The summer athletic season begins next month. There was a time when summer meant something entirely different. It meant fishing at the lake, bailing hay for a neighbor, shooting baskets in the driveway, bike rides around the neighborhood, little league teams with matching T-shirts, swimming until your fingers wrinkled, climbing trees, backyard forts, playing baseball games of “500,” sleeping in a tent a few feet from home, and water balloon fights with cousins. Now summer has become a packed calendar filled from sunrise to sunset even before the school year ends. AAU Basketball, Club Baseball, Club Hockey, 7-on-7 Football, dance camps, swimming camps, private lessons, endless tournaments, strength training, and “optional” practices that everyone knows are anything but optional. The race never seems to stop. The meaning of “summer vacation” has changed dramatically from a generation ago. For those of us old enough to remember the old version, it is hard not to miss it. But deep down, we also know that summer, the unstructured, carefree kind, is probably never coming back.

Attention Prescott outdoor enthusiasts! Be sure to check out the new paved trail at Magee Park. Located just off Highway 35 south of Prescott, the scenic trail winds through beautiful hardwoods and cedars, with plenty of birds to enjoy along the way. The trail also features a picturesque 30-foot walking bridge. A huge thank you goes out to the dedicated volunteers whose countless hours helped make this park a reality.

The Prescott Cardinal girls softball and baseball teams began WIAA Regional Tournament play this week. Head Softball Coach Nick Johnson’s club earned the #3 seed and Head Baseball Coach Brad Matzek and his team also inexplicably received the #3 seed despite defeating #2 seed Elk Mound during the regular season. The Cardinal baseball team will host Owen-Withee this Thursday at Firehall Field and the softball team opened tournament play on Tuesday against Tomahawk. The winner of that game will either host Fall Creek or travel to Arcadia in the regional championship. 

North Dakota State football recruit Kobe Russell heads to Fargo next month to begin workouts with the NCAA Division I Bison early. The Middle Border Conference Offensive Player of the Year last fall, Russell is slated to be a defensive back for the Bison who recently became the newest member of the Mountain West Conference. North Dakota State moves from the NCAA Division 1 Subdivision to the new conference for football only and will play in the same league as New Mexico, UNLV, Hawaii, Air Force and University of Texas-El Paso. 

North Dakota State College of Science pitcher Ella Stewart tossed a perfect game in game two of the NJCAA Division 3 Softball National Championship and helped the Wildcats capture their second consecutive National Championship in Syracuse, NY. In the second game of the eight-team double-elimination tournament, Stewart struck out 12 and did not walk a batter in an 11-0 victory over Corning Community College of New York.  Stewart followed with another impressive two-hit performance against Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute of North Carolina, recording five strikeouts in a 3-1 win to send the Wildcats to the championship round. After falling to Caldwell in the first title game, NDSCS responded with a convincing 15-3 victory over Caldwell to secure the national championship, their third in the last four years. Stewart closed out the season with a 20-5 record, totaling 188 strikeouts in 147 innings pitched. The standout hurler is a 2024 graduate of Prescott High School and led the Cardinals to the 2024 WIAA Division 3 State Championship.

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR reminds artists it is now accepting artwork entries for the Wild Turkey, Pheasant and Waterfowl Stamp Design Contests. The winning designs will appear on the 2027 collection of stamps. Each year, local artists from across Wisconsin compete for the opportunity to showcase their talents, commemorate their work and promote wildlife conservation across the state. Stamp design entries must be received or postmarked by Aug. 1, 2026. Judging will take place on Aug. 22, 2026, at the Waterfowl Hunters Expo in Oshkosh.

Headshaker of the Week: Usually, pouting is reserved for toddlers denied a candy bar at the grocery checkout lane or a second ride at the carnival. Most of us don’t expect sulking, crossed arms, pouting lips, and wounded pride from grown adults, especially not someone leading a high school sports team. But that’s exactly what unfolded recently at an area girls softball game. During pregame warmups, a varsity head softball coach became frustrated with his team’s infield and outfield routine. His response? He barked, “You’re embarrassing me!” before dramatically stomping to the dugout and leaving the players standing on the field. The reaction from the crowd was somewhere between confusion and second-hand embarrassment. Players and fans looked around in disbelief, while the players appeared stunned by the sideline tantrum. It felt less like a varsity coach and more like a 4-year-old threatening to pack a suitcase and run away from home. One thing for sure, it was a headshaker.