By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Lady Wildcats secure sectional title, state invitation
SW VB AG 2
Southwestern senior Michelle Budden (#17) strikes the ball past two defenders in Thursday's meet against River Ridge in Soldier's Grove. The Lady Wildcats swept that game in three matches and gave up one match in the contest against Royall on Saturday before sealing the 3-1 victory. With the Division 4 sectional title, the Lady Wildcats head to the state tournament Friday morning. - photo by AJ Gates
A.J. Gates
Updated: Nov 5, 2015, 2:31 PM
Published: Nov 5, 2015, 2:43 PM

After losing to Newman Catholic in last year’s division 4 state final match, the Southwestern varsity volleyball team is making a return trip to the Resch Center in hopes of bringing home a gold ball.

With sectional wins over River Ridge and Royall last week, the Wildcats improved to 26-1 on the year and are making a return trip to the WIAA Division 4 State Volleyball Tournament.

In last Thursday night’s sectional semifinal rematch against River Ridge, the Wildcats needed just three games to win the match and move on to Saturday’s sectional final.

In the first game of last Thursday night’s match, Southwestern held a 7-6 lead over the Timberwolves when senior

Michelle Budden stepped up to the service line and served up 10 straight points for a 17-6 advantage.

From that point on, Southwestern cruised to a 25-13 victory.

Game two saw the two teams knotted at 4-4 before the Wildcats went on a 5-0 run for a 9-4 lead.

A 4-0 run gave Southwestern a 13-6 advantage, but River Ridge came back as close as 18-14 before the Wildcats used a 7-4 run to claim a 25-18 victory.

The third-and-final game saw Southwestern turn an 8-7 lead into a 17-7 lead with a 9-0 run, then cruised to a 25-9 victory.

Budden finished the night with 19 kills, while Miranda Kemp added five to go along with six blocks.

Madison Kuhl dished out 30 assists, while Melissa Tranel added 27 digs and four service aces.

Saturday night’s D4 sectional final at Onalaska Luther pitted the Wildcats against Royall.

Southwestern had its hands full with the Panthers, who after losing the first game, 26-24, defeated the Wildcats in the second, 25-23.

Coach Jane Wills’ squad then came back to claim the third game, 25-22, and went on to win the fourth, 25-16.
Budden led the Wildcats with 30 kills to go along with four blocks, while Kemp led the team with eight blocks on the night.

Kuhl distributed 41 total kills on Saturday and had a team-high five service aces, while Tranel picked up 30 digs and had two ace serves.

The Wildcats (26-1) will face Clayton (23-8) at 10 a.m. Friday morning  at the Resch Center in Green Bay, while the other state semifinal match pits Newman Catholic (38-1) against Living Word Lutheran (19-12). The state championship match will be played at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

Two-time defending champion Newman Catholic is making its eighth overall appearance and its seventh in the last eight seasons, while Southwestern is making its third state appearance in the last five seasons.

Clayton is making its third straight appearance at the state tournament and its seventh overall, while Living Word Lutheran is making its first-ever state appearance.

Southwestern 3,
River Ridge 0
(D4 sectional semifinal from Thursday, Oct. 29, at Soldiers Grove)
Southwestern    25    25    25
River Ridge    13    18    9
Southwestern leaders
Kills - Michelle Budden 19, Miranda Kemp 5. Digs - Melissa Tranel 27. Aces - Tranel 4. Assists - Madison Kuhl 30. Blocks - Kemp 6.

Southwestern 3, Royall 1
(D4 sectional final from Saturday, Oct. 31, at Onalaska Luther)
Southwestern    26    23    25    25
Royall    24    25    22    16
Southwestern leaders
Kills - Michelle Budden 30. Digs - Melissa Tranel 30. Aces - Madison Kuhl 5, Tranel 2. Assists - Kuhl 41. Blocks - Kemp 8, Budden 4.
Darlington honors long-time coach Arnie Miehe
School renames cross country course after legendary coach
Arnie Miehe
Former Darlington cross country coach Arnie Miehe (left) stands as it is announced that the DHS cross country course will be renamed after him at the Darlington Invitational on Sept. 7. The years of accomplishments are displayed on the banner behind Miehe. - photo by Casey Lindecrantz
Natalie Dillon, Fox Tales
Updated: Sep 13, 2024, 4:03 PM
Published: Sep 13, 2024, 4:04 PM

DARLINGTON — At its 41st annual Darlington Invite, the cross country team honored long-time head coach Arnie Miehe by renaming the course after him.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Arnie said. “It’s very humbling. It makes me think of all the hours, days, weeks and years that went into it — all the events and kids I’ve come in contact with.”

Since taking over  the program in 1982, Arnie has had nine state championship teams — eight for the boys and one for the girls — including six consecutive boys’ titles from 2011-2016. Another 39 teams went to state — 23 for the boys and 16 for the girls. For four straight years from 1993-1996, Darlington boys were state runners-up to Cochrane-Fountain City. In this 41-year span, he’s also had numerous individual state runners.

Two of those runners were his sons, Kent and Tyson. Tyson has run in the Olympic trials, and Kent currently coaches the Redbirds cross country teams.

“The recognition needs to be spread out,” Arnie said. “It should really be named the Miehe course. My wife and kids had as much to do with the success as I did. It was an entire family effort.”

But Kent was quick to turn the recognition back to his father.

“All the success we had started here, with him,” Kent said of Darlington’s home course and the annual Invite, which Arnie had begun years ago.

Darlington kept its successful streak at home with the girls finishing runners-up to Lancaster. Adalee Berget led the squad with her third-place finish. As a team, the Lady Redbirds, ranked No. 9 in Division 3 per Week 1 of the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Poll, ran faster than the 2023 squad that finished third at state.

“We are learning what good is,” Kent said. “The returners know what it takes to be good. We have a perspective of what we are working toward. The season is far from over.”