The end of an era for Mauston girls basketball
Mauston coach Randy Fabian with his last group of senior players. From left; Brooke Navis, Kelsey Loy, Ada Larson, Fabian, Courtney Rogers, Nish Rubash, Keely Rubash and Leah Hauck.
By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
The Randy Fabian coaching era at Mauston high school came to an end on Monday night, with the girls basketball awards banquet.
Fabian was the varsity coach of the program for the last 27 years. Over that time, Fabian estimated coaching in over 570 games, with around 285 of those being victories. The Golden Eagles won five conference titles, in 88-89, 89-90, 90-91, 96-97, and 97-98, and had one trip to the state tournament in 88-89, finishing in second place. The Golden Eagles also had 11 winning seasons, during the Fabian era.
"One thing I have always had a lot of support from everyone, the community, the parents, the kids believing in the program. We have always had a good following of fans, that has really helped the success of the program." Fabian said.
Fabian no doubt has many fond memories of his time as the varsity coach in Mauston. Hanging in his office are a number of pictures and plaques, some for his accomplishments as a coach, but mostly of the players who have gone through the program.
"There have been so many good players and people to come through the program, and we have always had students who take pride in the classroom as well. There are so many individuals I could go on and on about," Fabian said. "This year's team, for example. Of the 35 girls out for basketball this season, the average grade point average (GPA) is 3.77. We have had girls who really work hard in and out of the gym."
27 different teams and, hundreds of players have been coached by Fabian throughout his tenure at Mauston. All have made an impact on their coach, but two teams and their accomplishments seemed to stick out for the long-time coach.
The 88-89 state team that was led by Chris Robbins, Traci Vinopal and Tonya Waller, and the 83-84 team that snapped a long Portage conference winning streak.
"The state team sticks out, no question. We were blessed with so many talented players. Robbins got a Division One scholarship to Northern Iowa, Vinopal got a Division Two scholarship to Michigan Tech, and Waller passed up a Division Two scholarship to play at UW-Eau Claire," Fabian said."Winning a sectional and going on to state was just an amazing experience. The whole community was involved. It really was a great experience."
Another game that really stuck out for Fabian was back in 83-84, when the Tracy Walsh, Jill Overlien, and Rosie Nicksic-led team snapped Portage's 75-game conference win streak.
"The 83-84 team, had Walsh, Overlien and Nicksic, who were all sophomores when I first started, and as seniors that group was able to snap Portage's five-year, 75-game conference win streak," Fabian said. "It was a big win, and even more special with those girls were around when I started."
The newspaper clipping from that game still sits behind Fabian's desk.
"We were always competitive with the bigger schools in the conference. We really had some great rivalry games with Portage, Wisconsin Dells and Reedsburg," Fabian said.
In the almost three decades of leading the Golden Eagles, Fabian has coached eight players that have been selected to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) all-star game, three of the four girls who have scored 1,000 points during their Mauston careers, Waller, Vinopal and Katie Crowley, played for Fabian.
Fabian has also been the head coach of the WBCA team, and was once an assistant for the WBCA team, along with numerous other accomplishments while the coach at Mauston.
There have been changes in the game, but Fabian has been able to adapt and continue to be successful.
"I have been down to the State tournament every year, and watching the progress of high school girls basketball is amazing. It is so much faster. I have had a lot of really good players, but the overall level of talent has come a long way," Fabian said. "The three-point shot really changed the game."
While there have been changes to the game over the last 27 years, one thing has been a constant for Mauston girls basketball fans. Coach Fabian has been on the sidelines.
Varsity assistant coach Lori Hammer will take over the head coaching position next season, for Fabian, who said it was just the right time to step down.