ONDOSSAGON AGGIES — The 1989-1990 Ondassagon Aggies basketball team included back row, Coach Dale Neibauer, Nikki Nohl, Kim Tudjen, Brenda Kontny, LeNee Empey, Maria Lulich, Jane Osmak and Assistant Coach Sheree Collins, and in the front row, Dawn Raspotnik, Erin Reiten, Ann Stolarczyk, Dana Johanik and Sara Mullin.
By JANE OSMAK PUTCHAT
Republished in its entirety from the February 22, 2010 edition of the Ashland Daily Press
The 1990 Ondossagon High School girl's basketball team wasn't the first OHS team to qualify and play in a state tournament. In fact, OHS girls’ teams went before us in '84, '85, '86, '87 and '89. But in 1990, it was the last time, and that made for some additional excitement.
Numerous times in between games that led to state, Coach Dale Neibauer was busy letting us girls take turns doing television and print interviews for local media. We not only answered questions about what it was like going to state, but also about what it was like to have the school closing soon and how that affected our game.
Then there was the whirlwind trip to Madison, kicked off with a pep rally in the school gym. There were tshirts, bandanas and more that I cannot recall these almost 20 years later. Next stop was the local radio station
in Ashland for a live team interview.
Following the interview was the long drive to Madison, practice in the big gym, preparation for the big crowd that would be there during the game, and the knowledge that many OHS girls had set foot on this court before us. Knowing we would be the last, we all wanted that last win, that "last hurrah" for the school, an exciting send-off for the last year.
The stands were full of fans, many who came by busload. It's a long drive from Ondossagon to Madison, but so many fans turned out, not only to cheer us on, but to celebrate all that Ondossagon had meant to them over the years. It was a great feeling to be part of that with all our families, school mates and fans.
I remember the game like it was yesterday. But still it was a treasure to watch it again when a friend gave me a video copy of the game. I was able to show my children the game and tell them the story. Plus, I could see what the fans saw.
Despite our struggle to play our best, the other team was just bigger, better and more aggressive. A year later I was in a class in college with the girl who played defense on me in that game. She was much nicer off the court!
We OHS girls played hard in that game, as our OHS predecessors had done before. We played our very best, which is what an Ondossagon Aggie does. And our fans were proud, and still are to this day. It was their game as much as it was ours.
Ondossagon fans are a loyal bunch and our school song says as much.
It was exciting to be a part of that "last hurrah" and my teammates and I wished we could have given everyone that final win. But instead, the entire Ondossagon community gave itself a "last hurrah." It was a last chance to come together to cheer on the school and all the memories it represented.
Come celebrate and relive your memories of Ondossagon at the Ondossagon All-School Reunion scheduled for Friday, August 6 and Saturday, August 7. The Friday festivities will be at the Benoit Community Center in downtown Benoit from 2 p.m. until midnight. Great food (option of Cornucopia fish boil or beef stacker dinner) with a cash bar plus a live auction, OHS pep band, museum tours, and souvenir sales.
Rounding out the evening will be live music in the big tent featuring the Clayton Toman Band and local favorite Gypsy Road Band.
The reunion continues on Saturday at the Bay Area Civic Center in Ashland from noon until midnight with dinner featuring Ondossagon hot lunch entrees (including beanburgers and wiener rollups), class displays, videos, OHS pep band, silent auction, souvenirs, history and cookbook sales, and your favorite candy or ice cream sold at Huff's Store. The program will begin at 8 p.m. with our very own Emmy award recipient Julie Moravchik serving as our MC.
Registration forms are being sent late February to alumni featuring early bird discounts. Friends of Ondossagon are also encouraged to attend. Visit our Web site at www.ondossagonaggies.com for more information.
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