First-year Eau Claire Memorial coach Greg Van Grunsven inherited a team with some talent but very little experience. And just when they got the necessary varsity experience under their belts, they’re going to off and graduate.
After rapidly improving throughout the course of the season, the Old Abes (5-16) saw their season come to an end Tuesday night with a 45-40 loss to Chippewa Falls in the opening round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs.
That loss marked the final prep game for all but two of the players on the Memorial roster and six of the eight Old Abes who saw action Tuesday.
“I wish I could redshirt eight seniors right now,” Van Grunsven said. “If I could bottle some of these guys and keep them coming back ... But there will be a new group of kids to fall in love with too. I’m confident of that.”
After taking their lumps early in the season, the Abes matured into a very competitive team by the end of the Big Rivers Conference season. They nearly beat conference champion Eau Claire North, taking the Huskies into overtime. They beat Chippewa Falls twice and closed the regular season with a win over Hudson.
“I think Coach Van Grunsven’s done a nice job with this group, getting this group to where they are now and the level they’re playing at,” said Chippewa Falls coach Luke Madsen, whose team ended an eight-year losing streak to the Abes on Tuesday. “More than breaking that string, it’s nice to beat a good team.”
Most of the Old Abes won’t be able to use this season as a platform, however. Versatile forward Collin Cooper and point guard Zach Hazuga — arguably Memorial’s two most important players — headline the graduates. Also departing are starters Jon Porn and Taylor Aylesworth.
Juniors Keegan Meier, who should be one of the Big Rivers’ leading scorers next season, and reserve guard Andrew Kasmarek will represent the varsity experience on next season’s team. Now it’s just a matter of building on that experience.
“I told the kids, and it’s not a fun locker room to be in at the end of the year, I told them they represented Memorial High School as well as they possibly could have,” Van Grunsven said. “Certainly, they’ve been a part of teams that have had more success and I’ve been a part of teams that have had more success but never have I had more fun or a more enjoyable time being with a group of boys. They have nothing to hang their heads about. I certainly think they’re going to gain an awful lot in years to come from this experience this year.”
-Joe Ziemer
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