GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The Notre Dame Tritons are two wins from history. The three-time Division II WIAA basketball state champions punched their ticket back to the Resch Center and could become the first girls team in Wisconsin history to win four straight titles.
"We obviously have had this goal, this vision, this mission, this entire year so we are hoping we can accomplish it," head coach Sara Rohde said of the four-peat.
The Tritons earned the second seed in the tournament, and are riding a 27-game win streak. Notre Dame's sustained success is due in part to the senior class, including Wisconsin basketball-commit Gracie Grzesk.
"That's what you want to do in high school, win four state championships. That's what we came in trying to do our freshman year. Now we have the opportunity to do it," Grzesk said.
The Tritons looked dominant in FRC conference play this season, winning six games by over 100 points and beating Sheboygan South 122-6 on February 8.
"It's all preparing us for our end goal which is winning the state championship. No matter if the team is good or bad, we still have to play our best game," senior Trista Fayta said.
Grzesk added: "We always talk about trying to push ourselves, even when we are up 30. So when the time does come and it's a close game we are physically prepared, in condition and I think that's why we keep going."
The team has emphasized conditioning since losing the season opener 60-52 to Pewaukee. The Pirates are the two-time state runners-up and this season's top seed. Should Notre Dame and Pewaukee win their semi-final games, the two would meet in the championship match for a third straight time.
At one of the final practices of the season, head coach Sara Rohde was emotional talking about her senior class. With tears in her eyes, Rohde said "They are a special bunch. I'll be sad to see them graduate obviously, but yes I'll be very excited for them."
Notre Dame will take on #3 Wauwatosa East (23-5) in the DII semi-final game Friday, March 8 around 8:30 p.m.