I don't usually let my prep sports writing cross over to my blog, but I feel the need to make a post today simply for the magnitude of the developing story in my hometown. Most people outside of high school sports in Wisconsin have never even heard of it. In just the size of 2,000 people, it's not on any map other than the Wisconsin one.
Saturday was an emotional day for the 2,000 people that lived in Cuba City, not just because of the boys' loss in the WIAA Division 4 state championship game, but because one of the men that arguably put the city on the map may be retiring after a remarkable 45-year reign. He has seen 820 victories to just 200 defeats. Countless conference championships and three state titles. He is to the town what the Packers are to Green Bay.
It doesn't take much to read body language when the team was presented with the silver trophy for losing in the state title game. Clearly it was disappointing to not come out on top (the other team played great and earned the win), but knowing the signifcance of the game beyond just winning and losing Petitgoue showed some of what was going through his mind and a decision that will be made today (Sunday) and be passed on to school administrators Monday morning at 9.
Even more proof was the emotion that came out in the postgame press conference. He didn't give away his decision after the game, but it's clear, the 71-year-old winningest coach in state history knows the decision will be tough. Hell, I got swelled up watching a man I've looked up to as far back as I can remember because of his knowledge of the game and, more recently, as a coach in my circles of covering sports in this great state. Just watch...
Growing up there (I spent 21 of my first 21 years living in Cuba City) it is the typical small town. Well, except for one difference. Every kid's Saturday mornings are pretty much reserved for basketball after they start kindergarten and everyone knows who Jerry Petitgoue is. Once you get old enough to start playing organized games (starting in about third grade) you realize why you know Coach Petitgoue (and Jeff Pustina, the girls coach). I never had the chance to play varsity high school basketball for Jerry, I had two points in my junior varsity career, but with a goal of being a sports writer since the third grade he had an influence on me.
Basketball is engrained in the DNA of the schools. That success rubs off on the other sports because of the small-town nature where kids play multiple sports, but at the end of the day hoops is king.What other high school do you know where you can purchase a reserved ticket package to the home games? It's a product of what both programs have been able to do consistently over the years.
Looking around the Kohl Center Thursday and Saturday at the great number of people who attended the games (Saturday had to have close to 1,000 fans, plus students) it wasn't just parents and people who lived in town at the game. I haven't lived there in seven years and I made the trek to Madison for the games.
Coach Petitgoue's reach goes beyond sports, especially for anyone who has ever called Cuba City home. I think back to a time just a couple years ago when I was covering a game in Darlington. It was the season finale for the conference title. The Cubans, with now UW-Milwaukee standout Evan Richard, fell and I was doing interviews with Darlington players and coaches on earning a share of the conference title. I turn around and the Cuba City team is long gone. A simple phone call to his house that night led to a 20-minute interview and conversation about the game, his team and the playoffs, starting the next week. He came on with an "Oh hey, Wilber" because he knew me, but was ultra professional with media and would talk to anyone, usually saying he just hoped the team could win the next game and finish .500 (which he knew they could).
With what he has established in Cuba City, there will surely be success there for years after he has stepped down as coach. The end of an era may be upon us and sometimes it is hard to let go of, especially when he just lead a team to the state championship game. What he has meant to the town and the state's basketball tradition cannot be quantified. There will never be another like him.
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