After making its way through the howling winds and over the blanket of snow, the sound of cheering was ringing out from Muskego and New Berlin during this winter sports season.
The two communities fielded a total of 14 varsity teams, and a whopping eight of them (57 percent) claimed conference championships.
Muskego won Southeast Conference titles in girls basketball (with a 16-0 record), wrestling (unbeaten in dual meets and first in the SEC Tournament), gymnastics and both boys and girls skiing.
In addition, the wrestlers sent seven individuals to the WIAA State Individual Tournament and qualified for the state team tournament this weekend in Madison, the gymnastics squad won its sectional and is among the favorites for the state team crown this weekend in Wisconsin Rapids and the skiiers both competed in the state meet, with the girls finishing third and the boys eighth.
New Berlin weighs in with the Eisenhower boys basketball team (14-2 for its fourth straight Woodland Conference North Division crown), the Eisenhower girls basketball team (14-2 as well) and the New Berlin combined swimming team (won every conference dual, plus the Woodland Meet).
The Marlins were also well-represented at the state meet, with New Berlin West senior Byron Butler taking home individual crowns in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
That is a lot of success.
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I cannot let this winter season pass without recognizing Muskego junior wrestler Derek Olson for a remarkable show of class.
Olson lost the 152-pound state championship after a series of officials' calls and non-calls in the final seconds that coach Ted Price regarded as questionable at best.
He refused, though, to blame the agonizing defeat on the officials. "It was a close match, and some things went (the opponent's) way," Olson said. "In the end, it was a loss. It was my fault for putting the match into the referee's hands. I look at it as this is on my shoulders."
Instead of dwelling on his misfortune, Olson chooses to look ahead. "I have another whole year of training, and I can be back here (state) next year, and this time, win it," he said.
In an age when many athletes at all levels refuse to take responsibility upon themselves, instead blaming anyone else for their troubles, this is a refreshing attitude.
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The Muskego and Brookfield Central girls basketball teams were on course to meet again on March 7 in a WIAA Division 1 sectional championship game for a second straight season, although Franklin and Racine Case will try to stand in the way of the reunion in games on March 6.
Should the Warriors and Lancers clash, here is one interesting statistic to ponder: both teams came into the sectional at 20-1, and both lost only one game, their second contests of the year, by just five points (Muskego to Milwaukee Vincent, Central to Sheboygan North). Both have won 19 straight since then.
