FRANKLIN -- It’s been a long time coming for Hanson.

“We finally made it,” said Hanson senior Christian Steiner.

For the first time in school history, the Hanson Tigers are headed to the Class A state tournament at Bringhurst Park in Alexandria.

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“We’ve never been there before. This is a big moment for the school and a first in school history,” said Hanson coach Ryan Stoute.

Not only is it a big event for the school but it’s also the first time in about 20 years since Hanson’s been in the semifinals.

Long-time assistant coach Larry Lombardo couldn’t immediately remember the last time Hanson reached the semifinals but he believed that is was sometime in the mid-1980s.

What he did know was that the win over St. Mary’s Saturday was Hanson’s first appearance in the quarterfinals since losing to St. John 11-4 in 2002.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been this far,” said Lombardo.

The Tigers (17-13) make their first appearance in the state tournament Wednesday against Mangham (26-8), a 12-8 winner over St. Martin’s in the other quarterfinal game in the bottom half of the bracket.

The winner of Wednesday’s game plays either St. Edmund of Eunice (23-8) or Northlake Christian of Covington (25-4) in Saturday’s final. Game times have yet to be announced but the semifinals are expected to be at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and the championship game is expected to be at 7 p.m.

“This is the first time that we’ve gone to state,” said Stoute. “The win Saturday was what the kids deserved and what this program deserves.”

Those sentiments were readily agreed to by the players.

“It means a lot to the team,” said senior Mikey Payton. “We’re the first (Hanson) team that has ever gone to Bringhurst and now we have to capitalize on it.

“We can’t lose track right now. We can’t lose our heads just being there. We have to show that we belong there and we can be the best over there.”

Long acknowledged as a perennial playoff contender, the Tigers now have a chance to compete for the ultimate prize -- a state title.

“I have a team that’s going to be ready to compete,” said Stoute. “That’s all I ask.”

And the players know that just being there is not good enough.

“I’m not satisfied,” said Steiner. “Being there is not good enough. I want to win state.”