by Cripe Olson

The WIAA State Basketball Tournament bracket assignments changed dramatically after 39 schools recently opted out of any kind of post season series due to the Covid-19 virus._ The decision sent reverberations throughout Wisconsin and brought wholesale changes to the post season. The revised tournament brackets look much different. The Prescott boys regional bracket now includes LaCrosse Aquinas (7-2), Durand (6-1), Arcadia (4-4), Mondovi (4-6), and Gale-Ettrick-Trempeleau (1-7)._ The teams and current record of the girls bracket include LaCrosse Aquinas (13-0), Durand (7-3), Arcadia (5-4), Gale-Ettrick-Trempeleau (3-3), and Mondovi (5-2). Six of the eight Middle Border Teams have now been moved to Division 2.__ In the boy’s bracket, Cameron (8-1) joins St. Croix Central (9-1) as the two ranked teams in the sectional._ The Comets enter the week as the #3 ranked team in_ Division IV and St. Croix Central enters mid January ranked #6 in Division III._ The girls sectional is now loaded with ranked teams._ LaCrosse Aquinas is ranked #2 in Division IV, Unity (8-0) is ranked #6, Neillsville (12-1) occupies the #7 spot, and Osseo-Fairchild (8-0) is ranked #9._ In Division III St. Croix Falls (9-1) is ranked #6 and Prescott (11-2) is ranked ranked #9._ During the tournament, teams with the higher seed will host throughout the sectional. The WIAA State Tournament will be held March 4th, 5th, and 6th and will be held at multiple locations throughout Wisconsin.__ The next win for the Prescott boys basketball team will be career victory number 200 for Head Coach Nick Johnson._ Speaking of milestones, Cardinal seniors Isabella Lenz and Nicole Dalman will both grab their 500th career rebound this week. While Lenz is headed to Michigan Tech next year Dalman plans on attending NCAA Division III St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minnesota._ The WIAA Wrestling bracket has also undergone changes._ Prescott has been placed_ in the Division II Regional that includes Arcadia, Black River Falls, Ellsworth, West Salem/Bangor, Osseo-Fairchild/Augusta/Fall Creek, and Gale-Ettrick-Trempeleau/ Melrose-Mindoro._ Regional are slated to begin around the state on January 30th. The Division II State Tournaments will be held at Adams-Friendship High School on February 13th (individual state tournament) and February 20th (team state tournament). _ Prescott’s Sam Murphy has moved up in the Wisconsin Wrestling OnLine state rankings. _ The 152 pound junior grappler is now ranked #11 in Division II._ In the team rankings Amery dropped one spot to #3 and fellow Middle Border Conference team Baldwin-Woodville is ranked #9._ Last Friday at Prescott High School fans were lucky to watch two 1,000 point scorers in Prescott’s Isabella Lenz and Ellsworth’s Autumn Earney. The All Conference duo did not disappoint. Lenz finished with 34 points and Earney 28 as the Cardinals bested the Panthers for the second time this season. Earney and Lenz are 1-2 in the Middle Border Conference in scoring and from a spectator point of view, consistently display excellent sportsmanship and character on the court._ Lenz and Earney are two high school athletes prospective players would do well to emulate. Hats off to both of them._ Incidentally, both Lenz and Earney are outstanding softball players.___ Alumni Update._ Where are they now?_ Matt Magnan 2006 Prescott graduate._ A three sport athlete in high school and a multiple All Conference selection, Magnan was a quarterback, guard, and catcher/pitcher for the Cardinals. _ After a successful high school career, Magnan attended St. John’s University where he played baseball for the Johnnies._ After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, Magnan worked with the St. Johns University study abroad program and subsequently taught English at Southwest University in Chongqing, China. Currently, Magnan works for a software company in Barcelona, Spain where he has lived for the past several years._ Headshaker of the week. During the NFL playoffs, a sport many reading this vowed they were going to boycott this year for political reasons, why does there have to be sideline reporters/interviews? Most often their “reporting” is related to obvious field conditions, player shoe decorations, and headset malfunctions._ It is sports journalistic overkill. And it’s a headshaker.