Check out the area’s top performers nominated for OnFocus Team of the Week, February 18 – March 2!
(Technical issues resulted in our Athlete Week of the Week contest spanning two weeks)
OnFocus Team of the Week, February 18 – March 2
- Lakeland Girls Basketball(nominated online) – The Thunderbirds advanced to sectional play with a pair of regional wins: a 74-26 thumping of Merrill and a thrilling 70-69 win over #3 seed Rice Lake.
- Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln Boys Wrestling – The Red Raiders advanced to the WIAA State Boys Wrestling Team Tournament. Leading the charge for Rapids was Carter Freeman, state champion at 126 pounds. Rapids advanced to the state team championship before bowing out to Kaukauna, 36-27.
- Gilman Girls Basketball – Following a 9-15 regular season, Gilman roared in the playoffs with three regional wins, all on the road. Gilman dispatched Holcombe 62-38 in their playoff opener before pulling off the upset so far of the tournament, a 59-51 win over #1 seed South Shore. The Pirates then defeated Hurley 60-44 in a regional final and a berth at sectionals.
- Auburndale Boys Basketball(nominated online) – The Eagles marched their way sectionals by defeating Phillips 69-42 in the regional semifinal and then defeated Edgar 62-46 in the regional final.
- Athens Girls Basketball – The Bluejays ended the regular season with a 15-9 record, and then rolled off three wins in regional play. Athens thumped Marion 75-15, followed by a 62-27 drubbing of Loyal in the regional semifinal. Athens then made a statement by toppling #1 seed Pacelli 56-52. Sophia Coker has led the charge for Athens, scoring 65 points in regionals.
- Owen-Withee Girls/Boys Basketball – The Lady Blackhawks earned a sectional berth with wins over Thorp in the regional quarterfinal(54-23), a 43-27 regional semifinal win over Prentice, and Drummond in the regional final, 41-23. The boys also advanced to sectionals with a trio of wins: 80-27 over Mercer, a regional semifinal dispatching of Flambeau, and then an upset of #1 seed Rib Lake in the regional final, 45-43.
- Columbus Catholic Boys Basketball – Columbus roared its muscle in advancing to sectional play, earning a trio of wins: 88-22 over Coulee Christian/Providence, a 66-48 regional semifinal victory over Loyal, and a 69-34 dumping of Alma Center Lincoln in the regional final.
Vote Here: https://forms.gle/h3LF5wZPNizAvZeTA
Voting ends SATURDAY at 5:00 PM
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2023-24 Area Conference Schedules: Conference and Team Links
Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?
Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:
Nominate an athlete or team: HERE
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Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
