Fall Creek’s Martzke to be inducted into WBCA Hall of Fame

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FALL CREEK — Just before tipoff of the Altoona-Fall Creek girls basketball matchup last week, Fall Creek public address announcer Dave Strasburg took to the microphone.

Both teams looked on in formation for the national anthem, with neither knowing what Strasburg was going to say.

“We have a very special announcement,” Strasburg said. “The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association has just made it official: Fall Creek head coach Jason Martzke has been selected to enter the WBCA Coaches Hall of Fame. Congratulations Coach Martzke!”

The fully-packed Fall Creek stands applauded and cheered Martzke, who stood bewildered at what he had just heard.

“It’s one of those things where it just shows I’ve been around a lot,” Martzke said. “I’m old. I’ve been around forever and been fortunate to have a lot of good kids playing for me and taking care of me.”

Martzke will officially become the ninth Cricket to be inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame next fall, joining Ron Schultz, Arnie Skrukrud, Bob Miller, Gwen Hoekstra, Rick Storlie, Steve Wilhelm, Jan Zimmerman and Strasburg.

“It’s an honor and something I’ll probably think about a little bit more,” Martzke said.

Martzke is currently in his 20th year as head coach of the Crickets. His 445 wins at the helm of his prior stop in Gilmanton and Fall Creek place him among the top 40 coaches in Wisconsin girls basketball history.

He is one of four Fall Creek coaches (Skrukrud, Schultz and Storlie) to reach 400 career wins in high school basketball.

Martzke led the Fall Creek girls to their 11th trip to the state tournament in 2015, where they came up just short in the WIAA Division 4 championship game. He has also led the Crickets to four Cloverbelt Conference titles.

“I think Coach Martzke is a huge piece of the Fall Creek athletic program, school and community,” Fall Creek principal and athletic director Trevor Kohlhepp said. “He’s given everything to this community. That’s really shown in some of his accomplishments prior to getting here, but then throwing all of his years here in the classroom, the community and in basketball.”

In addition to his coaching career, Martzke is in his 20th year as a K-3 physical educator.

“He’s pretty well-liked and well-known by everybody in the community, and I think it goes bigger than basketball,” Kohlhepp said.

Fall Creek senior Jasmin Heuer, out due to injury, was right next to Martzke on Monday night when he heard the announcement. She couldn’t have been happier for her long-time coach.

“He’s been my coach for the past four years,” Heuer said. “He’s just been a really good supporter. He’ll tell you what you need to fix (and) what you need to do.”

Under Martzke’s stewardship, Heuer became a two-time all-state honorable mention selection, a three-time all-conference selection and a future collegiate basketball player at Michigan Tech University.

“He’s always there for you,” Heuer said. “He always wants you to come down and talk to him. He’s just a nice person to have to talk to.”

Heuer said Martzke is the person she and her teammates always go to if they need something. Whether it’s for his on-court advice, life advice or even just to steal a piece of candy from his classroom, Heuer knows Martzke will always be there with a way to encourage her.

“You do good, he’s gonna cheer for you,” Heuer said. “It’s nice to see him get this. He gets a little embarrassed, but it’s nice for him to get an award like this.”

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