Preseason football expectations are already high for the Middle Border Conference. While the official Wisconsin high school football rankings won't be released until August, Travis Wilson of Bound Wisconsin has published his unofficial preseason rankings, and several conference teams are receiving statewide recognition. After sending five teams to the playoffs a year ago, the conference looks ready for another strong campaign. Amery is ranked No. 13 in Division 5 with Wisconsin football commit Keaton Wollan leading a team that returns the majority of its starters on offense and defense. Osceola is ranked No. 10 in Division 4, while Baldwin-Woodville, competing in Division 3 this season because of the WIAA performance factor, is ranked No. 13.

Speaking of preseason rankings, there's some exciting news for Prescott fans. ESPN's Way-Too-Early Poll has Prescott graduate Reese Ptacek and the Kansas Jayhawks ranked No. 10 in Division I. After earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2024 and Honorable Mention All-American recognition as a sophomore, Ptacek helped Kansas reach the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Expectations are high for the Jayhawks this season.

Head Football Coach Jordan Hansen and his team will have a new opponent on the non-conference schedule this season. After opening the season at perennial power Northwestern, the Cardinals will travel south to take on Prairie Du Chien on Aug. 28. It will be the first meeting between the two schools.

The WIAA has taken its first step toward the 35-second shot clock, allowing schools that mutually agree to use it in non-conference games next season. A statewide implementation could follow in 2028-29. I'm not celebrating. If you've watched this debate over the past decade, you've probably noticed who has been leading the charge. Summer AAU basketball has pushed relentlessly for the shot clock, and that influence is becoming harder to ignore. AAU basketball serves a purpose, but its priorities are very different from high school basketball. The focus is often exposure, recruiting and preparing elite players for the next level. Here's the problem.

The overwhelming majority of high school basketball players will never play in college. Only a small percentage will compete at the NCAA level, and an even smaller percentage will earn scholarships. Should we really redesign high school basketball around that tiny minority? Interestingly, support for the shot clock drops significantly as school enrollment decreases. Division 5 coaches show the least amount of enthusiasm, while coaches from the largest schools tend to support it the most. Contrary to schools with larger enrollments, I would argue smaller schools often depend more heavily on teamwork, ball movement, patience and execution rather than overwhelming athleticism. A slower pace can level the playing field and give disciplined teams a chance against deeper, more talented opponents. Some people call that boring. I call it basketball. Not every possession needs to end with a fast break or a dunk. There's beauty in crisp passing, disciplined defense, and waiting until the right shot presents itself. For generations, the game clock has been the equalizer. It has rewarded coaching, player discipline and smart decision-making. Every underdog believed they had a chance because they could control the tempo. Not every level of basketball needs to resemble the college or professional game. Sometimes faster isn't better.

Speaking of basketball, good news for anyone who still believes the words "State Tournament Qualifier" should actually mean something. The WIAA rejected a proposal from the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association that would have doubled the basketball state tournament field from 20 teams to 40. Apparently qualifying for state has become just a little too difficult. The plan called for eight schools from each division to qualify instead of four, with additional venues needed to accommodate all the extra games. At that point, why even bother eliminating anybody? We're steadily marching toward the "everybody gets a medal" philosophy where making state becomes less about excellence and more about making sure nobody feels left out. Maybe next we'll skip sectionals altogether. Fill out your roster, pay your entry fee, and congratulations, see you at State. Thankfully, the WIAA chose to preserve the value of qualifying for state. Accomplishments are supposed to be difficult. That's what makes them accomplishments and fortunately, the WIAA recognized that the more you water down an accomplishment, the less meaningful it becomes. Let's hope they remember that the next time this idea resurfaces…and it definitely will. 

Headshaker of the Week. This week's rendition certainly doesn't bring a smile to Prescott Hall of Fame member and baseball volunteer extraordinaire Dennis Gagnier, who spends countless hours helping keep Firehall Field looking its best. Club baseball teams from Wisconsin and Minnesota rolled into town last week, and some of their fans left behind some unwanted souvenirs. Was it graffiti? No. Candy wrappers? No. Empty pop cans? No. It was piles of sunflower seed shells scattered beneath and in front of the bleachers. Here's the frustrating part: it's not the kids. It's primarily adult fans who think nothing of spitting their saliva-covered mouth garbage here, there and everywhere. Somehow they believe the ground is an acceptable trash bin. Maybe we need to install sunflower seed spittoons throughout Firehall Field because common courtesy apparently isn't enough. Leaving someone else to clean up after you is no different than tossing garbage out the window of a moving car. Someone else has to pick up the mess, and too often that someone is Dennis Gagnier. Show a little respect for the volunteers, the players, and the community and knock off the laissez faire attitude. Clean up after yourself. Not doing so? That's a headshaker.