Hamilton Wins WIAA State Boys Volleyball Title
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Hamilton won the championship of the 61st State Boys Volleyball Tournament Friday evening at the Resch Center.
After winning the first set, the Chargers (39-4) needed a rally to overcome a 2-1 set deficit to post 25-10, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21,15-10 victory over former defending champion Middleton (34-5).
Ben Bayer led the Chargers hitting attack with a game-high 36 kills, which ranks third-most in State Tournament history for a five-set match. Henry Mrotek delivered a match-high 54 assists. Defensively, Mrotek and Craig Oberlin each had five blocks, and Ezra Mitchell recorded a game-high 28 digs.
Caden Van Buren paced the Cardinals’ offense with 27 kills, and Vance Ferry also recorded double figures in kills with 17, and Bryce Stuttgen dished out a team-high 51 assets. Defensively, Porter McGee made eight blocks at the net, and Van Buren led the team in digs with 15.
The Chargers defeated Kenosha Indian Trail 25-18, 25-18, 25-11 in the quarterfinals and Germantown 25-22, 27-25, 25-21 in the semifinals to advance to the final. The Cardinals reached the championship game by posting a 25-14, 25-21,19-25, 25-20 win over Westosha Central in the quarterfinals and swept Marquette in the semifinals 25-19, 25-21, 25-23.
Hamilton wins the championship in its first-ever State Tournament appearance. Middleton finishes runner-up in its 15th State appearance.
****************************************************************
2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules
Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?
Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:
Nominate an athlete or team: HERE
**********************************************
Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
