PREPS
hydration key as soccer heats up for season!
August 23, 2023
Words/Photos by Branden Nall
Contrary to popular belief, dehydration affects younger people more than middle or older generations. Younger people think they are next to invincible, so they also think they are fine without water when it's hot.
That said, on the field Tuesday night my little thermometer read 91 degrees at 5pm on the Old Abes Pitch. Both Eau Claire Big Rivers Teams, North, at their home field, and Memorial at theirs, kicked off the 2023 WIAA season.
The games that were hosted by Memorial and North were set for 20 minute breaks for water and electrolytes with avid substitutions during play to make sure that players were staying safe.
It was a bit cooler when Regis hosted Altoona at 7pm, but only when the sun finally hit the horizon.
Final Scores:
Altoona 2 | Regis 0
Memorial 4 | DC Everest 1
North 4 | Marshfield 2
playoffs on the pitch
October 20th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall
The WIAA Boys Soccer Playoffs started on Tuesday with stellar play coming from both sides of the field. Here is how the brackets sit.
Division 1: Bracket
#1 Hudson downed #8 Chippewa Falls (9-0)
#6 Eau Claire North upset #3 D.C. Everest (3-2) in their first playoff win in 10 YEARS! Ridding another North High School sports loss streak this year.
#2 Eau Claire Memorial shut out #7 Superior in domination style (8-0) with
the fastest first goal I have ever seen at 11 seconds and after 2 passes. Eau
Claire Memorial will take on a riding high Eau Claire North team in a
cross-town-show-down on Saturday at 1pm at Eau Claire Memorial.
Division 2: Bracket
#1 River Falls dropped #8 Menomonie (10-0)
Division 3: Bracket
#8 Altoona/Fall Creek took out #9 St. Croix Central in a (4-2) win to face #1
Spooner/Shell Lake on Thursday 10/20 at 7pm at Spooner/Shell Lake
Division 4: Bracket
#4 Regis/McDonell will take on #5 Coulee Christian/Providence Academy
from LaCrosse at Regis on Thursday 10/20 at 4pm
prep Volleyball playoffs in full swing
October 19th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall
This year's volleyball playoffs are stacked with some hot Chippewa Valley teams. Here is the breakdown after last nights round 1 regional.
Division 4 :
#4 EC Immanuel Lutheran ousted #13 New Auburn. They will take on #5 Cornell on Thursday at 7pm at EC Immanuel
#9 Prairie Farm beat #8 Luck in a 4 game upset that sets them up with #1 McDonell at McDonell Central on Thursday at 7pm
Division 3 :
#8 Colfax moved on after 3 straight tough wins against #9 Shell Lake (28-26, 27-25, 25-15) to take on #1 St.Croix Falls at 7pm Thursday
#8 Regis beat #9 CFC in 4 and will be at #1 Westby on Thursday at 7pm
#14 Durand-Arkansaw lost to #3 Cashton
#6 Luther downed #11 Elk Mound
#5 Spring Valley took #12 Osseo-Fairchild in 4
#7 Fall Creek took down an incredibly challenging #10 Bangor team and will be visiting #2 Aquinas who beat #15 Mondovi. This will be a
rematch of last year's sectional semi-final, but on Aquinas home court. Thursday at 7pm.
#5 Cadott beats #12 Augusta and will take on #4 Marathon at Marathon on Thursday at 7pm
#2 Stanley Boyd took the win against #15 Necedah and will be looking to get back to the sectional championship again this year. They will be at home against #7 Nekoosa on Thursday at 7pm
Division 2 :
#12 St. Croix Central upset #5 Altoona in 3 straight hard fought sets.
#2 Bloomer beat #15 Ellsworth to play #7 Rice Lake which went 5 games against #10 Osceola. Game will be in Bloomer at 7 Thursday.
Division 1: Play will start on Thursday at 7pm for all games, unless noted.
#5 Eau Claire Memorial hosting #12 Wausau West
#6 Eau Claire North hosting #11 Wausau East
#7 Menomonie hosting #10 Superior
#1 Chippewa Falls will play the winner of #9 Stevens Point | #8 D.C. Everest at Chi-Hi on Saturday Night at 7pm
2022 WIAA STATE TRACK AND FIELD
La Crosse, Wisconsin - June 3rd and 4th, 2022
Roger Harring Stadium at The University of La Crosse plays host to the best of the best that Wisconsin High School track and field has to offer - one weekend a year. The state track and field meet this year was glaring with Chippewa Valley speedsters as gold medals hung around necks of champions in event after event.
Friday, typically a day for preliminary races and field events with multiple heats to determine seeds for finals on Saturday.
Friday was no stranger to advancement in regards to kids from our area. When Saturday came, many engraved their marks in history as they became state champions. Some with new records. Some with the heartache of mere inches. An experience they will not soon forget.