Prescott junior Kyra Dix placed seventh out of a field of 150 runners at the WIAA Division 2 State Cross Country Meet last Saturday in Wisconsin Rapids. Dix, who placed 18th last year, ran an 18.52, a full 40 seconds better than last season’s state meet. The junior harrier was not the only Middle Border Conference runner to finish in the Top 10. Altoona’s Abby Hoage and Amery’s Macie Boe also placed third and fifth respectively. 

Middle Border Football Conference Champion Baldwin-Woodville cruised by Platteville on Friday by a score of 61-27 and will take on private school La Crosse Aquinas in the state semi-final. Osceola lost to private school Aquinas 49-7 and fellow Middle Border Conference member Altoona fell to Winneconne by a score of 28-6. In Division 5, Northwestern will travel to Grantsburg this Friday to take on the #1 seed Pirates. 

Defending Division 3 State Volleyball Champion Barron will return to the Resch Center in Green Bay after defeating perennial volleyball power Grantsburg at last Saturday’s sectional championship. Middle Border Conference teams St. Croix Central and Osceola both fell in the regional championship to Rice Lake and St. Croix Falls respectively. In the match between Osceola and St. Croix Falls, Osceola who is coached by Prescott alumnus Holly Johnson, won the third game by a score of 40-38. Yes, 40-38. Unfortunately, it was the only game Johnson’s club won in the match. 

Congratulations to Pepin-Alma teacher and Athletic Director Troy Ingli on being named the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Northwest District Umpire of the Year. The Plum City graduate has been umpiring for well over two decades and has been called by many as among the best baseball officials in western Wisconsin. Ingli will now be considered for the 2025 WBCA State Umpire of the Year Award. 

The Prescott Cardinals boys basketball team is picked as the conference favorite in the 2025-26 Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook. The popular annual publication has the Cardinals, with four returning starters from last year’s 17-win club as the team to beat in the always tough Middle Border Conference. Defending champion Osceola is picked second with Altoona, and its talented backcourt duo of Grayson Becker and Owen Gunderson picked third. Others are quick to point out that Ellsworth, St. Croix Central, and sectional runner-up Amery return a number of starters from last year. Ten All Conference players from last year return this season. 

The Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Pre-Season Poll has tiny private schools Racine St. Catherine’s and Racine Lutheran ranked #1 and #2 in Division 3. The only area school listed in the top is Northwestern at #10. Altoona, Osceola, and Prescott are all listed as Honorable Mention. 

I was a bit surprised at the large number of Justin Jefferson costumed youngsters going door to door in Prescott on Halloween night. There had to have been many Packer crazed homeowners who begrudgingly, with clenched teeth, handed out Kit Kats to the youngster as the kiddo, clad in #18 purple, did the griddy as he made his way up the path. 

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR announced preliminary results for the 2025 bear season. This fall, bear hunters harvested 3,724 bears during the 35-day season, placing this season on par with the five-year average of about 3,800 bears annually. This year's harvest was slightly below the overall harvest target of 4,075 bears, but within the expected range of harvest for this fall. Wisconsin has a thriving bear population, estimated at around 23,000 bears, with a range covering more than half the state. Also, at 10 a.m. this Saturday Willow River State Park will be host to an event focusing on the geological history of the park. An hour-long presentation will be followed by an excursion around one of Wisconsin's most popular state park destinations. The event is $5 per person and vehicle admission into the park is required.  

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls football team defeated Whitewater for the first time in over two decades as the #9 Falcons bested the Warhawks impressively by a score of 52-14. River Falls linebackers Jack Olson and Brady Block combined for six tackles as River Falls improved to 4-1 in conference play and 7-1 overall. This Saturday the high-powered Falcon offense will host the nationally ranked La Crosse Eagles. 

Headshaker of the Week. Today, 38 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting in some form. FanDuel, Caesar’s, and DraftKings are among the most common phone apps and internet sites used by the public as sports betting becomes increasingly popular. Last week sports fans were obviously aghast at the most recent NBA-related betting scandal that has rocked the league. However, I don’t think it should be that surprising. As the betting craze continues to gain momentum, concerns about the integrity of professional sports are becoming increasingly widespread. Unfortunately, as betting activity increases the potential for game-fixing scandals or other violations of league rules by athletes and coaches also increases. All fans have wondered from time to time watching professional sports if the “fix is in?” Sadly, those fears appear to be on the verge of becoming more than just an outlandish conspiracy theory. Now that’s a headshaker.