By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
BROWN COUNTY – 2020 was a banner year for sports in the Green Bay area.
Here are the 10 most-viewed stories from this past year on The Press Times website.
Bay Port’s Gash commits to Michigan
Bay Port High School’s Isaiah Gash, the son of former NFL running back Sam Gash, committed to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor as a preferred walk-on in February.
Gash, the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Large School Offensive Player of the Year in 2019, rushed for almost 4,500 yards in his career for the Pirates.
Nordgaard begins rise on court
Senior Dawson Nordgaard, the son of former University of Wisconsin-Green Bay basketball player Jeff Nordgaard, is a 6-foot-9 post player from West De Pere High School.
Nordgaard is currently averaging 15 points per game (ppg) for the 5-2 Phantoms.
Heim aiming for NFL roster
Evan Heim, a 2015 De Pere High School graduate, played his college football at Division II Minnesota State University-Mankato.
The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Heim has had his NFL hopes put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nelson named Green Bay East football coach
A native of Ohio, Levi Nelson accepted the head football job at Green Bay East High School this summer.
Nelson used to visit Green Bay as a youngster for Green Bay Packers Training Camp.
The Red Devils, who didn’t play football this fall, have gone a combined 5-32 during the last four seasons.
Kinziger playing beyond his years
De Pere basketball player John Kinziger has continued to play at a high level this season after a breakout freshman campaign last year.
A 5-foot-11 guard, Kinziger, a sophomore, is garnering Division I interest for the 7-1 Redbirds.
Kinziger is currently averaging 21.1 ppg.
Bay Port loses pair of head coaches
After successful coaching stops at Bay Port, Steve Jeffers (boys’ swimming) and Thiago Barbosa (volleyball) both stepped down this spring.
Jeffers led the Pirates to 10 Fox River Classic Conference titles overall during his 12-year reign, while Barbosa led Bay Port to its first and only FRCC title in 2019.
Kudoh brings unique experience to Blue Ribbons
Yuta Kudoh, a 24-year-old outfielder from Kawasaki, Japan, spent the summer playing baseball for the Greater Green Bay Blue Ribbons.
Staying with a host family in Green Bay, Kudoh played in 42 games.
He finished with 14 stolen bases and scored 26 runs.
Another Majkowski came to Titletown
Bo Majkowski, the son of former Green Bay Packers quarterback Don Majkowski, played for the Green Bay Booyah baseball team this summer.
Majkowski is currently a redshirt junior at Clemson University.
Bay Port freshman picked first in USHL Draft
Quinn Finley, then a Bay Port freshman, was selected first in the 2020 United States Hockey League Draft in May.
Originally drafted by the Madison Capitols, the 16-year-old Finley is now on the Chicago Steel roster.
West De Pere stunned in final seconds
West De Pere, one of the few area schools to play football this fall, lost its opening game of the season in the final seconds, 43-39.
Hortonville’s Parker Lawrence hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass between two defenders with 1 second remaining to secure the win for the Polar Bears.
The Phantoms finished the season 4-2.