This win allows the Blackhawks to advance to the sectional final game at 5:00 on June 9 (today) at Riverside Park in Janesville playing either Milton or Oconomowoc!!!!!

For those who can’t make it to the game it will be on 106.5 FM.

The games will determine the matchups for Friday’s sectional finals, the last stage before the state tournament June 17-19 at Goodman Diamond.

The Fort Atkinson Girls Softball team huddles and cheers each other on in action from earlier this season.

Evansville sectional semifinal: Luke Briggs, in Evansville for the baseball sectional triple-header, will try to monitor the Brodhead-Fort Atkinson sectional semifinal softball game from 300 feet away. It could be a quick softball game with Brodhead ace Erika Stampfli, who had 21 strikeouts in a game this season, and Fort Atkinson’s Emilie Bakken, who has 44 career victories at Fort, going head-to-head.
Division 3

“The dedication and work ethic [Lauren] puts in to each and every activity she is involved in is impressive and commendable,” Assistant Band Director Jessica Rensberger said.  ”I frequently forget that she is a senior in High School; she is mature well beyond her years.”

One of Lauren’s key focuses beyond schoolwork is music.  She plays, among other things, harp, bassoon, and mellophone, and she has dedicated much of her time during the summer to leading the marching band as Drum Major, a responsibility that very few people are cut out for.  Being Drum Major requires a great passion for music, and a great deal of dedication to the band, and under Lauren’s leadership, the band has had two very successful seasons.

Between summer practices and before every weekend show, Lauren would send out emails to everybody in band reminding them of their responsibilities to practice and to remind them of schedule changes, report times, etc.

She stands out as a leader in the band, even after the marching season.  Very often when both Band Director Tom Cook and Ms. Rensberger were out and there was a sub, Lauren would take over and conduct the band from the start of warm-ups to the end of class.

“Her accomplishments as a musician are particularly outstanding, students like her do not walk through a band director’s door often!” Rensberger said.  With Lauren graduating, it will be difficult to find someone with her talent and dedication to fill her shoes.

“Despite all of the time dedicated to her practicing and her studies, Lauren makes the time to participate in youth activities at her church.  She travels on mission trips and uses her musical talents to enhance the worship services,” Fort Atkinson Middle School English Teacher Martha Firari said.

Even with all of these things on her plate, Lauren manages to find time for friends, like Firari’s daughter Grace.

“On a personal level, I’m glad that Lauren is a part of [Grace's] circle of friends.  She’s such an enjoyable guest because of her friendly demeanor,” Firari said.

Regardless of what she is doing, Lauren is able to excel and balance personal life with school life.  Everything comes first and nothing comes second.  She is deeply involved in music and the community, yet she is in rigorous courses and manages to keep up with her own work and also does her best to help others understand.  “Lauren is the consummate student,” English Teacher Mike Hall said.  “She is conscientious and compassionate and has left an indelible mark here at FHS.”

Lauren’s mark in the music department has been one of great passion, dedication, and sacrifice.  She gave up her time, trekking almost daily through the infamous “Swamp Ookie-Pookie” (the flooded practice field behind the school), subjecting herself to the full power of Dr. Beat, standing tall and proud through sweltering days and freezing nights to lead a band of rag-tag soldiers whose only commonality was music to be the best that they could be.  “She will be missed at Fort Atkinson, but I am looking forward to hearing of her accomplishments in Arizona – they are lucky to have her!” Rensberger said.

On every phone call she made, she asked her friends to wear all black the following day to school to signify that the new refinance plan was the “death of our country.”

“Its not that the plan is hurting myself or my family personally, but I know the strong effect the laws passed with it will have on millions of people in America, along with locals in the Jefferson-Fort area.  I`m trying to stand up for what others won’t do,”  Garity said.

Although the boycott only gathered 11 supporters at Jefferson High the day after the refinance plan was passed, the supporters were enough to make a small point to the high school and to friends of Marcie’s.

“I may not be up there in ranking alongside people who can really take a stand, but it means a lot to me to be doing a small part for myself and friends.”

“Marissa is and will always be my best friend! She is the happiest, most energetic person you will ever meet in your life. She brightens up my day whenever i see her, and she’s that type of person that will laugh at a stupid joke that’s not funny. She was an awesome poms captain and I’m glad I got to be on it all 4 years with her and became best friends,” Senior Jenna Allard said.

Dhillon is a hard working student, a loyal friend, and a caring family member. She balances school and friends with amazing precision.

“She is always kind, always polite. Other students like Ashna. I can’t imagine that she is ever rude to anyone. She treats all others with respect.” Math Teacher Lynn Dowgwillo said.

Other students truly do like Ashna. Every person interviewed remarked that she is always happy, willing to help, and a great friend.

“[What makes her unique is] her willingness to work hard despite being set back or things being difficult at times,” Junior and brother Arjun Dhillon said.

Dhillon challenges herself on many levels. Involvements such as State Solo and Ensemble, tennis, Environmental Club, Big Buddy, Student Senate, International Club, and National Honor Society keep her busy. She has also taken and succeeded in many honors and AP courses.

“Personally, what stands out for me is how thoughtful she is about saying thanks for help,” said AP Stats teacher Mrs. Dowgwillo.

The studying doesn’t stop when she walks out the school doors. At home, Dhillon spends a great deal of time studying to make sure she does well in each class.

“She studies a lot around the house, but whenever we are interacting, she’s pretty talkative,” Arjun said.

At home, Ashna has studying down to a science. It is seen through her schoolwork that her methods are effective.

“She has to sit in a specific chair when she studies,” Arjun said.

Dhillon is also involved in many music oriented groups. She has played in the orchestra since fourth grade. She has been in the Chamber Orchestra all four years of high school. Dhillon was also a guest performer on sitar for the Orchestra Dessert Concert in 2010.

The Dhillon family takes many vacations to India to visit family and friends. Ashna often loves to share the culture to friends back home.

“My favorite memory has to be Ashna attempting to teach us how to dance Bangra and watching 5 hour long Bollywood movies, with subtitles.” Ellen Ringle said.

Next year, she plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to major in Biology.

“Emilie Bakken possesses all the traits of an outstanding student. She works tirelessly to do her best work and to improve herself, she displays a tenacious hunger to learn, and she sincerely cares for those around her,” English Teacher Mike Hall said.
Bakken is graduating as a 2 sport athlete, by playing volleyball and softball. In volleyball, she was predominantly an outside hitter, and softball, the starting pitcher all four years. She has earned six Varsity Athletic Letters overall, 3 in volleyball and 3 in softball, and is expecting her seventh this softball season. In volleyball, she received Second Team All-conference as a Senior. In softball, she received Second Team All-conference as a Freshman and a Junior, and First Team All-conference as a Sophomore. She was also the Most Valuable Player in softball as a Freshman, Sophomore and Junior. Emilie is expecting more honors this softball season.

Bakken’s personality is contagious in school and in her variety of activities.

“Emilie certainly has enviable academic gifts, but her ability to genuinely make others around her smile transcends any transcript or test score,” Hall said.

Emilie will attend UW-Madison in the Fall, majoring in Medical microbiology and immunology, in hopes of becoming an allergist. Long time friend and teammate Cassidy Lyons will be her rommate.