Head Coach Tim Phillips and the Prescott cross country team will host a multi-team invitational this Thursday at Prescott High School. The competition begins at 5:30 p.m. behind the high school. The course, complete with new signage, is identified as one of the more difficult courses in the Middle Border Conference. 

Senior Macy Reiter shot a 39 to lead the field and fellow senior Layla Salay shot a 42 as the Prescott Cardinals won a Middle Border Conference meet at Ellsworth by seven strokes over second place St. Croix Central. Senior Lily Vesperman also finished in the top five with a solid round of 44. The Cardinals are picked as the favorite in the conference this season. Due to the WIAA Competitive Balance rule, Prescott will once again be competing at the Division 1 level when the WIAA Tournament begins on Sept. 30. 

Wisconsin high school athletics: where the WIAA State Tournament occasionally doubles as a showcase for private schools from the state’s larger population areas. Year after year, private schools seem to find their way to the top of the championship pile, particularly in the lower divisions. No need for Wisconsin prep fans to pretend this year will be a surprise. Today, the top-ranked volleyball teams in the Badger State are all private schools: Divine Savior Holy Angels of Milwaukee, Appleton Xavier, Dominican of Whitefish Bay, and Heritage Christian of New Berlin. Nothing to see here, folks. 

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2026 football season. The predictions were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors. University of Wisconsin-Platteville is predicted to claim the conference title. The Pioneers made the fourth NCAA appearance in program history a season ago and enter the 2026 campaign ranked No. 6 in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll. A year ago, the conference sent four teams to the NCAA Division III tournament and UW-River Falls emerged with its first national title. The WIAC became the first conference in NCAA Division III history to have four teams compete in the championship. Additional WIAC programs in this year’s D3football.com Poll include UW-River Falls (seventh); UW-La Crosse (10th), and UW-Whitewater (12th)

From the WIAA…Brian Nadeau, superintendent at Ellsworth, presided over the first meeting of the 2026-27 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control last week. The board voted to impose a one-year moratorium on the licensed officials’ rating system after recent data from the WIAA Officials Center indicated that the current post-contest rating system has significant participation deficiencies. The pause in the rating system will allow WIAA leadership and advisory committees to review and potentially modify the process. An interim system will be established for member schools to submit specific inquiries and feedback as needed.

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR encourages hunters and meat processors to participate in the DNR’s Deer Donation Program. The program helps stock food pantries and supports residents in need throughout the state. Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated over 100,000 deer, which were processed into over four million pounds of ground venison. The DNR is pleased to announce an increase to the reimbursement rate for meat processors that accept deer donations through the DNR’s Deer Donation Program. Going forward, meat processors will be reimbursed $125 per deer (previously $100) or $135 per deer if CWD testing was required (previously $110). This increase is meant to encourage more meat processors to participate in the program.

Speaking of hunting, primitive-weapons enthusiasts will apparently have to travel to Missouri, Nebraska, Alaska or Alabama if the atlatl is their preferred instrument of harvest. In states where it is legal, the ancient contraption can be used to harvest big game, small game, invasive species and even fish. Apparently, when properly wielded, an atlatl dart can generate enough momentum and penetration to bring down a rather substantial mammal. Prescott High School alumnus and successful trophy deer hunter Dave French has apparently set his sights on taking that concept to the next level. “I’ve long wanted to harvest a deer using a primitive weapon,” French said recently. “Anyone can down a deer from 300 yards with a modern-day deer rifle, but to down a mature buck using an atlatl, that takes some cunning, patience, skill and strength.”

French has harvested several impressive bucks over the years with a rifle, so this seems like the natural progression: First, master the modern firearm. Then, just for fun, make things considerably more difficult. Best of luck Dave, on your pursuit.

Headshaker of the Week: Since 1959, Williamsport, Penn., has been the home of the Little League World Series. Sixteen teams remain this week—eight from the United States and eight international teams—and supposedly, they are there to play baseball. I say "supposedly" because after watching last weekend's New Jersey-Iowa game, I'm not entirely convinced ABC got the memo. Apparently, the Little League World Series is now part baseball game, part reality show, part documentary and part Sunday-morning inspirational program. The actual baseball seems to be the portion ABC feels most comfortable interrupting. The innings end, and instead of letting us watch the kids get ready for the next one, here comes another feature. Then another story. Then another heartwarming moment. Before long, I'm wondering whether I'm watching baseball or waiting for the next segment of 60 Minutes: Little League Edition. ABC, I have a modest proposal: show the kids playing baseball. That's it. So please, ABC, give the feature packages a rest and let the kids play. We tuned in to watch baseball, not to discover what every player's parents had for lunch. It was a headshaker.