I'm Filney with WRCO Sports. The season came to an end for the Ithaca High School volleyball team
after Royal 1-25-21, 28-26, and 25-15 on Thursday night in the WIA sectional semi-final.
The Panthers will move on to play Saturday night at Almond Bankroft High School in the
sectional final for the right to go to state on the line. They'll be facing off against Columbus
Catholic, which was a winner last night, 3-1, over Gilman. The turning point last night's match
at Ithaca was the second set with Ithaca leading 24-20 and at game point, Royal scored four consecutive
points to tie the score at 24 and then proceeded to eventually win the emotional set. The Bulldog
struggled in the third and final set after that tough loss. Six seniors played their final matches
for the Ithaca volleyball team. They are Holly King, Ariana Lewis, Kaley Newkirk,
Alyssa Muller, Bailey Wannlis, and Tristan Peterson. This group of athletes helped lead the Bulldogs
to a first-ever volleyball conference title for the school and recently a first-ever WIA regional
trophy. The team ends the season at 16-5. Elsewhere Barnet held advanced after a four-set win over
Belmont, their opponent will be Shaboygan Christian, which beats central Wisconsin Christian
3-2. Also, in Division 4, middle of point, edged Hillsboro, three sets to two, and fall river
over Tri-County, three sets to two. In Division 3, Aquinas, one in five over Cuba City, they will play
Lakonia, which knocked off Nakusa, three sets to none. That sectional final will be played here in
Richland Center at RCHS on Saturday night at seven. Elsewhere in Division 3, abundant life
Christian St. Ambrose beat Broadhead, three-one, and in Division 2, Edgewood got the win against Mount
Horob, three sets to none. High School volleyball, sectional semi-finals, and then soccer as well
had those last night. Columbus, Catholic, and Aquinas battled. It was a two-nothing Aquinas win,
and Northland Pines beat Cumberland 5-1 among the soccer matchups.
WIA football playoff action tonight in the area, the Ithaca Bulldogs, a third seed will play at
number two seed Johnson Creek. Johnson Creek, once beaten, the Bulldogs are unbeaten on the year.
Here is Coach David Klang of the Bulldogs. I ask him if it was going to be a similar matchup,
if he expected the same thing as a year ago when the Bulldogs lost on a last-second touchdown to
Johnson Creek. The very similar to last year, we would say that they maybe don't pass quite as
much, but they still very much are passing threat. Their quarterback is very shifty and quick,
and never really good running fullback. So they bring a lot of nice pieces together,
and very similar to last year's Johnson Creek team, but with kind of a little bit different
flashes in there with their quarterback and their run game. The Bulldogs will try to be more physical
in tonight's game. We're hoping to, and we kind of saw it in film, but like it's very tough to
see it in film and kind of determine that, just based off of how they played and what not,
but we hope that's kind of our advantage and be able to kind of maintain that kind of like we
did last year that kind of threw them for a loop, and we kind of hope that we're able to kind of
control the line. They have some really good lineman back from last year that we will match up
again with, so it'll be very interesting to see if we can kind of maintain that physical presence
in there. Here is co-head coach Kyle Kelley talking about the matchup for the Bulldogs.
Similar last year, and there's somewhat some of the Randolph, the big difference is they are
more effective at passing the ball than Randolph is, but yeah, it's the same offense they ran last
year. They have quite a few weapons. When you look at their game, I'm guessing you had a chance to
watch it with Royal, but they must have scored quite quickly, especially at the end of the game,
didn't they? They scored early, they scored quite quickly early, and then they had a game when
you drive at the end. Johnson Creek seems to have a knack for winning games in the final seconds,
which is something I unfortunately have experienced in.
That's Kyle Kelley. We'll have the Bulldogs and Johnson Creek on the radio tonight, FM 100.9
and WRCO.com, beginning with the Viteznik Power Sports pre-game show, around 635. River
Ridge plays at Bangor, Potosi Castville at Cochrane Fountain City, Division 6, Cubicity at Landcaster,
Division 5, Brookfield Academy at Prairie Dushin, Milwaukee Academy of Science at Darlington.
In Division 4, Lodi travels to Aquinas, West Salem and Columbus, Division 3 reads
Berg at Catholic Memorial, Waterford at Mount Hurrah, Barnaveld, La Crosse Logan at Analaska,
and also an eight-player football, North Crawford, a number two seed plays, number one seed
Highland tonight at Highland. And there's stayed cross-country action going on this weekend.
I spoke this week with head coach Eric Mindham of the Richland Center Ithaca team.
I think the biggest thing's not necessarily the course itself, but the experience that many
spectators, that many runners, the competition being that good. So yeah, you get there once,
get the experience. I imagine it only helps going forward. So excited for Grace that she gets
to be there at a junior year and the boys that they're back again.
It's kind of the pinnacle you mentioned that you know you start the season, maybe there aren't
that many spectators and all of a sudden here you got people from all over the state, right?
Yeah, you know, Tent City there's probably got 50 to 110, so it's definitely a big experience.
A lot of people there rain or shine. So you're never alone on that course. There's always a wall
of people cheering you on. Is there a key? I mean, you know, not starting too early. Is it a key
to get out to a good start and get away from the pack? Yeah, the key at state is definitely different
than otherwise. You know, most races you want to kind of hold back a little bit and that adrenaline
can get you out fast, but at state you have to get out fast. You have to be in it for the mix.
There's so many runners in the race. There's not always chance to move around them as the race
goes on. You have to get out quick and in the right spot from the gecko. Can you talk about your
individual runners end coach? Yeah, we'll start with Ryan Stadler. He's kind of been one of the
leaders on our boys team. I thought he ran his best race at sectionals. He's a good, he sets a
good example. He's got the right habits full of talent, works hard, can't say enough about him.
Clayton Lee, another good kid, bit of a jokester on the team. We need that that keeps it light from
time to time and he always runs his best when the meets are biggest. Grace is pretty quiet.
She's a great leader on the girls team. She does things the right way. She's really encouraging
of all of her teammates and she holds herself to a high standard, which is why she's running that
state, I think. Good luck to Grace Fretz, along with Clayton Lee and Ryan Stadler at state,
representing Richell Center, Ithaca's cross country team tomorrow in Wisconsin Rapids.
Bowling scores from the All-Star League series high, the misfits, 29-20,
Lonesome Dove Tavern at 28-53, advanced pump at well, 27-61. High game honors, the misfits at 10-77,
Culligan at 10-11, Lonesome Dove Tavern at 9-75. Top series Lucas Linvig, 122 over average,
with a 7-76. Jason Gerner, old a 683, Terry Wheaton, 107 over average with a 683 series.
Game High honors, Lucas Linvig, a 278. Jason Gerner, a 269, Chris Pardoon, and Chuck Pardoon,
each had 247s. Randy Paul's bold a 640 series, 112 over average, and Ross Gaston with a 654
series, 93 pins over average. And ugly first half Thursday night saw the box fall so far behind.
They never could make the game close. They dropped a road game in Memphis, 122-99. That's four
losses in a row from Milwaukee. Yana South of the Kubo is the only player showing much,
scoring 37 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, starting guards Torian Prince, Gary Trent Jr.,
and Damien Lillard missed 18 of 19 three point attempts. Grizzlies Garjay Morant had a triple
double with 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. The box returned home to host the Cavaliers
on Saturday. Elsewhere Houston was a winner over Dallas, 108, 102, San Antonio, 106, and Utah,
88, Phoenix 125, the Clippers, 119. The Jets were winners against Houston, 2113, in Thursday night
football. Packers safety, Xavier McKinney has been named the NFC defensive player of the month.
McKinney has picked off six passes in eight games this season and produced two interceptions,
a fumble recovery and a sack in four October games. He is the first Packer to earn the honor
since linebacker Devandre Campbell did it in 2021. Two strong defensive teams meet at Kinect Stadium
in Iowa City Saturday evening, kickoff is set for 630. The Badgers have been more explosive
on offense this year while rolling up a five and three record. Offensive coordinator Phil Longos
squad has produced 12 plays of 30 yards or more. Only top ranked Oregon has more on defense
opponents are staying away from cornerback Ricardo Holman. The receivers he has been covering
have been targeted just 17 times in eight games, the fewest of any college cornerback. I'm Phil
Ne with an update on sports.