Sports - Pierce County Journal

Ellsworth junior Aubrey Wittenberg rips a double to the gap during the Panthers’ playoff game on the road against Saint Croix Central last season. Wittenberg returns as one of the Panthers’ best players this year and was also selected as one of three team captains.

Ellsworth Panthers softball under new leadership

When Kenzie Diercks amicably resigned shortly after the 2022 season, it paved the way for Kenzie’s father and long-time assistant Tom Diercks to take the reins as the next Ellsworth softball … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 4/6/23

Seniors Owen Larson (#4) and Jack Gehl (#19) celebrate after scoring during a game last season. Larson and Gehl leave two open varsity slots for this year’s team that need to be filled this spring.

RF baseball will rely on pitching strength, depth in 2023

Although the River Falls High School baseball team has yet to cement its infield and outfield starters, the Wildcats already know the strength and depth of their veteran pitching staff going into … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 4/6/23

Then-junior Dyrden Seeley rips a single down the left field line during one of Prescott’s home games last year. Seeley returns for his senior campaign this spring and is expected to be one of Prescott’s most important players.

Position battles aplenty for Prescott baseball

For the Prescott Cardinals, baseball is a numbers game, and they’ve done it as well as any team in the Middle Border Conference throughout the last handful of years in terms of getting kids out … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 4/6/23

The Ellsworth Panthers’ defensive line crowds the line of scrimmage during a game last year. Ellsworth head coach Rob Heller spoke positively of the WIAA’s approved adjustment of the Middle Border Conference which is slated to begin in 2024.

Altoona in, Rice Lake out of MBC football in 2024

The Middle Border Conference is one of more than a dozen high school leagues throughout Wisconsin that is slated for realignment in the fall of 2024, according to recent WIAA reports. Pierce … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 4/6/23

Peter Rayne (left) and his daughter Ellen Rayne (right) take a selfie shortly after finishing the 2023 iteration of the Birkebeinerrennet in Lillehammer, Norway. Peter and Ellen crossed the finish line at the same time after completing the 34-mile Worldloppet race.

Ellsworth father, daughter craft lifelong memories through global skiing adventures

When Ellen Rayne learned how to cross-country ski in 2020, it cleared a previously snow-covered path for her and her father Peter Rayne, both of whom are Ellsworth natives, to create lifelong … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 4/6/23

Shots from the hip for March 29

Approximately 200 people showed up for the 23rd Annual CAB Company/Prescott Fastpitch Association Banquet at the Old Ptacek’s Event Center last Friday. The featured speaker was The Common … more

By Cripe Olson | 3/30/23

The Common Man Dan Cole, a long-time radio personality at KFAN in Minneapolis-St. Paul speaks during Prescott’s 23rd Annual CAB/PFA Banquet at the Old Ptacek’s Event Center on Friday, March 24.

Prescott’s 23rd Annual CAB, PFA Banquet raises $5,500

It was another successful fundraising year for Prescott’s Crazy About Baseball (CAB) Company and the Prescott Fastpitch Association (PFA), which brought in approximately $5,500 in profit at the … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/30/23

River Falls senior Rebecca Randleman blows by her competition and takes first place during her heat of the 55-meter dash preliminaries at the Blue Devil Invite. Randleman finished second in the finals later that afternoon on Tuesday, March 21.

River Falls track and field finishes top five at Blue Devil Invite

Although River Falls track and field head coach Max Haskins was pleased with his team’s top-five finish at the Blue Devil Invite, that’s not what he’s focused on this early in the … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/30/23

Prescott senior Tyler Loucks of the boys’ track and field team holds the Northern Badger Classic Small Division trophy while the rest of the team surrounds him after earning first place in Menomonie on Saturday, March 25.

Prescott track and field wins Northern Badger Classic Small

After finishing runner-up at the UW-Stout Blue Devil Invite last week, Prescott’s track and field team was happy, but not satisfied. The satisfaction came days later when the boys’ and … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/30/23

Ellsworth seniors (from left) Alex Pazdernik, Anthony Madsen, Lance Gipford and Drew Gipson were all smiles moments after they signed their letters of intent at the signing day ceremony in Ellsworth on Friday, March 24.

Four Ellsworth athletes sign collegiate letters of intent

While surrounded by friends, family and coaches, four Ellsworth Panthers signed letters of intent to play college sports at various levels during a ceremony at the high school on Friday, March … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/30/23

Kevin Black, formerly the head coach of the River Falls High School wrestling team coaches during the Northern Badger Wrestling Tournament in River Falls on Friday, Dec. 30. Black stepped down as River Falls head coach shortly after the 2022-23 season ended.

Kevin Black steps down as River Falls wrestling head coach

After 10 years as the River Falls High School wrestling team’s head coach, Kevin Black has stepped down and will shift additional focus to the family relationships in his life, particularly … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/30/23

One of nearly 70 River Falls High School students involved with the powerlifting team gets parallel during a squat repetition in a meet earlier this season.

Powerlifting: River Falls’ fastest-growing high school sport

When Ulice Payne III began working as a personal trainer in downtown River Falls in 2017, he had no idea that less than five years later he’d be the head coach of a team competing in one of the … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/23/23

The Prescott Lady Cardinals’ 4x800-meter relay group of (from left) Ava Budworth, Sophie Ripley, Maddie Matzek and Ella Johnson enjoy a moment together on the first day of competition at the state championships in La Crosse last season.

Prescott track and field aims to capitalize on 2022 success

After winning a pair of regional titles and sending more than half a dozen athletes to the state championships in La Crosse last season, the Prescott Cardinals track and field team is looking to … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/23/23

Ellsworth senior Urban Broadway, who graduated last year, pitches during a game last spring. Broadway was a three-year starter and left a gap in the Panthers’ pitching rotation heading into the 2023 season.

Ellsworth baseball prioritizes getting back to .500

After a 2022 season in which the Ellsworth baseball team went 5-12 overall, now second-year head coach Brandon Voelker has targeted a .500 record as the major goal for 2023. For Voelker, getting … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/23/23

Seniors Elise Frisbie, Morgan Priggie and then-juniors Brooke Silloway and Rebecca Randleman wear their medals on the podium after finishing fifth in the Division 1 4x200 meter relay at the state championships in La Crosse last spring. Both Silloway and Randlemen return for their senior seasons this year.

RF track and field targets 2023 BRC championship

Both the River Falls girls’ and boys’ track and field programs have set their sights on the 2023 Big Rivers Conference championship, which would be their first titles since 2015 and 2019 … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/23/23

The River Falls High School football team huddles while junior quarterback Jacob Range delivers the play call. The Big Rivers Conference will look different for River Falls in 2024, as Eau Claire North and Memorial are leaving the conference while Rice Lake returns.

HS Football: Big Rivers Conference slated for realignment in 2024

The Big Rivers Conference is one of more than a dozen high school leagues in Wisconsin that will undergo realignment, which is slated to be implemented in the fall of 2024, according to recent WIAA … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/23/23

Prescott senior pitcher Taylor Graff delivers a strike during a game last year. Graff was an All-State pitcher last season, but won’t see the circle this year as she has been diagnosed with a hip injury that will require surgery after the season. She will still hit and play a position in 2023.

Internal expectations remain high for Prescott softball

Despite losing six impactful seniors from last year’s Middle Border Conference champion Cardinals team, internal expectations remain as high as ever in Prescott. For head coach Nick Johnson, … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/23/23

Prescott senior Jordan Malmlov slashes to the rim for a layup during a game earlier this season. Malmlov was selected as the Middle Border Conference Co-Player of the Year, an honor he shares with Osceola senior forward Brayden Bradway. The 2022-23 distinction is Malmlov’s second Player of the Year award.

Prescott's Jordan Malmlov named Middle Border Conference Co-Player of the Year

Individual honors continue to pile up for Prescott senior Jordan Malmlov, who spent his four years as a varsity basketball player rewriting the program’s record books which made him one of the … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 3/23/23