Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Prescott Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Prescott High School. Jaci Kosin (Magee), Steve Block, and Ryan Berg will be the fifth class inducted into the Hall of Fame. Tickets are $25 and will be available for purchase early next month. Ptacek’s IGA will cater the event and the meal will be served by members of the Prescott High School Student Council. Prescott High School band members will also provide music during the event. 

Speaking of the Hall of Fame, the committee urges people to nominate deserving individuals for induction into the Hall of Fame. Nomination forms are available on the Prescott School District website. The next Hall of Fame Class will be inducted in the fall of 2025.  

Prescott Cardinal Head Football Coach Jordan Hansen and his staff hosted two youth football camps this week. Held July 24-26, Hansen’s staff, current players, and alumni worked with youth in grades 4-6 in the morning and grades 7-8 in the afternoon. Speaking of recent Prescott football alumni, Austin Fox and Jack Olson are poised to begin their junior and sophomore seasons respectively at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. And Aiden Russell will begin his second season at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. 

A total of 53 players participated in the Prescott High School football team camp last week. For the third consecutive year, Prescott and Holmen high schools held a joint four-day football camp. “We had a great time and the camp goals we had were to have fun and install the basics of our offense and defense. We were able to get both accomplished and are really looking forward to the start of the regular season next week,” said Hansen.

The Cardinals will have a strong contingent of returning letterwinners this fall and will be looking to fill some spots on the offensive line. Prescott will open their season at home on Aug. 18 when they take on Eau Claire Regis.  

The word is some locals will be starting a Prescott sports podcast within the next few weeks. Stay tuned. Additionally, KDWA Radio will be bringing back the Prescott Coaches Show on Aug. 19. Great news on both counts. 

From the WIAA: In an effort to more clearly define false starts in high school track and field events, two new starting violations have been adopted for the 2024 season.

“If a runner leaves their mark with a hand or foot after the ‘set’ command but before the starting device is fired." In addition, a new violation calls for a violation “if a runner leaves their mark with a forward motion without the starting device being fired.” Additionally, rule changes regarding shot put, discus, pole vault, and high are among the 11 track and field rule changes by the National High School Federation for next season. 

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The data is now available from annual spring surveys of Wisconsin ruffed grouse, pheasant and waterfowl. The spring waterfowl breeding survey indicated stable population numbers and habitat conditions for migratory birds. In contrast, the spring surveys showed ruffed grouse and pheasant counts below the five-year average, including an 11% decrease statewide in ruffed grouse drumming activity from 2022. The decreases observed in the ruffed grouse and pheasant populations in this year's surveys were not unexpected.

“We are entering the down phase of the 10-year abundance cycle,” said Brian Dhuey, DNR Wildlife Surveys Specialist. “It is likely we will continue to see some declines in abundance in the coming years before we start to see increases, with the peak of the next cycle likely coming around 2029, 2030 or 2031. While the number of birds detected is down overall, there will still be pockets of good ruffed grouse abundance, although these areas will be fewer and harder to find this fall.”

The Prescott Pirates will host Plum City on Saturday and River Falls on Sunday in the final games of the regular season. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Firehall Field. The St. Croix Valley Baseball League Tournament will be held at Oakey Park in Osceola the first weekend in August. 

Headshaker of the week: Forever, young baseball athletes have emulated their major league heroes. Youthful baseball fans have always imitated the batting stances of sluggers or the pitching form of strikeout artists. The same is true for how pro ball players wear their uniforms and the other adornments that make up their game day attire. Arm sleeves, chains, wristbands, head bands, elbow and shin pads, and of course sunglasses. Sunglasses when the sun is out. Sunglasses when it’s raining. Sunglasses over the eyes. Sunglasses on the brim of the cap. Sunglasses on the back of the cap (?). You see it today at all levels of baseball and of course the same with coaches. Players and coaches wear sunglasses when there is no reason for them. Sorry, it’s not part of the uniform, especially wearing sunglasses with the frames on the back side of the cap. Sorry kids, when the sun is not out, it’s a headshaker.