What’s Inside 4 ON THE COVER
Regis senior setter Grace Gilles has been to the prep volleyball state tournament twice and exemplifies the qualities of a winner.
8
A LONG ROAD
Even while serving as in the U.S. Army, Craig Loscheider knew he wanted to build a high school football program. He’s doing just that now at Mondovi.
Cover design: Nick Erickson and Spencer Flaten. Cover photo: Dan Reiland. Editorial contact: sports@ecpc.com. Advertising contact: matt.west@ecpc.com.
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11 Dynamic duo
North soccer seniors Logan Podolak and Lushi Xiong combined for plenty of points for resurgent Huskies.
12 Posterized
Eau Claire Memorial’s Bryson Johnson
14 Volleyball
Altoona had some learning experience with a young roster in 2017 and got rewarded with a WCC title in 2018.
18 Cross Country
Chi-Hi’s Behling has quite the kick.
19 Soccer
All Jacek Nickowski does is score for Baldwin-Woodville.
23 Football
Spring Valley alums starring at UW-Stout
Gilles does whatever it takes Gilles, Regis’ ultra athletic setter and capall over the court to save any given point — just hours before she’d be named the Western Cloverbelt’s volleyball player of the year, Grace Gilles stopped to ponder her most memorable match as a Rambler. gone Regis’ way over the past four seasons — two of which have ended at the WIAA state tournament. There’s beating Memorial in a rowdy enStreet rivalry her freshman year. Grantsburg on their home court to qualify for state. And then, of course, at state in 2017, Gilles helped orchestrate an epic comeback from down two sets to none against undefeated Stratford on the Resch Center Court.
Cochrane-Fountain City in last year’s secBut not for the reason you might think. Certainly not for somebody who carries as much credentials as she does. “We won by two points, but I know in game point I missed my serve,” Gilles said. “So I never forget that game.” Funny. Because she’s had so many serves and plays throughout her career that have decimated other teams. But that’s the one that stands out the most. Credit a gymnastics background for creating a perfectionist and instilling a try-try again attitude in a little girl oozing with competitiveness. Thank an equally competitive older brother for that. Despite that, she’s always had an ability to move on quickly and use those type of moments as springboards instead of road-
blocks. “She really does a good job of refocusing,” her mother, Joni, said. It’s that kind of attitude, coupled with that kind of response, that has made her one of the area’s most decorated players this postseason. She’s a four-time all-conference player — player of the year. She earned a spot on the state tournament team last fall after guiding the Ramblers to a silver trophy in Division 3. And she has 3,000 career assists and 1,000 digs. Above all else, though, she’s a winner and will do whatever it takes to end up on the left-hand side of the column. “I’d say I’m just a really competitive, passionate person,” Gilles said. “I love to play the game, and I love to win.” The bottom line is this.
many players that would be chosen to lead their teams in pressure situations over Grace Gilles. “When there are people around and the lights are bright, I don’t really think she cares,” Regis coach Travis Eichner said. “She just wants to play the best game around. If you’re going to lead, sometimes you lead through your voice or how you play. And she does both. It’s one of those things that you just can’t teach.” ■■■ Her gymnastics career started early, when Joni took her to a mother-daughter class at the YMCA when Grace was three. And the athleticism was obvious early on. In fact, Grace won all-around state championships in youth levels.
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But as she got older and the demands of gymnastics — at her level — required a lot of time, Gilles traded in the leotard for a volleyball and softball glove. “She really wanted to try other sports,” Joni said. Gilles began her volleyball endeavors as a ting almost immediately. Unsurprisingly, it’s because she enjoyed being involved with every play. “I loved being apart of the play every single,” said Gilles, who plans to play in college somewhere. You can tell when Gilles is on the court that she once was a master of a sport that required all kinds of athleticism.
a badly passed ball, we’re still in system when we have no right to be in system.” And when she has to or catches the defense napping and playing back, Gilles can get up and put down a kill. That’s what makes Regis so dangerous. Its quarterback has the smarts to distribute the ball to a variety of hitters while also get“Besides being incredibly athletic, she is a smart player,” said Altoona coach Elissa Upward, who coached Gilles in youth ball. “And she is a never say die player. You
going after it. On the service line, she’s got a really aggressive serve.” ■■■ Even board games around the holiday table got rowdy at the Gilles household. Grace and Zach, separated in age by four years, were always looking to get the last shaky serve-receive. laugh on one another. Which, by the way, is a coach’s dream. “It’s funny, because her and Zach are the “It’s just amazing,” Eichner said. “Any time exactly the same. It was awful,” Joni said
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with a laugh. “ It didn’t matter if we were playing Tiddlywinks or any of those fun games. Both of them want to win, and it always ended in some kind of argument.” But they both found ways to channel that energy successfully. plenty of bases at the University of Central Michigan. Grace also has her fair share of steals for the Ramblers softball team, for the the gaps with power. That thirst for victory has shown all throughout Grace’s volleyball career. Despite all the assists and stats, that’s what her legacy in green and white will be. “She’s got that cut throat ability where she wants every point and doesn’t take a
for sure. But with graduation losses to Amber Darge, Audrey Newby and other strong voices, Eichner gave Gilles the reins to be that vocal player on the court. She’s been that this year for the Ramblers, challenging younger teammates in an encouraging manner and brushing things doesn’t carry over to the next. tally tough with the game and have been able to look past little mistakes and brush it Gilles said. It’s going to be weird when a Regis box score doesn’t include her name next fall. It
that’s the best thing I can say about Grace,
program forever. That’s how impactful her four years have been.
my life.” For much of Gilles’ career, she’s been the leader by example. It’s a pretty strong one,
played. The lights will be brighter. And that’s when Gilles shines most.
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It was a long time coming MONDOVI — It was a punch in the gut. That’s the way Craig Loscheider described it, and he’s not the only one to feel that way. The Peoria, Ariz., native had just reached the halfway point of his 12month deployment in Iraq when he heard the news. His stay in the Middle East would be longer than expected.
Three months longer. Loscheider was caught in the middle of the 2007 United States troop surge during the Iraq war. It extended his deployment into a 15-month stint. Suddenly, six more months away from home turned into nine. “We were saying we’re over the hump, halfway home, and then it comes out that
we’ve got nine more months,” Loscheider said. “When you’re hating every second of every day, three more months seemed like it may as well have been three more years to be there. It was a punch in the gut for all of us.” Amid the news that he wouldn’t be going home any time soon, the airborne in-
through his mind. A thought that promised hope for the future. “I remember being overseas thinking ‘When I get back, I’m going to build a high school team somewhere, and it’s going to be awesome.’ I kept that in my head,” Loscheider said.
Contributed photo
And now, 11 years later, it’s mission accomplished. The road here hasn’t been straightforward. Plenty of twists and turns have stood in the way, but for Mondovi’s football coach, it has been worth it. “Now that I’m getting to do it, I feel lucky to be here. I just don’t take it for granted. I’m thankful,” he said. ■■■ Loscheider’s interest in joining the military took root during his high school years. The standout football player connected with a recruiter from the Marines and decided that was the route he wanted to take someday. But football was always there, calling his name. His coach at Peoria High School had played Division III football at Central College in Iowa during his career, and he encouraged Loscheider to look into playing small-school football at that level. The Iowa connection helped turn Loscheider’s eyes to the Midwest, and they eventually settled on Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon. “We went up there and I didn’t know really know one D III school in the country, so it was all the same to me,” he said. Looking back, he’s glad that’s where he decided to get on the gridiron. The linebacker went on to become a team capference selection for the Falcons in 2003. “I ended up having a great experience and played with a bunch of great dudes,” Loscheider said. But once his playing days were done, he went back to the plans he had made years prior in high school. With the Iraq War getting underway, the call to serve the country couldn’t be ignored. “A lot was happening with the military side of things, and I never felt like I ducked out of it, because I wanted the opportunity to play college football — and when I got it I was happy to take it — but with the war getting going, I thought ‘Well, if I’m ever going to do this, I better do it now,’” Loscheider said. teaching job, he embarked on a journey to Alaska to get his start in the Army. The deployment to Iraq began in October of 2006. In November of 2007, it ended. Loscheider didn’t quite hit the 15month benchmark he thought he would be required to. That didn’t mean things were easy, by any standard.
“I had no credentials where I was, so I became a freshman assistant, bottom-ofthe-totem-pole type of guy,” he said. Things moved along quickly. After two years, he had progressed to the varsity defensive coordinator job at Sparta. But the Spartans’ head coach stepped down
Contributed photo
But one of the lessons he took out of the experience sticks with him today. “After a few years in the military, you learn that if something sucks, there’s not a whole lot you can do about it. You just deal with it,” he said. “Your attitude tonothing you can get without going through it.” Eventually, even if at times it felt like the day would never come, Loscheider got to return home. It was time to get to work on that “build a high school football” thing. ■■■ After he got back to the United States, Loscheider decided to follow his wife wherever she wanted to go. It was the least he could do, after she had moved to Alaska with him and put her education on hold while he served in the military. So when she got accepted to UW-La Crosse’s physician assistant school, the two packed up and moved back to Wisconsin. She went to work on her education, and Loscheider went to work on the gridiron. Besides a brief stint as a freshman football coach at Milwaukee Lutheran High School during his student teaching days, Loscheider had no coaching experience. And, perhaps just as importantly, he had no connections in the area. So he did the only thing he could do: start from the bottom and try to work his way up. He got his chance with the freshman team at Sparta High School.
level, and despite throwing his hat in the ring to be the new head man, Loscheider didn’t get the job. “That was kind of when I decided I needed to move back to Milwaukee, where my old head coach is still coaching, and some of the guys I played with were coaching,” he said. “I thought I’d have a better chance to move around and get toward my goal of being a head coach.” He got a gig at Waukesha West, a program that has won two state titles and gone to state four times since the turn of the century. But he quickly learned there would be little room for advancement at a program loaded with experienced coaches. “They’re a state championship-caliber program with a lot of connections within their circle. So I saw pretty quick that that’s not the place for me to climb the ladder, there was too much experience in a group that already existed and I wasn’t
a part of,” Loscheider said. Luckily for Loscheider, one of his friends — Erich Janousky — had moved up the coaching ladder, accepting the offensive coordinator job at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He brought Loscheider aboard as his running backs coach in 2013. Coaching the college game wasn’t initially what he had set out to do, but it was the situation he found himself in. As always, he rolled with the punches. “I liked it, especially at the DIII level, the kids are only there because they love playing football. Coaching a group of kids like that, every single one was there because they want to be the best they can be at their position,” he said. “In high school, you kind of have that, but the commitment level isn’t the same.” After two years at Wisconsin Lutheran, Janousky moved on to become the head coach at Milwaukee Lutheran. Loscheider came along, serving as the strength and conditioning coach and assisting with game planning. Two years after that, Loscheider got a text message that changed everything. ■■■ Loscheider’s brother-in-law, Dan Linse,
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had known him for about 10 years by the time 2017 rolled around. The Mondovi resident heard the head football coach job had opened up at the high school, and thought of Loscheider. “He just shot me a text saying this head coach job had opened, and if I wanted to, I should apply,” Loscheider said. Turns out, Loscheider did want to apply. And not long after, he was named the varsity head coach at Mondovi. One of the biggest steps toward the dream of building a high school football program had been taken. The situation couldn’t have been any better either. “I didn’t just want any head coaching job. I probably would have taken most, just for the opportunity to get going with that, but I always really wanted one where there was one high school in a small town,” Loscheider said. “That was the situation I hoped to be in eventually: where there’s one high school, and you go around to other towns to try to beat their football teams.”
So Loscheider showed up as the new guy in town that summer, and got to work on winning football games. consisting of his father, brother-in-law, and former Mondovi player Tony Lamb — who Loscheider only knew because Lamb had reached out asking to help out. “I lucked out and got Tony, maybe the best Oline coach there is,” Loscheider said. “I was taking anybody who would help out, because we just In year one, Loscheider regular season record and In year two, Mondovi has gone beyond simply having a winning season.
The formula for success is being developed, and is producing results more quickly than many on the outside might have expected. “I didn’t have an expectation or a timeline for when I would like to be at the point where I felt like we were a good team or a good program,” Loscheider said. “Anybody can have a good season with the right athletes. Our goal is build a sustained program, and we can’t do that without time. But I do feel like we’re on our way.” Building a program will certainly take time. Luckily der doesn’t plan on leaving the high school game any time soon. “When I was coaching college, I would go to a high school game and think the kids were really little and the game wasn’t
won a share of the DunnSt. Croix Conference cham- were just running around pionship along. playing this game, but it didn’t really matter. Like son, I was thinking it was we were coaching a real team,” he said. “Now it’s way I wanted to,” said like the opposite. Loscheider. “The coaching “To me, Friday night is a better overall experience schemes were a little more than Saturday afternoon. nailed down. The biggest That’s where I want to be. thing was that we knew I’ll probably be coaching the kids better, our relahigh school until they tell tionships were better.” me I can’t.”
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Legacy left MENOMONIE — Lexi Hastings was born to be a tennis player. She was always around the game with her mom serving as a coach of the sport, and her natural athleticism made her a perfect Luckily for her mother, Wendy, Lexi formed a friendship in kindergarten with another competitive, athletic Menomonie youngster, Lindsey Johnson. Wendy had ideas in the back of her mind early on that this friendship could blossom into a nice little doubles team some day. It just took some convincing of Johnson to go out for a sport her daughter was sure to. “I knew she’d be good at it,” Wendy said. “She really is such a good athlete and probably could have done a lot of things freshman year. Thank goodness she tried tennis.” It does indeed appear Johnson made the right decision. Because she and Lexi made it all the way to the WIAA Division 1 state quarthe duo won a Big Rivers championship at No. 1 singles, a rare feat in a conference dominated by Eau Claire Memorial. They had a special senior the year at 36-2. ten a lot better over the years and have learned a lot more about the game,” Lexi said. “We’ve also learned how to play better with each other.”
The duo played doubles a bit together in middle school, but never super seriously. Once they got to high school, Johnson started at singles while Hastings played doubles with a senior partner. sophomores. Through some growing pains — they argued from time to time as many best friends do — they developed a connection on the court that has been tough to stop since. “Because we’re friends, we have a chemistry and can kind of read each other’s minds,” Johnson said. And they’ve usually both shared the same thought: Crash the net. Also basketball players, the duo has a natural competitiveness about them that can put an opposing
duo on their heels quickly. “I think that’s our strong suit. I feel like if we weren’t as aggressive as we are, we wouldn’t be in the position we are,” Johnson said. They’re good one up, one back, but they can be even more lethal with both of them up. Neither player is afraid to swing overhand or charge the net to force the action. “To be quite honest, a lot of teams have been afraid of them,” Wendy said. “They see the way they can hit at the net, and that’s all it takes. It pushes them way back. We’ve played a lot of teams where both girls have started at the baseline. And in doubles, you don’t want to give up the net.” It was a special moment for Wendy to share with her daughter and daughter’s tight friend at the conference meet. As three-year state qualilegacy at Menomonie. Despite not having a tennis center nearby, Johnson and Hastings have proven that hard work can get results no matter where you go to school. “I just hope that people know it takes a lot of hard work to get where you are,” Lexi said. “And they shouldn’t just accept that Memorial is going to win or that you might be able to go to state senior year. It is a possibility throughout high school.” The shared tennis success has been quite a chapter in a long-lasting friendship. It also put Menomonie tennis on the map.
was a bit of a foray into the unknown for Logan Podolak. Sure, the senior had played the position before. But not with the level of responsibility that would be placed on him this year. Still, he took it in stride, setting out to become a regular goalscorer for the Eau Claire North Huskies as the season got underway. It helped that he knew one thing for sure: He’d be getting quality service from midThat was the case all season long. Over the course of the regular season, Podolak scored 18 goals, and Xiong tallied 11 assists. Podolak’s goal total is among the best in the Eau Claire area. “It’s so nice, because he just hits perfect through balls,” Podolak said of Xiong. “It gives me all the goal-scoring opportunities. Without them I wouldn’t have had this success. It’s a team sport, you can’t dribble through everybody.” The role of playmaker is one Xiong is comfortable in. He even has gotten on the season with 10 goals. That was the secondbest total on the team. “I like to pass the ball a lot,” Xiong said. “I dribble more to try to help create space for my teammates. I can draw defenders to me, and then my teammates can try to get in open space to make runs.” When Xiong created a play in that fashion, most of the time Podolak was the benPodolak. The duo helped North put together a solid season, featuring a tie against Eau Claire Memorial to end a 21-game losing streak against the Old Abes. “Logan is so explosive in the attack, he’s so fast. He’s just always hounding the defenders,” North coach Terry Albrecht said. “Whenever Lushi has the ball, if he can get Logan in space behind defenders, and then it’s just a through ball and Loanybody that can catch him.” Xiong, a junior, knew Podolak had potential to be an impact player for the Huskies
this year. “We always knew he was a fast player, which would give him a lot of chances to beat the defense with speed and get through on Xiong said. “I think a lot of it is just him getting better too.” Podolak was a second team All-Big Rivers Conference selection last year, while Xiong got a nod as an honorable mention. Both have stepped up their game to a new level this fall. Podolak has increased his goal total by 12. He was more of a facilitator in the midago. A lot of his success in front of goal has sprouted from the bullish manner in which he never gives up on a play. “I just keep going for the ball. I always get told that I don’t go down in the (penalty) box, so just keeping after the ball gets me in good positions,” he said. Having seen the game through the eyes to forward a little easier too. “It helped Logan understand the whole scheme of the game,” Albrecht said. “He has learned what he needs to do up top for Lushi to open him up, so it’s made a big difference for him.” Xiong scored three times and assisted Premier in Minnesota at the club level durstep up his game during the high school season. “The speed of play at that level is a lot faster,” Xiong said of the club game. “The coaches and players help push you. I’ve gotten a lot of good playing experience out of it. I think my touches have improved because of that.” A genuine enjoyment for the game hasn’t hurt either. That goes for both Xiong and Podolak. “They’re great kids. They come to practice with smiles on their faces, they work hard. And what more could a coach ask for?” Albrecht said.
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Altoona back on top of WCC ALTOONA — With an array of graduation losses of some big time players following the 2016 season — some seniors who had led Altoona to consecutive conference titles and two state appearances in their careers — the Railroaders volleyball team was forced to go young. In 2017, coach Elissa Upward had to play a mix of freshmen and sophomores on the varsity squads while McDonell and Regis were riding senior-heavy teams to deep prevailed, and Ramblers duked it out all year for the conference’s top spot, dethroning Altoona from the top. With key players coming back from other Western Cloverbelt teams this fall, and with Altoona still being fairly young, the Rails weren’t necessarily the preseason favorites headed into the season. But the team found an identity and came back in several matches throughout the year. similar spot. On top of the WCC with a perfect 7-0 record. “We needed to grow up fast and play,” senior Lydia Berseth said. “Everybody had
to, kind of.” Luckily for Altoona, the sophomores who gained valuable experience showed poise beyond their years and carried that over into the fall. Combine that with the veteran experience of seniors who played either at state or won a conference title early in their careers, and it created the winning formula in the WCC. “We have a lot of leadership, even in the younger kids too,” senior Izzy Hendricks said. “We had some sophomores who played last year that have experience. It helps that, I mean our seniors are big leaders, but it helps that our younger kids are big leaders too. It means everyone is in it.” The Rails made their maturity stand out Against a red-hot Fall Creek team that was ranked in the top-10 in Division 3 at the time of the contest on Sept. 13, Altoona found itself down near match point in all three sets. It was especially impressive considering the team had a losing record at the time.
Hendricks said. Another came 12 days later on Sept. 25. On the road and down 2-0 to last year’s Division 3 state runners up, Regis, Altoona rallied to win the next three and put itself in the drivers seat for the crown. The Railroaders have shown late in the season that they can stand up when their backs are against the wall. “They are incredibly calm,” Upward said. “They do not get frazzled easily. They have a lot of heart.” While those pair of matches certainly stand out for Upward, she knew she had something to work with when she had to the lineup due to injury or whatever the case may have been. No matter the position, it seemed like someone was there to accept the challenge. “We’ve had our fair share of injuries and people having to sit out and rest out where tions,” Upward said. “Seeing that group be makes you feel, as a coach, that you’re able
able.” It sure helped that the team learned how to play with one another last season and developed a working relationship despite “The chemistry is there,” senior Karly Maurina said. “We know how to play with each other and work through ups and downs and back each other up.” a No. 5 seed in Division 2. Its road to a secNo. 1 seed, and the Railroaders would loss in 2016. It’s wide open with a handful of teams entering with real hopes of making it to the Resch Center. Just make sure you don’t count out the Railroaders. Altoona exceeded expectations in the WCC. percent at all times. “They know what the expectations are,” Upward said. “And that’s to play the best you can play every time out.”
Close-knit champions Most of the plays and games — legendary in Blugolds history — have been one half decades. But one thing remains constant. Each other. “The basic thing was and still is the camaraderie of the players,” said two-way end Gene Golden. “I was 28 and some of the others were just coming out of high school. I was darn lucky that they accepted me and we became a closely-knit unit. And that’s the way it’s been” That seems to be the unanimous feeling of UW-Eau Claire’s only back-to-back conference football champions, of which 23 returned to celebrate their 1963 and 1964 accomplishment in a 55th reunion on Oct. 13 as the Blugolds hosted UW-Whitewater. “It was the relationship the players had with each other,” said linebacker and honorary captain Marv Hieptas. “It was always a
hind a line of Ken Biegel, Tom O’Connell, Pat Page, Dick Olson and Chuck Emerson, the Memorial product who is in charge of organizing the reunions. Defensively it was Golden, Don Betthauser, Harry Duranceau, Tom O’Connell and Gendron up front with Hietpas and Biegel at linebacker and Dennis Rivers, Pat Fraley, Barry Schultz and Ron Poquette in the secondary. Moving into the starting lineup later were Mike Kalinke, Wayne Martinko, Phil Stickler and Bob Rykal. It was the same players who made up the nucleus of the two blue ribbon teams. After getting a 1964 opening game wakeup call of 29-6 by UM-Duluth, the Blugolds stormed back to beat UW-Oshkosh 26-7, UW-Stout 51-20 and UW-La Crosse 25to win at UW-Superior 14-12 to move into the meat of the schedule. Two of the next three games told the story of the team. After a comeback 34-28 win over UW-River Falls, they lost 21-7 at
(Jim Van Gorden) were outstanding but the rest of us were just average guys, overachievers who looked to do what was best for the team.” to play to score three touchdowns and beat Van Gorden triggered several improbable UW-Whitewater in maybe the most memo– some even unbelievable – comebacks in rable game in Blugold history. the 1964 season on his way to leading the Van Gorden, limping with an injured ankle, got some help from Gregg Zastrow to engineer three scoring drives and pull out a the enforcer on a defense that keyed an un- 37-33 win. The wins over UW-River Falls and beaten season in 1963. UW-Whitewater came with just 16 seconds “We had a group, I was a little older at the left. time, that would stay in the huddle, tell “Whitewater had two little backs who jokes and even take a penalty because of piled it up on us,” Golden recalled. “But we it,” said Van Gorden. “It was the camacame back with Van throwing to Bowman. raderie of the guys that led them to keep The winner was a slant across the middle up with each other. When Geno was on the and he was all alone. Van threw a hard ball, but George had good hands, hauled it in But all of them were heroes. It was a and scored.” homegrown squad with 10 players from 13-7 win at UW-Platteville and coach Jim more from surrounding towns. It produced six players and three coaches who have for UW-La Crosse, just ahead of UW-River been inducted into the Blugold Hall of Falls and UW-Whitewater. Fame and two who had NFL tryouts. Van Gorden, Gendron, Page, Emerson and Golden gained all-conference honors Gorden at quarterback, Mike Devine and while Van Gorden, Biegel, Golden and GenHarry Newman at running back with Gerry dron were named to the NAIA all-district Gendron, Golden, George Bowman and team. Larry Drott as receivers. They worked be“I was the spokesman for the team but I
didn’t tackle or block,” Van Gorden said. “Those were the guys who should’ve got the credit. It was a game bunch that looked for a way to win.” Unlike the 1964 team that won with a onship was won with defense as the Blugolds went 7-0, 6-0 in conference play, allowing a modern day record of just 8.7 points a game with wins of 27-8 over Winona and then mowing down conference foes Whitewater 14-12, River Falls 14-7, Oshkosh 19-13, Stout 12-2, La Crosse 22-13 and Superior 14-6. The players are quick to credit coaches Jim Rice, Ade Olson, Link Walker and Frank Wrigglesworth — all deceased — for their success. Olson had coached the 1956 Blugold champions and Walker was destined to become their legendary coach in the future.
Golden called Walker the boss of the 1963 team who carried the big stick even though Rice was the head coach. “Link left to work on his Master’s degree in 1964 and I think we called Colorado every day that year,” said Van Gorden, who became a highly-successful coach at Bloomer. Rice was more of a conservative coach. den said. “One game, we took over inside like that.” On another occasion, Van Gorden said he was at the sideline ready to get a play and go in. play,” he said. “I ignored all three and called
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tradition of collegiate stars as coach at Wisconsin Rapids. my own play.” “There were times when Whatever works. And ev- he would move up from his erything seemed to work for linebacker spot and play in these Blugolds. the line,” said Golden. “He Hietpas gained the rewas always hitting somespect of his teammates with body.” his leadership and play but The championship Bluprefers to play down his role golds produced two profesin being elected honorary sional players. Van Gorden captain. signed as a free agent for “We had some great, big Vince Lombardi’s Packers horses up in the line who while Gendron, a 6-4, 260took care of the job,” said pound receiver, signed with Hietpas, back in his home the Miami Dolphins and town of Appleton after serv- later was acquired by the ing a long stretch at Detroit Lions. Uniroyal. “Ken and I just In the Packers’ camp, uncleaned up and made the like Bart Starr, Van Gorden leftover tackles.” showed a cannon-like arm Golden said at times he that some receivers found remembers lining up next to the rockets hard to handle. Biegel, who started a family And there was another
problem. “I would come up behind center and look across the line of scrimmage and see a toothless, grinning Ray Nitschke ready to put it on me,” Van Gorden said. That may have been what opponents saw when they looked across at the Blugold defense. It was intimidating, miraculous. “Everybody has a story from those days,” Golden said. But it was one thing that stood out above all of the others. “I can’t remember a time hearing somebody bitching or complaining,” Golden said. “We were teammates, friends and buddies.” And champions.
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ELK MOUND — Three weeks into the season, Elk Mound was still searching for its identity. It wasn’t a team identity the Mounders were looking for though. No, that was pretty much set in stone. They knew they’d be a run-heavy team that works the ground-and-pound style with the best of them. But who would be the cogs that powered the machine? Initially, it wasn’t clear — and the team’s 1-2 record proved it. There wasn’t much experience in key roles, particBut with time came understanding, and with understanding came results. Good results, and plenty of them. As players have adjusted to new positions and new roles on share of the Dunn-St. Croix championship. “I think the change has been the experience level,” coach Dave Lew said. “Last year, we had kids that played 30-plus varsity football games on our line. Our line didn’t have that much experience this year, and
now they’re gaining a lot of experience, a “We moved a couple guys around, and the kids are just starting to mesh in a really positive way.” That much was evident on Sept. 30, when the Mounders defeated fellow DunnSt. Croix contender Spring Valley 21-7. Elk Mound used a mix of the passing and running game to get the job done. Quarterback Colton Ward tossed two touchdowns, and Brady Redwine ran for the team’s other TD as part of a 112-yard performance individually. The victory served as a reminder that despite the slow start, Elk Mound means business. “To go into Spring Valley and beat them on their homecoming, that was a big win ing into this week,” Lew said at the time. and beat Altoona and Glenwood City by a combined score of 106-14. Those results earned them a share of the Dunn-St. Croix title with Mondovi and Spring Valley. It’s the second consecutive season the Mounders have had at least a share of the crown. something Lew said has been abundant this year — to right the ship for the Mounders. It also took some introspection
But there’s been buy-in at every position. Take Rian Flynn for instance. The Mounders don’t throw the ball often, but when they do, Flynn has been there to haul it in. He caught two touchdown passes in the win over Spring Valley.
school or college program anywhere wants: Did we make improvements from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, and did we teach these young men that it’s OK to fail? And we’re very happy with this group of guys here,” Lew said.
lot of growing this year, is sorting things the defense has held opponents under 20 of the win streak. they’re a place the Elk Mound program knows well. The Mounders reached the get another crack as a No. 3 seed in D5 this fall. Here they are again. “We’re really excited. Our kids are gaining
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“Our message was: How are we going to get better?” Lew said. “We sat down as a and said ‘Look at how much experience our kids have,’ and our O-line was not very experienced. Yeah, they were seniors, but they lacked that game-readiness. “And we feel now, after giving them more game-like situations in practice, repdence has grown.” been contributions across the board for the Mounders. Redwine, the all-state running back, gets plenty of headlines and has winning streak. He rushed for 765 yards in that span, good for an average of just under 8 yards per carry.
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Behling is quite the kicker CHIPPEWA FALLS — There’s no weapon better to keep in the back pocket than footspeed. And Chi-Hi cross country runner Ella Behling has plenty of it in her arsenal. The Cardinals sophomore hasn’t been afraid to pull the trigger when the time comes, leading to some fast times and big wins early on this fall. Behling, an 800 runner at heart who freshman year last June, used her midline of the Hudson Invitational on Sept. 18 and her home invite on Sept. 27. Conference and has a season PR of 19:30. away and she’s got an ounce left in her, don’t place your bets on too many others. “Having been in track and having end of the meet faster than it would having not done that,” Behling said. Behling’s found a way to incorporate her mid-distance specialty into the race when it occurs on grassy hills. When she runs an 800 — two laps around the track — she gets a good start and then spends the middle part of the the race into thirds. She does the same on the cross country course. “I don’t mean to, but I end up going out slowing down for my second mile,” Behling said. “Then I just try to get faster for that third mile.” She’s still relatively new to the running community after picking it up in middle school but not getting super serious about it until last school year. Which is somewhat remarkable given her strong rookie campaign that saw her go to state in both track and cross country. Behling ran a 2:21 in the 800 as a fresh-
man last year while running the 5K in 19:45.8 last fall while placing 57th at the Division 1 state meet as the 14th fastest Despite her relative recency to the sport and generally relaxed attitude, it’s cially so with 100 meters to go and a girl next to her. “She’s a racer,” Chippewa Falls coach Roger Skifstad said. Behling tacked on the miles this summer and threw in some tempo runs here and there to keep a little speed leftover from track. This fall, she’s taking no days done with a purpose, even on recovery days. “This year, I push myself more and try to keep a balance,” Behling said. “On the easier days, I still try to push myself on those days just like I push myself on the workout days.” The thought process is that even if increasing the pace slightly on easier runs, the more threshold she’ll be able to absorb when holding on in a race and setting up for her kick. She’ll try to punch her ticket to state once again at Oct. 20’s Menomonie Sectional to qualify for a setting that only
Days 7 A WEEK! Refer to our index to locate today’s sudoku
Blackhawks’ crown jewel BALDWIN — There aren’t many who have been doing it like Jacek Nickowski these days. In fact, there might not be anybody doing it like him. After all, who could hope to match the production of the Baldwin-Woodville soccer standout? Nickowski scored in every single regular season game for the Blackhawks — to help lead his team unbeaten into the The senior scored 59 goals in the regular season, starting out the year by scoring at this fall, and there were seven in which he found the back of the net four times. It’s hard to say if he’s the state leader in goals scored. But it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to assume so. Oh, and there’s the 140 total points to consider too. “I knew that my senior year was probably team. I never expected for me to score as many as I have, but I knew that my time would come,” Nickowski said. Nickowski is of Polish descent, but was
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born in Baldwin. His father, Krzysztof, moved from Poland to the United States after graduating college, and is now the head soccer coach for Baldwin-Woodville. — a four-year varsity player — has been able to do from a young age. “Since being a freshman, he had this attiyear,” Krzysztof said. “There was no waiting until you have the permission of your peers to make a statement when you’re a junior or senior. Fortunately, he’s stayed healthy and is really driving this team to the very year.” Jacek is part of a rising soccer scene in western Wisconsin. He was an all-state selection last season after scoring 33 goals and tallying 11 assists. The Blackhawks have been a program on the rise, reaching the resuited up for the team. They haven’t been able to capture an elusive regional title in that span, but the Middle Border Conference champions are hopeful about their chances this year.
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Krzysztof calls Jacek a second coach on Jacek has staked his claim among the Roberts University, although he said he’s keeping his options open for the time being. The jump from great to exceptional was a product of many things for Jacek. He has less hours of work to improve his craft. with my speed,” Jacek said. “And I had a really good club season this year, so that kind of led into it. Just being consistent for me every game, I’ve been appreciative of that.” Jacek is also an accomplished wrestler. He took fourth place in his weight class at the 2018 Division 2 state tournament. Talented as he might be on the mat, soccer is the sport he wants to pursue in the future. Given his lethal strike rate in front of net this fall, soccer seems like a good choice. him down for a half, it’s only a matter of “I just stay patient, because I know it will I haven’t scored a goal, and you just think to yourself, ‘What do I have to do to put the ball in the back of the net?’ I put myself in spots where I know I can score. I fall back to what I’m good at,” Jacek said. What’s he good at? Based on the stats this season, just about everything. But in abilities are unmatched in the Middle Border. But there’s a mental aspect required to put together this kind of season, and it he said. “I’m not one who is super fancy, I try to simplify my game.”
“It makes my life so much easier,” he said with a grin. That kind of role sprouts from a tireless work ethic, both during the season and in He plays club soccer with Sporting St. and traveled to San Diego, Calif., to play at nationals in July. ent too,” Jacek said of the club game. “High school is really involved with how big you are, strength and size-wise...but at club, you a week. I think being at such a high level for club, you take it into high school knowing you’ve been training for nine months of the year, so you have that extra edge.” For the Blackhawks, things couldn’t have come together at a much better time. With unbeaten, Baldwin-Woodville is aiming to make a long run in the postseason. “It’s tremendous, I can’t be any prouder. The dynamic of coach and son can go many ways, but we’ve managed to stay on the same page,” Krzysztof said. “He really appreciates all of his teammates that have supported him these last few years. They realize he is special for this level, but he receives all the support he could have asked for. “They make him better, and he makes them better.” way, the Blackhawks are brimming with work will be behind any success the team enjoys. “He is a super, super driven individual,” Krzysztof said. “His mindset is ‘If I do anything, I’ll do it with all my ability.’ And that creates his success, I really do believe that. If you commit to anything, it’s all or nothing. And that really is his motivation.”
Regis stuns Aquinas in OT O.J. Simpson wades through the long grass of Memorial Stadium 39 times for 236 yards and four touchdowns, two of them in the fourth quarter, to lead USC to a season-opening, come-from-behind 2920 win over Minnesota. Gopher QB Phil Hagen, Memorial product, throws a touchdown pass for an early lead and passes for 140 yards in all. In a followup 17-14 loss to Nebraska, Hagen hits six of eight passes on a drive to the Nebraska 36 as the game ends. Purdue and USC rank 12 in the national polls. Also 50 years ago this month, the Packers open with a 30-13 win over the Eagles as Bart Starr passes for 220 yards and two scores in Coach Phil Bengtson’s debut. Green Bay suffers a first loss when Joe Kapp leads the Vikings to a 25-13 win and the Packers fall to the Lions 23-17. Former Packer Jim Taylor, now with the Saints, retires from football. The Detroit Tigers storm toward the AL pennant behind the pitching of Denny McClain. He gains his 30th win in a 5-4 decision over Oakland and adds to that in a win over the Yankees that includes “his idols” 535th home run that moves Mickey Mantle into third place all time. The Giants’ Gaylord Perry nohits the Cardinals and Bob Gibson. UW-Eau Claire loses its opener to Augsburg 39-12 but bounces back for a 217 win at Superior as Terry Weinberger runs for 155 yards and two scores. Badger Coach John Coatta says “We got bombed” after a 55-7 loss to Arizona State. That is followed by a close call 21-17 loss to Washington. In opening night high school football, two early Tim Carpenter TDs lead North to a 19-14 win at Medford; Jim Black scores three TDs, two on passes from Gregg Bohlig, to lead Memorial to a 22-7 win over Superior and Neil Rafferty’s 30-yard run and Steve Struck’s kick give Altoona a 7-6 win over Augusta. Curt Bestul goes 10-1 with 64 percent ringers in a rally that falls short as Bill Glass of Vesper holds on to win the state horseshoe championship held here. Jim Peterson fires a 716 series at Wagner’s
BUCKSHOT
Lanes. Tex Books whiffs 12 Mau score three TD each to lead and wins a mound duel over Prairie Farm to a 58-0 win over Don Hagedorn as Water Clayton. With John Gunderson Street Businessmen take the running for 124 yards and a score, National fastpitch title 3-2 Bloomer upsets Northwestern over Specifications. The Ma20-12. Altoona ends a 3-year, 20jor League and city title goes game losing streak with a 17-0 to Sammy’s Pizza with a 1-0 win over Loyal. win over South Barstow The Brewers top Toronto 7-6 Street Merchants as Steve as Robin Yount goes 4-for-4 RON BUCKLI Miley fires a 1-hitter in outwith two homers. Mike Calddueling Mike McMahon. well allows 4 hits and strikes 10 in a 2-0 shutout of the Yankees but The only run comes on a Ted Lahner Milwaukee remains third, six games besingle and Harv Tomter double. hind the Yanks. Tom Poquette gets on a Regis stuns La Crosse Aquinas 14-6 on a 21-yard scoring pass from Dave Miller 5-for-11 streak to help the Royals, who clinch their third straight AL West title. to Bill Caton. The Ramblers go on to The Dodgers claim the NL West while beat McDonell 20-0 on two TD by Dan the Phillies and Pirates fight it out in the Pedersen and one by Tom Grossklaus and a Dick Wagner’s blocked punt leads east. The Major League leaders are 45 homers by Jim Rice of the Red Sox and to a John Watkins score as Regis gets a .335 average by Rod Carew of the Twins. big 19-12 win over Marshfield Columbus The Brewers go into the final weekend with the aid of two Pedersen TD. with a 90-69 record and seven games out. After a 20-0 win over Chippewa, the The Blugolds beat St. Norbert and Old Abes blank Wausau 20-0 keyed by Bob Kamke’s 60-yard run. Steve John- coach Chick Kolstad 9-0 on a 26 yard pass from Bob Semling to Tyrone son’s 85-yard kickoff return leads North Cooper, then roll over Winona 45-0 as to a 26-0 win over Chippewa and Scott Tim Lewitzke rushes for 173 yards, D.J. Maske throws two TD passes to lead LeRoy adds 107 and Scott Dahl offers North to a 13-12 win over Logan. strong defensive play in the secondary. John Debee runs and passes for 185 LeRoy runs for 137 yards and three scores yards to lead Menomonie past Logan 33and Lewitzke adds 112 in a 35-27 win over 13. Steve Fedie leads Mondovi to a 34-13 win over Chippewa. Former Abe and Blu- River Falls. Bruce Connor has an 85yard kickoff return to key Stout’s 16-7 win gold star RB Jim Johnson has his Fond du Lac team ranked No. 1 in the state. The over River Falls. Houligan’s wins one before being YMCA opens its ninth season of youth ousted in the ASA National slowpitch tackle football. meet in Houston and finishes with 80-23 record. Herm Johnson wins his second David Whitehurst fires four TD Super Vee Gold Cup event at Elkhart passes, three to James Lofton, to lead the Lake. Pat Eaton wins the women’s championship in the state Horseshoe meet at Packers to a 28-17 win over the Saints. Berlin. Punky Manor’s domination conAlthough they get only 127 yards of total offense, they recover six fumbles and beat tinues as he takes his 11th win of the season at the Rice Lake Speedway. Bill Roll the Chargers 24-3. hits a 300 game at Wagner’s. Double winWith Chippewa Falls threatening to take the lead in a tie game, Mike Gagnon ner Jean Emerson leads North to a 6-3 picks up a fumble and returns it 94 yards tennis win over Memorial. Mickey for a score and Regis stuns the Cardinals Crowe, top scorer in Wisconsin high 22-16. Jim Meyer scores both TD as Fall school basketball history, plans to make his fourth college transfer — from St. Creek tops Altoona 14-7. Dave and Dan
Norbert to Minnesota. Mondovi’s “Dream Backfield” is honored after a 34-0 win over Hudson. QB Jess Cole passes for 233 yards, John Hurtley rushes for 133 yards and Tim Krumrie is credited with 20 tackles. But the Buffaloes are stunned 20-15 by New Richmond the next week. In other high school football, Memorial beats Menomonie 19-12 as Greg Weber rushes for 127 yards and two scores. Later the Abes beat Wausau West 18-16 on Mark Johnson’s 9-yard pass to Kevin Weaver with 24 seconds to play. Weber rushes for 186 and three scores in a 22-15 win over Logan. Randy Moore runs 25 yards for a TD and Eric Lindquist drills a 29-yard field goal to power North to a 9-0 win over Marshfield. Steve Gibbs’ 27-yard toss to Trent Mueller with 50 seconds to go gives Chippewa a 21-14 win over Wausau East. Chippewa goes on to beat Menomonie 20-0 as Barry Nelson runs for 127 yards. John Josten’s 80-yard scoring hookup with David Charles gives the Badgers a 7-6 win over Richmond and they go on to top Northwestern 23-7 as Ira Matthews runs for 125 yards and scores on a 78-yard punt return. Tom Stauss rushes for 123 yards. In the U.S. Open, Jimmy Connors defeats Bjorn Borg while Chris Evert
takes her fourth straight women’s title. In the Big Rivers Conference, the WIAA plans to add Rice Lake and Hudson and drop La Crosse Central and Logan. In the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, Ben Johnson of Canada streaks past Carl Lewis to win the 100 in a world record 9.79 but later fails the drug test and is disqualified. Janet Evans swims to the first U.S. gold and Matt Biondi is the first triple winner. Rosa Mota of Portugual wins the marathon. Florence Griffith-Joyner wins the 100 and the Soviets stun the U.S. 82-76 in basketball. The Blugolds open with a 28-21 win over Winona as John Clark passes for 199 yards and Cary Osborn scores two TD; Clark fires 4 TD passes in a 30-28 win over Southwest State and he comes back to throw for 282 yards and two scores in a 35-16 win over Oshkosh. Chris Herzog takes nine of the throws for 81 yards and two TD. Kyle Gunderson runs for 110 yards as Stout tops Superior 24-12. Frank Viola of the Twins is the first pitcher to reach 20 wins in a 10-1 win over Texas led by Kirby Puckett’s two homers. Jim Gantner drives in 5 runs to lead the Brewers to a 10-2 win over Seattle. As Milwaukee loses to the A’s, Robin Yount collects his 2,400th hit. Jose Canseco steals two bases in the A’s 9-8 win over the Braves and becomes the first player to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases. Boston’s Wade Boggs becomes the first major leaguer to get 200 hits in six straight seasons. Orel Hershiser of the Dodgers shuts out the Padres in 10 innings to set a record with 59 shutout innings. Entering the final weekend of the season the Brewers boast an 86-73 record and are second to Boston in the AL East. The playoffs match the Mets and Dodgers and the A’s and Red Sox. John Stien and Linda Bauer are the winners in the Menomonie Tinman Triathalon. Trina Thames sets two pool records in leading North to a 54-22 swim win at Wausau West. In the city cross country meet, the winners are Joel Wagner of Regis and Stephanie Farrell of Memorial. Tricia Haselwander leads North to a volleyball win over Regis. Jim Negrini is named the Regis girls basketball coach. Nancy Parr fires
a 636 and Dick Werlein a 723 to lead bowlers. Dave Hicks wins the Wisconsin PGA Match Play championship at the country club. In high school football, Mike Braatz runs for 113 yards and Troy White for 73 to lead North past Wausau East 20-3 and the Huskies come back for a 21-19 win over Logan as Jason Knetter passes for 140 yards. After being shutout twice, Memorial erupts for a 27-14 win over Central and the Abes follow with a 31-0 win over Hudson as Tom Pavelski has a 71-yard TD run and totals 199 yards. Rod Eslinger’s second quarter TD gives Chippewa Falls a 7-0 win over the Abes. Glen Schemenaurer’s two TD leads the Cardinals to a 24-0 win over McDonell. Tampa Bay defeats the Packers 13-10 on a field goal on the final play. The Bears drop the Packers to 0-4 with a 24-6 setback. The Badgers fare no better under Don Morton, losing to Northern Illinois 19-12 and then going 0-3 with a 23-3 loss to Miami. Dan Held wins the Buckshot Run 5miler in a record time of 24:35 and Karen Schoenrock is one second off her women’s record in 29-13. Steve Nelson has five hits and includes a 3-run homer along with Chuck Hull as the Chippewa Lumberjacks defeat Lafayette 13-10 for a repeat CRBL championship. Andre Agassi, 18, defeats Jimmy Connors for the U.S. Open title and Steffi Graf, 19, defeats Gabriela Sabatini for the women’s crown.
Huskies 512 rushing yards. Altoona tops Regis 45-19 led by Kyle McCorrison’s 165 yards and four TD. The Ramblers bounce back with a 41-0 win over Alma/ Gilmanton powered by four Nick Simon TDs. And in a 50-6 win over Wausau Newman, Paul Spanel rushes for 255 yards and three scores. Coach Bob Nielson’s Blugolds top UM-Duluth 28-14 as B.J. Jones runs for 149 yards and in a 32-0 win over Minnesota-Morris, Darrell Souhrada runs for 103 yards and Scott Whirry has a 58yard TD romp. Stout defeats Morris 5012 as Matt Bunyan throws six TD passes. Chad Johnson, Gopher runner from Chetek, sets the Buckshot Run 5-mile record at 23:50 while Abe product Jewel Market is the women’s winner. Marshall Donnerbauer, Chetek, sets the 2mile mark at 9:32 with Regis product Kris Ihle-Helledey second overall in 10:08. Chandra Johnson has 11 kills and leads North to a 3-0 volleyball sweep of Regis stops a 2-point try in the final Memorial. Andrea Tobias is in on four minute to hold off Baldwin-Woodville 7- wins in leading North to a 95-75 swim 6. Mike Blang’s 12-yard pass to Joe win over Chippewa. Daniel Cabrera Carroll is the winner. Fall Creek scores scores two goals as the Huskies beat the 28 first quarter points and led by the Abes 3-2 in soccer. running of Keith Bergeson and Lance Cal Ripken of the Orioles finally sits Wright and passing of Bruce Cota tops out and his major league record of conAltoona 42-7. Kyle Fagerlund scores secutive games is set at 2,632 in the past two TDs in nine seconds as Durand tops 16 years. Paul Molitor, now of the Mondovi 27-6. Jason Kostka’s 90-yard Twins, gets his 3,319th base hit and probkickoff return features Osseo-Fairchild’s ably his last as he nears retirement. The 23-18 win over Blair-Taylor. Yankees go into the playoffs with 114 wins, a modern day record. The Brewers finish with a 74-88 record. The Cubs The defending champion Green Bay beat the Giants 5-3 in a playoff and enter Packers open with a 38-19 win over the the post-season. Dan Roehl is named Lions as Brett Favre hits 24 of 32 passes the Cavaliers MVP. for 277 yards and two TD, one an 84Ron Dayne has a sore ankle and runs yarder to Antonio Freeman. They folfor only 111 yards and four scores in the lowup with a 23-15 win over Tampa as Badgers 45-0 win over Ohio and when Reggie White has three sacks. The dehe adds 108 yards in a 52-7 win over fense allows only 160 yards in a 13-6 win UNLV, he sets the school record of 3,785 over the Bengals and Favre throws for yards. Dayne piles up 168 yards in a 38-7 388 yards and five TD in a 37-30 win win over Northwestern. over the Panthers for a 4-0 start. Olympic champion Florence Griffith In high school football, Mike LaBarJoyner dies of a heart seizure at 38. Wisbera carries eight times for four TD and consin newcomer Matt Kenseth wins 115 yards to lead Memorial to a 45-0 win the Bush Grand National at Dover, Del. over Superior. After Brodie Birkel’s five Matt Sheahan scores two TD as TD effort in a 54-44 win over Chippewa, Mondovi tops Durand 25-20. Nick OhLaBarbera rushes for 293 yards in a 26-22 man returns the opening kickoff 90 win over Menomonie and closes the yards and it leads Glenwood City to a month with 185 yards and four scores as 49-20 win over Elk Mound. Jesse the Abes beat Rice Lake 31-21. Wendt carries 19 times for six touchAdam Anderson opens the game downs and a new area rushing record of with a 77-yard TD run and North goes 415 yards in Chetek’s 46-26 win over on to a 55-39 win over Hudson with Ladysmith. Menomonie’s Al Hartung Kevin Christenson getting 109 of the totals five TD in a win over Rice Lake.
Spring Valley or UW-Stout? MENOMONIE — While UW-Stout’s primary colors are blue and silver, there’s a
son-opening loss to nationally ranked St. John’s in St. Joseph, Minnesota. In fact, he is third in the WIAC in total tackles. He’s also got a pair of interceptions, including a clincher against UW-Eau Claire on Sept. 29. Schlegel has been granted the freedom to move up on plays and pursue the running back. And there weren’t many better in the area at doing that during his high school tenure.
football program this fall. That’s because there’s a heavy Spring ValSean Borgerding, a 2017 graduate who greyshirted for the Blue Devils a season ago, is the starting quarterback. Jed Schlegel, a 2016 grad, is the team’s leading tackler out of the safety position. Borgerding and Schlegel teamed up to help the Cardinals win the Dunn-St. Croix conference in 2015 while advancing to the
ally nice because I did that a lot in high school,” Schlegel said. “Being able to get down the box and make tackles, I love it.” He has faced many more pass-heavy teams that he saw at Spring Valley, and especially dropping back into the secondary, that took some getting used to. But like Borgerding, he used his time not in the starting lineup to study up and perfect the fundamentals of his new position so that the Blue Devils wouldn’t miss a beat with the graduation of former Chippewa Falls standout and all-WIAC safety Tony Blair. “Footwork was a lot of it,” Schlegel said.
Here they are again, leading the Blue Devils in a tough WIAC. “Watching them both progress and do what they have so far has been really fun to watch,” said Spring Valley coach Ryan Kapping, who watched Sept. 22’s UW-Stout win over California Lutheran like a proud parent in the stands. “ Seeing Jed and Sean play at with a lot of pride in what they have done to this point as I know they have both worked very hard.” While both of them had a lot of success at the high school level — Borgerding and team All-Northwest honors while suiting up for the Cards — they’ve had to remake themselves a bit at the college level.
Borgerding has taken over QB1 and has thrown for 1,264 yards and 11 touchdowns drops back to pass more than he did at as opposed to just four interception thus Spring Valley, which has had a potent triple- far. He’s gotten more comfortable each option game for years. Schlegel, a standout time out. linebacker for Kapping, moved to the safety While he directed more of a wishbonetype look in high school, his ability to unwasn’t used to seeing in the run-heavy derstand what look the defense provides Dunn-St. Croix. has translated well into more of a traditional But with their attention to detail, athleticism and knowledge of the game, the both “The big thing was understanding coverof them have cared out roles for themselves age more,” said Borgerding, who used his on the team and thensome. greyshirt season to study up on the Blue “Both guys were very studious about the Devils playbook. “We didn’t pass a whole game,” Kapping recalled. “They took the in- lot. But I think it helped that, even though formation that coaches were teaching we ran a triple option, I was always reading about game plans and they were like the defense. We don’t necessarily run triple here, but we’ll run some read option where aligned and knowing situations. Most imyou have to read a certain guy. That’s just portantly the thing they both had that I second nature. I’ve been doing that for a think separates good players from average long time.” His size and speed, 6-foot-2 and 200
much, I focused really hard on working on myself and making myself better and put myself in the best positions.” For folks like Kapping and others who know Spring Valley football, it isn’t much of pounds and experiencing running the ball in high school, make him a tough dualthreat guy to stop. He’s got 163 yards rushing and a touchdown on the year too. “He’s obviously a really big kid,” UW-Eau Claire coach Dan Larson said. “Really athletic for his size. Seems to handle their offense really well, and he’s looked really comfortable in there. ... Against Cal Lutheran, he looked like a starting WIAC quarterback. It’s impressive what he’s done so far.” giving him time to make throws and opening up the run game early on in games so that he doesn’t have to be superman back there in the pocket. Just his steady self. Schlegel was a tackling machine in high school, and not much has changed. Even with a position switch. He has 65 tackles, including 17 in a sea-
collegiate level. And both are quick to point out their roots helped them prepare for the jump up to competitive college football in the nation’s best Division III conference. “Part of it was the coaches were smart and knew how to put pressure on us,” Borgerding said. “We were always in big games, which helped coming here. There is still pressure, but it feels like another game and something that isn’t way over the top. It feels like you’re out playing football, you know what you’re doing and just playing your game.” “The coaches, they made sure we were disciplined,” Schlegel added. “They put us in positions that we’d be ready for big plays and big spots. A lot of it is on them. They did a great job with us, and they are still doing a great job.” The former Cardinals are now permanent