Prescott wrestler Steve Atherton wrapped up his Cardinal wrestling career at the WIAA Division 2 Regional Tournament in Baldwin-Woodville on Saturday. Atherton won his opening match with a 9-4 victory over Knox Hines of Ellsworth but then fell to Henry Cash of Osseo-Fairchild in round two. After moving to the consolation bracket, Atherton pinned both Ian Bronson of St. Croix Central and Mason Liermo of Mondovi. Atherton then dropped his final match of the day to Drake Gartman of Baldwin-Woodville. Atherton finished his high school grappling career with a solid overall season record of 27-22. 

Head Coach Owen Hamilton and the Prescott girls basketball team received the #4 seed and will play the winner of the game between #5 Northwestern and #12 Spooner. Northwestern enters the week tied for first place in the Heart of the North Conference with a record of 17-5 and Spooner heads into the final week of the regular season with an overall record of 4-16. Although Prescott’s overall record is 10-11, the Cardinals 45-44 early December victory over the Tigers was most likely the determining factor in Prescott receiving the #4 seed. Baldwin-Woodville received the top seed in the regional. Prescott High School is scheduled to host the WIAA Sectional Semi-Final on Thursday, March 6. 

The Prescott Cardinals are ranked #5 in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Division 2 preseason rankings released over the weekend. Coming off a 19-6 season with seven returning letterwinners, the Cardinals were picked by conference head coaches as the favorites in the Middle Border this spring. Two other conference teams are ranked in Division 2 including defending conference champion St. Croix Central at #20 and the always formidable Altoona Railroaders at #9. Somerset and Baldwin-Woodville are expected to finish in the top half of a Division 2 conference identified by many as being among the best in the state. Anyone interested in purchasing a WBCA Yearbook can do so online. Be warned, the popular yearbook sold out in the middle of March last year. 

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR is looking for individuals to volunteer to help others enjoy safe and ethical hunts. There are fun options to share your hunting expertise, enthusiasm and stories with novices of all ages who are interested in this activity. You could become a mentor, lead a learn-to-hunt outing or hold a workshop to teach new hunters how to cook meat from harvested deer. For more information on these opportunities, contact Emily Iehl at Emily.Iehl@wisconsin.gov or Logan Planer at Logan.Planer@wisconsin.gov.

Bella Lenz continues to climb the Michigan Tech all-time scoring list as she moved to #13 after her 15-point performance in the Huskies’ 75-62 victory over Lake Superior State last Saturday. The 2021 Prescott grad is shooting just under 40% from beyond the arc and 87% from the free-throw line. Lenz will play the final regular season game of her collegiate career this Thursday when the Huskies host Northern Michigan. 

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are the most recent team to offer Prescott junior defensive back Kobe Russell a football scholarship. More offers are expected for the talented 11th grader. 

Siena University outfielder Hunter Daymond went 2-4 in two games in his NCAA Division I debut over the weekend as the Saints dropped a three-game set to the University of Central Florida in Orlando over the weekend. Daymond is a 2019 graduate of Prescott High School. 

What a surprise. The WIAA has identified “Bench Decorum” as being a point of emphasis this year for the 2025 baseball season. Unofficially, this is the 22nd year in a row the WIAA has identified the behavior of players and coaches during contests a concern. (Insert eye roll here) The annual “cracking down, paper tiger” warning continues for another season. 

Headshaker of the week. The Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association held its annual Hall of Fame Banquet this past weekend at the Marriott Hotel in Madison. Preceding Hall of Fame inductee speeches, the WBCA recognized both players and coaches for their exploits during the 2024 season. Recognition includes Players of the Year, Coach of the Year, Media Person of the Year, and other awards. According to officials, over 500 coaches registered for the annual clinic and banquet that has been called by many as among the best in the country. Sadly, the WBCA reported that attendance at the Saturday afternoon banquet was around 200-225, leaving half the banquet hall empty. Mind you, it had stopped snowing by the time the banquet began on Saturday and the vast majority of attendees had arrived Friday afternoon before the storm. Reportedly many coaches, instead of attending the banquet, opted to watch the Wisconsin Badger basketball game in their hotel room or at an area tavern. Ridiculous. Granted, once coaches have paid the clinic registration fees they are under no obligation to attend the Hall of Fame Banquet. But come on. Your own coaches association? The association who recognizes you and your players each season? My guess is those coaches who were “belly up to the bar” watching the Badgers will be the first people to complain if one of their players or themselves are recognized at the banquet and the attendance is as scant as it was on Saturday. A Wisconsin baseball coach who attends the State Baseball Clinic and skips the Hall of Fame Banquet? That’s a headshaker.