Known as America’s Dairyland, Wisconsin is lush with farmlands and incredible forests. It is also home to the edges of the Michigan and Superior Lakes. But as any sports fan will tell you, there is much more to the state than farms and scenic views.
Wisconsin is represented by incredible teams in some of the most popular sports in the country. American football, basketball, and baseball are just a few sports for which the state produces exceptional players. However, these are certainly not the limits.
With such a strong showing of sporting prowess in the state, there have certainly been some spectacular sports moments over the years. Here are five of the most memorable events in Wisconsin sports history.
Top Five Wisconsin Sports Moments of All Time
1. Packing a Win
The Green Bay Packers are one of Wisconsin’s most beloved football teams. And not just because they are star players who know how to put on a show but because their wins demonstrate the hard work that they put in to succeed.
In 2013, however, they suffered a massive loss early on when Chicago Bears’ Shea McClellin took on Aaron Rodgers—one of the Packers’ stars. The hit broke Rodger’s left collarbone and led to multiple losses for the team in future games since he was such a vital player.
Further into the season, the Packers were again facing the Bears when Rodgers, who was back in action, made an incredible move that secured a victory for the team. With just one minute left of play, Rodgers realized he wouldn’t manage to score.
Turning to see his teammate Randall Cobb downfield, he threw the ball to him. Cobb, ready at a moment’s notice, grabbed the ball and succeeded in clinching a victory for the Packers.
The showdown between the two rivals has gone down in history as one of the most satisfying Packer victories ever. It also demonstrated that the team could come back from any circumstance.
2. Championship Win
Another incredible sporting moment also features the Green Bay Packers. After storming through the wild card round of the 2011 NFL (National Football League) Championship by defeating the Eagles, the Packers kept their momentum going.
Moving through the divisional round by conquering the Falcons from Atlanta, the Packers were again forced to face the Chicago Bears. During the NFC Championship semi-final playoffs, the team was victorious, leading them to an incredible battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
During the game, with fans biting their nails and screaming themselves hoarse, the underdogs showed precisely what they were made of. The ending score was 31 to 25 in favor of the Packers, leading them to become the 2011 Super Bowl champions. It also helped the team earn their 14th World Championship.
3. 38 and Done
One of the most memorable moments in Wisconsin sports history occurred during an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) game in 2015. Playing in the NCAA Final Four tournament semi-finals, the Wisconsin Badgers pulled out all the stops.
Competing against the Kentucky Wildcats, the Badgers were the clear underdogs and had already been beaten (rather severely) by the Wildcats. However, the game changed in a way that nobody expected.
Pushing hard, the Badgers gained possession of the ball and seemed not to want to give it up. After running most of the game with scores close together, things changed toward the end of the game.
Sam Dekker, who later played in the NBA, secured a tricky shot that helped them pull slightly ahead. Teammate Nigel Hayes extended this lead with a shot that was called into question but eventually allowed. These and other incredible goals led to a final score of 71-64.
The win over the Wildcats sent the losers back home to Kentucky with a season score of 38-1, just two points short of becoming the holders of the longest-undefeated team in college basketball. Since then, the match has been named the 38 and done.
4. Gold Five Times
The 1980 Winter Olympics held at Lake Placid, New York, were memorable for several reasons. Chief amongst these for Wisconsin residents was the awe-inspiring talent displayed by local speedskater Eric Heiden.
Eric, a physician and road and track cyclist, appeared at the Olympics wanting nothing more than to stay out of the spotlight and do his best. However, his unbelievable skill at skating soon pushed him directly into the limelight—and for good reason.
Over nine days, Eric didn’t win just one gold medal, but five. These occurred in the 500, 1,000, 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000-meter races, where he clinched victory.
Not only did he become the first Winter Olympian to achieve this spectacular feat, the man of gold (as he affectionally became known) was the first Olympian to accomplish this regardless of the season.
5. Hitting 3,000
Robin Yount is one of the most recognizable names among Wisconsin sports stars. Debuting at just 18 years old, he was the third overall choice during the 1973 Major League Baseball draft because he had a way of hitting that few could match.
For a man so young, many were worried that rumors of him defecting to play professional golf might come true. Thankfully, he stuck with what he knew, and baseball in the state was never the same.
The iconic moment for Robin took place in 1992 while playing against Cleveland. In a moment with great potential payouts for anyone who’d wagered on the young star, Robin hit a ball from Jose Mesa. Suddenly, 47,589 fans around him exploded into screams and cheering.
The young man’s hit clocked his lifetime hits at just over the 3,000 mark, making him the third-youngest player—and 17th overall—to achieve this milestone. As such, the moment will go down in history as one of the most exhilarating in Wisconsin sports.
Main Image: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
