500 students, staff at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School take day to cheer soccer team in state championship semifinals

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's the first time in Cristo Rey Jesuit High School's history that a team makes it to a state championship game, having won the semifinals game Friday despite, stormy weather.

A total of 500 people -- students and staff -- took a field trip to Uihlein Soccer Park, in eight buses, to support the men's soccer team, as they battled against the La Crosse Aquinas in the 2022 WIAA State Championship semifinals.

Slight rain drizzled for the first 10 minutes of the game, and ponchos and umbrellas soon became visible.

Student Body President Aydee Cruz was hoping for the best.

"Hopefully it doesn't get postponed, because we were really hoping to come out here and cheer our team," she said.

Lightning and thunder, however, quickly made its way, and everyone was told to clear the field and find shelter.

After about an hour of the game being delayed, everyone came back out on the field and players were able to finalize the game.

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School won 3 to 1.

Assistant Athletic Director Thomas Schatz said the team put in a lot of hard work to make this happen.

"After we kind of got bounced out of the playoffs last year, this has been a year in the making for a lot of our guys, they're seniors, they've been through a tough four years with COVID...they wanted this spot," he said.

The win secures Cristo Rey's team in the state championship finals, which were expected to take place on Saturday, Nov. 5.

That excitement will only escalate after championships are over, as the World Cup in Qatar approaches.

A reminder that our sister station, Telemundo Wisconsin, will transmit all of the games starting Nov. 20.