1974 – Women’s First Volleyball State Championship

In the year Title XI became law, the Wauwatosa East girls volleyball team showed how strong girls athletics can be.

Led by Coach Kathleen (Curran) Rebholz, she guided the team to an incredible record that year of 75-1. The team dropped just one set during the regular season to a non-conference opponent. They attended two invitationals that season and won both, the Waukesha and Shorewood Invitationals. They dominated in the North Shore Conference, winning the Conference Championship before heading into the WIAA tournament series.

At regionals, they had four wins to advance them to the sectional finals. In sectionals, they faced Wauwatosa West, Waukesha South, and Brookfield East, and defeated all three teams in one day, winning all six matches to advance to the state tournament.

At the state tournament, held at Neenah’s Armstrong Fieldhouse, the team defeated West Bend East in two sets in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they eliminated the defending state champions, Shawano, in two sets. Next up was the finals, where Wauwatosa East defeated Greendale 15-7 and 15-6 to win the Class A State Championship title.

The team was composed of ten seniors, led by captains Deb Wendelberger and Mary Beth Sommers. The starting line up consisted of one sophomore, Casey Brand, one junior, Lynn Pokwinski, and four seniors, Maureen Lynch, Maribeth Sommers, Deb Wendelberger, and Lynn Ulschmid. Coach Rebholz had commented that the second string team was the toughest opponent the starters faced throughout the entire season. This is what led to an outstanding 1974 girls volleyball season and beyond for the program.