MONROE — There’s a saying that suggests that with hard work, dreams can come true. Call Black Hawk senior Natalie Leuzinger a believer in that mantra.
Leuzinger, a three-time all-state hoops star for the Warriors, verbally committed to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020 as a preferred walk-on, tweeting the news out to her followers Sept. 14.
“I went on a visit Friday (Sept. 13) after school, watched practiced and talked to coach (Jonathan) Tsipis about preferred walk-on,” said Leuzinger, who averaged 18.3 points per game as a junior and crossed the 1,000-point career mark early in the season. “I love the campus and there was no place I’d rather be. I called Tsipis that night.”
Leuzinger will study kinesiology and physical therapy while at Wisconsin. As a preferred walk-on, she’ll be a member of the Badgers full-time, but will not be on athletic scholarship.
“Coach Tsipis said that doesn’t mean someone will be higher than me,” (on the depth chart) Leuzinger said. “I just have to practice and play hard to earn my spot.”
Working toward earning her spot has become second nature. She is a regular at the YMCA, in the weight room, shooting hoops in the gym or at the park, and cycling around town. She played AAU during high school with teammates Bailey and Hannah Butler, facing some of the top talent from across the Midwest each summer.
“I like to be the best and give it 110% in everything, even in sprints,” Leuzinger said.
She entered high school at Black Hawk with a mission — to bring a state championship to her school. A hip injury in the playoffs led to her team’s demise in her freshman season, and then in her sophomore campaign the Warriors lost in the WIAA Division 5 state title game. Last season as a junior, Black Hawk went unbeaten and won the D5 championship. In her time in high school, Black Hawk has just two losses.
Teammate Bailey Butler, a junior, received an offer and committed to UW-Green Bay in the summer, following in the footsteps of another former Warrior: Jen Wellnitz. Leuzinger picked up multiple DII college offers since the beginning of the summer, including Minnesota State-Mankato, Illinois-Springfield and McKendree. But the chance to play for the Badgers was just too much to turn down.
“My brother goes to Edgewood, and my sister went to Edgewood,” said Leuzinger. “And it’s just 45 minutes from home.”
Leuzinger will join forces at Wisconsin with two former Monroe players — sophomore Sydney Mathiason and freshman Sydney Hilliard. Hilliard and Leuzinger have a history on the court — the pair teamed with another former Monroe standout, Emily Benzschawel, and won a 3-on-3 tournament as children on a team called the “Little Badgers.”
Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said the program is proud of Leuzinger, not just for reaching the next level on the court, but for finding a future that’s fit her desires.
“I really believe she’s going to a good place,” Flanagan said. “I know coach Tsipis personally. I want (our players) to play for people of high character. Coach Tsipis is all of that and them some. We’re just really happy for Nat, because that’s what she always wanted. We are always happy when our kids achieve their dreams.”
With Black Hawk senior Hannah Butler also getting looks at the next level, Flanagan’s program has become something more than just championship-caliber as a collective whole. One of the smallest schools in the state has become a hoops powerhouse with individual talent moving on to the collegiate level in surprisingly high numbers.
“Talent factors into our program’s success, but we really don’t have a hand in that,” Flanagan said of talent alone. “We really try to buy into the fact that we have a good program, but we want our kids to exit our program and be good people. We want them to pursue their dreams.”
