Koenig’s friends and family host tailgate party in Black River Falls

BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WKBT) — Even though many of La Crosse native Bronson Koenig’s friends and family won’t be able to make the trip to watch him in the Final Four, they’ll still be cheering loud from back at home.

On Friday, well-wishers met at the Ho Chunk Nation in Black River Falls for a pre-game celebration. That’s where Koenig’s mom works.

She says she hasn’t missed many games and still gets nervous before each one. “I’ve gone to most of them, I think I’ve probably missed 3 away games. I think I won’t get nervous until after I sit down. So ya, I usually don’t look at the score,” said Ethel Funmaker.

Ethel and her friends left for Texas right after the celebration to make it in plenty of time for Saturday’s 7:49 p.m. tip-off.