New MHS Athletics Exhibit Opens at Limestone Museum 

Zangl said many of the items had simply been “gathering dust” in storage for years due to the ill fate of “not enough space to exhibit them,” before museum volunteers worked to preserve and organize them into the new display”

The Mayville Limestone School Museum is celebrating Mayville’s rich athletic and extracurricular history with the opening of a new Mayville High School athletics trophy and memorabilia display, highlighted by a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Friday, May 15.

Mayville alumni, former coaches, community members, and city officials gathered around the display tables during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, reminiscing about legendary players, memorable teams, and championship moments that helped shape generations of Cardinal pride. 

According to museum president Todd Zangl, the exhibit came together through what he described as “an organic event.” A room previously dedicated to African safari animal mounts was being repainted when museum board member Laura Congdon suggested transforming the space into a dedicated room honoring Mayville High School's achievements. At the same time, museum leaders learned that numerous trophies, banners, and memorabilia from decades of MHS history had been stored away both at the high school and museum due to limited display space.

The newly redesigned exhibit now features conference championship banners dating back to the 1930s from the Little Ten, Scenic Moraine, and Flyway conferences, along with state championship banners spanning from the 1930s through the 1990s. Sports represented include football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, golf, tennis, track, and cross country.

Visitors will also find trophies dating back nearly a century, not only from athletics but also from band, music, mock trial, and math competitions. Historic photographs of Edgar G. Mueller throughout the room capture generations of Mayville students and athletes, including basketball team photos from 1920 and 1921 and images from the dramatic final moments of Mayville’s 1983 boys basketball state championship victory.

Several plaques honoring influential figures in Mayville sports history are also included, such as Ray Dunn’s Hall of Fame plaque and multiple recognitions awarded to longtime scorekeeper, groundskeeper, and sports writer Jim Becker for his 47 years of service.

Zangl said many of the items had simply been “gathering dust” in storage for years due to the ill fate of “not enough space to exhibit them,” before museum volunteers worked to preserve and organize them into the new display. He credited MHS athletic director Scott Hilber for helping locate and transport many of the forgotten trophies and memorabilia.

The museum also received an unexpected boost when Mayville Ace Hardware’s Dave Westphal donated four glass display cases after their Campbellsport location closed.

Zangl hopes the exhibit will not only celebrate Mayville’s athletic accomplishments but also encourage more residents to visit the museum and connect with the city’s broader history. The Mayville Historical Society has a saying of “looking to the future to preserve the past.” The museum hopes this new display will encourage those who might not venture into the museum to come for a visit. 

“Visitors will find other items of interest in the museum, for example, the reason Mayville was founded, the early industries and education in Mayville, and the history of the lime kilns and iron ore industry from which Mayville was founded,” Zangl noted.

“Sports tend to unite people,” Zangl shared. “We can argue politics, religion, current events, but we come together to back our sports teams. It is the hometown teams that truly bring a community together.”

Alongside the athletic displays, the museum also houses Mayville High School Rockets dating back to 1918, allowing visitors to revisit generations of student activities, clubs, and athletics through yearbooks and archived photographs.

“We have a picture of the American Legion team of the early 1970’s and the Theresa Rock River League baseball team, both made up of Mayville alumni, as Theresa was in the Mayville school district until the late 1960’s.”

While organizing the room, museum volunteers worked to ensure a wide variety of sports and eras were represented. Zangl noted one challenge was the lack of women’s sports memorabilia prior to 1972, before Title IX formalized interscholastic athletics opportunities for girls.

The museum is also encouraging Mayville alumni and families who may have historic sports memorabilia, photographs, uniforms, trophies, or other school-related items to consider sharing them with the museum for future displays and preservation efforts. Those interested can contact Todd Zangle at info@mlsm.org or call the museum at (920) 644-2047. 

Looking ahead, museum leaders encourage community members to become involved through volunteering, membership support, or assisting with preservation efforts at both the Limestone Museum and the Mayville Historical Society museum on German Street. “The buildings are old. We rely on the good nature of the community to maintain these facilities.” Zangl concluded.