Class of 1978 - Football, Basketball, Track

Berg was one of the greatest Nicolet High School athletes of the 1970’s, and certainly the most decorated basketball player of that decade. Andy earned 7 Varsity letters and was named All-Braveland Conference twice in basketball. But it was Andy’s humility, unselfishness and work ethic that endeared him to his teammates, coaches, and classmates.

Andy started his basketball career as the lone freshman and leading scorer on the JV squad coached by Nicolet Hall of Famer Frank Wolf. He was a Varsity starter the next three years. As a senior, Andy served as captain, averaged 16 points per game, scored a career high 35 in one game, and was named team MVP as the Knights finished with a 12-8 record. He graduated as the school’s 2nd leading scorer. Coach Wolf later described Andy as one of the best basketball players he ever saw during his four decades of association with Nicolet athletics.

Andy’s football career, while short, was nonetheless remarkable. He started at quarterback on the undefeated freshman team, but he then chose to concentrate on basketball and track and did not play football again until his senior year. Andy’s teammates were thrilled to welcome him back, and he quickly earned the starting quarterback job. Despite the opponents knowing that the 1977 team had virtually no rushing attack, Andy had incredible success throwing the football, as the Knights led the Braveland conference in passing despite winning only one game! Andy earned All-Braveland Conference Honorable Mention, but would always be quick to credit his receivers and offensive linemen for any success the team had.

Andy also ran track and as a junior was the 440 yard Conference champion while also qualifying for State in the mile relay. He was named the track team MVP twice in his three years on Varsity. Andy was also a recipient of the Kukla Award during his time at Nicolet.

Andy attended Purdue University and, like many former Nicolet students, was most successful in his professional life. However, he has always stayed true to his Nicolet roots, maintaining a connection with former teammates and coaches, and even coming back to speak on occasion at athletic functions. Andy earned the respect of his peers and his coaches during his time at Nicolet by demonstrating teamwork, sportsmanship and humility, and is proud to be an inductee in the Nicolet Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coach (1978-1995) - Track (Pole Vault)

Pole vault coach Jim Cashler graduated from Brown Deer High School where he earned multiple varsity letters in football, gymnastics and track. A strongly patriotic lad, upon graduation from high school he enlisted in the United States Army where he served a three-year hitch and where, in addition to his other duties he competed and coached pole vaulting. Upon his retirement from active duty, he saw a newspaper ad that indicated Nicolet needed a pole vault coach. Aware of the heritage established by former coach Doug Irwin, Jim built upon that foundation from 1978 to 1995. As a group these vaulters continued to dominate the conference during his tenure – three are still in the Top-5 in school history and one or more of his vaulters competed in the WIAA State Meet and ended up on the championship podium during eight of his sixteen years, including one state champion.

While those athletes’ excellence was to be applauded, even more rewarding in Coach Cashler’s eyes were the efforts of all the other athletes who wished to try pole vaulting. While teaching this technical sport to them, Coach Cashler found it truly satisfying to watch them strive and improve as well as exhibit the good sportsmanship and integrity with their competition that he himself always displayed.

At the heart of Coach Cashler’s coaching were the friendships he made not only with the athletes and their parents, but also with the rest of the coaching staff and the administration.

Class of 1971 - Wrestling

Jeff Jorgensen was perhaps the most dominant wrestler in Nicolet’s long athletic history. Jeff earned 3 Varsity letters in the sport and finished with a Varsity record of 69-13, which ranked in the top 10% of all wrestlers in the first 50 years of Wisconsin wrestling. But Jeff made his mark on the wrestling program through his character, work ethic, and desire to make a sport that is based primarily on individual battles, a true “team” effort.

Jeff started his high school wrestling career on the freshman team in the 95 lb. weight class, finishing with an 8-1-1 record. During his first Varsity season as a sophomore, Jeff had a 20-4 record wrestling at 98 lbs., winning both the Whitnall and West Bend Invitationals and finishing 3rd in the Braveland Conference tournament. Jeff went undefeated in the conference dual meet season, and finished 4th at Regionals after missing the final match with an injury. The team enjoyed even greater success that season, taking 1st place at the Whitnall and West Bend Invitationals and going on to win both the Braveland Conference and Regional championships.

Jeff went 20-6 at 103 lbs. during his junior year. He again won the West Bend Invitational, took 2nd at the Riverside Invitational, finished 3rd in the Braveland Conference tournament, won 2nd place at Regionals and finished 3rd at Sectionals. This earned Jeff the first of his two team MVPs. The team, meanwhile, matched Jeff’s finishes at the conference tournament (3rd), Regionals (2nd) and Sectionals (3rd).

As a senior, Jeff was a captain and finished 29-3 at 112 lbs. He won his third straight West Bend Invitational (at three different weight classes) and also won the “Most Valuable Wrestler” award. Jeff won the Fond du Lac Invitational and the Braveland Conference championship, and again went undefeated in the conference dual meet season. Jeff then won 1st place in both the Regionals and Sectionals, carrying an undefeated record into the State tournament, where he finished 6th. This incredible performance earned Jeff All-Braveland Conference honors and his second straight team MVP award. The Knights, meanwhile, finished first in the Fond du Lac and West Bend Invitational’s, won the Braveland Conference tournament, and took 1st at both Regionals and Sectionals.

Jeff’s three Varsity wrestling seasons represented a string of unparalleled success for Nicolet wrestling. It was during these three years that Nicolet Hall of Fame wrestling coach Rollie Strehlow won the only two Braveland Conference championships of his long tenure running the program. After high school, Jeff went on to have great success wrestling at UW-Platteville, serving as a captain, earning two team MVPs and twice finishing in the top 20 at the Division III National Tournament. Through it all, Jeff left quite an impact on the Nicolet wrestling program that still resonates over four decades later.

Class of 1979 - Basketball, Volleyball

Crista Payton was one of the greatest Nicolet High School athletes of the 1970’s, enjoying individual and team success in both volleyball and basketball. Crista excelled as a student and an athlete, earning 8 Varsity letters and was a member of the Varsity Club her junior and senior years. She was the first minority female basketball and volleyball team athlete at Nicolet and was a finalist for the Glen Kukla Memorial Scholarship. Crista was a four year starter on both the volleyball and basketball teams, earning first team all-conference in her sophomore and senior volleyball seasons. But it was Crista’s versatility and leadership that was as valuable to the teams she played on as her athletic skill set. Crista started her varsity volleyball career as a freshman Co-Captain and was named Captain and earned Team MVP honors her junior and senior seasons. Christa was known for her defensive back row play, serving rallies, and for being a strong hitter, but team success was more meaningful to her than individual accomplishments. Crista was part of two Invitational Championships, two WIAA Regional championships, two WIAA Sectional runner-ups, and her teams twice finished 2nd in the Braveland Conference final standings. Crista’s basketball highlights were just as impressive. She was named Co-Captain for her sophomore and senior seasons and earned MVP honors as a sophomore and junior. Crista played both guard and forward, was fast on the court and displayed excellent ball-handling skills. She excelled on the defensive end of the floor, consistently leading the team in rebounds, steals and blocked shots for all four years on varsity. Crista was also an accomplished offensive player, leading the team in assists and free throw percentage. As a freshman she appeared on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal sports section after a 17-point game against Brookfield Central and also dropped in a career high 26 points against Sheboygan North. As a senior, she was selected as an Easter Seals All Star. Much like volleyball, the basketball teams Crista played on enjoyed a great deal of success. She played on two WIAA Regional Championship teams, and the Lady Knights won back-to-back Braveland Conference Championships in 1978 and 1979, topped off with a perfect 16-0 conference record her senior year. Although Crista only played volleyball and basketball in high school, she was a versatile, multi-talented athlete who also excelled at table tennis, tennis and track, where she competed at a high level in the long jump, 100-yard dash, and shot put. Crista was heavily recruited by UW-Milwaukee before ultimately moving to California to pursue academics, subsequently earning a perfect 4.0 advanced degree by full scholarship at UWM. Crista Payton was an accomplished high school athlete at a time when female high school sports were still in their infancy. She was a kind and humble person who was an example to her teammates and all students at Nicolet. Her achievements have led the way for future female and minority athletes to excel at Nicolet High School.

Class of 1969 - Baseball, Track

A 1969 graduate, Doug Pinzer was a two-sport star athlete who greatly excelled on the field as well as in the classroom. A 3-time varsity letter winner in track, Pinzer helped lead his team to 3 consecutive conference championships in 1967, 1968, and 1969. He would finish off his stellar career by leading the 1969 squad to the State track meet. Over the course of those three years, Pinzer would rack up numerous meet championships in the 100-yard dash, the 220-yard dash, and long jump as well as in the 880-relay. Individually, he would accumulate more than 70 track medals and ribbons during his illustrious career. Not only did his speed find him great success on the track, but he would transfer this ability to the baseball field as well. A 3-time varsity letter winner, Pinzer used his blazing speed to anchor the Knights’ defense from his centerfield position. Here, he would be named 1st Team All-Conference during both his junior and senior seasons. Offensively, Pinzer was a nightmare for opposing pitchers and catchers on the basepaths as he was never thrown out stealing bases in three years of varsity baseball. His skill on the diamond and his achievements in the classroom would earn him scholarships for baseball and academics at Carthage College where he earned a varsity letter his freshman year as the starting centerfielder, helping Carthage to the CCIW Conference Championship in 1970. His promising baseball collegiate career was cut short as he would enlist into the military during the Vietnam era. During his basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, he was named "Outstanding Combat Support trainee," placing him first among 328 men in his battalion. Throughout this rigorous, demanding phase of training, he displayed outstanding qualities and conducted himself in an exemplary manner. He rose to the rank of Staff Sargeant before leaving the Wisconsin Army National Guard with an honorable discharge in 1977. Both on and off the field, Doug Pinzer is a shining example of what it has meant to be a true student-athlete at Nicolet High School.