The Prescott girls golf team is still the #1 ranked team in Division 2 as Head Coach Chad Salay and his golfers begin their WIAA State Title defense at the WIAA Division 2 Regional held at Pheasant Hills Golf Course in Hammond. The Sectional Tournament will be held on Oct. 5 at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Solon Springs. Other area teams ranked in the final regular season poll include Altoona/Eau Claire Regis at #5 and Hayward at #7.

Congratulations to Prescott Middle School student Chase Radlou on bagging his first bear last week near Webb Lake in Burnett County. Other youngsters who were also successful in harvesting a black bruin include Prescott High School sophomore brother combination Luke and Lewis Kinneman.

Bravo to Prescott High School Cross Country Captain Tyler Loucks on his impressive performance in the Roy Griak Invitational. Almost 500 runners from over 100 schools from nine diuerent states competed in the annual Twin Cities area running event. Loucks finished in 16th place in what is iden – tified as among the top cross country races in the Midwest. Prescott harriers will run in a 13-team invitational this Saturday hosted by New Richmond High School.

The Prescott Cardinal volleyball team placed second in last Saturday’s Abbotsford Invitational. Head Coach Tracey Budworth and the Cardinals rolled into the final with convincing victories over Rosholt, Colby, Loyal, and Abbotsford before falling in the championship match to Stratford. After conference games this week against Amery and Ellsworth, Prescott will compete in an invitational tournament in Amery.

In the most recent Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association state rankings, the Bloomer Blackhawks (17-5) remain the only team Division 2 from the western part of the state receiving votes. Incidentally, five of the top 10 schools ranked in Division 2 are private schools.

Amery junior running back Koy Hopke leads the Middle Border Conference in rush- ing with 844 yards, averaging 6.5 yards a car ry. However, it is on the wrestling mat where Hopke has received worldwide recognition. Earlier this summer Hopke won two gold medals at the Pan American Games in both freestyle and Greco-Roman and followed that performance with a gold medal in freestyle at the July U17 World Championships in Rome, Italy. The talented grappler hopes to one day wrestle for the United States in the Summer Olympics.

The Prescott CAB Company will be looking for a handful of volunteers this Saturday for some infield maintenance work at Firehall Field. The back edge of the infield is creating standing water problems at times and volunteers hope to mitigate this drainage issue before next spring rolls around.

With their second consecutive loss in the Middle Border Conference Rice Lake finds itself sporting a .500 record in league play. Anecdotally word on the street was the former Big Rivers Conference member was none too pleased about joining the Middle Border Conference for football due to competition quality. I wonder if that same bird is singing outside the Barron County school?

According to the most recent national statistics, high school head coaching turnover has become an increasing issue. The numbers show that 52% of head coaches quit after two years or less on the job. Those who remain on the job for more than 10 years is approximately 10%. The primary reasons given by coaches for resigning their positions included time commitment, family reasons, and dealing with parents.

Committee Chairperson Tanya Sponholz reminds everyone the Prescott Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for Fall 2023 induction into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Committee will be accepting nominations through June 2023. Nominating forms can be found at the Prescott School District website: https://www.prescott.k12. wi.us/community/hall-of-fame.cfm With their crucial victory over Rice Lake last Friday the Ellsworth Panthers have now won 18 consecutive conference games and are now the favorites to win their third consecutive Middle Border Conference title. Despite losing a large number of players from last year’s state runner-up team to graduation, Head Coach Rob Heller and his charges have another title in their sights and a high seed heading into the fast-approaching state playous. Headshaker of the week. As many of you know the WIAA is in the process of considering a competitive balance plan connected to the division placement of teams during the tournament series. Since the merger of the WIAA and WISAA (State Private School Association) over a decade ago, fans and coaches have griped and complained to the WIAA about the fairness associated with lower enrollment private schools competing against public schools with similar enrollments during WIAA tournaments. Those who have seen part of the proposal to deal with the supposed competitive advantage held by private schools report a calculator, an abacus, a slide rule, a protractor, a compass, and a caliper is necessary to understand the newest proposal. The detailed explanation is not only complex but it is almost impossible for the typical high school sports fan to understand. One more thing…it’s a headshaker.