Head Coach Geoffrey Snyder and the Prescott volleyball team will host Osceola this Thursday in their first home match of the season. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. Coached by Prescott alumnus Holly Johnson, Osceola is listed as Division 2 Honorable Mention in the most recent Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll. 

Talented junior cross country runner Kyra Dix finished second and helped her team do the same at the seven-team Somerset Invitational last Thursday. Senior Amber Van Loom finished sixth and senior teammate Addyson Allsop finished seventh as Head Coach Tim Philips' team turned in another solid performance. For the boys, ninth grader Dawson Langer crossed the finish line in fifth place to lead the boys to a third-place finish. Both teams will compete at the 14-team Osceola Invitational this Saturday. The first race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. 

The Prescott Cardinal football team will travel to Osceola this Friday in a crucial Middle Border Conference matchup. Both teams are 1-1 in league play. Undefeated Baldwin-Woodville has moved up to #3 in the most recent Wisconsin Football Coaches Association State Rankings. In Division 5, Northwestern pummeled St. Croix Falls 41-0 to remain undefeated and ranked #1. Grantsburg is 4-0 and ranked #4, and undefeated Durand-Arkansaw has moved up to #7. 

While perusing the latest WIAA Bulletin, I was intrigued by public-address announcer guidelines listed in the September edition. Additionally, the newsletter included code of conduct for the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers. Both lists suggested announcers stick to the basics, avoid biases, and promote sportsmanship whilst doing their job. I would recommend people with the mic this prep sports season review both lists and do some self-evaluating to see if they are living up to the suggested standards.  

Reese Ptacek helped power No. 17 Kansas to its second straight sweep at the Coyote Invitational on Friday, Sept. 12, combining for 31 kills as the Jayhawks rolled past Green Bay 25-21, 25-16, 25-14. A day earlier Ptacek and company swept Florida Gulf Coast in the South Dakota Tournament held in Vermillion, SD. 

Senior linebacker Jack Olson had three tackles, blocked one pass attempt and helped the UW-River Falls Falcons defeat Coe College in an offensive showcase by a score of 59-47. This Saturday the #13 ranked Falcons will travel to Jackson, Miss. to take on the Belhaven University Blazers, a NCAA Division III school that competes in the Collegiate Conference of the South. 

Lots of baseball at Firehall Field this past weekend. Minnesota Club teams use the often-requested baseball venue for August and September tournaments. Well done to all the volunteers who gave up much of their weekend to prep and repair Firehall Field for friends from across the river. Unfortunately, hundreds and hundreds of sunflower seeds were consumed by fans over the two days. There appeared to be even more casings at Firehall Field than at the Pierce County Shooting Range. 

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR reminds hunters to know their target and understand the difference between elk and white-tailed deer this hunting season. Elk occasionally venture outside of Wisconsin’s two elk ranges (the Clam Lake and Black River ranges), especially during the fall breeding season. Positively identifying the target ensures the safety of other people and avoids accidental shooting of non-target animals. Since there are still isolated incidents where hunters mistake an elk for a white-tailed deer, the DNR reminds hunters that any illegally taken elk may result in a fine and revocation of hunting licenses. The DNR also reminds hunters and the public to help keep the state's deer herd healthy by following all baiting and feeding bans and refraining from baiting and feeding in areas where no bans are in effect. Baiting and feeding encourage deer to congregate unnaturally around a specific location, creating an environment where infected deer can quickly spread diseases like the always fatal chronic wasting disease (CWD) through direct contact with healthy deer or through indirect contact in the environment.

Headshaker of the Week: Winthrop University, located in Rock Hill, SC, has become the first university to offer a Cornhole Scholarship to student athletes. The American Cornhole League, perhaps not coincidentally, is also located in Rock Hill, SC and hosts the American Cornhole Championships. Word on the street is a student from the Badger State will be receiving such a scholarship. Good for the student and congratulations on your financial award. Still…a cornhole athletic scholarship? That’s a headshaker.