North Seniors Have Been Together Since 1993.

The date was November 13, 1993 ..

and the Eau Claire Volunteer 5th grade teams were playing their first game together.

Parents Tom Thorsness (Andrea) and Mark Rongstad (Lindsey) sat next to each other on the top row of the small gymnasium's bleachers.  

1996 Badger State Champions

While coach Ed Jeffers gave instructions to the team as the game went into overtime, Tom turned to Mark and said, "If you had ever told me that I would be watching a 5th grade girls basketball game .. and that I would be this nervous, and this excited .. I would have told you that you were absolutely crazy."

In fact, all of North's senior girls parents were in for many years of exciting and nervous competitions.  In 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades, the girls traveled Wisconsin and Minnesota as part of the Eau Claire Volunteers team.  

The schedule the Volunteers played was extremely competitive.  Many tournaments were played in the metro Twin Cities area against teams that are currently the best in Minnesota .. like Woodbury, Osseo, Elk River, and many others.

In the summer of 1995 the girls finished second at the Badger State Games and in 1996 they brought home the Badger State title.  Dan Sippel coached both of these Badger State teams, foreshadowing the current North coaching leaders position.

1996 Championship Game vs. Marshfield

In Madison in 1996, the girls defeated Green Bay Metro, Kimberly Clark, and Marshfield on the way to the state title.

Playing for the Volunteers were current North varsity team members, Heather Quilling, Andrea Thorsness, Lindsey Rongstad, Kricket Whyte and Larissa Parr.  The class of '01 Volunteers had a winning percentage of around 90 percent over those four years.

Coach Sippel has special feelings for this group of seniors.

"As I look back on my coaching career with coaching this years team, I reflect back to a time when the seniors were in the 7th grade and I had the opportunity to coach this group in the badger state games in Madison. As we practiced and played in the sectional and state tourney I thought how great it would be to be able to coach these girls as varsity basketball players. Our team went on the win the Sectional and Badger State Championship that summer.

As the years progressed, things changed with the coaching staff. I was the girl's freshman coach at North. One of the things I always dreamed of was being head basketball coach. It was a dream come true when I was able to obtain the job. I am very excited, with special interest in this year's group of seniors as with all our fine athletes in our basketball program. The opportunity to be head coach is very special to me. Last year was my first year as head coach. We had a great year with a 17-5 record. I am looking forward to this year with great expectations and a lot of enthusiasm!"

Time has gone quickly for the North seniors (also including Angie Ziehme who wasn't a Volunteer member). All of the seniors are looking forward to successful year in the last season of their Husky basketball careers.

After having the season end in the WIAA sectional semi-final game both of the last two-years, the girls are placing their sites on a trip to Madison as a fitting way to end their high school careers together.