River Falls - Pierce County Journal

River Falls and Notre Dame Academy line up in D.C. Everest for the State Semifinals on Nov. 14.

WESTON — River Falls’ dream season featured 11 wins and a trip to the State Semi-Finals, statistics that put some of the Wildcats up against school history and a team full of students who … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/19/25

Senior diver Avery Singel is headed back to State after an absolutely dominant season.

Singel to return to State, senior swimmers go out on a high

River Falls saw senior diver Avery Singel qualify for State with a first-place Sectional finish and lifetime bests in 14 of 18 individual races in Hudson over the weekend. Singel will compete in … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/12/25

Senior Austin Stellrecht gets a sack in a 52-38 win over Oshkosh North.

Wildcats welcome Oshkosh out west with a shootout

RIVER FALLS — For the first time in school history, River Falls is an 11-win team, taking down Oshkosh North thanks to an unstoppable offense 52-38 Friday. The win moved the Wildcats into the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/12/25

Alex Call and JP Feyereisen teaming up on an American Legion team that won State.

RF makes history as high school teammates earn World Series rings

This October brought the first documented pair of high school teammates to earn World Series rings during the same season. It was not some private school in California, a baseball academy in Florida … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/12/25

Elmwood sophomore Trevor Asher is the second leading rusher for UWRF football this season.

Home sweet home: Local athletes have UWRF football making history

There are few better feelings in life than representing your hometown in whatever you do. For a handful of University of Wisconsin-River Falls football players, they get to do that while staying … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/12/25

The Ellsworth boys team being sent off to State as a squad for the first time since 1992.

Ellsworth XC boys soak in State experience

Ellsworth’s boys cross country team competed at State in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 1. While they finished 16th of 16 as a team in Division 2, the team worked around an injury and … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/5/25

The Wildcats celebrate after scoring in a 3-1 win over Eau Claire North during the Regional Final on Oct. 25.

Wildcats come up one set short of return to State

River Falls had little time to react to an injury to junior kill leader Amelie Pankonin going down just days before the Regional Final. Despite practicing just briefly with major lineup changes, … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/5/25

River Falls Wildcat senior libero Olivia Doerre (middle sleeveless jersey), the youngest of three Doerre sisters, celebrates after a point earlier this season. Doerre will play collegiate volleyball next season at UW-Milwaukee.

RF Volleyball: A decade of Doerre comes to an end

The volleyball defensive position term "libero," is an Italian word meaning "free." Liberos may be free to substitute without restriction, but there is a price to pay on the back row. Libero currency … more

By Greg Peters | 11/5/25

Senior Avery Singel won the Big Rivers Conference diving competition with a score of 361.4.

RF takes three titles home at Conference Swim & Dive meet

River Falls took fifth in the girls Big Rivers Conference swim and dive meet over the weekend, winning three events and scoring a 271, 40 points better than a year ago. The winners of the day … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/5/25

Senior Dominic Hietala tracks the ball in the Sectional semifinals against New Richmond.

RF run to remember comes to end at hands of New Richmond

NEW RICHMOND — No. 6 seed River Falls saw its run of miracle comebacks end after a 3-0 loss to No. 1 New Richmond in the Sectional semifinals, but there was no shortage of memories made, … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/5/25

Senior running back Joseph Tarasewicz leaves defenders in his wake as part of another five-touchdown night.

RF controls the trenches to beat La Crosse Central

RIVER FALLS — Division 2 No. 1 seed River Falls once again asserted its dominance in the level two playoffs, scoring 41 points in the first half to beat La Crosse Central 50-24. On the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 11/5/25

The Ellsworth boys cross country team is headed to State after an outstanding Sectionals finish landed them in the top two.

Ellsworth boys XC headed to State for first time since 1992

Ellsworth boys cross country is headed back to State for the first time since 1992, showing out at Rice Lake to the tune of a second-place finish. “It’s pretty significant … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/29/25

River Falls celebrates a tight win over Eau Claire North for the Regional title.

RF wins contested Regional title 3-1 over EC North

The volleyball postseason brought out the best, with no shortage of great matches. River Falls added another Regional title to an already decorated weekend for the school, and Ellsworth, Spring … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/29/25

Beaver Dam and River Falls clash at the goal line on third down. during Round 1 of the playoffs Oct. 24.

RF lone survivor of playoff football opening round

The WIAA football playoffs can be a buzzsaw, and it proved just that, knocking out three county teams in the opening round. The lone team to rise above the noise was the No. 1 seed River Falls … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/29/25

For the second straight year, River Falls boys soccer won the Regional title to advance to Sectionals.

Lightning strikes twice: Cardiac Cats are Regional champs again

You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but the young Cats out of River Falls have brought out an old trick, winning Regionals for a second straight year. After a pair of 2-0 comebacks, … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/29/25

Prescott Head Coach Jordan Hansen encourages the Cardinals, who gave the Middle Border Conference Champion Baldwin-Woodville Blackhawks a fight Friday, Oct. 17.

Around the County: Four more postseasons begin

Football Ellsworth got a massive win heading into the playoffs, beating a strong Osceola team on the road 31-20. Coincidentally, the Panthers hit the road to take on Osceola in the playoff … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/22/25

Prescott’s All-Conference and medalist runners (from left): Addy Allsop, Amber Van Loon, Kyra Dix, Nolan Leask, Dawson Langer.

Top finishes galore at conference XC meets

The Middle Border, Big Rivers and Dunn-St. Croix conferences each held their championship meets over the last week. All-Conference runners were named around the county as the teams now enter the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/22/25

Wildcat Nik Thomas earned the Garage Bikes + Brews player of the game on Thursday night vs Eau Claire North. Nik played with passion and determination, locking down the left side of our defensive line. He read the game well, stepping to deny Husky attackers and that helped lead to a strong counterattack.

Around the County: Conference title races taking shape

Football River Falls headed into the halftime break Friday, Oct. 10 tied with Menomonie at 14. The Wildcats must have heard a motivating halftime speech, though, bursting out of the half to a … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/15/25

Senior quarterback Tino Massa has had a great year at the helm of the River Falls offense.

Wildcats have a lot to play for entering final week

RIVER FALLS — River Falls went into halftime tied with Menomonie in a Big Rivers bout, but the train kept rolling in the second half, cruising to a 42-14 win in the season’s penultimate … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/15/25

River Falls is continuing to find its footing in the back half of the season, taking care of business against Onalaska with a 5-0 win. The Wildcats lost 1-0 to Menomonie on a late goal to break the seal.

Around the County: The waning weeks of fall sports

Football No. 10 ranked River Falls beat No. 3 ranked, undefeated Rice Lake in a road matchup 40-28. The win moved River Falls to 6-1 and the Wildcats are now in a three-way tie at 4-1 atop the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/8/25