Tyler Keeney, Mike Lenzendorf, Michael Waller, and Tyler O’Kane are Prairie du Chien graduates playing together this season for the UW – La Crosse Eagles.

Keeney was the first of the four to join the UW-L football program. He says his decision to play at UW-L was easy. “I knew they were one of the elite football programs around the country and they contacted me saying they were interested in me,” Keeney says, “so, I went on a visit and I loved the atmosphere up there and it wasn’t to far away from home.”

A two-year starter at wide receiver, he is in his final year of eligibility. After finishing last season with 20 catches for 297 yards and two touchdowns, Keeney injured his foot during this season’s training camp and missed the team’s first two games. He returned to the lineup last week in UW-L’s 48-0 win over Missouri S&T.

Also dealing with an injury this season is fellow Prairie du Chien graduate, Mike Lenzendorf. “I had surgery last winter on my foot. I got high-lowed in the Platteville game [last season] and dislocated two bones and tore the ligaments in my foot,” says Lenzendorf, a three year starter at La Crosse. He has returned to practice and is still rehabilitating his foot to keep it strong for the season.

Lenzendorf’s college football path begin in Madison where he was a member of the Wisconsin Badgers. He later transferred to La Crosse where he is working toward majors in Mathematics and Education; and where he plays defensive tackle. “I think the best part [after transferring schools] has been the close knit group of guys,” he says, “Everyone that is on the team wants to be here and are not forced to do things. Everyone loves the game of football and you don’t have to worry about egos.”

Lenzendorf, a former state champion wrestler at Prairie du Chien, says football life on the big stage at Camp Randall Stadium helped him appreciate what a smaller school could offer. “I think just experiencing what it was like at the big level made UW-L just seem like a great place,” he says, “It made me realize how much I love the game of football.”

Earlier this year, Tyler O’Kane joined Lenzendorf with his decision to make the switch from the Badgers to the Eagles. O’Kane started the year as a walk-on with the Badgers football team before deciding to transfer. During the transition, O’Kane lived with Lenzendorf and Keeney during training camp until he go his own place.

As a true freshman, O’Kane has had playing time as primarily as a kick returner. He has also has been given a few carries at running back, a position which UW-L is very deep.

Two apartments down from Keeney & Lenzendorf’s residence is Michael Waller, another Prairie du Chien graduate. Listed as a wide receiver on the Eagles roster, Waller is a former Blackhawks quarterback. On the basketball court in high school, the 6′5″ Waller played center.

Waller began his athletic career playing basketball for UW-L before he traded his sneakers for cleats and a helmet. His friend, Tyler Keeney, helped him with his decision. “Michael asked me what I thought of him coming out for football,” recalls Keeney, “He wanted to know what his chances were of making the team. I told him to give it a shot because I knew his size and speed would give him a real good chance of making the team.”

“I helped with the playbook so he would not behind and he picked everything up real quick,” says Keeney. Fitting, considering Keeney plans on graduating this Spring with a degree in Recreation Management. 

Even though it’s been over four years since some of them have strapped on Blackhawks gear, the Prairie du Chien connection remains strong. Lenzendorf agrees, “Yeah, even though we are a few years older than guys like O’Kane, we still get along and have a strong group connection with them.” Waller, Lenzendorf, and Keeney all graduated from Prairie du Chien before Tyler O’Kane was in high school. However, Waller says that their Prairie du Chien roots have helped them all stay close. “We all share a bond coming from Prairie and we hang out a lot off the field,” he says, “we’ve welcomed [O'Kane] and gotten to know him pretty well since he’s been here. He’s going to have a great career.”

Waller also notes the long history the players have together.  “Mike [Lenzendorf] and I have been on the same football team since 7th grade,” says Waller, “and Tyler [Keeney] and I have played basketball and football together since elementary school.  It’s been a lot of fun to continue playing with two of my high school teammates and best friends throughout college.”

UW-La Crosse has started their season with a 3-0 record. The Eagles begin conference play when they host UW-Oshkosh this Saturday night before hitting the road to play at UW-Platteville on October 10th.

Photos were taken by Margaret Wage. Also, thanks to UWLFootball.com for other information

The Prairie du Chien Storm won their sixth game of the season Sunday, defeating Dyersville 4-2.

All of the runs for both teams were scored in the 5th inning. Prairie du Chien scored four unearned runs that inning, while they collected their only three hits of the game and benefitted from three Dyersville errors. A two-run single by Alex McCullick knocked in the go-ahead run.

Tyler Payne struck out 13 Dyersville batters to earn the win. At one point, Payne struck out eight of nine consecutive batters he faced.

Bryce Cjeka pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

The finals are on Monday, July 13 during the Major League All-Star Break in St. Louis. After the contest, Chas will be on the field shagging fly balls in the All-Star Home Run Derby.

Chas is the son of Steve and Judy Sagedahl. He currently plays 9&10 year old baseball for Prairie du Chien’s Design Homes team.

O’Kane batted .549 this season for the Blackhawks.

O’Kane was also named the SWC Player of the Year earlier this month.

This marks the second year a Prairie du Chien Senior has been named to the All-State team.  Kyle Sime earned the honor in 2008.

The Prairie du Chien Blackhawks got off to a fast start in Tuesday’s Sectional Semi-Final game versus Portage, scoring five runs in the first inning. That same inning, starting pitcher Tyler Kozelka worked out of a jam and struck out the side. All seemed well for the Blackhawks.

Portage nibbled at Prairie’s lead, scoring two runs in the second. However, the scored remained the same until the sixth inning.

In the sixth, Portage scored ten runs. Walks and three costly errors severely hurt Prairie du Chien’s efforts to stop the Warrior’s scoring barrage.

Portage 12
Prairie du Chien 5

River Valley jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cody Bindl scored on Justin Bindl’s RBI single to left-center. Valley had a chance to score more runs with two runners on base with only one out, but Nate Mezera worked out of the jam by striking out Taylor Rick and forcing Brad Kraemer to fly out to right field.

Prairie du Chien took the lead in the second inning, scoring three runs. Tyler O’Kane hit the first of his two homeruns in the game, scoring Kevin Aspensen who had lead off the inning with a walk. Later that inning, Nate Mezera doubled in Blayne Kozelka.

The Blackhawks lead 4-2 heading into the fifth inning where they scored eleven times.  Highlighting the scoring, Blayne Kozelka hit a three run homer and Tyler O’Kane ended the game with a grand slam.

Prairie du Chien will play Portage in a Sectional Semi-Final game Tuesday.

Lenzendorf is a Junior at Viterbo.

While attending Prairie du Chien High School, Lenzendorf played baseball, football, and basketball.  This summer, he is playing first base and pitching for the Prairie du Chien Storm.

Monroe won the game 6-0. Maggie Shuttler hit a two-run homer with two outs in the 5th inning to break Monroe out of a scoreless tie.

Lindsey Mezera started the Blackhawk’s scoring in the 3rd inning with a solo homerun. It was the first of three runs that inning that gave Prairie du Chien the lead for good. Britni George and Alanna Skemp also scored on a RBI triple by Taylor White.

The Hawks added two runs in the third, three in the fourth, and two in the fifth inning. Mezera’s second homerun made it 8-2. Mezera finished the game going three for four with three RBI.

Britni George was the winning pitcher for Prairie du Chien. She pitched six innings and gave up four earned runs on five hits.

Prairie du Chien advanced to the Regional Final game to be played on Thursday on St. Feriole Island.  That field will also host the Sectional round of the WIAA Division 2 Tournament, whether Prairie du Chien wins Thursday or not.

The teams agreed to play an extra inning when the game was tied at one after seven innings. Shanel Scott scored on a wild pitch for the winning run for the Thunder.

Osterman, a former Olympian, threw two shut-out innings for Rockford.