GAME OF THE WEEK (Oct. 27–Nov. 3)
WIAA STAT CROSS COUNTRY MEET, Saturday, Oct. 29, at The Ridges Golf Course, Wisconsin Rapids.
The 104th running of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Cross Country Championships and the 44th Annual Girls Cross Country Championships will take place Saturday, Oct. 29, at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. The event kicks off with the Division 3 boys race at noon, followed by Division 2 at 12:35 p.m. and Division 1 at 1:10 p.m. The Division 3 girls race is set for 1:45 p.m., followed by Division 2 girls at 2:25 p.m. and the D1 girls at 3:05 p.m.
There are 16 teams competing for the boys and girls Divisions 2 and 3 team titles. Teams competing for the titles qualified last weekend at their respective sectional meets. The top two teams in each of the eight Divisions 2 and 3 sectionals advanced. In addition to the qualifying teams, the first five individual finishers at their respective sectionals, who are not a member of a qualifying team, also qualified for the State meet.
Five-time defending Division 3 boys champion Darlington will be back looking for a sixth-straight D3 team title after dominating the D3 Fennimore sectional last Saturday. The Darlington girls also won a sectional title a week ago.
Here are this year’s area state qualifiers:
DIVISION 2 GIRLS
Dodgeville/Mineral Point (team): Kora Weasley, fr., MacKenzie Hall, sr., Hannah Tremelling, so., Lindsay Johnston, so., Josie Jabs, so., Cassie McGraw, so., Claire Baldus, sr.
Platteville: Brelynn Updike, sr.
Prairie du Chien: Amber Huser, so.
DIVISION 3 GIRLS
Darlington (team): Paige Schling, sr., Ilse Mendez, so., Regina Komprood, jr., Erin Wolf, jr., Emma Crist, jr., Bailey McDonald, sr., Meghan Douglas, jr.
Lancaster: Lydia Murphy, so.
Hillsboro: Annie Haas, jr.
DIVISON 2 BOYS
Dodgeville/Mineral Point (team): Juan Navarro, jr., Henry Keith, fr., Tanner Cullen, sr., Isaac Grunow, jr., Gerrit Bakker, jr., Bantley Eastman, jr., Jordan May, jr.
Platteville: Dan Iselin, sr., Jace Serres, so.
River Valley: Dustin Hatfield, sr.
DIVISION 3 BOYS
Darlington (team): Payton Heinberg, so., Conner Hackett, sr., Tanner Evenstad, jr., Tucker Lange, so., Paul King, jr., Trae Schilling, so., Bailey Schwartz, fr.
Lancaster: Jonathon Murphy, sr.
Riverdale: Brian Mathews, sr.
Boscobel: Jordan Molzaf, sr.
Hillsboro: Dakota Wells, jr.
FOOTBALL: WIAA LEVEL II PLAYOFFS
DIVISION 4
#3 Lake Mills (7–3) at #2 Platteville (8–2), Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
The Hillmen avoided a first-round upset to seventh-seeded East Troy, rallying from a 20–6 fourth quarter deficit to advance with a thrilling 21–20 victory. Alex Traxler caught five passes for 108 yards an a pair of touchdowns, including the game-tying 15-yard TD catch with 13 seconds left. Junior Zach White added the extra-point to lift the Hillmen to a one-point win.
#4 Lodi (7–3) at #1 River Valley (7–3), Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
The SWC tri-champion Blackhawks hammered Big Foot 61–13 in last week’s opening round. Lodi outscored Brodhead/Juda 49–28 to advance.
DIVISION 5
#3 Laconia (8–2) at #2 Lancaster (9–1), Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
The Flying Arrows bounced back from a lackluster 35–6 loss to Platteville in the regular season finale to defeat seventh-seeded Westby for the second time this year 31–13. Senior fullback Evan Gates rushed for 221 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. The Spartans advanced to the second round with a 55–34 win over Horicon/Hustisford.
DIVISION 6
#4 Fennimore (7–3) at #1 Darlington (10–0), Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
The Redbirds continued their collision course with top-ranked Saint Mary’s Springs with a 49–8 first-round victory over Brookwood. Senior Trevor Johnson rushed for 165 yards and three TDs, and returned a punt 73 yards for a fourth score to lead the Redbirds. Next up for Darlington, is SWAL foe Fennimore, who held off Mineral Point 28–21 in last week’s opening round. Darlington defeated Fennimore 63–0 earlier this year.
#3 Markesan (10–0) at #2 Pecatonica/Argyle (10–0), Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
Undefeated Pec/Argyle blanked Waterloo 40–0 in last week’s opening round. Fellow unbeaten Markesan survived a scare from Cuba City with a 34–28 overtime victory.
DIVISION 7
#4 Highland (7–3) at #1 Ithaca (11–0), Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
Highland senior quarterback John Ross Linscheid rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to a dominating 42–6 victory over fifth-seeded Iowa–Grant in the opening round. Top-seeded Ithaca advanced with a 38–6 win over Ridge & Valley conference rival North Crawford.
#3 Black Hawk (8–3) at #2 Shullsburg (9–2), Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
Junior running back Brody Milz rushed for 81 yards and four TDs on just 14 carries as third-seeded Black Hawk made quick work of visiting Wauzeka/Seneca in Level I. Second-seeded Shullsburg blanked Six Rivers Conference foe Potosi 46–0 in the opening round, as senior running backs Ben Sigwarth (124 yards, 2 TDs) and Lance Lierman (118 yards, 4 TDs) combined for 242 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
VOLLEYBALL: WIAA SECTIONALS
DIVISION 3
Iowa–Grant (19–9) at Wisconsin Heights (29–5), Thursday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
Coach Marla Simon’s Panthers will travel to Wisconsin Heights (29–5) for the New Glarus Sectional semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. The Vanguards defeated Iowa–Grant 25–8, 16–25, 15–6 in the semifinals of the Wisconsin Heights Invite on Oct. 1. The winner will play Marshall (19–11–2) or Oshkosh Lourdes (36–10) in New Glarus Saturday night. Senior Emma Liddicoat slammed 19 kills to lead Iowa–Grant to its first regional championship since 1999 with a 3–1 victory Cuba City in Saturday’s WIAA regional final at IGHS. Thursday night’s winner will advance to face either Oshkosh Lourdes Academy or Marshall in Saturday’s New Glaurs Sectional final.
DIVISION 4
Benton (24–1–1) vs. Seneca (24–9) at Belmont, Thursday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
The Zephyrs will face the Indians tonight in their first sectional volleyball match since 1988. Benton rallied from an opening-set loss to defeated third-seeded Southwestern 23–25, 25–14, 25–15, 25–17 in Saturday’s WIAA Division 4 regional final at Benton High School. Junior Emma Lawrence floored a match-high 29 kills and eight blocks, while senior Kayla Dougherty added nine kills, 19 digs, four blocks and two aces. Seneca swept Kickapoo 25–16, 25–11, 25–14 in its regional final. The winner of Thursday night’s match will advance to face either Bangor or Cashton in Saturday’s Richland Center sectional final.
BOYS SOCCER: WIAA DIVISION 2 SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Platteville/Lancaster (15–3–2) at Mount Horeb (15–4–1), Thursday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
Mount Horeb has ended Platteville/Lancaster’s season each of the past two years in the WIAA regional finals. This year the Hillmen earned a rematch in the sectional semifinal round.
The Platteville/Lancaster co-op won its first regional title since 2007 with a 5–4 shootout victory over fifth-seeded Sparta last Saturday afternoon at PHS. After a scoreless tie through 90 minutes of regulation and 20 more minutes of overtime, the winner was determined by penalty kicks.
Ying Xiong, Hans Chavez, Dillon Shinee, Nick Mewhirter, and Josh Zauche made all their penalty kicks to lift the Hillmen to victory. Shinee also made nine saves in the shutout to get the Hillmen to the penalty kicks round.
The defending Division 3 state champion Vikings won their regional with a 6–1 victory over Dodgeville/Mineral Point on Saturday. Mount Horeb has ended Platteville/Lancaster’s season each of the past two years in the regional finals.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Mount Horeb has been the best D3 program in the state for a while now,” said Platteville/Lancaster head coach Brandon Pink. “They’re the defending state champs and they’ve got an absurd track record of success in the postseason. With that being said, we’ve been closing the gap on them for several seasons and we really like our chances going into this game. The guys are looking forward to going out and making something happen on Thursday.”
