River Falls - Pierce County Journal

Around the County: Prescott baseball to play for conference’s top spot

Baseball Prescott went 3-0 on the week, beating St. Croix Falls 5-4 and St. Croix Central 4-0 and 2-0. Prescott is now a game out of the top conference spot at 4-2 with an overall 8-2 record. … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/30/25

River Falls junior Olive Halvorson recently broke the school indoor mile record and has her sights set on Annie Frisbie's 10-year-old outdoor mile record of 4:59.

Wildcat track heroes set sights on breaking records

In literature, an olive branch is commonly used as a metaphor offering peace and goodwill. River Falls track star Olive Halvorson's name fits her like a custom-made track shoe. Halvorson, … more

By Greg Peters | 4/22/25

Wildcat senior Cal Usgaard turns a double play in the first inning on Monday against Champlin Park.

Wildcat baseball is off to a strong start

The River Falls Wildcat baseball team had three games under their elastic navy-blue belts before they had their first on-field outdoor varsity practice this year. Between tryouts, a chicken fry … more

By Greg Peters | 4/22/25

Around the County: Rainy weather reshapes athletic calendar

Softball Ellsworth is out to an impressive 8-1 start, scoring double-digits in seven of them. The Panthers beat Zumbrota-Mazeppa 5-4, and St. Croix Central 13-3 and 20-7 to boast a 3-0 week. … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/22/25

Preston Johnson was selected to play in both the football and basketball Wisconsin all-star games.

Preston Johnson to play in football and basketball state all-star games

Preston Johnson, a River Falls senior and Minnesota State University Moorhead football signee, was named to both the football and basketball Wisconsin Coaches Association All-Star games. … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/16/25

River Falls senior pitcher Auden Pankonin recently impressed Major League scouts with his 95-mph fastball in Chicago. Pankonin signed with the University of Nebraska this past fall.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

The dark scuffed up battle-tested 45-gallon Rubbermaid trash can in the River Falls' Wildcat home dugout was jam-packed during the first outdoor team meeting of the baseball season. Head Coach … more

By Greg Peters | 4/9/25

Sophomore Dani Poellinger provided a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Wildcats scratched their way back from a four-run deficit for the win against Spooner.

Wildcat softball is loaded up and truckin’

River Falls Head Softball Coach Leah Fletcher is in her first season at the helm for the Wildcats. It would be tough to have a better first week for the rookie head coach that lists "Smokey and the … more

By Greg Peters | 4/2/25

River Falls girls soccer made it to State a year ago; they are looking to go a step further and come away with the trophy this time around.

Wildcats not shying away from high expectations, tough early season schedule

RIVER FALLS — Girls soccer in River Falls has established itself as a top team in recent years, making many Sectional final games and State appearances in 2018 and 2024. Now, the Wildcats are … more

By Andrew Harrington | 4/2/25

2019 River Falls High School grad Macey Kilty won the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship this month for the University of Iowa. The NCAA will have sanctioned national women's wrestling tournaments in 2026.

Trailblaze phase for RFHS alum

River Falls High School 2019 grad Macey Kilty recently won the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship (NCWWC) as a member of the University of Iowa and you may have never even heard of … more

By Greg Peters | 3/27/25

Prescott softball won the Division 3 State Championship a year ago and look to find their way back to the big game.

Spring weather signals start of softball season

As the snow starts to clear out and the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, the long-awaited spring sports season has arrived. The softball coaches are ready to step up to the plate, holding a lot … more

By Andrew Harrington | 3/27/25

Pierce County Journal announces inaugural All County Teams

3/27/25

A packed house at a River Falls Fighting Fish game last summer.

First National Bank of RF Field to see big changes

The month of March must be a time for addressing in River Falls. The City of River Falls gave their "State of the City" address just over two weeks ago. Last week, the non-profit all-volunteer … more

By Greg Peters | 3/19/25

Mitchell Williamson scores a takedown with three seconds remaining to win the NCAA Division-III National Heavyweight Championship.

Former Wildcat wins NCAA national title in wrestling

River Falls' 2018 grad Mitchell Williamson is no stranger to taking the long road. His collegiate wrestling travels have taken him to Iowa Lakes Community College where he won a junior college … more

By Greg Peters | 3/19/25

River Falls' native Ace Sauerwein has been the "Voice of the Lady Griz" for the past three years on the radio at the University of Montana. Montana will play the Wisconsin Badgers in men's basketball this week in the NCAA tournament.

Ace on the Mic: RF alum is ‘Voice of the Lady Griz’

The beginning journey of a play-by-play sports radio broadcaster can be compared to rummaging through the Tupperware cabinet in someone else's kitchen. There are 25 different bowls with 32 lids … more

By Greg Peters | 3/19/25

Around the County: SV basketball wins Regional, RF gymnastics takes seventh at State

Boys Basketball Spring Valley was the lone team to make it out of their Regional bracket in the county. Because of the weather, they had to play three games in three days to do it, but they did … more

By Andrew Harrington | 3/12/25

Wildcat seniors Preston Johnson, Lincoln Tremain, and Eli Johnson pose for a post-game picture.

Wildcats drop heartbreaker at the buzzer

Johnson and Johnson may be the name of the "No Tears" tagline liquid soap, but many fans of the Wildcats' version had tears streaming down their cheeks after Friday night's 67-65 nerve racking loss … more

By Greg Peters | 3/12/25

The River Falls gymnastics team loading up the bus for their trip to State at Wisconsin Rapids.

RF takes seventh at gymnastics State meet

River Falls took seventh of 10 teams at the D2 State meet in Wisconsin Rapids over the weekend, capping off another memorable season. As a team, the Wildcats scored 133.983 with a 34.633 on … more

By Andrew Harrington | 3/12/25

Cousins Austin Stellrecht (left) and Nick Stellrecht (right) were guarding each other during Friday night's Region Semi-Final boys basketball game in River Falls.

Cousin Clash: Stellrechts battle on the court

The Stellrecht brothers, Nate and Steve, grew up on a dairy farm near Spooner, Wis. They are identical twins in every sense of the term. Nate and Steve weren't attached at the hip, literally, but it … more

By Greg Peters | 3/12/25

Around the County: Wrestling State, GBB and hockey seasons come to an end

Girls Basketball No girls basketball squads escaped the Regional bracket of the playoffs over the course of the week. Prescott got the closest, receiving a bye in round one and taking care … more

By Andrew Harrington | 3/5/25

Ellsworth’s Austin Peterson wrestled in the WIAA State Semi-Finals Friday night dropping a heartbreaker by decision, 1-0. Peterson finished in fourth place.

Ellsworth’s Peterson finishes 4th at state; area wrestlers invade Madison

The Kohl Center in Madison hosted the 82nd WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament this past week. It was a buffet for the senses both on the mat and behind the scenes in the half-moon concrete … more

By Greg Peters | 3/5/25