Donnie Hissa, Northwestern
By Dennis Semrau
Wissports.net
Donnie Hissa, Maple Northwestern, senior
Sports: football, basketball, baseball
It was only natural that Donnie Hissa would participate in three sports in high school.
The Maple Northwestern senior even considers gym class a competitive situation.
“I just love competing,” said Hissa, who will sign a national letter of intent this month to play baseball at Notre Dame next year. “I get yelled at and kids get mad at me in gym class sometimes because I get upset because I just hate losing. I’ll do everything I can to win. I just love the competition aspect.”
Hissa is hoping his final football season can end at Camp Randall Stadium with a berth in the WIAA Division 4 state championship game.
The Tigers (12-0), who won the Heart O’ North Conference title, will meet Kewaunee (12-0) Saturday in a state semifinal playoff game, which is the farthest the program has advanced since losing in the 1998 state semifinals.
A three-year starter as an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman, Hissa served as a co-captain his senior year and earned all-conference first team honors as an offensive and defensive lineman. He earned all-region and all-conference honors on offense as a junior.
Hissa is on track to become a four-year starter in basketball as a post player. Named a co-captain for his senior year, he earned all-conference first team honors as a junior after leading the Tigers to the league title. He scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds when Northwestern (25-1) lost to eventual champion Wisconsin Lutheran 61-58 in the Division 2 state semifinals.
But it is in baseball where Hissa hopes to excel at the next level. A three-year starter as a pitcher and third base entering his senior year, he is a two-time all-conference selection. He also played for Team Wisconsin in Plainfield, Ill. last summer.
“I love all of them but baseball might be my favorite sport because I’ve been doing it the longest,” said Hissa, who played tee-ball when he was five years old. “My dad was a Little League coach in Oulu for 15 years. I used to practice with the older kids.”
Hissa, who is on track to become an 11-time letterwinner –- four each in basketball and baseball and three in football -- said he likes pitching because he can take control of the game.
“A lot rests on your shoulders and I like that feeling,” he said. “I have more control than in football as a lineman or basketball as a post player.”
Hissa said his parents, John and Gina, and his sister, Nicole, have had the most influence on his becoming a three-sport student-athlete in high school.
“Both of my parents encouraged me to play sports and to be the best I can be,” said Hissa, who also has maintained a 4.0 grade-point-average in the classroom. “My parents grew up in South Shore. My dad played baseball, basketball and football and my mom was a cheerleader and also played basketball.”
His older sister, Nicole, also has played a role in Hissa’s love for sports.
“She got me into basketball. She played basketball and volleyball in high school and competed in track,” he said. “She played basketball for two years and threw the shot, discus and hammer in college at St. Scholastica.”
Hissa didn’t need to be convinced of the benefits of playing multiple sports.
“You get to meet a lot of kids and get to bond with a lot of your teammates and build friendships,” said Hissa, who is president of the marketing club, DECA, and coaches youth basketball.
While Hissa has opted to play baseball in college, it wasn’t his only option. He was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Michigan Tech and had drawn some interest in football.
But while it will soon be time to focus to one sport in college, Hissa is pleased that he didn’t specialize in high school.
“It helps to be able to have different outlets to keep from getting bored,” he said. “There’s going to be some regret there if you haven’t tried some new things.”
Time out with Donnie Hissa
1 – I like about high school sports: making new friends and the competition.
2 – Role models: my parents, John and Gina.
3 - My family also includes: my sister, Nicole, and brother, Timmy.
5 - Favorite movie: The Sandlot
6 – Favorite food: pasta
7 – Favorite opponent: Bloomer
8 - Dream date: Jessica Biel
9 – Hobbies: hunting, fishing, coaching youth basketball 10 – I wish I could still play: hockey
