The 513 schools in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association declared by yesterday’s deadline for either the traditional fall season or the alternate fall season to be held in the spring of 2021. At this time, a majority of schools have opted to conduct their fall sports in the traditional season. The Executive Staff is utilizing the data to create innovated post-season opportunities for a tournament format or a culminating event. When it comes to 11-Player Football 68% (257 Fall) are playing the traditional season and 32% (120) will be playing the alternate season._ Firehall Field hosted six more games this past weekend and will host at least one more set of games this month._ After the final game on Saturday the Head Coach of one of the teams approached CAB Company volunteers and asked “Do you guys need some help with field work?”_ The offer was greatly appreciated by those doing field work but was not necessary._ A continued conversation with the same coach revealed he was none other than former Major Leaguer Mike KIngery._ An Atwater, Minnesota native, Kingery played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues including stints with Seattle, Kansas City, Colorado, Oakland, and Pittsburg. Kingery’s best season was the strike shortened 1994 season when he hit .349 for the Colorado Rockiers in 105 games. KIngery’s son Josh is a senior in high school and has received a scholarship offer to play for the Minnesota Gophers. __ The WIAA hosted its annual Coaches Advisory Committee meetings last week. The planned start of next spring’s baseball season will be April 19th and end on July 1st._ A host of issues was discussed including tournament seeding, double header rules, and most importantly issues connected to conflicts with non-school competitions. The current 2021 season bumps into travel baseball and AAU basketball._ West DePere Head Coach Andy Conard commented that the nonschool teams should be more respectful of the high schools spring season this year rather than expect accommodations on the part of the school teams._ Club teams, those that promote specialization at the high school level_ remain the greatest threat to interscholastic sports. This is high school sports people. _ Specialization belongs in college and not at the high school level. Bravo Coach Conard for your strong words._ As Wisconsin approaches the cusp of the 2021 hunting season, outdoor enthusiasts are well aware that the American Water Spaniel is the state dog. The_ versatile canine was designated the official state dog of Wisconsin in 1985, after years of effort by 8th-grade students at Washington Junior High School in New London, Wisconsin. According to the Wisconsin Blue Book “the American water spaniel is said to be one of only five dog breeds indigenous to the United States and the only one native to Wisconsin._ A New London area physician, Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer, is generally credited with developing and standardizing the breed and working to secure United Kennel Club registration for it in 1920._ The American water spaniel was developed as a practical, versatile hunting dog that combined certain physical attributes with intelligence and a good disposition.”_ But of course, avid Wisconsin hunters were already well aware of this piece of state trivia Peter Brookshaw and the rest of his North Dakota State teammates are set to begin their fall baseball workouts this week._ The Bison infielder expects to play second base this spring for a team that will have a large number of returnees from last year’s lost season._ It is a very busy week for high school sports. The Prescott Cardinal Volleyball team travels to Baldwin-Woodville on Thursday and will host Ellsworth this Saturday as the team begins their first week of Middle Border Conference play and also on Saturday the Cross Country team will participate in the Osceola Invitational this Saturday. _ The Prescott girls golf team will tee off in Ellsworth this Thursday. And the Cardinals football team will scrimmage in Amery this Friday night.__ From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources… Deer hunters throughout the state will have their first opportunity to enjoy the woods this fall with the opening of the 2020 archery and crossbow deer seasons, which run concurrently statewide from Sept. 12 to Jan. 3, 2021. The archery and crossbow seasons are extended to January 31, 2021 in metro sub-units, and many counties will offer the antlerless-only holiday hunt between the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Headshaker of the week. Obviously crazed college and professional sports fans say and do things that bring collectively eye rolls to the typical, casual fan._ Obsessive, looney fans view teams successes and failures seemingly as life or death moments._ For some fanatics losing Sunday’s game translates into a less productive work week or a feeling of melancholy requiring some paid time off from work. Hilarious. _ We know those fans are out there….and, it’s a headshaker. _