Senior sprinter Andrew Russell rocketed to a school record time of 10.75 in the 100 meters last week in the St. Croix Central Invitational and also finished atop the podium in the 200 and 400 meters as the Prescott boys track and field team finished second to Osceola in the team standings. Fellow senior Eyan Miller also grabbed top honors in the shot put and high jump. The girls track team also finished second in the 12-team invitational. Senior Makaria Haas captured top honors in the discus with a throw of 116.08 feet. Junior Kyra Dix finished second in the 3,200 and bested her own Prescott 2-mile record. Senior Natalie Huppert finished second in the 200 meters, and the 4x800-meter relay team of Dix, Lily Vesperman, Amber Van Loon, and Emma Schmitz also finished second. 

Additionally, here’s a few Prescott thinclad tidbits from last week. Bravo to freshman Koa Thomason, who answered the bell when pressed into competing in the 4x400 relay at St. Croix Central. Brava to Leah Kochendorfer whose crash course in hurdling last week enabled the Cardinals to fill out the team’s hurdling entries. And hats off to Emma Schmitz who competed in the 4x800, 1,600, and the 3,200 meters. A person can get tired typing this triple distance feat. 

The eighth ranked Prescott girls softball team heads into the week with a team batting average of .343. Junior Izzy Thoen, sophomore Quinn Unser, and senior Cadyn Hillebrand are all hitting above .400 for the Cardinals. Baldwin-Woodville, undefeated and ranked #4 in Division 2, is atop the Middle Border Conference with a one-game lead over Somerset. Head Coach Nick Johnson’s charges will play a home and away series with St. Croix Central this week and will play at Baldwin-Woodville this Friday. 

The Prescott Cardinal baseball team traveled to Eau Claire on Saturday for a doubleheader against Eau Claire Regis. The Cardinals swept the doubleheader in convincing fashion, winning game one 8-3 and followed with a 12-2 trouncing of the hosts. Collin Kosmalski picked up his first varsity win on the mound and junior Mason Livgaard clubbed the first home run for the Cardinals this season on the game two win. The Cardinals will play St. Croix Central in a home and away series this week and then will travel to Fall Creek for a crucial non-conference matchup against the Crickets of Fall Creek. 

High school sports in America no longer stop at football, basketball, track, and baseball - not even close. These days, what qualifies as a “sport” seems to depend entirely on zip code, local tradition, and a willingness to stretch the definition. Wyoming officially claims rodeo, with Texas and South Dakota not far behind. Alaska, of course, features dog mushing. Illinois offers competitive bowling, Vermont embraces Ultimate frisbee, and Utah turns rock climbing into a varsity pursuit. However, despite the backyard tournaments complete with competitors wearing NFL jerseys that are two sizes too small, cornhole has yet to earn official high school status anywhere in the United States. 

Bravo and brava to all the volunteers of the Coulee River Trails Project. I can only imagine the exorbitant amount of donated time and work by countless locals who are turning a dream into reality. Thank you to Israel Haas, Jared Schmitz and countless others for their selfless efforts on providing another opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty of western Wisconsin. If you haven’t done so, check it out. 

And speaking of volunteers, another standing ovation to Michelle Keiper Boogren for doing her part beautifying Firehall Field. The longtime CAB Company volunteer was busy this weekend pulling weeds and tidying the garden near the newly remodeled baseball shed at the varsity field. Incidentally, Michelle’s son Brandon was a member of the 2012 Division 3 State Championship team. 

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team has won 30 straight games. The Warhawks are the defending NCAA Division 3 Champions and are currently ranked #4 in the country. Denison University (Ohio) is ranked #1. 

Headshaker of the Week: Attention those responsible for playing music between quarters, at halftime, between innings, betwixt matches, or during pre-game. Why, why, why, do the few who control the iPad use this as an opportunity to pipe through the PA system their own private playlist? Remember, the music is not just for the competing players. It’s for moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas. I’m not sure if listening to SlipKnot, Def Leppard, or that famed metal band Cattle Decapitation fits with eating popcorn at a basketball game. Nor does listening to the music of Korn, Limpbizkit, or Insane Clown Posse jibe while eating a hotdog between the fifth and sixth innings. Obviously, I am not suggesting “spinning” tunes by Enya, Kenny G, or Loretta Lynn, but come on ladies and gents, boys and girls. Please play music that is not akin to having someone scratching an old high school classroom chalkboard. It’s a headshaker.