Wisconsin Lutheran completes three-peat with perfect season

Vikings defeat Madison Memorial 57-37 to win third straight WIAA state championship

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:36am

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Wisconsin Lutheran boys basketball team completed a three-peat and finished the season with a perfect 30-0 record after defeating Madison Memorial 57-37 in the WIAA state championship game. Senior Zavier Zens led the Vikings with 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, and Wisconsin Lutheran dominated the second half to secure the title.

Why it matters

Wisconsin Lutheran's three-peat championship run is a historic accomplishment, with the team joining an elite group of just seven other programs in WIAA history to win three consecutive state titles. The Vikings' combined 88-2 record over the past three seasons is the best three-year stretch in state history.

The details

Wisconsin Lutheran trailed 22-20 at halftime but took control in the second half, with Zens scoring 10 of the team's first 16 points to spark a 40-30 run. The Vikings' depth and balanced scoring, with four players scoring at least 8 points, proved too much for Madison Memorial to overcome.

  • Wisconsin Lutheran defeated Madison Memorial 57-37 in the WIAA Division 1 state championship game on March 21, 2026.

The players

Zavier Zens

A senior at Wisconsin Lutheran who was named the Mr. Basketball Award winner after scoring 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting with six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in the state championship game.

Ryan Walz

The head coach of the Wisconsin Lutheran boys basketball team, who has led the Vikings to three consecutive state championships.

Steve Collins

The head coach of the Madison Memorial boys basketball team, which lost to Wisconsin Lutheran in the state championship game.

Kager Knueppel

A junior at Wisconsin Lutheran who scored 16 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and had 3 blocks in the state title game.

Jamail Sewell

A junior at Wisconsin Lutheran who scored 9 points and had 4 rebounds in the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“Each team we've had has been different and unique in its own way, and so I'm just thankful that we've had the opportunity to work with great kids who work really, really hard, and who love basketball, and who listen, and who love each other.”

— Ryan Walz, Head Coach, Wisconsin Lutheran

“I just felt like we as a team started to figure out the zone a little bit better, and I was able to find some spots to get open and made some big shots.”

— Zavier Zens

“Super competitive first half. We were struggling to figure out how to score against their zone. Their energy was great. They were hitting shots, they controlled the ball, they controlled the tempo.”

— Ryan Walz, Head Coach, Wisconsin Lutheran

What’s next

The Wisconsin Lutheran basketball program will look to continue its dynasty and potentially become the second team in WIAA history to win four consecutive state championships.

The takeaway

Wisconsin Lutheran's three-peat championship run is a remarkable achievement, cementing the program's status as one of the elite high school basketball teams in the state's history. The Vikings' combination of talent, coaching, and team chemistry has allowed them to dominate their competition over the past three seasons.