schmitt and Burkhalter are looked at by teammates as go-to scorers. Schmitt averages 15.2 points per game, and Burkhalter averages 13.5 ppg. The teams they play on have similar records. The Juda boys are 13-7 overall and 5-5 in the Six Rivers East and the Juda girls are 12-10, 4-6.
"It feels really good," Burkhalter said. "It's a great achievement. When I first started out as a freshman, it's one of the goals I set. It's one of the goals I wanted to achieve. I was fortunate to stay healthy. I have great teammates and coaches and support from my family and friends."
Schmitt and Burkhalter both at excel at other sports besides basketball. Each has displayed a work ethic to get better at various sports.
Schmitt has served as a two-year starting quarterback for the Brodhead-Juda football team. He passed for 1,101 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. In his two years as a starter, Schmitt has passed for 2.327 yards with 31 TDs and just 10 interceptions.
Burkhalter also earned all-conference second-team recognition as a volleyball player. She served as the Panthers' setter earlier in her career and then made the switch to an outside hitter position. She also plays softball for a program that made a sectional run last year. For Juda High School Athletic Director and girls basketball coach Curt Brown, it's that commitment to working on becoming better players is why both Burkhalter and Schmitt have thrived.
"No matter what sport they are playing they are really hard workers," Brown said. "They are really good role models for the younger kids. They put their mind to a goal and achieve it. It's a testament to their work ethic."
Each has taken on more responsibility as leaders on their teams their season year. Both are experienced and have played in many big games.
"The thing I have learned the most is to just be a good team player and be there for everyone else," Schmitt said. "To have a good attitude and be good friends with all of your teammates is the next step as a player. It's not all about your talent."
Schmitt said it's the first time in five years the Juda boys basketball team has had a record above .500.
"To have a winning record is really good," he said.
While their athletic careers have followed similar paths at Juda, Schmitt and Burkhalter will go their own ways in college.
Schmitt plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He's considering trying out for football and basketball for the Pioneers.
"I think playing basketball is definitely a possibility," Schmitt said.
Burkhalter will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and plans to major in marketing. She will not unlace her basketball shoes forever. Burkhalter said she plans to play intramural or club basketball at Wisconsin to stay involved.
Matt Schmitt surpassed the milestone on Jan. 31 in a 53-38 loss to Black Hawk. Chelsea Burkhalter surpassed it on Feb. 14 in a 67-37 loss to Barneveld.
"It's pretty rare," Schmitt said. "To score 1,000 points and to have her go through it too is great to go through it together. It's a big relief. I have been working really hard at it. It takes a lot of stress off my shoulders."
While it may be rare to have two 1,000-point scorers in the same senior class in the same year, Burkhalter is savoring the accolades.
"It's crazy," Burkhalter said. "Not many people score 1,000 points. To have two do it in the same class and same year is a big accomplishment not only for us, but our school."
The last boys basketball player to score 1,000 career points was Chad Kesler in 1993. The only other girls basketball player to eclipse 1,000 career points was Ellen Kiser in 2012.
There are a lot of similarities between Schmitt and Burkhalter's athletic paths in high school.
On many nights, Schmitt and Burkhalter are in the stands cheering for each other at games.
"It's a small school and we are all close," Schmitt said. "It's been fun watching her play. She's a strong player. She has experience, and they have good team work. They can trust her."
Both are four-year starters. Despite battling an ankle injury that robbed him of half the season last year, Schmitt was honorable mention all-conference in the Six Rivers East. Burkhalter was first-team all-conference last year. Both Schmitt and Burkhalter are looked at by teammates as go-to scorers. Schmitt averages 15.2 points per game, and Burkhalter averages 13.5 ppg. The teams they play on have similar records. The Juda boys are 13-7 overall and 5-5 in the Six Rivers East and the Juda girls are 12-10, 4-6.
"It feels really good," Burkhalter said. "It's a great achievement. When I first started out as a freshman, it's one of the goals I set. It's one of the goals I wanted to achieve. I was fortunate to stay healthy. I have great teammates and coaches and support from my family and friends."
Schmitt and Burkhalter both at excel at other sports besides basketball. Each has displayed a work ethic to get better at various sports.
Schmitt has served as a two-year starting quarterback for the Brodhead-Juda football team. He passed for 1,101 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. In his two years as a starter, Schmitt has passed for 2.327 yards with 31 TDs and just 10 interceptions.
Burkhalter also earned all-conference second-team recognition as a volleyball player. She served as the Panthers' setter earlier in her career and then made the switch to an outside hitter position. She also plays softball for a program that made a sectional run last year. For Juda High School Athletic Director and girls basketball coach Curt Brown, it's that commitment to working on becoming better players is why both Burkhalter and Schmitt have thrived.
"No matter what sport they are playing they are really hard workers," Brown said. "They are really good role models for the younger kids. They put their mind to a goal and achieve it. It's a testament to their work ethic."
Each has taken on more responsibility as leaders on their teams their season year. Both are experienced and have played in many big games.
"The thing I have learned the most is to just be a good team player and be there for everyone else," Schmitt said. "To have a good attitude and be good friends with all of your teammates is the next step as a player. It's not all about your talent."
Schmitt said it's the first time in five years the Juda boys basketball team has had a record above .500.
"To have a winning record is really good," he said.
While their athletic careers have followed similar paths at Juda, Schmitt and Burkhalter will go their own ways in college.
Schmitt plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He's considering trying out for football and basketball for the Pioneers.
"I think playing basketball is definitely a possibility," Schmitt said.
Burkhalter will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and plans to major in marketing. She will not unlace her basketball shoes forever. Burkhalter said she plans to play intramural or club basketball at Wisconsin to stay involved.
