How a troubling trend is impacting girls high school basketball in Wisconsin
“He literally said, ‘I have talent, kids who played basketball in the past, who decided not to go out, and that group is more talented than the group I’m putting on the floor right now,’” Schindler said. Schindler has talked to other coaches and athletic directors about the problems he sees at Deerfield, and they’re […]
“He literally said, ‘I have talent, kids who played basketball in the past, who decided not to go out, and that group is more talented than the group I’m putting on the floor right now,’” Schindler said.
Schindler has talked to other coaches and athletic directors about the problems he sees at Deerfield, and they’re in the same position. He said one athletic director told him that they could put a group of girls together from the student body and beat the varsity team.
Most girls already had played anywhere between 250 to 300 basketball games by the time they entered Don Schindler’s girls basketball program at Deerfield.
“If we don’t have girls going out for the feeders, then we’re not gonna end up having girls playing at the high school level,” she said.
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Edgewood’s Anna Miller looks for someone to pass the ball to during Friday’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal against Rice Lake.
Girls now will play their last volleyball match on a Friday or Saturday, then go to basketball practice Monday.
Madison East
But development comes at a cost. Justice spent time this season teaching her varsity players how to dribble the ball and other basic basketball skills instead of using the time to game plan against an upcoming opponent or teach more advanced techniques.
LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN ARCHIVES
With a young family of her own, Justice understands that there are more important things in life than basketball. She tells her players that family and school come before basketball, and her flexible approach to practice allows more players to stay involved with the team while working a part-time job or taking care of younger siblings.
Without a connection to the high school program or understanding of local rivalries, high school basketball isn’t always worth sticking around for, especially when players already are exhausted.
Deerfield, a Division 4 school with 205 students, had 10 players on its varsity girls basketball team this season.
The lack of a youth program also made it harder for Justice to coach her varsity team to victories. Girls are entering high school with no previous basketball experience and no grasp of the sport’s fundamentals.
Sara Mallegni remembers a few years ago one of her varsity girls basketball players quit to focus on her club volleyball season.
Unlike Madison East, Deerfield has a thriving youth program run by the town’s community center. However, community center basketball is only the start for girls who play there. Many soon join club teams and play in tournaments across the state and region, spending about three-quarters of the year playing basketball.
The Purgolders finished the season 7-15 after a loss to Waunakee in the regional round.
Deerfield finished 22-4 this season and won the Trailways South Conference. Schindler saw people in the bleachers he hadn’t seen in a few years who were excited by the team’s success.
Madison East’s Valerie Richardson is one of the state’s top scorers, partly because of her ability to shoot from 3-point range.
The youth sports scene has completely changed over the past 20 years. Seasons that used to be six to eight weeks now last up to 24 weeks, which can exhaust young players, Schindler said.
Edgewood’s Beanie Thompson drives to the basket during Friday’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal against Rice Lake.
Traveling so far for competition has another impact.
Edgewood’s Mya Tomlinson (middle) tips the ball to a teammate during Friday’s Division 2 state semifinal.
“Kids have to provide for their family sometimes, so you’re having kids that have to go from practice to work, or they can’t come to practice on the weekend because they have to work and make money to provide for their family at home,” she said.
Mallegni was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing tennis, basketball and softball. Her daughter, Teagan, a freshman with the University of Iowa women’s basketball team, played basketball and volleyball in high school.
The declining girls basketball numbers have impacted local schools in a variety of ways. Some have had to cut JV programs, while others have suffered from a short bench for their varsity program.
Edgewood’s Erin Schauer attempts a 3-pointer during Friday’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal.
Edgewood’s Beanie Thompson attempts a shot against Rice Lake.
Edgewood’s Macey Faust (14) looks to take a shot down low during the first half.
However, girls also need to be willing to make an effort for their high school teams.
“They are actually watching games on TV, they show up at games,” Mallegni said about her youth program players. “I think there’s something there that we’ll build on and we’ll get girls that are excited about the game of basketball.”
“I think it becomes too much too fast for third-, fourth-, fifth-grade girls, and that drives the wear-out or burn-out you start to see,” he said.
The key to encouraging multi-sport athletes is ensuring a break between seasons to rest and re-group. When Mallegni was in high school, she always had a few weeks between sports seasons, something she looked forward to immensely.
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The coaches don’t want to blame volleyball, she said. Many coaches, including Mallegni, are willing to be flexible and allow athletes the option of participating in both club volleyball and high school basketball.
For Justice, there’s no clear answer to increasing participation in girls basketball. She suggested shortening the season could help retain the girls who can’t commit four to five months of the school year to basketball, but barriers like money and the cost of living are much harder to solve.
By the time these players reach high school, the number of games played and time spent on their sport can wear them out, which makes them less likely to continue playing.
Beyond getting help from parents to alleviate burnout, Schindler wants to motivate girls to keep playing basketball in high school by showing them the excitement of rivalry games and having classmates and community members cheer them on in the stands.
“They feel like they have to pick and choose, and unfortunately here, they feel like they need to play club volleyball in order to play school ball,” she said.
There are plenty of circumstances that have led to the decline in girls basketball participation over the past 15 years, but a growing wave of young girls have a new reason for joining the sport.
“It just kind of deteriorated, but COVID-19 didn’t help that,” Justice said. “It just wiped everything away, and now it’s up to the head coaches of these schools to bring that back on top of trying to develop their own program.”
“You have to take what you can get,” Justice said. “If girls want to come out, of course I want them. I’m going to help develop them.”
SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Rebuilding the Madison East youth program isn’t something Justice can do by herself. She needs the assistance of volunteer coaches and investment from the community. But time is a valuable commodity.
Edgewood’s Maren Schmotzer (25) goes up for a shot during the first half of Friday’s Division 2 state semifinal.
Mallegni participated in a round-table discussion with other coaches in the state before this girls basketball season to discuss declining participation. The 12 coaches on the committee all were frustrated by the consequences of early sports specialization and prioritization of club sports.
Five girls basketball teams were crowned state champions over the weekend in Green Bay, concluding a season that saw the continuation of a troubling trend for the sport in Wisconsin.
“It’s really gotta be driven by the parents,” he said. “Pull them back, give them the opportunity to take a deep breath, play a different sport, be a kid, run around and do something other than play basketball, which is difficult to say when I’m a basketball coach.”
It’s been a struggle for Justice to recruit players without a youth program to feed into the high school teams. There are 1,644 students at Madison East, but the Purgolders had just 15 in their girls basketball program, including 10 on the varsity team.
Edgewood’s sutdent section takes time to do pushups during the second half.
McFarland’s Teagan Mallegni passes during a game in January.
While Schindler believes in the importance of club sports for players who genuinely love them, he knows they are not for everyone.
“We can sell to the kids, say, ‘Listen, there’s some really exciting times. The community will back you.’ I think that’s when a kid’s eyes will light up and get excited again about the sport,” he said.
There is no single reason for the drop in participation. Different factors have played a role in the decline in participation for teams in the Madison area. Here are some of the stories from schools facing decreasing participation in girls basketball.
Legendary beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings won high school state championships in basketball and volleyball. Star basketball players Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark both played multiple sports in high school — Clark played two years of soccer, while Reese was an outside hitter in volleyball.
The girl was adamant that she needed to play club volleyball to be a part of the junior varsity volleyball team at McFarland.
“It used to be that they might leave 15 minutes early from practice,” she said. ”Now we’ve had girls miss school games to go to club practices. It’s not good for team morale when you have people leaving or not showing up.”
Schindler estimates that by high school, only 20 to 30% of girls who play basketball stick with it. Even then, keeping them for all four years of high school is a challenge.
Madison East coach Alysha Justice grew up playing in the Purgolders’ youth program. But it disappeared sometime between her graduation in 2014 and return to the school as its varsity coach in 2022.
Scene from Friday’s WIAA girls basketball state semifinal between Edgewood, Rice Lake
“Basketball coaches that I’ve talked to are big fans of multi-sport athletes and would like to have girls be able to do that without bleeding from one end to the other,” Mallegni said.
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
“It’s just hard to take,” Mallegni said. “We don’t expect our girls to play club if you want to play basketball at McFarland. You can if you want to, but I don’t recommend it necessarily. We like the idea of multi-sport athletes.”
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
While basketball participation has decreased in the last 15 years, girls’ participation in sports increased by more than 250,000 athletes, according to the NFHS. Wisconsin has seen none of that growth. About 7,000 fewer girls participated in high school sports during the 2023-24 school year compared to 2009-10.
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Girls who play sports in high school are more likely to get better grades, graduate and have higher levels of confidence, according to a study by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
“It’s always hard. Money and resources — that’s a big thing. Money is a barrier for a lot of things,” Justice said. “People can’t just donate their time to stuff like that anymore. If you’re not paying coaches, you’re not going to have coaches to do it.”
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
While players at the high school level may feel like they need to choose one sport to increase their chances of playing in college, many of the country’s top female athletes played multiple sports in high school.
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Money isn’t just a roadblock to getting adult volunteers. Plenty of the players also have to juggle basketball with school, work and family commitments.
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
“This lack of community connection can diminish the excitement of playing for a school team, where local pride and support of friends and family are strong motivators,” Schindler said.
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Edgewood’s Makayla Foley drives to the basket during Friday’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal against Rice Lake.
MARK MCMULLEN LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Girls basketball participation in Wisconsin has decreased by 24% over the past 15 seasons, compared to a 16.4% decrease nationally, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Association.
Commanders receiver Noah Brown carted off the field at minicamp
WASHINGTON – On day two of Washington Commanders minicamp, receiver Noah Brown was carted off the field at the end of practice. According to FOX 5’s Chad Ricardo, Brown had an on-field collision with Commanders safety Will Harris during practice. When Brown entered the locker room he was in either clear frustration or pain as […]
WASHINGTON – On day two of Washington Commanders minicamp, receiver Noah Brown was carted off the field at the end of practice.
According to FOX 5’s Chad Ricardo, Brown had an on-field collision with Commanders safety Will Harris during practice.
When Brown entered the locker room he was in either clear frustration or pain as he let out a “loud yell,” Ricardo said.
There is no update on the exact status of Brown’s injury.
Commanders minicamp highlights
Local perspective:
Over 100 high school coaches were in attendance at Commanders minicamp on Wednesday. Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn spoke about the importance of welcoming those coaches to learn about a National Football League practice.
“I want them to know what they’re doing really matters,” Quinn said. “If we can help them establish our professional practices in their schools and communities, I think it just helps grow everything.”
Representation of schools across the local area were present for that growth. High school coaches from Prince George’s County, Fairfax County, Washington D.C. and more, were in attendance. Those who came out had the opportunity to appreciate the atmosphere, learn the drills and receive advice from the Commanders coaching staff.
Head Coach Mike Hunter of Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C. was impressed with the team’s professionalism and attention to detail.
“Just how they conduct themselves at practice, they’re all focused and locked in, running from drill to drill,” Hunter said. “Those are the things we implement with our guys. If the pros are doing it, we should be doing it at the high school level.”
Sixers draft profile: VJ Edgecombe is a big-time athlete who loves to defend
A scouting report on NBA draft prospect VJ Edgecombe: Position: Guard Height: 6-foot-4 (without shoes) Weight: 193 pounds College: Baylor Strengths Edgecombe has the sort of athleticism that makes you stop whatever you were doing and watch replays in amazement. While he’s still learning how to harness it all, he’s currently got a nice feel […]
A scouting report on NBA draft prospect VJ Edgecombe:
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-4 (without shoes)
Weight: 193 pounds
College: Baylor
Strengths
Edgecombe has the sort of athleticism that makes you stop whatever you were doing and watch replays in amazement.
While he’s still learning how to harness it all, he’s currently got a nice feel for how to both shine in obvious ways (rapid bursts to the rim, highlight slams) and subtle ways (snagging rebounds in a pack, recovering after falling a step behind defensively). The 19-year-old had a productive all-around freshman season at Baylor, posting 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
Edgecombe enjoys and takes pride in his defense. He doesn’t have the size of a guard-everyone stopper or the wingspan (6-foot-7.5) of a player destined to rack up steals and blocks, but his effort and explosiveness are great foundational traits.
“I feel like I’m an elite defender, but I also have a ways to go,” Edgecombe told reporters at the NBA draft combine. “I’m just willing to play defense with all my heart. I know if there’s anything I can do on the floor to impact the game, it’s guarding. That’s something I’m ready to do for sure.”
Edgecombe was a good college rebounder, ranking in the Big 12’s top 20 in rebounds per game. Rebounding is not one of his core tools, but it might lead Edgecombe’s NBA team to be a bit more comfortable using guard-heavy lineups.
Last summer, Edgecombe played with the Bahamas in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament and showed his game already could be quite impactful against grown men. With NBA veteran teammates Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon, he was one of his country’s key players. Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points on 57.1/38.5/81.3 shooting splits, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Weaknesses
Edgecombe’s far from a polished ball handler and isolation scorer. He doesn’t have the tight, advanced handle to suggest he’s on the verge of consistently, efficiently creating his own shots in the NBA.
He also won’t enter the league as a crafty, comfortable finisher in traffic. When faced with resistance inside, he sometimes seemed to lack a real counter, flinging the ball toward the rim or trying to power through bigger bodies.
Edgecombe’s shot is not a strength at the moment. The numbers weren’t bad in college; 34 percent from three-point range on 4.6 attempts per game, 78.2 percent at the foul line. That said, Edgecombe has a rather narrow base on his jumper, isn’t smooth off the dribble and generally doesn’t look the part of a pure shooter.
No apparent need for deep concern there, especially given Edgecombe’s willingness to let it fly, but shooting improvement would certainly enhance his odds of becoming an NBA star.
Fit
Notably, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s general philosophy is to take the best player available.
If the Sixers drafted Edgecombe with the third overall pick, he’d add to the team’s list of guards 6-foot-4 and under, which includes Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. Morey has said he intends to bring back restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, too.
The idea of Edgecombe as a Sixer would sound better if he proves capable of defending wings well at times and grows as a shooter. His size alone doesn’t appear like it should be a disqualifying factor.
Former Bozeman softball coach Jared Smith releases statement after firing
AI-assisted summary Coach Smith announced his departure from Bozeman High School softball after 11 seasons, citing administrative decisions. During his tenure, the team achieved academic success with a 100% pass rate on state assessments and four players earning 4.0 GPAs this year. The 2024 season saw the Bucks break team and individual records, culminating in […]
Coach Smith announced his departure from Bozeman High School softball after 11 seasons, citing administrative decisions.
During his tenure, the team achieved academic success with a 100% pass rate on state assessments and four players earning 4.0 GPAs this year.
The 2024 season saw the Bucks break team and individual records, culminating in their first-ever playoff win.
Smith and his wife, Amber, have accepted positions at Arnold High School, where they will join the softball coaching staff.
The firing of Deane Bozeman School head softball coach Jared Smith stunned the community, but now the longtime coach has released a statement on the firing.
Smith, who coached the Bucks for 11 seasons, culminating in 118 wins and four playoff appearances, expressed gratitude toward players, parents and colleagues in a message that also touched on the team’s academic and athletic achievements.
“I would like to start by acknowledging and thanking everyone who has publicly and privately expressed support and encouragement for Amber and me,” Smith said. “More specifically, I would like to thank each and every player who has played for me during my time at Bozeman and to each of their parents for trusting me to guide their children during their high school softball careers.”
During Smith’s leadership, Bozeman softball not only improved on the field but excelled in the classroom. The program earned the highest team GPA in Bay County four times over the last seven years, and this season, all players passed state assessments.“This year, our players in high school had a 100% pass rate on every State EOC/PM assessment. We had four high school players finish this school year with a 4.0 or higher GPA,” Smith said. “The players over the years deserve all of the recognition and credit.”Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
On the field, Smith described the 2024 season as “re-energizing,” with the team breaking four program records and six individual records. The Bucks reached the regional playoffs after a historic win—the program’s first-ever postseason victory.
“In their mind these girls weren’t doing anything special, but man, was this group special,” Smith said. “They earned a spot in the District Championship game and brought back the first playoff win in Bozeman Softball history.”
Reflecting on the season’s final game—a narrow loss to the No. 2-ranked team in the state—Smith recalled the team’s resilience and refusal to quit.
“I reminded them to ‘be present’ and to give me ‘more than enough,’” he said. “The players in that dugout at that moment may have been the only people alive who believed we had a chance. But they bought in and locked in… I have never been more proud of a team.”
Smith and his wife, Amber, have accepted teaching positions at Arnold High School and will join the softball staff under head coach Rick Green.
“We are incredibly excited to join their school and softball program,” he said. “This opportunity is an exciting one, both professionally and personally, as we both look to grow as educators and coaches.”
Smith concluded his statement with a message to his players,past, present and future.
“Be present in all that you do and if you are going to do something, always ‘do more than enough.’”
The full statement can be read below.
I would like to start by acknowledging and thanking everyone who has publicly and privately expressed support and encouragement for Amber and me. More specifically, I would like to thank each and every player who has played for me during my time at Bozeman and to each of their parents for trusting me to guide their children during their high school softball careers. I would also like to thank the administration, coaches, and teachers I have worked with side-by-side over my 18 years at Bozeman. And as I tell anyone who asks, I have been blessed to have the greatest booster club year in and year out. It is more than fair to say that the hard work and support of the parents (past and present) who have made up the Bozeman Softball Boosters have had a huge impact on every success that this program has experienced.
During my time as the head coach of the Bozeman Softball program, there have been highs and lows, learning moments, and memories made that will last a lifetime. The positives outweigh the negatives 100 times over.
From the beginning, I strived to set a standard of high expectations for my players, starting in the classroom and then continuing to hold that standard on the field of competition. In the last 7 years, these Bozeman Softball teams have earned the highest GPA in Bay County four times. Just this year, our players in high school had a 100% pass rate on every State EOC/PM assessment. We had 4 high school players finish this school year with a 4.0 or higher GPA. The players over the years deserve all of the recognition and credit for taking their role as a student seriously and meeting or surpassing every expectation that was set for them.
Carrying this standard of excellence to the field has been the second phase of my vision for the program I was leading. In my 11 years as head coach at Bozeman, we won 118 games. There were 17 individual players who signed to play at the collegiate level. In the last 8 years, we have made the playoffs 4 times. In 2018, we won the Bay County Tournament title. We were seeing the fruits of the standards I was striving to set come to fruition right in front of our eyes. This current season was validating, in many ways, that we were on the right track. The way this current group of girls competed was exciting and re-energizing. I don’t think these girls even realized everything they were accomplishing, because they were simply performing the way we worked to prepare them every day at practice. In their mind, they weren’t doing anything special. But, man, was this group special! As a team, these girls broke 4 team records, 6 individual records, and took care of their academics (see above).
Over the course of this season, in response to some adversity, I adopted a message to our players that, in a way, became a rallying cry. I encouraged them to “Be present” and to “Do more than enough.” Their response was incredible. They earned a spot in the District Championship game (in our first season after moving up into a larger classification). Then they earned the 4-seed in the Regional playoffs, but still had to travel to the 5-seed due to that team winning their district championship. No big deal…they went into that environment (for most of them, this was their first taste of playoff softball) and brought back the first playoff win in Bozeman Softball history. With this win, they earned a rematch from our District Championship game, against the team that finished #2 in the State (a truly great and talented team). In that game, we jumped out early, then fell behind in a BIG way. I called them together in the dugout and reminded them to “be present” and to give me “more than enough.” The players in that dugout at that moment may have been the only people alive who believed we had a chance. But they bought in and locked in and fought back from a huge deficit to end up tying the ballgame. In the end, we didn’t quite have enough to topple our talented opponents. I, however, have never been more proud of a team than I was at the conclusion of that game.
As it turns out, that game was my last game as the leader of the Bozeman Softball program. If you are waiting for me to air out grievances here, then I am going to have to leave you waiting. I am not going to publicly argue or refute any claims. I know, without a doubt, we did things the right way, every time. Whether I understand or agree with why decisions are made, the administration at Bozeman is tasked with making tough decisions daily and this was their decision. If you must know “why?” all I can do is point you to the statement that was released. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities I have had at Bozeman and every moment will be regarded fondly.
As Amber and I are now moving on to a new adventure, we are ready to announce that we have both accepted teaching positions at Arnold High School and are incredibly excited to join their school and softball program. I would like to thank Principal Smith for welcoming Amber and me into his school and athletics program. His support has already been a huge encouragement to us. I am looking forward to learning from their legendary head coach, Rick Green, and immersing myself into their winning culture. This opportunity is an exciting one, both professionally and personally, as we both look to grow as educators and coaches.
Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.
Diaz, Dignazio, Hilmas Named USA Lacrosse High School Girls' Players of the Week
NORTHEAST Sophia Diaz, Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.) In a showdown of two nationally-ranked teams featuring a bevy of Division I commits, it was an uncommitted senior who made the difference for Bayport-Blue Point. Diaz, a first-year starter in goal, was rock-solid for the Phantoms in a 15-9 win over previously undefeated Nyack (N.Y.) in a NYS […]
In a showdown of two nationally-ranked teams featuring a bevy of Division I commits, it was an uncommitted senior who made the difference for Bayport-Blue Point. Diaz, a first-year starter in goal, was rock-solid for the Phantoms in a 15-9 win over previously undefeated Nyack (N.Y.) in a NYS Class C regional final on Saturday. Diaz made 10 saves, including two at the end of the first half — one on an 8-meter attempt — to prevent the RedHawks from tying the score as Bayport-Blue Point overcame a slow start to reach the final four.
Also notable: Kaitlin Bogucki, Columbia (N.Y.); Michaela Fay, Suffern (N.Y.); Arcangela Haffner, Garden City (N.Y.); Gabby Lauretani, Ridgefield (Conn.); Maia Pronti, Victor (N.Y.); Elizabeth Smith, Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.)
— Dylan Butler
MID-ATLANTIC
Annie Dignazio, Strath Haven (Pa.)
Dignazio has helped carry Strath Haven to a historic season. The senior midfielder had five goals and four assists, as Strath Haven roared to life for an 18-4 win over District 12 runner-up Archbishop Wood in the 2A state tournament opener. She followed that up with a hat trick, three assists, four draw controls, four caused turnovers and seven ground balls in a 17-9 quarterfinal win over Crestwood (Pa.).
Dignazio scored her 200th career goal the week before, as Strath Haven won its first district championship ever. Dignazio, whose younger sister Tessa is a freshman on the team, is committed to Brown.
Also notable: Katie Adams, Ridgewood (N.J.); Bianca Antonacci, Conestoga (Pa.); Riley Austin, Haddonfield (N.J.); Devon Bush, Pleasant Valley (Pa.); Ashlyn Carpenter, Chatham (N.J.); Lyla Clark, Cherokee (N.J.); Stella D’Ambro, Bishop Shanahan (Pa.); Molly Davies, Summit (N.J.); Morgan Davis, Abington Heights (Pa.); Chiara Donohue, Trinity Hall (N.J.); Kate Fox, Strath Haven (Pa.); Adyson Griffin, Southern (N.J.); Maddie Kane, Springfield-Delco (Pa.); Ellie Kaplan, Twin Valley (Pa.); Mae Murphy, Moorestown (N.J.); Liv Parmer, Manheim Township (Pa.); Chloe Stevens, Manasquan (N.J.); Moira Sweeney, Sparta (N.J.); Sophia Tray, Villa Maria Academy (Pa.); Marleigh White, Allentown (N.J.); Tatum Woods, Cherry Hill West (N.J.)
— Justin Feil
MIDWEST
Corinna Hilmas, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio)
It doesn’t get much better than scoring the game-winner in double overtime of the state championship game. Not that anyone was surprised when Corinna Hilmas provided the game-winner against Upper Arlington. Hilmas is Liberty’s all-time leading scorer, after all, with 261 goals, including 111 this season, despite playing her freshman season with the Golden Bears. Hilmas tallied a whopping 19 goals in the Patriots’ five postseason games; had a game-high five draw controls in the state title game; and was not just an explosive scorer but a remarkably efficient one all season.
Also notable: Madi Brinkman, Park of Cottage Grove (Minn.); Mia Darr, University School of Milwaukee (Wisc.); Abby Grove, Prior Lake (Minn.); Campbell Heald, St. Francis DeSales (Ohio); Laine Lewis, Hudson (Ohio); Emerson Mattox, Prior Lake (Minn.); Emily Morgan, Hathaway Brown (Ohio); Ella Parker-Briones, Hinsdale Central (Ill.); Madeline Pohmer, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio); Berkeley Thomas, Upper Arlington (Ohio)
Alabama gets morning start at Faurot and other kick
COLUMBIA- Mizzou and the SEC announced on Wednesday that Alabama’s visit to Faurot Field will kick off at 11 am CT and air on either ESPN or ABC. It will mark a morning kick-off for the Crimson Tide’s first trip to Columbia since 2020. Missouri’s road trip to Oklahoma will also kick off at 11 […]
COLUMBIA- Mizzou and the SEC announced on Wednesday that Alabama’s visit to Faurot Field will kick off at 11 am CT and air on either ESPN or ABC. It will mark a morning kick-off for the Crimson Tide’s first trip to Columbia since 2020.
Missouri’s road trip to Oklahoma will also kick off at 11 am and be broadcasted by ESPN or ABC. It will be Mizzou’s first game in Norman, OK since 2011.
The conference and ESPN also revealed several “tv windows” for the 2025 season. The windows are announced to give fans a better idea of when a game will start with the ability to shift the exact start time for TV scheduling purposes. The exact kick off times and TV information will be announced at least 12 days prior to each game.
The tv windows announced on Wednesday include four “flex” designations. Flex games start between 2:30 and 3:30 pm or between 5 pm and 7 pm. Mizzou’s flex games are vs. South Carolina (9/20), at Auburn (10/18), at Vanderbilt (10/25) and vs. Texas A&M (11/8).
Three other games were marked for “night” starts. In the SEC a night window designation means the game will kick off some time between 5 pm and 7 pm. Mizzou’s guaranteed night games will be Homecoming vs. UMass on September 27th, a home match up with Mississippi State on November 15th and at Arkansas in the Battle Line Rivalry to close the regular season on November 29th.
Mizzou had previously announced kick off times for the first three games of the 2025 football season: vs. Central Arkansas at 6:30 pm on Thursday August 28th (SEC Network), vs. Kansas at 2:30 pm on Saturday September 6th (ESPN 2) and vs. Louisiana at 3 pm on Saturday September 13th (ESPN+/SEC Network+).
Wyoming Shrine Bowl Football Game: Practice for the Shrine Bowl Football Game in Casper is underway and players from Sheridan County High Schools are trying to do their part to contribute to the North team. Both teams are having 2-a-day practices, but with only one week to prepare for the game, that limits the amount […]
Wyoming Shrine Bowl Football Game: Practice for the Shrine Bowl Football Game in Casper is underway and players from Sheridan County High Schools are trying to do their part to contribute to the North team.
Both teams are having 2-a-day practices, but with only one week to prepare for the game, that limits the amount of time that players have to develop some kind of playbook.
Bridger Peldo of Sheridan says he’s grateful that the coaching staff knows what they’re doing.
Will Taylor of Big Horn says don’t expect the North to try much out of the ordinary, when it comes to play calling and that his team-mates have the talent to get the job done.
Quarterback Ty Gilbertson of Sheridan says the North players need to stay disciplined this week in practice.
There has been one change to the roster.
Avon Barney of Big Horn has elected not to play in the game and has been replaced with Ram team-mate Owen Petty.
The 52nd annual Wyoming Shrine Bowl football game will kickoff at 2pm this Saturday from Natrona County High School.
Sheridan Troopers Legion Baseball: The Sheridan Troopers lost both ends of their conference opening double-header yesterday, at defending state champ Cheyenne Post 6.
Scores were 12-2 and 6-4.
The Troopers are back in action today in Cheyenne again, as they take on the Hawks in a conference double-header, beginning at 11am and 1pm.
On Sunday, Sheridan is at home for a conference double-header against Casper.
It’s also Little League Night as teams and players will be recognized and get to run the bases in between games.
Tomorrow and Friday, the team will host its annual Baseball Camp and Whiffleball Tournament for those ages 7-14.
Events run from 9am until 12-noon at Thorne Rider Stadium.
You can visit the Sheridan Legion Baseball Facebook page to register.
Colorado Rockies Baseball: The Colorado Rockies gave up 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning last night and lost at home vs. San Francisco 6-5.
Ryan McMahon and Kyle Farmer each hit solo home runs for the Rocks, but the bullpen wasted those efforts.
Game 2 of the 3-game series is today starting at 6:40pm.
During Smith’s leadership, Bozeman softball not only improved on the field but excelled in the classroom. The program earned the highest team GPA in Bay County four times over the last seven years, and this season, all players passed state assessments.“This year, our players in high school had a 100% pass rate on every State EOC/PM assessment. We had four high school players finish this school year with a 4.0 or higher GPA,” Smith said. “The players over the years deserve all of the recognition and credit.”Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
