Congratulations to defensive lineman Charlie Rohl and offensive lineman Gabe Turner on being named 2026 Middle Border All Conference. It is the second time Rohl has been named to the team and the first time for Turner. Amery’s Keaton Wollan was named Defensive Player of the Year and Joe Jensen of Baldwin-Woodville received Offensive Player of the Year recognition. Osceola Head Scott Newton was named Conference Coach of the Year. Congratulations to junior Cardinal volleyball players Mikayla Johnson who was named Second Team Middle Border All Conference this season. 

Many Ellsworth football fans were jumping up and down on Saturday when 2026 Panther alumnus and Minnesota Gopher George Rohl caught the first touchdown of his college career on Saturday against #8 ranked UCLA. The 6’6 Rohl originally committed to North Dakota State but flipped his commitment in the Spring 2026.  

Bound Wisconsin has the Racine Lutheran boys basketball team ranked #1 in Division 3 with crosstown rival Racine St. Catherine’s ranked #2. Other sectional teams mentioned in the state ranking include La Crosse Aquinas at #6 and Northwestern at #10. Bound columnist Travis Wilson has Osceola and Prescott listed as Honorable Mention. Incidentally, Racine Lutheran’s enrollment is 340 and Racine St. Catherines is 435…so typical Middle Border Conference enrollment. 

Head Coach Owen Hamilton and the Prescott girls basketball team began practice this week. The Cardinals finished third in the Middle Border Conference with a record of 9-5 and ended the season 16-10 overall last year.  Baldwin-Woodville, who advanced to the state tournament last year, is the defending champion.

Speaking of private schools, last weekend’s WIAA State Volleyball Tournament provided an interesting look at how private schools fared across the five divisions. Division 4 featured an all-private-school Final Four, with McDonell Central Catholic (the eventual champions), Marshfield Columbus Catholic, Heritage Christian and Sheboygan Christian making up the field. Private schools were also well represented in Division 2, with three advancing to the Resch Center, while two of the four Division 5 qualifiers were private schools. The picture was considerably different in Division 1, where only two of the eight qualifying teams were private schools. Additionally, in Division 3 only one private school was represented in the Final Four. Obviously, and in the interest of fairness, it’s time for the WIAA to change the framework of the current volleyball tournament in both Division 1 and 3. 

Bravo Tennessee! High schools can now be fined for their fans' bad behavior. If a parent or student goes nuts in the stands, the school can be hit with a financial penalty. The State Athletic Association ruled schools must pay $250 each time one of their fans is ejected from a game. High schools are now actively policing their own stands just to protect their athletic budgets from hot-headed parents. Hats off to the Volunteer State!

Reese Ptacek and the Kansas Jayhawk volleyball team improved to 11-2 in the Big 12 and 18-5 overall with a pair of dominant wins over #24 Baylor on Saturday and a sweep of Cincinnati on Sunday. Ptacek is the team leader in service aces and is second on the team in kills and blocks. The Jayhawks are ranked #15 in the nation and will play #25 Colorado this Thursday. 

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR announced that the Natural Resources Board has approved a new permanent rule, effective as of Nov. 1, 2026, changing the possession and bag limit for round gobies and other detrimental fish species on waters of the state. Under this new permanent rule, gobies and ruffe from any waterbody of the state can be kept without limit; however, they must be immediately eviscerated or decapitated or have their gills removed. This rule also allows anglers to possess an unlimited number of white perch; any white perch harvested on inland waters also need to be eviscerated, decapitated or have their gills removed.

Headshaker of the Week: Here’s another doozy. An 8-year-old football game ends 16-0. A parent reportedly springs from the stands and punches an opposing coach, and dozens of adults pour onto the field with fists flying. Someone calls 911, and sheriff’s deputies have to show up to restore order. How dumb. How stupid. How embarrassing. But wait, there’s more. There are allegations that the whole mess may have started over betting on the game. Seriously? Betting on a football game involving 8-year-olds? What in the world is wrong with people? A youth football game between two teams of 8-year-olds turned into an absolutely ridiculous spectacle of adult stupidity. After law enforcement put an end to the brouhaha, the possible motivation for the brawl came to light. Authorities say they haven't found evidence of gambling, but they're investigating the claims. If you can't watch an 8-year-old football game without getting into a fight or betting on the game, perhaps it's time to find another hobby. Maybe checkers. Although, on second thought, that could lead to a board being flipped and somebody taking a punch to the head, too. It’s a headshaker.