Adventures with ‘Natty’
June 19, 2019 | Women's Hockey, Andy Baggot
Women’s hockey’s NCAA trophy has had quite a busy life since becoming a Badger
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MADISON, Wis. — It all began with an innocent question and a sincere answer.
Three members of the Wisconsin women's hockey team — seated left to right, senior defenseman Maddie Rolfes, junior goaltender Kristen Campbell and senior right winger Annie Pankowski — had just gotten done answering media questions pertaining to their 2-0 victory over Minnesota in the NCAA title game.
When the joyous trio, still in uniform and wearing commemorative baseball caps fashionably askew, rose to exit the stage, Pankowski leaned over to her left and quietly asked Coach Mark Johnson if it would be OK if she escorted the fifth national championship trophy in program history back to the dressing room inside People's United Center in Hamden, Connecticut.
Johnson cracked an affirming smile.
"It's yours," he said.
Pankowski took that generous gesture to heart, quickly whisking the prize off the table in front of her and kicking off a euphoric adventure that lasted over two months.
Your national champs: @BadgerWHockey 🏆
— espnW (@espnW) March 29, 2019
It began loudly on the afternoon of March 24 when the Badgers staged what Johnson called a "masterpiece" performance against their archrivals to claim their first NCAA title since 2011.
It ended quietly on May 28 when Eric Steffen, the program assistant for Johnson and assistant coaches Dan Koch and Jackie Crum, brought the trophy from the dressing room at LaBahn Arena to the second-floor women's hockey headquarters.
In between, the trophy affectionately known as Natty enjoyed a whirlwind existence.
"It's led a pretty exciting life, met a lot of people," junior winger Alexis Mauermann said, a huge smile creasing her face.
"I think it's been everywhere on campus, honestly," junior center Abby Roque said.
The first order of business after the milestone triumph was getting Pankowski to loosen her grip on Natty. A co-captain whose shorthanded goal clinched the win over Minnesota, she was leaving the day after the Frozen Four to join Team USA in the World Championships in Europe, which explains why she was so clingy.
"Originally, Annie didn't want to let go," sophomore winger Brette Pettet said with a grin.
Who could blame her?
During the nine-plus weeks that Natty roamed, she experienced a wide range of emotions.
She was kissed, cried upon, hugged and photographed countless times, mainly by the 26 student-athletes who trained and pained for that singular moment of achievement.
Campbell, the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four after working an unprecedented three consecutive NCAA tournament shutouts, said she's taken more than 5,000 photos on her phone since March 24.
She's the type who'd sit down and show them all to you if you asked.
Natty had her own seat on the charter plane ride home to Madison, buckled safely in place. She subsequently had a prime perch for the fire engine escort from Wisconsin Aviation to campus.
Natty has been the guest for multiple sleepovers, including one with Campbell that drew the attention of the defending Stanley Cup champions.
"Who did it better?" Campbell asked on Twitter, showing side-by-side photos of her and Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin cradling their newfound trophies.
The Caps retweeted the entry in good humor.
Who did it better? Retweet for @Soupy_35, Fav for @ovi8 🏆
— Kristen Campbell (@Soupy_35) March 28, 2019
"I tucked Natty in," Roque said of her personal sleepover, "and took her to breakfast in the morning."
Natty was constantly on the move. She was in the house for two major concerts — including an impromptu on-stage appearance with the band Old Dominion courtesy of lead singer Jordan Davis — had a lower-level seat for a Milwaukee Brewers game at Miller Park, toured the State Capitol and attended graduation ceremonies at Camp Randall Stadium as a guest of Pankowski and fellow seniors Emily Clark, Maddie Rolfes and Sophia Shaver.
Tonight we are pleased to welcome the 2019 National Champion Wisconsin Badgers Women's Hockey team!
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 20, 2019
Natty schmoozed with local icons. One minute she was seen with Mike Leckrone, retiring UW Hall of Fame band director at his final concert. The next she was being cradled by alum and current NFL superstar J.J. Watt, who was in town to give the spring commencement address.
Natty was seen in all the campus sites you'd expect. She showed up at the Union Terrace to soak in the Lake Mendota scenery and Goodman Diamond for Badgers softball game. She attended the 11th annual presentation of the Buckinghams, a talent and awards showcase for UW student-athletes, at the Overture Center. She took a long walk up and down State Street.
"It's everyone's trophy," Campbell said. "Someone told us on the street one day that they love how we're sharing this with Madison. But we're like it's because we love Madison so much and all the fans here are incredible."
Natty posed for photos in all the campus places you'd expect. Roque recalled an outdoor gathering at State Street Brats where the players encouraged passersby to come and hold the trophy and take pictures with it.
"It's really a special experience," Roque said. "Being able to take Natty everywhere has been awesome."
The People's Champion #OnWisconsin #ThankYouMike
— Wisconsin Hockey (@WisconsinWHockey) April 12, 2019
There was no formal schedule of usage among the players. They communicated via group chat about who had Natty and who would get her next.
"If someone wants to do something with it, they just text and say, 'Hey, where's the trophy?'" Roque said.
"Where is it now?" Pettet was asked at one point during the Natty Tour.
"Good question," she said. "I don't know. I'm just kind of trusting my teammates to have it."
Someone always did.
"It was just a thing everyone wanted to do," Mauermann said of sharing the trophy. "Everyone knows that everyone had a part in it, so I think it was just normal for everyone to get a day with it or a night with it."
Mauermann was among those who slept with Natty by her side.
"It was perfect," she said.
Natty also made an appearance at the UW Vet School — Pankowski's next step on the road to becoming a veterinarian — and a church group hosted at the home of Crum, the assistant coach.
The NCAA 🏆 made an appearance last night at the @OldDominion and @JordanCWDavis concert! #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) March 29, 2019
After all that attention, it's reasonable to assume that Natty is looking a little worn these days.
"It's got a couple dings in it if you look closely; I'm not going to lie," Roque said.
"It has a few scraps here and there, but we just say it adds character," Pettet said. "It's not too bruised up."
Natty has been kissed and touched by thousands of people, but the players said the trophy was wiped down regularly with Clorox and Windex cleaners.
"For the most part it looks pretty nice," Mauermann said.
Now, if only Natty could speak.
What would she say?
"She would tell us about a pretty exciting life," Mauermann said. "It's pretty happy right now."
