WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI -- Time now for the final piece of hardware for our postseason here at NewsChannel 7.

Assumption's Joe Birkhauser was voted the NewsChannel 7 Girls Coach of the Year by a panel of coaches from across Northcentral Wisconsin.

"We don't receive this award as a coaching staff if it weren't for these kids," Birkhauser said.

"It has been amazing, just the life lessons I have been taught through basketball," said senior Lizzy Slovensky. "Perseverance, teamwork. Just stuff like that, that you learn as a team. He has taught all of us how we can go into life and use those."

Joe led the Royals to a 23-1 season, an undefeated Marawood South title, picked up his 200th career win, conference Coach of the Year, and now the NewsChannel 7 Girls Coach of the Year.

"If it wasn't for their dedication throughout the summer, throughout the entire year...," Birkhauser said before pausing, "we were very lucky to have a group of kids this year, a group of seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen that worked together all year long on making this a successful season."

"We're so happy for him, so excited for him," said senior Jada Straub. "We know that all the success we've had is because of him, because of how hard he works and what he teaches us in practice, and how hard he pushes us. So, we definitely feel a great amount of pride."

"It shows he's a good coach," senior Brittney Brock said. "It's thrilling, something to be proud of and I'm happy to be a part of it."

Usually when we present these awards, we go through the athletic director to set it all up, but Joe is the A.D. at Assumption, so thanks to principal Joan Bond and her staff for helping us out with this.