By Kelley Kepler
Catholic Herald

Lumberjacks triumph at state basketball tournament

LADYSMITH --For a town still recovering from last year's devastating tornado, right now the Ladysmith community couldn't be happier or prouder of its high school boys' basketball team that just returned from the WIAA Division 3 tournament as state champions.

On Saturday, March 22, the Lumberjacks, ranked fourth in the state, upset the top-ranked and previously undefeated Auburndale Apaches with a 43-41 victory in the Kohl Center. This, their 24th win in a row, brought Ladysmith it's first ever championship victory.

"It's been a dream of ours since we were little, little kids," senior guard Brandon Wiemer, a Catholic, told the Wisconsin State Journal. "So, winning it finally, not only for us but for the community and for our families, is just a great feeling."

The community, from the families to the local businesses, school and church, has been nothing but supportive of the team. Ladysmith High School was closed on Thursday, March 20, so all could watch the Lumberjacks play in the semifinals. About 1,000 fans traveled to Madison to cheer them on, and some community members joked, "Last one to leave Ladysmith, turn out the lights."

One of these fans traveling to state was Fr. John Anderson, pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows. Before leaving Ladysmith, he volunteered to help the booster club by selling state tournament T-shirts. He also drove one of the three fan buses down to Madison.

Six of the 10 Lumberjack players are Catholic and active members of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

Anderson said the Catholic players frequently usher and volunteer for the parish. Most of them wash dishes at the Friday night fish fries sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

In addition, he mentioned that David Siverling, a senior who attended Our Lady of Sorrows School, is a regular lector at the parish. He also volunteers as a mentor for DARE, Drugs Awareness Religious Education.

Another senior, Derek Sisco, is a new member of the church after being baptized and confirmed last year.

Anderson recognized all six Catholic players at Mass on Sunday, March 16, the day after the Lumberjacks defeated Fall Creek, 65-47, and won their trip to the state semifinals.

The parishioners applauded the players, who were to play the second-ranked Kenosha St. Joseph Lancers, a team from a Catholic high school. Anderson told the players, "I'm partial to Catholic schools, but beat 'em!"

The Lumberjacks did just that. Wiemer made a three-point shot with six seconds left in the game to give Ladysmith a 52-51 come-from-behind victory over St. Joseph March 20.

Scott Seifert, who is currently involved in the RCIA process to join Our Lady of Sorrows Parish at Easter, is a huge Lumberjacks fan. He and a co-worker at Flambeau Auto organized the T-shirt sale to help the booster club and were thrilled when 800 shirts sold out in under two days.

Seifert said the players went on a roll after losing only the first and third game of the season. He also spoke of the Lumberjacks' strong desire to win, as Ladysmith had been to state 11 times in the past and had yet to claim a championship victory.

However, "The best thing about the players is not about wins or losses, but how they conduct themselves," he said. "They're classy kids, very smart. It's easy to cheer for a group of guys like that."

Mike Barfknecht, father of Ryan Barfknecht, is an owner and operator of school buses in the Ladysmith-Hawkins school district. His wife, Judy, is secretary of the booster club, and the family attends Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. According to Barfknecht, "Coach Forrest Larson is a great disciplinarian, and they've been brought up in good surroundings here in Ladysmith."

Barfknecht added, "They're all excellent students. Academics comes first in the basketball program. ... They are taught to be active in the community and carry themselves to represent Ladysmith. And they do it very well."

Barfknecht said Ryan and most of his teammates have been playing basketball together since third or fourth grade when they started Larson's Wiz Kid basketball program.

Just as the teammates bonded over the years, so did their parents, he said, mentioning the years of driving all over the state to watch their kids play.

In fact, "Now we're getting a vacation," to celebrate the winning season, he said. About 18 parents will leave for Las Vegas on March 27.

Siverling's mother, Tricia, works in economic support for Rusk County's Health and Human Services. She said the players "work well as a team and as friends. It is exciting to see them support each other, on and off the court, bringing each other up to an exceptional level."

"It's very exciting to see them work together for a common goal," she said. "It's incredible. Words can't tell you how it feels when this happens."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003