(Sioux City, IA) The last four years have been among the best at Bishop Heelan High School, a Golden Age so to speak. In 2007 the ladies of Pride began a three year run of consecutive state tournament appearances culminating with a Class 3A State Championship in 2008. In that time there has been one constant. A player who stands at the precipice of an accomplishment few ever even consider. That one constant is Millie Niggeling.

Niggeling is that one unique athlete who goes about her business with minimal fanfare and becomes one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Iowa Girl’s Basketball. Due in part to the elite players she has been teamed with on the court the past four seasons as well as the fact that the majority of her career has been anchored on the block snatching rebounds and grabbing loose balls off the deck while dropping them in for easy baskets. While her high profile teammates are dazzling the crowd with their ball handling skills and outside shooting prowess, Niggeling is maneuvering unnoticed under the basket, anticipating the best angle in which to grab a rebound and add to her record setting point and rebound totals.

As a freshman, Niggeling didn’t waste any time making her mark on the floor. By season’s end Niggeling was among the starters for the team’s first return to the state tournament in twenty-three years. While the trip ended at the hands of eventual state runner-up Spirit Lake, this young freshman walked away from Wells Fargo Arena knowing she belonged. That night she led the team in scoring with 14 points and 7 rebounds, capping a tremendous freshman season with a 3rd Team All-State Selection. In 23 games as a freshman Niggeling averaged 13.2 points per game and grabbed an average of 7.7 rebounds a night. Niggeling’s introduction to varsity basketball was emblematic of what she would accomplish over the span of her career.

Her sophomore year turned out to be one of pure majesty not only for Niggeling but for all of Crusader-nation. Bishop Heelan cruised to a return visit to Wells Fargo Arena and again, Niggeling stole the show. In a first round win against Cedar Rapids Xavier, Niggeling dropped in 16 points and 12 rebounds. In her first two state tournament games, Niggeling had scored a combined 30 points and nabbed 19 rebounds. But for Millie, the best was yet to come.

In a semifinal thriller, Niggeling and the Crusaders charged back from an 11 point halftime deficit to defeat Ballard 50-49 in overtime. For Niggeling another banner night was highlighted by a blocked shot with :28 seconds remaining to preserve the victory. She finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds on the night and for the first time in school history the Crusaders would play for a state championship. Another nail biter ensued with Niggeling in the middle of the fray. Her 17 point, 9 rebound effort led the way for the Crusaders en route to a 54-51 victory over Pella and the school’s first Girl’s Basketball State Championship. The young Niggeling was forced to the free throw line with :12 seconds remaining and the game on the line. Proving that among her best assets is the ability to remain calm under pressure, Niggeling knocked down both free throws to ice the game and give the girls the title. For her stellar effort that week in Des Moines, Niggeling was rewarded by being named Captain of the 2008 All Tournament Team. Following the season Niggeling was named 2nd team Class 3A All-State and her statistics bore the proof. She averaged 13.6 points per game and grabbed an average of 8.3 rebounds per contest. She shot an amazing 60% from the field that season and also notched a career best 69 blocked shots, none bigger than the block she tallied in the semifinals.

Her junior year brought along with it huge expectations and hopes of back-to-back state titles. While Niggeling and her fellow Crusaders didn’t accomplish the ultimate goal, the march to that game was unprecedented. Entering the State Tournament for the third consecutive year the defending state champions quickly earned statewide respect by first dispatching Dubuque Wahlert (46-34) and then blasting Pella (45-32) in a repeat of the previous year’s state championship. Unfortunately for the Crusaders the highlights ended in the semi-finals because the rematch with Ballard in the State Championship was forgettable. In the tournament opener for the Crusaders Niggeling performed with her usual dominance pouring in 13 points and ripping 12 rebounds. In her sixth state tournament game Niggeling and her magical ride skid to a halt. Foul trouble and a slow game pace held her to 6 points and 6 rebounds before she fouled out with 2:54 remaining in the 4th quarter. The State Championship game saw the entire Heelan attack stifled by a suffocating Ballard defense holding the potent attack to a mere four points in the second half and 22 for the entire contest. Niggeling had 3 points and 3 rebounds on the night and left Wells Fargo Arena with a bitter pill to swallow. She was once again acknowledged as one of the top players in the tournament despite her diminished statistical output and was again named to the 2009 Class 3A All-Tournament Team. She was named 2nd Team All-State for the second time following another stellar season. As a junior Millie averaged 13.0 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per contest. Her consistency over three years made college basketball programs all over the country take notice. The decision to continue her career at the next level would be of the utmost importance entering the summer of 2009.

Approaching her fourth and final year of high school Niggeling had clearly established herself as one of the best players in the state, if not the entire Midwest. Her ability to score and rebound consistently is a valuable commodity that many college programs covet. Glenn Nelson of HoopGurlz.com was published on ESPN.com this summer and had this to say about Niggeling, “The 6-1 inside force from Sioux City, Iowa, is probably limited to the mid-major level because of her height, but she'll be able to compete on that level because of her girth and strength. She has a sturdy base, is reasonably mobile and is active enough to be effective at the defensive end as a shot-blocker and rebounder. On offense, Niggeling reads her guards well and slides into scoring areas to receive the ball, has a good up-and-under move and nails her short-corner jumpers.” Niggeling competed for the Iowa Select team during the summer and this participation took her on a whirlwind tour of states and exposure. After much deliberation Niggeling chose to attend the University of Vermont on a full basketball scholarship. The Catamounts finished 21-12 a year ago and won the America East Conference before eventually losing to Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament. For Niggeling the opportunity to play at the Division I level was a life-long dream and Vermont gave her that opportunity. She also coveted the chance to play right away and Vermont graduates four seniors this spring so Niggeling will be competing for time immediately. Vermont won out over the likes of Air Force, Northern Colorado, Nebraska-Omaha, and Missouri-Kansas City.

With the decision made, Niggeling could attend to more pressing issues, such as returning to Wells Fargo for the 4th straight season. Along the way a few milestones had to fall. On Saturday, November 28, Niggeling and teammate Carli Tritz each registered their 1,000th career points joining an elite club and becoming only the eighth and ninth members in Siouxland history. Since then Niggeling and the Crusaders have stormed to a 7-1 record and the #1 ranking in Class 3A. She is currently averaging a career best 14.9 points per game and is hitting on 50% of her shots from the field. For her illustrious career she has tallied 1,113 points, or an average of 13.4 points per game; 619 rebounds or 7.5 rebounds per game. Defensively she has tallied 172 blocks to go with 108 steals all among the best to ever play in Siouxland. At season’s end Niggeling will surely be named to her fourth consecutive All-State squad and will forever be regarded as one of the best Siouxland has ever seen.

For Niggeling the perfect ending to her storybook career would be a return to the state tournament capped by another state title and placement on the All-Tournament Team as well as yet another All-State selection, all very realistic propositions. Should this all transpire, Niggeling would go down in the annals of Iowa Girls High School basketball as one of the most decorated and successful players in history, right where she belongs.