Lance Painter was the best to ever play baseball for Nicolet.

Lance attended Nicolet High School from 1981-1985. He participated in 5 sports while at Nicolet: track, basketball, golf, football and baseball. He was an All-Conference Honorable Mention punter on the football team his senior year in 1985 and also lettered in golf that season. But his best sport was baseball where he starred on the mound, earning three varsity letters his final three years at Nicolet. Lance was first team All-Conference his Junior year but he saved his best for last. In his Senior year of 1985, Lance threw a perfect game in the WIAA State Championship game, retiring all 21 batters, a feat that has never been accomplished before or since. It was his second no-hitter of the season. His incredible pitching performance capped off a season in which he earned first team All-Conference, first team All-State and led his team to its first ever State Championship.

After high school, Lance went on to the University of WI-Madison and later was drafted by the in the 1990 amateur draft. He broke into the big leagues in 1993, pitching for the . Lance also played major league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, and in a career that spanned 10 seasons.

The “Lance Painter” award is given to the top pitcher on the Nicolet Baseball team each season.