SOUTH WAYNE - After Black Hawk's 64-30 loss to Wausau Newman in the WIAA Division 4 state championship at the Kohl Center in Madison, the only tears flowing from Black Hawk players were ones of being upset for the season ending, but not necessarily for the tournament loss.
At the pep rally back at home in the high school gym, the tear-jerking moment came when junior Melissa Wellnitz struggled to get out her emotional words, thanking her elder sister, senior Kim, and seniors Katie Place and Brooke Ritschard for the wonderful season.
"Katie and Kim I've played with for the last three years," she said trembling. "Everyday in practice, playing with you, it means the world to me."
The team had two mottos this season: "Never be satisfied" and "We are family." And when Melissa teared up, Kim, Katie and nearly every other player dropped their heads into their hands for a moment to wipe away the tears. The season was over, but not the memories.
"We have nothing to hang our heads for," Kim Wellnitz said. "It's heartbreaking (to lose), but you will always remember this - being runners-up at state. Not every team has that chance. I'm going to miss it and I'm going to miss all of these girls tremendously. We had fun while we did it and I couldn't be any more proud of them.
Head coach Mike Flanagan set the tone, opening the team forum by saying that not only did his team play until the very last day possible, but that a new trophy case may be in order to fit the new silver ball.
"We had one goal this year, and that was to play this season until the very last possible day," Flanagan said. "And we did that. Practice on Friday was a little tough because we knew that would be the very last practice we would have. And we knew, no matter what, this would be our last game."
Place thanked the coaches for their hard work, her teammates for the memories, and the fans for their support. Nearly all of the members got up to talk in front of the filled bleachers and pep band.
School principal and athletic director Jerry Mortimer told the players how proud he was of them.
"This is not a day to hang your heads. This is a happy day. You girls have made us all very proud," he said.
While the Warriors will lose its three seniors, one thing likely isn't going to change - there will be two Wellnitz sisters on next year's team. Jen, an eighth-grader and team manager, will be a freshman next fall.
"Jennifer coming in, she's amazing. She's probably the best one out of all of us (Wellnitz sisters)," said Kim Wellnitz, who will play at UW-Platteville next season. "They have a lot of talent coming up. Next year they're going to win it. I'm going to be very jealous watching them, but I wish them the very best."
Another key cog in the program won't change either. Flanagan squashed all rumors by saying he had no intentions to leave Black Hawk for Monroe, where the girls program has an opening with the departure of Kevin Keen.
"After the game today, (a reporter) had the audacity to ask me about coaching in Monroe. I just want to tell you now I am sorry to you Black Hawk fans, but I am not leaving. I came here to build a program and I am going to stay here," he said.
At the pep rally back at home in the high school gym, the tear-jerking moment came when junior Melissa Wellnitz struggled to get out her emotional words, thanking her elder sister, senior Kim, and seniors Katie Place and Brooke Ritschard for the wonderful season.
"Katie and Kim I've played with for the last three years," she said trembling. "Everyday in practice, playing with you, it means the world to me."
The team had two mottos this season: "Never be satisfied" and "We are family." And when Melissa teared up, Kim, Katie and nearly every other player dropped their heads into their hands for a moment to wipe away the tears. The season was over, but not the memories.
"We have nothing to hang our heads for," Kim Wellnitz said. "It's heartbreaking (to lose), but you will always remember this - being runners-up at state. Not every team has that chance. I'm going to miss it and I'm going to miss all of these girls tremendously. We had fun while we did it and I couldn't be any more proud of them.
Head coach Mike Flanagan set the tone, opening the team forum by saying that not only did his team play until the very last day possible, but that a new trophy case may be in order to fit the new silver ball.
"We had one goal this year, and that was to play this season until the very last possible day," Flanagan said. "And we did that. Practice on Friday was a little tough because we knew that would be the very last practice we would have. And we knew, no matter what, this would be our last game."
Place thanked the coaches for their hard work, her teammates for the memories, and the fans for their support. Nearly all of the members got up to talk in front of the filled bleachers and pep band.
School principal and athletic director Jerry Mortimer told the players how proud he was of them.
"This is not a day to hang your heads. This is a happy day. You girls have made us all very proud," he said.
While the Warriors will lose its three seniors, one thing likely isn't going to change - there will be two Wellnitz sisters on next year's team. Jen, an eighth-grader and team manager, will be a freshman next fall.
"Jennifer coming in, she's amazing. She's probably the best one out of all of us (Wellnitz sisters)," said Kim Wellnitz, who will play at UW-Platteville next season. "They have a lot of talent coming up. Next year they're going to win it. I'm going to be very jealous watching them, but I wish them the very best."
Another key cog in the program won't change either. Flanagan squashed all rumors by saying he had no intentions to leave Black Hawk for Monroe, where the girls program has an opening with the departure of Kevin Keen.
"After the game today, (a reporter) had the audacity to ask me about coaching in Monroe. I just want to tell you now I am sorry to you Black Hawk fans, but I am not leaving. I came here to build a program and I am going to stay here," he said.
