Sports

The Wonewoc-Center Wolves volleyball team began their defense of a State Championship with a 3-0 sweep of Kickapoo Tuesday night.  It was the first game for new head coach Lindsey Dryer who got a victory in her debut.  The Wolves trailed much of set one but finished on a 4-0 to win the set 25-23 capped off by a Bella LeMoine ace.  Set 2 was tight but Wonewoc-Center pulled it off 26-24.  The 3^rd set was all Wolves as at one point they scored 12 straight points to nab the set 25-16 and won the match.  Senior Emma Mildbrand had numerous aces in the victory for Wonewoc-Center.  The Wolves will face Necedah next Thursday. 

Hillsboro Tigers

2023 Record: 4-6 (3-3 Ridge & Valley 11 Man Football Conference)

Head Coach: Eric Auel

Mike’s 2024 Projected Record 6-3 (4-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: QB/DB Miles Ravenscroft RB/DB Isaac Thyne TE/LB Joseph Cairns WR/DB Jaden Burnette RB/LB Caden Clark OL/LB Ryan McCoic

Team Preview: Hillsboro has to replace its all everything running back linebacker Isaiah Stokes which won’t be easy but things are still looking up for the Tigers under veteran head coach Eric Auel. Miles Ravenscroft will lead the team at the quarterback position and will be one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the conference.  6’3 Joseph Cairns (8-141 3tds) will be a big target to throw to at the tight end position. Isaac Thyne (47-177 1td) and Caden Clark are expected to get a bulk of the carries out of the backfield.  Clark had a great freshman year defensively for the Tigers notching 65 tackles and 1sack.  Carins and Ryan McCoic each had a pair of sacks last season for Hillsboro.  Replacing Stokes won’t be easy but I believe Hillsboro will be a playoff team for the 2^nd straight year as they head back to the Scenic Bluffs Conference renewing a lot of great rivalries.              

Key to Success: Spreading things out.  Hillsboro will not replace Isaiah Stokes with one player it will take a team effort on both sides of the ball.  Expect Miles Ravenscroft to carry the ball himself a lot this season but they’ll need Thyne and Clark to run the ball hard as well.  Expect Clark to lead the defense this season as only a sophomore but they’ll need others to step up as well.            

 Game to watch:  Week 1 Friday August 23rd home at Boscobel 7pm

These two teams have been conference rivals the past few seasons in the now defunct Ridge & Valley 11 man football conference.  Hillsboro has been one of the few teams Boscobel has been able to defeat.  Boscobel has just 27 wins in its last 27 seasons.  Hillsboro will try to start their season on the right foot and get a victory over their former conference rivals.

Hillsboro Tigers Games on WRJC Radio: Week 1 Friday August 23^rd Hillsboro at Boscobel Week 5 Friday September 20^th Royall at Hillsboro Week 8 Friday October 11^th Cashton at Hillsboro 7pm NOW92.1FM WRJC.com

Next Preview:  Let the season begin   

Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information. 

New Lisbon Rockets

2023 Record: 6-4 (3-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Jarod Ulrich (2^nd Season 6-4 Record)   

Mike’s 2024 Projected Record 2-7 (2-5 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: QB/LB Brayen Morey RB/LB Austin Berndsen QB/WR/DB Hunter Kennedy TE/DL Evan Macrafic RB/LB Braden Miller WR/DB Josh Homan   

Team Preview: Coach Jarod Ulrich had a very successful first year as head coach of the New Lisbon Rockets leading them to a 6-4 mark and nearly taking down Cochrane-Fountain City in the playoffs.  Roads might be a little rockier in his 2^nd year as the Rockets struggle with injuries and inexperience.  Brayen Morey is back to lead the team on both sides of the ball.  Morey threw for over 700 yards and 7 touchdowns at quarterback last season and led the team in tackles with 106 including 7 tackles for a loss.  Morey will not have the ground game or the line he had a season ago to support him offensively.  The Rockets must replace Jake Cox, Carson Welter, and Dylan O’Brien who combined to run for nearly 2,000 yards last season. Austin Berndsen returns to the team and might be its top ball carrier. New Lisbon will try to throw the ball a little more this season with the experience of Morey. Josh Homan has looked good in camp at the receiver position and should be a favorite target for Morey. Evan Macrafic is dealing with a thumb injury but will also be a receiving threat when healthy.  New Lisbon is not a very big team and might struggle to protect and run the football this year.  I see New Lisbon taking a step down this season with the injuries and inexperience.               

Key to Success: Getting Healthy.  New Lisbon is banged up in a big way to start the season.  New Lisbon can ill afford to lose a player just to have enough kids to field a football team at the moment.  If New Lisbon gets healthy they could make a run at the post season once again.        

 Game to watch:  Week 3 Friday September 6^th at Royall 7pm

Royall and New Lisbon have had some great matchups over the years on the gridiron.  New Lisbon has a chance to make a statement and claim themselves as a playoff team if they can knock of Royall in the conference opener for each team.

New Lisbon Rocket Games on WRJC Radio: Week 2 Friday August 30^th Pardeeville at New Lisbon 7pm Week 3 Friday September 6^th New Lisbon at Royall 7pm Week 4 Friday September 13^th Cashton at New Lisbon 7pm Week 7 Friday October 4^th Necedah at New Lisbon 7pm   

Next Preview:  Royall Panthers

Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information.