Post Messenger Recorder -

If you have read any of my past NGM football posts, there is a good chance you have heard me wax both nostalgic and elegiac about the old, venerable State Line League. And why not?! It was, in many ways, the perfect little conference...especially geographically and culturally. I'll delve into that in more detail shortly, but first I want to mention that this article is anything but a serious treatise. Many of you have asked me for details about the State Line League (SLL) and this is my attempt to at least scratch the surface. I am hoping this will stimulate interest and memories amongst you, the reader, especially those of a "certain age", and perhaps motivate YOU to share those memories with the Post Messenger Recorder for publication (contact information at the end of this article).

Finding details for this writing was and remains a challenge. Accordingly, much of it is anecdotal, though I have tried to be as factual as my research allowed. As Father Time relentlessly applies his craft the sources of information tend to diminish, with much of it lost to the dustbin of history. For instance, the WIAA records show that the league was formed in 1921 and disbanded in 1996. It is not clear exactly who the original members were, but it is evident that the early members were Belleville, Brooklyn, New Glarus, Hollandale, Blanchardville, Argyle, Juda, Brodhead, Albany, Monticello, and Orfordville. Barneveld was in and out of the conference multiple times, as was Hollandale. South Wayne joined in 1963 and Holy Name in 1970. Originally it was labeled the State Line Conference. The name officially (or unofficially...it's not clear) was changed to the State Line League circa 1945.

Geographically it was most logical, being Green County dominant, with several "satellites" just over the county line in Lafayette, Iowa, Dane, and Rock counties. Hence travel times were reasonable (compared to today), the longest drive being Brooklyn to South Wayne. The shortest being the five miles from New Glarus to Monticello. Proximity rivalries were natural, spirited and commonplace.

Culturally the conference was clearly agri-centric, all towns qualifying as small "farm towns", whatever the boundaries of that definition may be. There was a common thread, a bond, a sense of identity. Imagine, for a moment, the many agricultural deals that were struck at half times of games. When the tragedy of nine Juda seniors were killed on their senior class trip in 1967 as a Delta DC8 jet crashed into their New Orleans hotel, the pain was felt throughout the conference. They were a part of us and we all felt it. We all grieved.

MASCOTS AND NICKNAMES: There is an element of mystery as to just how mascots were chosen. Then again, some are obvious. Belleville-Wildcats; Brooklyn-Green Hornets; Monticello-Hillmen (changed to "Ponies" in 1950 to honor basketball coach of 14 years, John Ponyicsanyi); Brodhead-Cardinals; Blanchardville-Eagles; New Glarus-Glarners (changed to "Glarner Knights" in 1963, and not without controversy!); Albany-Comets; Orfordville-Vikings; Juda-Panthers; Argyle-Orioles; Hollandale-unknown to author; Barneveld-Eagles; Holy Name-Hilltoppers(?), South Wayne-Warriors.

South Wayne added Gratiot and became Black Hawk in 1969, and remained the Warriors. Blanchardville absorbed Hollandale and became Pecatonica in 1972, changing their mascot to the Vikings. Orfordville joined with Footville in the late 1960's and became Orfordville Parkview (...and I still raise the question: "Where is the park?"), and retained their mascot the Vikings. Fears were expressed that these three schools would now dominate all athletics. Those fears were not realized. Nor did the rumor that Belleville-New Glarus-Monticello would combine to form a "super" school ever materialize.

The Big Brother of the SLL was always Brodhead, with enrollment around 350+/-. The best facilities were always claimed by Brodhead. By stark contrast the Little Brother was Juda, with enrollment rarely over 100 and supported by a community of around 400 souls. If size matters, no one told the Panthers of Juda as never was there a SLL team that played with more pride and spirit. I recently had a chat with a graduate of Juda H.S. who told me her graduating class was 16 people, yet she was proud and confident that her education was "as fine as any other school in Wisconsin!" Her professional success later in life seems to have borne out her claim.

Did you know that the SLL also had musical competition? It's true. Competitions involved the better part of a full day at a selected school for any given year. Perhaps one of the most successful competitors in this arena was Kevin Keen of Brodhead on the trumpet. He was so good as to be honored as one of only two Wisconsin kids to play in the McDonald's All-American Band, marching in both the Rose Bowl and Macy's Day parades...this while still in high school. (Keen would later become one of the most successful basketball coaches in WIAA history, taking the Monroe girls teams to the State Tournament multiple times and collecting multiple titles.)

We do have some interesting history on athletic facilities "back in the day". Basketball games were not necessarily played in gyms as not all schools had a gym. Blanchardville played in the attic of the old Gamble Store. Ford dealership's garages served as home for games in Argyle and Monticello ("Karlen Hall"). Belleville played in the attic of a farm implement business ("Genin Hall"). There were chimneys, radiators, low ceilings and dead spots galore that were necessary to be learned and navigated. After 1939, Brodhead and New Glarus had the largest seating capacities and always held the conference tournaments which were played annually and with great interest. And, as one of the more interesting tidbits uncovered in preparing for this article, I have it on good authority that opposing teams had to shower TOGETHER(!) after games at Argyle, Juda, Orfordville and New Glarus. I am at a loss for words to even imagine the "sportsmanship" required after such games.**

Belleville Recorder file photo

The 1989 Belleville Wildcats Football Team Front Row (L-R): Joel Fensterman, Troy Brice, Corey Little, Jamey Baumgartner, Dean Kahl, Ryan Klassy and Jason Fritz. Middle Row (L-R): Scott Enlow, Mike Meyer, Joe Cockroft, Ed Gehin, Brian Meier, Randy Nolden and Manager Jeff Baumgartner. Third Row (L-R): Joe Donovan, Brandon Lance, Eric Benkert, Gary Butts, Steve Wambold, Jamie Gehin and Jeff Ace.

Most of the schools offered football, except Albany and Monticello. Monticello claims to have had a young man killed in a football game sometime in the 1930's and the school promptly dropped football. Despite such, there was a player with the nickname "Boobie" from Monticello who went on to play football with the UW Badgers during the war years of the 1940's. Can anyone anywhere add more information to this paragraph?

What remains unwritten, yet is missed the most, is the "camaraderie" that existed between the communities in the SLL. There was a strong tendency to face the same players in different sports as the seasons changed. Hence the parents and students had a similar experience of social intercourse, and in many instances friendships were forged. I can personally count several such friendships that are 50+ years strong. How about you? You would be right to ask if there is any good reason to visit Juda, Orfordville, or South Wayne since 1996? I view that as a loss, but there I go again down the elegiac road.

As mentioned, we at the Post Messenger Recorder would love to hear from you about your experiences in the SLL. Pics would be most appreciated!! Please send your information via email: pmr@newspubinc.com or pmreditor@newspubinc.com, or call (608) 527-5252 for assistance.

**This information comes from "The History of Monticello Boys Basketball 1939-2015" as prepared by Jack Ponyicsanyi and contributed to by Warren Schesser.