Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Opelt, Gaier, Voigt, Stockheimer
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/24/2021
Opelt Sisters Make Mark on Varsity Sports Together
Bella Opelt drives to the basket through a defense during this past season, a season in which she was a senior and was able to play alongside her sister, Paris. “I was just super happy that I could brag that my little sister’s playing with me and starting with me.” Bella said. Ryan Spoehr/Clark County Press
By Ryan Spoehr
As Bella Opelt has gone through one last year of varsity sports at Neillsville High School, she has had her sister, Paris, by her side.
Paris has not just been by her older sister’s side, however. Just like Bella, Paris had had a significant role on the Warrior’s Volleyball and basketball teams, and the two are preparing for one more go-around as varsity teammates on Neillsville’s softball team.
“It was great all around. I was just super happy that I could brag that my little sister’s playing with me and starting with me. I was very proud of her doing that,” Bella said.
Paris, a freshman, said it was an exciting experience to play on varsity and to have Bella and others as teammates, and that Bella even served as an additional coach for her throughout the sports seasons this year so far.
“It was fun and definitely worth it,” Paris said. “She pushed me; she helped me through the plays and what to do, and how to do things.”
Bella looks back on playing on the same team as Paris in volleyball and basketball this year fondly as well.
“It was definitely fun because she has watched me play a lot because she has gone to all of my games,” Bella said.
Bella looked forward to this year’s basketball and volleyball seasons with anticipation.
“I was super excited because I knew she [Paris] could be really good and that I could push her to be her best,” Bella said.
Prior to this season, Bella did served as a basketball coach to Paris in a technical sense as she helped their mom, Sunni, coach Paris’ grade level.
“When I could, I would come to the practices and help them, but knowing that she would actually be playing with me I knew she would actually have to take the extra step and I knew how I could help and how she understands things,” Bella said. “I was really excited and I’m glad I could help her.”
Bella scored her 1,000th point in high school basketball this season. Right there to congratulate Bella was her teammate, and sister, Paris.
“Paris gave me a really, really big hug, and I could see in her face that she was super proud of me,” Bella said.
Another memory for Bella was when the season came to a close.
“At our last game and losing, just when we hugged for the last time knowing we’d play with each other, I think we both really lost it, and it was hard for both of us,” Bella said.
That was definitely our biggest memory of our year together knowing that was our last game together,” Paris added. “And the game where she had her 1,000th point, I was very happy for her. I got really excited with my team. We were really proud of her – all of us.”
The sisters’ coaches were proud to have them as players on their teams.
“Both Bella and Paris are very talented student athletes,” said John Gaier, their varsity basketball head coach. “They are both very humble and hard working.”
Coach Tim Voigt also spoke highly of the young ladies’ performance on the volleyball court this past season. The varsity volleyball team tied for second in the conference at 5-2 and nearly beat Division 2 number-one seed in regionals. Voigt said the Opelts were a big part of their team’s success.
“Bella and Paris are a lot alike. Both are easygoing young ladies. But when they get on the court, it’s like flipping a switch. They’re there to play and very competitive… They don’t want to lose. They never talk back and give 120 percent at all times.”
Gaier said Bella had a great four-year career as a starter on his team, and Paris got off to a “very good start” as a freshman.”
Paris Opelt was able to crack the Neillsville Warriors’ starting lineup as a freshman, which led her to playing along with her sister Bella. Valerie Bracht/Clark County Press
“Paris gave us some needed height and rebounding on a team that was not overly tall.” Gaier said. “I look forward to Paris having a great high school career, and I wish Bella the very best of luck in her college career.
“In addition to the high scoring from Bella on the basketball court, Bella played all around the rotation in volleyball and Paris came in for front row. Both were outside hitters.
“For Bella, what she lacked in height she made up for in strategy and her vertical jump,” said Voigt. “Bella is just Bella. It’s phenomenal, her ability to read the court – she understands everything going on.”
“Paris was up over the top and just an animal as a freshman. She grew up fast; she was thrown into the wolf den and excelled.”
Voigt said Bella was one of the team’s main leaders this year as a senior and that Paris learned from her example.
“For Paris, her biggest growth came from listening to her sister and Bella taking her under her wing. They built off each other and when they were together on the court, they brought up the confidence level of the team.”
Voigt said he also appreciated the sister’s commitment to sprots programs at Neillsville. He said they were willing to help out, whether it was coaching youth basketball or volleyball, or helping at tournaments by refereeing, scorekeeping, coaching or running the concession stand. He praised their character, as they serve s role models for the younger athletes.
“They’re kind, pleasant and very humble… They’re fantastic human beings on and off the court.”
Although this was the sisters’ first time formally playing on the same teams, Paris was around Bella on the court while Bella played basketball prior to this year. Bella said Paris was always willing to help out and give a player a break if needed during training.
Also, Paris played some minutes during a tournament last summer that Bella was involved in.
“She has always kind of been there and she always came to practices, so she knows how I play in my game. So, that has probably really helped a lot,” Bella said.
The two also played basketball together at home throughout their childhoods.
“We have a hoop in our driveway that we always played at and played simple games, like one-on-one and stuff,” Pris said. “I’d say we are both really competitive in those games, so that’s probably what pushed us to be our best.”
Keeping score though was always interesting.
“I was the younger sister and Bella always had to take it easy on me,” Paris said. “But either way we were competitive, and we’d keep score sometimes, not all the time. It was just a fun little thing with us.”
“I’d say I won more often if we’re going that way.” Bella replied. “I took it easy, but I always made sure I won.”
But Bella wasn’t afraid to be tough on Paris during practice this season if she felt it was warranted.
“During practices, I would definitely be the one to scream at her if anyone was going to yell at her,” Bella said.
Overall, Bella has praised Paris’ efforts and play this year.
Bella said Paris anticipated during games really well and started using her speed and length as advantages.
“Sometimes she may not think she’s super-fast, but she can actually show that he has a lot of speed. And, just with her being more confident in herself and seeing what she can do when she is confident in herself. I know that she is going to have a really good high school career.” Bella said.
“It makes me feel more confident in myself that she thinks that, and I can have a good high school career, coming from someone who had an amazing high school career,” Paris replied.
Bella said Paris got off to a really good start in her first year in varsity basketball, especially in an early season game against McDonell Central at home.
“She had the game-high 16 points,” Bella said. “After that game, I knew she was capable of doing that every game, if she wanted to.”
That fame was Dec. 15, which was a 51-42 win for the Warriors. Paris was six-for-five from the free throw line in that game. Paris also had a three-pointer, six rebounds, an assist and a steal. After Terren Stockheimer with 13 points, Bella was the next-leading scorer for Neillsville with 11.
Paris said she learned how to be a leader from Bella this year.
“Her skill to help the team and be there for everyone is definitely going to help me the next three years as a player,” Paris said.
The Warriors made a deep run into the WIAA playoffs, just coming up short in a sectional game at St. Croix Falls, 47-41.
“It felt really good to get to the sectionals. I really wish we could have gone to the sectional finals, but it happens for a reason,” Paris said. “Next year, I hope the team can get as far as we did this year, if not farther.”
Paris plans on continuing playing basketball at Neillsville High School.
“I look forward to playing with that junior team and hopefully improving a lot more, and getting farther than we did this year,” Paris said.
Neillsville High School varsity basketball coach John Gaier said Bella (l) and Paris (r) Opelt have been “very talented” student-athletes and have been humble and hardworking in their high school sports careers. Both Paris and Gaier were in attendance for a recent ceremony in which Bella singed a letter of intent to play at Ripon College. Ryan Spoehr/Clark County Press
Bella plans on playing basketball at Ripon College near Fond du Lac.
However, the two-and-a-half-hour drive won’t stop Paris from watching her big sister play basketball.
“I plan on watching her a lot,” Paris said. “She’s definitely that person I can watch and enjoy.”
Editor Valorie Brecht contributed to this report.
