Edgar falls just short of state trip

Team loses in five sets

By Casey Krautkramer

Sometimes in life no matter how hard you work, things don’t always go as planned. Edgar’s varsity volleyball team gave a valiant effort in Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 sectional championship match, but unfortunately the Wildcats ended up a little short of advancing to the state tournament.

There were plenty of large momentum swings during Edgar’s 3-2 sectional title match loss to Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the Auburndale High School gym. Both teams were fairly equal and No. 1 seeds in their respective sectional semifinals, providing for an intense sectional championship. Wittenberg-Birnamwood won the first set, 25-20. Edgar then took the momentum in the match by winning the next two sets, 25-19 and 25-12. All Edgar needed was one more set win to take the sectional finals match and qualify for state for only the second time in school history. The only other time Edgar’s volleyball squad competed in the state tournament was in 2003.

The Chargers, however, had other plans. Wittenberg-Birnamwood won the third set, 25-19, to force a decisive fifth set to determine the match winner. Wittenberg-Birnamwood then edged Edgar, 15-13, in the fifth set to win the match and qualify for state for the first time in school history.

Edgar senior hitter Reagan Borchardt immediately fell to the volleyball floor and placed her hands over her face to hide the tears she shed at the end of this emotional sectional title match. Wildcats head coach Evan Kresbsbach, who had a huge impact on Reagan Borchardt’s development as a volleyball player, hugged his star player for several minutes.

This match loss will sting for a while but Edgar’s volleyball players are mentally tough and this experience will help them succeed in life after they graduate from high school.

Reagan Borchardt did have the unique experience this season of playing on the varsity squad with her younger sister, sophomore Emery Borchardt.

Edgar says goodbye to its following seven senior players: Reagan Borchardt, Natalie Krause, Kendalyn Dahlke, Ashley Erickson, Carly Feltz, Sondra Pilgrim and Leah Davis.