Nettle Creek Elementary packs the gym for Alumni Night

Three eighth grade basketball players at Nettle Creek Elementary Foxes won their final home game 44-20 over Mazon-Verona-Kinsman to a packed crowd full of former players, coaches, and alumni of Nettle Creek’s basketball program.

Alumni honored included many coaches, like Jay Roth, who coached and taught at Nettle Creek from 1973 to 1986 and his wife, Cheryl, who coached from 1978 to 1982 and taught in the district for 10 years and current girls basketball coach, social studies and science teacher Ann-Marie Hayes. Hayes graduated from Nettle Creek in 2011.

Nettle Creek Elementary is a small district, with just 78 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. It had 24 alumni to recognize Wednesday, from the first basketball team it ever fielded to players from the class of 2024.

Principal and Superintendent Marissa Darlington said that not only was 1963 graduate Dan Hanson on the first-ever team, his dad built the bleachers that are still in use in the gym to this very day.

Alumni included the Roths and Hayes, along with Taylor Lafond, class of 1998, Gunner Eberhard, class of 2023, Leah Martin, class of 2024, Tom Tesdal, class of 1968, Jerry Olson, class of 1964, Kingston Olson, class of 2024, Scott Spiezio, class of 1986, Dan Hanson, class of 1963, Emma Geiss, class of 2021, Sophia Geiss, class of 2023, Chip Jorstad, class of 1994, Laura Glenn, class of 1982, Dave Wohlwend, class of 1986, Mary Olson, class of 1983, Grace Larson, class of 2013, Mark Jorstad, class of 1969, Bryn Taylor, class of 2011, Keith Jorstad, class of 1997, Rod Thorson, class of 1979, Tim Ortiz, class of 1978, and Gage Phillips, class of 2023.