The Bonduel High School softball team posted a 1-2 record in the Spring Fling Tournament at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Michigan on Saturday.

The Bears opened with a game against Marquette (Mich.), winning by a 7-4 final.

McKenzie Wollenberg reached base three times and drove in a run for Bonduel. Taylor Luepke and MacKenzie Moore each added two-RBI doubles. Claire Gehm was the winning pitcher, striking out three batters along the way.

Bonduel was then defeated by Gladstone (Mich.), 23-1. Luepke took the loss in the circle for the Bears.

The Bears wrapped up play with a tight 3-2 loss to Noway (Mich.). A pair of errors in the third inning and a mental mistake in the sixth led to all three of Norway’s runs.

Gehm took the tough loss, allowing just four hits while striking out five batters and walking none. Grace Tibutis drove in a run for Bonduel.

“Very pleased to see our defense improve and to get an opportunity for all players to get some playing time,” said Bonduel coach Chris Reinke. “Awesome experience to play in the Superior Dome.”

Tigerton High School senior Monika Minniecheske took a step toward continuing her athletic career on Friday when she signed a letter of intent to play at Ripon College.

Minniecheske, who plans to join both the volleyball and track and field teams for the Red Hawks, got to make her college decision official at Ripon College, with her mother, Amy, in attendance.

“It means so much that my sports career isn’t over and that my future teammates are excited for me to join them and hopefully become best friends one day,” Minniecheske said. “It’ll be fun to see myself proceed to get better and see what I can actually overcome as an athlete.”

The senior said she and her family hired a scout to get her name out to college coaches and that several schools were interested.

A visit to Ripon was the clincher for Minniecheske.

“I took the time out to visit the campus, and as soon as I got there, I pretty much fell in love,” she said.

Minniecheske said she had known she was going to Ripon since the middle of January before making things official Friday.

The Tigerton standout has been a big contributor for the volleyball, basketball and track and field teams over the course of her high school career.

Minniecheske saved her best for last on the volleyball court, being named the Central Wisconsin Conference-North Division’s player of the year this past fall.

She helped lead the Tigers to a 20-10 overall record and eventually a Division 5 sectional semifinal game.

Minniecheske was also an all-conference first team selection for volleyball as a junior and sophomore.

Despite not anticipating to play collegiate basketball, she also garnered all-conference honors while playing for the Tigers basketball team.

As a junior, she was a first team selection. She was tabbed to the second team for her play as a senior.

Minniecheske has already gotten her senior track and field off to a strong start. At the beginning of the season, she hoped to break some school records and also make it to state for the first time.

She’s made it to sectionals for track in each of her first three years of high school.

Last year, she qualified in the 300-meter hurdles. As a sophomore, she competed in the long jump and 200 and as a member of the 4x100 relay team. She also was on the 4x100 relay team and in the long jump as a freshman.

SOFTBALL

Menominee Indian 6

Wey-Fre 3

The Eagles topped Weyauwega-Fremont despite being outhit 12-9 in Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division play on Monday.

Menominee Indian scored four runs in the first inning and two more in the second.

Marlee Waupoose doubled and tripled while driving in three runs for the Eagles. Alyssa Corn had two hits and scored twice. Jalen Corn also scored two runs, while Jasmine Johnson and Hailey Alegria drove in a run each.

Selena O’Kimosh earned the win in the circle, striking out seven batters and allowing just one earned run.

BASEBALL

Wey-Fre 14

Menominee Indian 2

The Eagles could not keep pace with Weyauwega-Fremont in a CWC-East clash on Monday.

Menominee Indian is scheduled to take on Shiocton on Thursday in its next game.

The Shawano boys tennis team dropped a pair of matches while competing at Green Bay West High School on Monday.

In a 6-1 setback to Ashwaubenon, the No. 3 doubles team of Rory Johnson and Nolan Buck earned a 6-3, 6-2 victory for the Hawks.

In Shawano’s 5-2 loss to Bay Port, Joe Mente secured a win at No. 4 singles after his opponent retired due to injury. It was tied 1-1 in the second set after Mente had won the first set 6-4. Rhain Rodenbeck and Wyatt Theis rallied for a 0-6, 7-6 (5), 13-11 win at No. 2 doubles.

Ashwaubenon 6, Shawano 1

Singles: No. 1: Jacob Hanson (A) def. Camden Kroll, 6-1, 6-0; No. 2: Cole Leatherberry (A) def. Anton Piantek, 6-4, 6-0; No. 3: Nick Papacosta (A) def. Leo Liu, 6-1, 6-2; No. 4. Sam Lokken (A) def. Braden Schmidt, 6-0, 6-0; Doubles: No. 1: Grant Atwood-Alex Steinfest (A) def. Chris Black-Cesar Ramirez, 6-1, 6-2; No. 2: Justin Heller-Aidan Christensen (A) def. Rhain Rodenbeck-Wyatt Theis, 6-0, 6-0; No. 3: Rory Johnson-Nolan Buck (S) def. Hunter Mellinger-Peter Steinhoff, 6-3, 6-2.

Bay Port 5, Shawano 2

Singles: No. 1: Aaron Murphy (BP) def. Kroll, 6-0, 6-1; No. 2: David Ceaglske (BP) def. Piantek, 6-1, 6-0; No. 3: Rohan Galla (BP) def. JJ Pyatskowit, 6-0, 6-0; No. 4: Joe Mente (S) def. Ben Breun, 6-4, 1-1; Doubles: No. 1: Tanner Belschner-Hudson Menne (BP) def. Black-Ramirez, 6-1, 6-1; No. 2: Rodenbeck-Wyatt Theis (S) def. Logan Bitters-Zachary Smith, 0-6, 7-6 (5), 13-11; No. 3: Cameron Smits-David Fry (BP) def. Carson Cummings-Bryce Carlson, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 5-10.

The Gresham/Bowler co-op had both its boys and girls team place third at the Central Wisconsin Conference-Small Meet at Tri-County High School on Monday.

The boys scored 78 to take third place outright, while the girls tied for third with 58 points.

Daquan Gregory placed second in the discus (113 feet, 4 inches), while Ezra Spencer came in second in the long jump (18-08.75) for the boys.

Makayla Belongia was second as an individual in the 100 (14.35 seconds) and was also on the second-place finishing 4x200 relay team (2:03.1). Valerie Cerveny, Kennedy Hoffman and Karisa Nietzer filled out the relay team.

The Tigerton girls scored 50.5 points and came in fifth, while the boys finished eighth with 10 points.

Monika Minniecheske finished third in the 300 hurdles (54.48) and triple jump (30-08.75) for the girls. The 4x400 relay team of Elizabeth Robbins, Jaycee Schmidt, Mary Kreklow and Ladia Block placed third in 5:01.59.

Nathan Wanta was the boys top finisher, taking fourth in the 300 hurdles (59.83).

The Marion boys scored 14 points and landed in ninth place, while the girls tied Wisconsin Valley Lutheran for ninth with nine points.

The girls 4x200 relay team of Elizabeth Radtke, Aina Lopez-Sanchez, Hannah Krueger and Eden Brennan placed fourth in 2:14.04. The boys 4x100 team of Gavin Buss, Hunter Gretzinger, Dhonivan Haas and Justin Wuske took fifth in 50.97.

Boys team scores: 1. Wild Rose 247; 2. Pittsville 90; 3. Gresham/Bowler 78; 4. Almond-Bancroft 65; 5. Tri-County 56; 6. Northland Lutheran 29; 7. Port Edwards 22; 8. Tigerton 10; T9. Marion 9; T9. Wisconsin Valley Lutheran 9.

Girls team scores: 1. Wild Rose 203; 2. Pittsville 130.5; T3. Port Edwards 58; T3. Gresham/Bowler 58; 5. Tigerton 50.5; 6. Northland Lutheran 46; 7. Tri-County 40; 8. Almond-Bancroft 18; 9. Marion 14; 10. Wisconsin Valley Lutheran 9.

The Bonduel track and field teams each placed in the top five at the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Meet at Rosholt High School on Monday.

The Bonduel girls team took third with 77.5 points, while the boys took fifth with 70 points.

Kara Troxel and Jessie LaBerge led the Bonduel girls with first-place finishes in the 800-meter run (2 minutes, 35.64 seconds) and 300 hurdles (52.60), respectively. For the boys, Canaan Szoszorek took first in the shot put (45 feet, 4.75 inches).

The boys 4x800 relay team of William Beaumier, Colin Ewing, Carter Kurey and Jared Wondra also came in first with a time of 9:02.3.

The girls 4x800 relay team of Madison Kurey, Breanna Schnell, Ava Pleshek and Troxel finished second with a time of 10:39.7. Placing second individually for the boys was Isaac Garside in the 100 (11.99) and Ewing in the 1,600 (5:12.07).

The Witt-Birn girls took sixth place after scoring 59 points, while the boys scored 35 points and placed ninth.

Cole Schairer won the 1,600 (4:58.14) to lead the boys team and was also on the 4x400 relay that placed first in 3:48.68. Simon Schairer, Luke Muscha and Deakyn Suess rounded out the relay team.

Chloe King and Jenna Stone each placed second for the girls. King finished the 400 in 1:05.96, while Stone completed the 1,600 in 5:53.71.

The Menominee Indian girls came in eighth after tallying 29 points. The boys scored 19 points and finished 10th.

Guadalupe Cruz took second in the shot put for the girls with a throw of 37-01. Darius Wayka took third in the shot put (39-04.5) for the boys top finish.

Girls team scores: 1. Rosholt 117; 2. Weyauwega-Fremont 98.5; 3. Bonduel 77.5; 4. Manawa 77; 5. Iola-Scandinavia 65; 6. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 59; 7. Pacelli 36; 8. Menominee Indian 29; 9. Amherst 26; 10. Shiocton 14.

Boys team scores: 1. Manawa 84; 2. Shiocton 78; 3. Rosholt 74.5; 4. Pacelli 72; 5. Bonduel 70; 6. Weyauwega-Fremont 63.5; 7. Iola-Scandinavia 55; 8. Amherst 41; 9. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 35; 10. Menominee Indian 19.

The Shawano Community High School baseball team was unable to get its offense going in a 14-0 Bay Conference loss in five innings to West De Pere on Monday.

The West De Pere pitching duo of Benjamin Hampton and Aidan Ahrens did not allow a hit and combined for 10 strikeouts.

“This is the measuring stick where I want the Shawano Hawk program to get. Joe (Rukamp — West De Pere’s coach) runs a quality program over here and every year since I’ve been coaching, 18 years, this has been the measuring stick here,” Shawano coach Rob Wolff said.

“Our pitchers got ahead in counts and then made mistakes, and they made us pay. Those are the things we have to learn from,” Wolff added. “We didn’t have a hit on the day, and you’re not going to beat anyone that way. That first pitcher (Hampton) is one of the best pitchers in the area but that’s no excuse, we have to put the ball in play.”

The Hawks (1-4) had just two baserunners reach in the game. First base was the furthest a Shawano baserunner made it against the West De Pere (4-1) duo.

Senior Sam Tourtillott struck out in the second inning but reached first after a dropped third strike. Senior Nick Grignon walked in the fourth inning.

“He (Hampton, a lefty) had a lot of off-speed. He had a nice two-seam (fastball) that curved out away from our batters. He also had speed on them so our batters couldn’t really get an eye on him. He was just a good pitcher overall,” Grignon said.

Sophomore Zach Erdmann earned the start on the mound for Shawano.

A bunt single opened the contest before Tourtillott cut down a stealing baserunner at second. West De Pere’s second batter walked before scoring on a double for the game’s first tally.

A walk and a bunt single set the stage for a six-run second inning for the Phantoms. Eleven batters came to the plate, with four earning hits and three drawing walks. Shawano also committed an error in the frame.

Senior Kris Krause replaced Erdmann in the third inning. He got the first two outs before being replaced to not go over 30 pitches (so that he could potentially pitch again Tuesday).

West De Pere tacked on five more runs in the frame on the strength of three doubles and five hits total.

After getting the final out of the third on a groundout, sophomore Kaleb Lowney also worked the fourth inning for the Hawks.

An error proceeded a two-run homer for the Phantoms that capped the scoring in the contest.

“We just have to have a quick memory after this one,” Grignon said. “I know we lost this game but we can’t keep dwelling on it.”

The number of days left until the NFL Draft is down to single digits, which is good because the offseason noise coming out of Green Bay was starting to sound like a soap opera.

“It’s been a good offseason,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “A little too long, though.”

Rodgers was at the team’s voluntary workout last week, addressing the involuntary dragging through the mud that he was subject to in a recently published report.

The once-universally admired 35-year-old veteran was characterized in a long feature story as a self-interested whiner, a passive-aggressive mope whose act was wearing thin on his lesser-paid colleagues.

How Rodgers tumbled from the hero pedestal has much to do with the hive mind mentality, the tendency to kick those who are down, and how “down” can translate to a matter of wins and losses.

Maybe the pot shots will narrow once the draft begins and there’s something new to talk about. Maybe the ankle-biters in the gallery will back off now that Rodgers is no longer the league’s highest-paid quarterback.

With the Packers having 10 picks in the draft, including overall Nos. 12, 30 and 44, and having signed a couple of free agent edge rushers, in addition to their star QB being fully healed, one might think that the buzz along Lombardi Avenue would be more positive.

Yet, there was Rodgers — two-time MVP, nine-time Pro Bowler — fielding questions about his temperament, about whether he got former coach Mike McCarthy fired and whether he’ll deign to listen to the instructions of new coach Matt LaFleur.

Rodgers endured an underwhelming 2018 season, with his individual stats falling as the Packers fizzled their way to 6-9-1.

The nature of his opening-day injuries sustained was revealed — a sprained knee and a fracture along the tibia — and suddenly 16 starts looked like a pretty impressive number. His having started every game at less than 100 percent puts to rest any question of his leadership.

In further defense of what Rodgers has brought to the table, as if one even needs to be made, there is this fun fact: In Packer history there’s never been a more proficient Bear-killer.

Rodgers has a 16-5 career record against Chicago, a .762 winning percentage. Brett Favre, a notorious thorn in the Bears’ side, was 22-10 (.688). Bart Starr, who won nine straight playoff games and as many Super Bowls as Favre and Rodgers combined, went 14-9 against Chicago (.609).

In recent years, stats like those were set-ups to punch lines, due to Chicago’s being the NFC Central piñata. It’s a different story now, as it was a different story in last year’s opener, when Rodgers led an amazing comeback against a very good defense.

Rodgers didn’t get McCarthy fired. If anyone did, it was Larry Fitzgerald and Josh Rosen. Those two hooked up on a long bomb that helped Arizona beat the two-touchdown favorite Packers. After that Week 13 fiasco, it was all she wrote for McCarthy, who ranks No. 27 among NFL coaches in career victories.

The single, solitary Super Bowl win for which McCarthy was regularly castigated — for frittering away the talents of a Hall of Fame quarterback — is one more than Don Shula won with Dan Marino. Shula won a couple of Super Bowls before Marino got there, when the Dolphins had a defense. Maybe that had something to do with it.

Rodgers is wise enough to understand that the less said about the ’18 season, the better, and that having a new coaching staff won’t be an excuse for another losing season.

“There’s no grace period here,” he said. “We’ve got a veteran quarterback, veteran offensive linemen and we’ve signed some important free agents. There’s an expectation, living and playing here, that you’re going to compete for championships, and I think we all expect to do that.”

The Packers may actually sneak up on some folks this time around, which is unusual, but promising. Four months into 2019, there’s never been a better time to start looking at this year.

GIRLS SOCCER

Shawano 1

Menasha 1

The Hawks settled for a tie in a Bay Conference tilt with the Bluejays on Tuesday.

Lindsey Roloff netted Shawano’s goal in the 29th minute off an assist from Brianna Mott.

Peyton Buerman made 17 saves while defending the net for the Hawks.

SOFTBALL

West De Pere 10

Shawano 2

The Hawks were doomed by a pair of big innings in a Bay Conference loss to the Phantoms on Tuesday. West De Pere scored six runs in the second inning and four more in the fifth.

Gracyn Habeck and Taylor Johnson each drove in a run for Shawano. Johnson doubled twice and Kate Hoffman also finished with two hits.

Emilee Bastar took the loss despite not allowing an earned run over three innings. She struck out two batters while walking two and allowing six hits. Caitlin Daniel worked the final three innings, allowing just one earned run.

Freedom 7

Clintonville 0

The Truckers were unable to get the bats going in a North Eastern Conference clash with the Irish on Tuesday.

Hannah Baird took the loss in the circle for Clintonville despite striking out eight batters.

Wild Rose 7

Tigerton 6

The Tigers late rally came up just short in a Central Wisconsin Conference crossover matchup against the Wildcats on Tuesday.

Savannah Swartz hit two home runs to power Tigerton at the plate. Raven Dewhurst finished with a pair of hits.

Adrienne Brady was dealt the loss in the circle. She walked two batters and struck out three.

Almond-Bancroft 13

Bowler 3 (5 inn.)

Five errors proved costly for the Panthers in a lopsided CWC crossover loss to the Eagles on Tuesday.

Tynea Johnson drove in two runs for Bowler, while Jodi Wolf had the other RBI. Alyssa Strassburg finished with two hits and Kayla Pecore doubled.

Jada Waters took the loss in the circle, allowing seven walks and seven hits while striking out three over five innings.

BASEBALL

Shawano drops two in doubleheader

The Hawks bats were held in check in a pair off Bay losses to Menasha on Tuesday.

Steve Hoffmann suffered the loss in a 5-0 setback in game one. Hoffmann worked five innings, striking out four batters while allowing four walks, five hits and five runs.

Nick Grignon took the loss in an 11-0 loss in game two. Grignon worked three innings, striking out three and allowing six walks and six runs.

Almond-Bancroft 6

Bowler 5

The Panthers dropped a CWC crossover tilt Tuesday after the Eagles scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Anthony Creapeau drove in two runs for Bowler, while Ezra Spencer, Brock Strassburg and Dylan Biermann all had one RBI. Landan Kroening scored twice.

Kroening was dealt the loss on the mound. Logan Thiex started the game and worked the first six innings. He struck out three while allowing 10 hits and four earned runs.

Allysin Booth placed in the top four in each of her three events to lead the Clintonville High School track and field team at the Marinette Triangular on Tuesday.

The Trucker girls scored 49 points, while the boys tallied 15, putting both teams in third place.

Booth won the 100-meter hurdles (16.46 seconds) and long jump (15 feet, 8 inches), while also placing fourth in the 300 hurdles (56.76).

Also placing first for the girls team was Jasmine Wilson in the 3,200 (13:14.63), Madison Hohn in the 300 hurdles (53.65) and Elly Arndt in the high jump (5-05).

Arndt was also second in the 100 (13.24). Also placing second was Lizzy Weatherwax in the 400 (1:09.34) and Jennifer Peeters in the shot put (32-11).

Isaac Pyatskowit won the 3,200 (10:57.67) to lead the boys team. Jesse Wilson was second in the 1,600 (4:48.21).

Pyatskowit was also on the second-place finishing 4x400 relay (4:06.08). Daniel Rohrer, Caden Gehrke and Hayden Wojnowiak rounded out the team.

Girls team scores: 1. Little Chute 67; 2. Marinette 66; 3. Clintonville 49.

Boys team scores: 1. Little Chute 87; 2. Marinette 84; 3. Clintonville 15.

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control passed a statewide football-only conference realignment proposal and supported a raise in ticket prices for sectional and state tournaments at its April meeting Tuesday.

The board unanimously approved its final consideration of the football-only conference proposal crafted by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. First approval of the plan was granted by the board with a 9-2 vote at its meeting in March. Membership rules required a 40-day window for schools involved in realignment plans to appeal the first consideration before the board took final action. Fifteen schools filed concerns or appeals of the initial vote by the April 10 deadline and were presented to the board.

The plan, which will be implemented in the 2020 season, gives uniformity to the number of schools affiliated with a conference and makes sure certain programs have enough conference games for playoff qualification.

“As I indicated, when the board gave its initial support of the plan, this was an enormous undertaking and a groundbreaking venture for the WIAA,” Executive Director Dave Anderson said. “This was a good-faith effort, and there was openness to alternative ideas, ‘big-picture’ thinking and widespread acceptance of the final decision. It’s also important to convey that at any time, there is 100 percent agreement of all impacted members, relief can be fast-tracked.”

Shawano will remain in the Bay Conference, which will be rounded out by Seymour, Waupaca, New London, Fox Valley Lutheran, Xavier and Winneconne.

Bonduel and Clintonville will compete in the MONLPC-East. Sturgeon Bay, Peshtigo, Kewaunee, Southern Door, Oconto and Mishicot will round out the conference.

Menominee Indian, which is transitioning back to 11-man football in 2019, will play in the MONLPC-West. Oconto Falls, Northland Pines, Tomahawk, Crandon, Niagara/Goodman/Pembine, Coleman and Crivitz round out the eight-team conference.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood will remain in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Division. Spencer/Columbus Catholic, Nekoosa, Amherst, Stratford, Weyauwega-Fremont, Manawa and Shiocton will serve as Witt-Birn’s conference foes.

In the future, football-only realignment will follow the conference realignment procedures approved by the board at its meeting in January.

The board voted to increase the ticket price of sectional tournament events by $1 from $5 to $6, and to increase state tournament tickets $2 for those tickets currently priced at $6 and $8. It’s the first ticket increase at the sectional level since 2014 and at the state level for a majority of sports since 2004. Ticket prices for the state boys and girls basketball tournaments remain unchanged.

Revenue from the increase in ticket prices will allow for an increase in game fees paid to regional and sectional contest officials and tournament game managers, as well as an increase in school state tournament travel reimbursement, tournament game officials travel reimbursement and WIAA Board and committee travel expenses.

— WIAA Communications contributed to this story.

With warmer temperatures and the snow from the latest storm almost melted, it’s time for local racers to start racing at the half-mile track the Shawano Speedway offers.

The snow postponed the start of the season to this Saturday, but that won’t diminish the excitement surrounding a new season of racing.

“The longer it goes (without racing), the more the itch gets in with the fans,” said Brad Luepke, the speedway’s marketing and promotions director. “There’s nothing like opening night. It’s sort of like opening day for baseball; it’s like a holiday for baseball fans. For race fans, (opening night) is like a holiday. They can’t wait to get to the track.”

The Dirt Kings Late Model Special that was planned for April 13 will happen this week instead. The speedway’s other five classes — IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Shawano Late Models, IMCA Stock Cars and the Mighty Fours — will also be in action.

The Dirt Kings are also scheduled to return June 29 in a packed Shawano Speedway schedule that runs until the last week of August.

The World of Outlaws will return to the speedway July 30, with a rain date of July 31.

Last year, Chris Madden stole the show, leading all 50 laps of the Sun Drop Shootout to claim the $10,000 prize.

Racing for a Reason will also return July 20.

Funds raised that evening will go toward childhood cancer. Since the start of the event eight years ago, more than $110,000 has been raised. The event was started for Luepke’s son Reed, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3.

There will also be a special $1,500 prize for the stock cars and another $1,500 prize for the modifieds, making July 20 a can’t-miss evening of action.

The speedway will also host a couple of tribute nights. On May 25, firefighters, policemen and EMS members will be honored. On August 24, there will a tribute to veterans.

On June 15, there is a kid’s bike giveaway. Kids picking up bikes will have to retrieve them from the pits, where drivers will be posing for pictures and signing autographs.

Aside from all the special events, racing on the track should also be exciting within each of the five classes.

Travis VanStraten returns to try and win a sixth consecutive Late Model title this year. Luepke expects plenty of competition within the class.

Dan Michonski and Larry Karcz Jr. placed second and third, respectively, a year ago, while Trent Nolan won four races.

“This is probably going to be the class to watch this year because there’s maybe six to 10 guys that could win on any given night,” Luepke said.

Marcus Yarie will try and defend his IMCA Mod title from a year ago in another loaded division.

Lance Arneson placed second a year ago, while Lucas Lamberies, the IMCA Sport Mod title winner from last year, is moving up.

With Lamberies moving up a class, and Kyle Raddant, last year’s second-place finisher in the class, moving up to the Late Model class, the IMCA Sport Mod class is wide open.

Jordan Barkholtz won four races in the class a year ago and placed in the top five in 13 of his 16 races. Outside of Barkholtz, Luepke said the class will feature plenty of young drivers with solid roots in the sport or those who have placed well in other divisions.

Brett Swedberg won four races and had 11 top-five finishes to claim the Late Model title last year. Like last year, the class will feature plenty of racers who could claim first on any given night.

Chris Engels, the second-place finisher, is back — as is third-place finisher Ron Berna. Nick Anvelink won four races last year and finished fifth. Raddant will look to continue his success in his new class.

Luepke also expects some tight competition among the Mighty Fours, a class Brad Nelson won last year. Brad Wedde, who took second, is also back.

Of the class’s 15 races last year, eight different drivers won at least one race, and Luepke expects much of the same this season.

Several Shawano Community High School track and field athletes turned in strong finishes while competing in the Bay Conference Relays at Xavier High School on Tuesday.

Behind a big night from Parker Pues, the boys team scored 63.3 points and took seventh. The girls team used strong efforts in the relays to tally 81 points and place fifth.

Pues won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 1 inch and took second in the triple jump (39-09.75).

The senior was also on the second-place finishing 800-meter sprint medley relay (1 minute, 41.73 seconds) — with Brayden Dickelman, Crede Timm and Elliott Lowney — and the third-place finishing 4x100 relay (45.64) — with Max Hanauer, Dickelman and Timm.

“A night like tonight gives a lot of confidence for the rest of the season,” Pues said. “Being the first meet (outside), it really sets the tone for times and measurements for the rest of the season.”

The girls 3x1,600 relay team of Odessa Arce, Alice Hoffmann and Lydia Beyer turned in a first-place finish in 17:19.32 to get things rolling for the girls team.

The girls distance medley relay quartet of Arce, Hoffmann, Beyer and Carrie Young also took first, posting a time of 14:02.54.

“My girls who I run with are very talented and they have taught me a lot,” said Arce of the Shawano girls distance runners. “Our bond is unbreakable. We are very competitive and push each other to our bests. We can always count on each other for support. If one of us is not feeling it one day, we can bring that person back because it is one of those we are all in this together type of things…”

Arce was also on the second-place finishing 4x400 relay (4:27.02). Young, Grace Beyer and Lydia Beyer rounded out the team.

The girls 1,600 sprint medley relay team of Isabel Roloff, Tori DePerry, Grace Beyer and Claire Guenther finished first with a time of 4:58.34.

The 4x200 team of Roloff, Rachel Reed, DePerry and Aubree Zastrow placed second in 1:56.59. Also placing second was the 4x800 relay (10:58.23) team of Young, Grace Beyer, Hoffmann and Guenther.

The quartet of Reef Anthony, Michael Klement, Gage Timm and Ethan Chelberg placed third in the 1,600 sprint medley with a time of 4:08.58.

Individually for the boys, Anthony tied for third in the pole vault (12-00). Gage Timm tied for fourth in the triple jump (38-03.75)

“The team performing tonight was something that is really good to see for our first outdoor meet,” Gage Timm said. “It’s a good building block for the season ahead. It will be really nice when it comes down to the conference meet to be able to see how much we improved with times and against others that we have competed against already.”

Individually for the Shawano girls, Morgan Weinig took fourth in the shot put (31-00.75). Coming in fifth was DePerry in the high jump (4-08).

The 3x100 Shawano girls throwers relay team of Elizabeth Dillenburg, Baylie Fisher and Weinig took fourth in 47.61. The boys throwers team of Nathan Krizan, Nate Neumann and Christopher Parker was fifth in 42.00.

Girls team scores: 1. West De Pere 142; 2. Xavier 89; 3. Green Bay East 87; 4. Green Bay West 83; 5. Shawano 81; 6. New London 56; 7. Menasha 52; 8. Seymour 48.

Boys team scores: 1. West De Pere 141; 2. Green Bay East 88.83; 3. Xavier 85.5; 4. Seymour 85; 5. Menasha 81.3; 6. New London 74; 7. Shawano 63.3; 8. Green Bay West 53.

The next decade of black bear management in Wisconsin will be determined in part by public opinion, and many have strong feelings about bear hunting techniques.

The public has had a chance to weigh in on the 87-page Wisconsin Bear Management Plan, 2019-2029, which was created by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bear Advisory Committee. Four sections of the DNR and 11 other government and private groups created the plan, and a series of public meetings were held and online comments accepted through April 14.

Groups involved in the plan’s creation include the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Wisconsin Bowhunters Association, Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Federation, U.S. Forest Service, USDA-APHIS- Wildlife Services, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Wisconsin County Forest Association, Safari Club International and Wisconsin Hunters Rights Coalition.

The goals of the management plan include using science and research to manage the estimated population of 30,000 bears, improve hunter satisfaction, educate the public about current hunting methods and address human-bear conflicts with a variety of tools, including euthanizing problem bears.

To read the full plan, visit: dnr.wi.gov/topic/Hunt/documents/BearPlanFinalDraft.pdf

A record 124,053 people applied for a bear permit or preference point in 2018. As the bear population continues to grow and expand, it will be necessary to expand hunting opportunities in order to control the bear numbers.

One proposed change would be dividing the current Zone C into three zones. Zone C, which includes the southern two-thirds portion of the state, currently does not allow hunting bears with dogs, but that would change under the new plan.

Hunters and non-hunters alike have strong feelings about hunting bears with dogs. In general, this method of hunting requires vast tracts of public land such as those national forests in the north. There are also large tracts of private land owned by paper interests that are open to hunting in order for these companies to get significant tax breaks.

Two people with strong feelings on the topic are Kevin Marquette, former Shawano County delegate of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, and Brian Nicks, a bear and bobcat hunting guide from the Medford area who owns a dozen treeing Walker hounds.

While they did disagree on some issues, they both supported a longer season. Many bear hunters believe the season could be longer, in part to help the state achieve harvest goals. Marquette proposed a Sept. 1 opener and that the season remain open until Oct. 31 or until the quota for each zone is achieved, whichever comes first. The season in all zones ends this year on Oct. 8.

Marquette noted that in previous bear seasons many years ago, Wisconsin allowed the season to remain open through the end of the gun deer season in November, “so leaving (the) season open a few more weeks in these three regions shouldn’t cause a problem because again, the majority of land in those three southern zones is almost all private land anyway,” he noted in an extensively researched document he provided the Shawano Leader.

Marquette, who ran a timber business in Shawano County that put him in contact with many landowners and hunters over the years, said he “hadn’t met a bear hunter in the whole area yet who wouldn’t like to see bear season open earlier than the existing opener, as well as have it run a few weeks longer!” The Oct. 31 closure he proposed also coincides with the Chippewa Tribes season closure on ceded territories, he said.

“Running the season until the quota is met has worked for other species like lake sturgeon and wolf (when Wisconsin had a wolf season),” he noted. Marquette, who attended the Wausau public meeting on the proposal, said a member of the bear committee said an earlier opener was nixed because it could interfere with other Labor Day weekend activities. Marquette disputed that reason, saying that allowing dogs in Zone C would cause “significantly more hunter/landowner conflicts than a Sept. 1 opener and a potentially longer season in (other zones) ever would!”

Nicks, who has been a hunting guide for bear and bobcats for many years, said he favors expanding the use of dogs for bear hunting in Zone C west of state Highway 13 “because there is a lot of public land where people are already baiting and training dogs,” he said. The use of dogs around or on private land will lead to more trespassing complaints, Nicks noted, but “more bear control will definitely bring up the deer population. Hound hunters have better control on the size of bear killed and big bears are fawn eaters.”

Nicks continued: “Yes, season should open earlier. Many mature boars are sleeping (hibernating) before kill season opens! The DNR has known this for many years! Better for wildlife (by) removing mature boars,” he wrote to the Shawano Leader.

Marquette’s main objection to the use of dogs in Zone C (which includes Shawano, Waupaca and Langlade counties) is that the vast majority of the land is private, and Oconto County’s public areas are too small to run dogs.

Marquette also took exception to a comment a DNR staffer made at the Wausau meeting that because it was easier to get a bear tag in the current Zone C (less preference points), hunters wouldn’t put in as much time and effort (as reflected by a lower harvest rate). Marquette called that comment “borderline insulting to me, and blatantly showed how oblivious/ignorant DNR personnel are to the flooded tag situation in this zone.” He added that he believes the DNR is using that zone “as an ATM machine of sorts” to generate more revenue.

“It would be nice if they’d quit doing that, and make an effort to get the success rate higher instead of driving it into the ground, as their own statistics show!” Marquette added.

Nicks believes all baits should be registered with the DNR and hunters should have to pay to do so.

The Green Bay Packers’ 2019 NFL regular-season schedule — highlighted by five prime-time contests (subject to flexible scheduling) on the original schedule for the sixth straight year (2014-19) — was released Wednesday by the National Football League.

The Packers will open the season at the Chicago Bears in the NFL’s Thursday night regular-season opener. It marks the fourth time in team history that Green Bay has opened at Chicago (1979, 1981, 2015).

The Packers will open their home slate in week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, marking just the fourth time (2003, 2008, 2018) since the NFC North was formed in 2002 that Green Bay has played division opponents in both of the first two games.

Green Bay stays at home the next two weeks — the first time the Packers have played three straight at home in September since 1990 (Weeks 1-3). They host the Denver Broncos in week 3 and the Philadelphia Eagles in a Thursday night matchup in week 4.

The Packers travel to take on the Dallas Cowboys in week 5. For the second time in three seasons, the Packers will host the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, this time in week 6. It is the fifth Monday night matchup between the two clubs (1964, 1971, 1972, 2017).

A home game against the Oakland Raiders in week 7 will be the Packers’ fifth at Lambeau in 2019, marking the most home contests for Green Bay in the first seven games of a season since 1978 when it also played five at home (not including the 1987 strike year).

Over the next six weeks, the Packers play four road games and one home contest. In week 8, Green Bay is at Kansas City in a Sunday night matchup. The following week, Green Bay travels to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers.

In week 10, the Packers host the Carolina Panthers in the fourth contest between the two teams in the last six years (2014, 2015, 2017). Green Bay will have its bye the following week, marking the first week 11 bye for the Packers and the latest for the team since the bye was reintroduced in 1990.

Over the next two weeks, Green Bay will crisscross the country, playing at the San Francisco 49ers in week 12 and at the New York Giants in week 13. The Packers have won five of their last six at the 49ers, including their last trip in 2015 (17-3).

The Packers’ final two regular-season home games will take place in weeks 14-15. First, they take on the Washington Redskins in the third matchup between the two in the last five years (including the postseason) but the first in Green Bay since 2013.

Week 15 has the Bears coming to Green Bay and starts a run of three straight divisional games to finish the regular season for the third time since the NFC North was formed in 2002 (2006, 2016).

The Packers close out the regular season with two road games for the first time since 2004 when they played at Minnesota and Chicago. In week 16, Green Bay is at the Vikings and on MNF for the second time. Green Bay will close out the regular season against the Lions for the fourth straight year and the fifth time in the last six seasons.

Boivin takes second at Grizzly Invite

Shawano Community High School graduate and current Davenport University pole vaulter Dan Boivin turned in a strong finish at the Grizzly Invite, which was hosted by Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan on April 12 and 13.

Boivin cleared a height of 4.25 meters to place second and earn Davenport eight points.

Andrew Mudd, who was competing unattached, won with a mark of 4.40 meters.

Gueths competes for Wisconsin rowing

Shawano graduate Brandi Gueths was a member of the Wisconsin rowing novice eight teams during a Big Ten Double Dual on April 13.

Both teams came in second, with Gueths sitting in seven seat. In the morning, Gueths and the rest of the novice eight team posted a time of 8 minutes, 15.4 seconds — Iowa finished first in 8:08.25.

In the afternoon, Gueths and her team rowed to a time of 8:39.5. Indiana took first in 8:16.25.

Zook continues torrid pace at plate

Shawano graduate Brianna Zook continued her impressive freshman season as a member of the Bryant and Stratton College softball team.

On April 13, she singled, doubled, homered and walked twice in her team’s 17-16 win over Black Hawk College in game two of a doubleheader. She finished with three RBIs and scored three runs.

Bryant and Stratton dropped the first game 7-4. Zook homered and singled in the contest.

Bryant and Stratton was swept in a doubleheader against April 12, losing 11-2 in game one and 5-2 in game two. Zook walked in game one and singled twice in game two.

Wollenberg competes in pair of events

Bonduel graduate and current UW-Stevens Point distance runner Travis Wollenberg competed in two events at UW-Platteville Invitational on April 13.

Wollenberg helped the Pointers 4x400-meter relay team place ninth in 3:27.82.

As an individual, he finished 23rd in the 400 with a time of 52.24.

Led by Ian Resch’s 18-hole total of 88 shots, the Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School boys golf team placed 15th at the Monona Grove Invite at the The Oaks Golf Course in Cottage Grove on Wednesday.

Witt-Birn finished with a team total of 382 shots.

Justin Keeney finished just behind Resch with an 89, while Maverick Beran shot a 99. Logan Balliett (106) and Brian Nelson (113) rounded out the five-golfer team.

Team scores: 1. Sun Prairie 325; 2. Marquette 327; 3. Mt. Horeb 330; 4. Waunakee 334; 5. Edgerton 339; 6. Monona Grove 340; 7. McFarland 346; 8. Portage 359; 9. Sauk Prairie 360; 10. DeForest 369; 11. Madison West 372; 12. Baraboo 386; 13. Wausau East 387; 14. Monona Grove (2) 390; 15. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 396; 16. Monroe 441; 17. Fort Atkinson 451; 18. Jefferson 455.

The Clintonville High School baseball team fell just short in a North Eastern Conference clash against Freedom on Tuesday

Freedom scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and held Clintonville to a single run in the seventh to nab a 3-2 win. The second game of the doubleheader was suspended in the ninth tied at one because of darkness.

Clintonville tallied three hits in the game one setback. Presley Rosenow drove in a run and reached base twice. Chance Bork drove in the team’s other run.

Matt Morse took the loss after allowing an unearned run in an inning of work. Matt Seefeldt worked the first five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks. Seefeldt struck out three batters.

Morse drove in Klay Barkow for the Truckers lone run of game two. Jared Cartwright and Barkow combined to work the nine innings.

The second game may be completed at a later date if it will have an impact on the conference standings.

Athlete: Carrie Young

Sport: Track and field

School: Shawano Community High School

Year: Senior

Shawano Community High School senior Carrie Young is hoping to make her final track and field season her best one yet.

She has started the season with several strong finishes. She most recently helped the girls distance medley relay team to first and the 4x400- and 4x800-meter relay teams to second at the Bay Conference Relays on Tuesday.

Q: When did your interest in track and field begin?

A: My older brother, Alex, ran track all through high school and was extremely successful. He has always been my role model, therefore he was my inspiration to run track. I have been running since I was very little, so being a confident runner helped give me the extra push to join. It turned out in the end that I absolutely love the sport, so I continued to run through middle school and high school.

Q: What is your favorite part about a track and field meet or the track and field season?

A: My favorite part about a meet is seeing my team be successful. Seeing someone take first, a relay take first, or even the team taking first. However, my favorite event in a meet is the 4x4. I sometimes run it if we have girls who will run it with me, but just being a supporter of the event is insanely fun. The screaming and the mutual love for the sport comes out during this race. The lights on the football field are on by then and the pressure of the runners is high — its amazing. I am getting goosebumps just talking about it.

Q: How did you train for the track and field season?

A: I train for track by staying active. I am in three sports — cross country, basketball and track. So, being in a sport at all times forces me to continue to run, lift and stay in shape. On top of that, my lifestyle is very active. My family and I love to go out and do things in the community, which helps me not just sit on the couch all day when I am off of a sport.

Q: What goals do you hope to reach at the end of the season?

A: My goal this year is to make it to state. I have never gone in track, and that is the ultimate goal. The exciting part is, my 4x8 has a good chance of doing very well. Our mentality is to go all the way and that helps us work hard to get to that top spot. All four of us were in cross country together, so we all know what we need to do to get better everyday so that we can run together on June 1 in La Crosse.

Q: As a senior, what do you do to help some of your younger teammates?

A: I try to be the best role model and leader as I can. I always push myself to the limit during practice, I try to push them by giving them criticism along with compliments, and I also try to be fun. I crack jokes and laugh a lot during practice to lighten it up a bit when we are doing a hard workout. I take my role as a leader seriously, but I love to make the sport fun while doing it. I have impressive underclassmen this year, and I want them to grow so when I come back from college they are winning races and meets.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of competing on the Shawano track and field team?

A: It is so hard to chose one favorite, but if I had to I would flash back to my sophomore year. It was (coach Dave) Hanssen’s first year and we always did an Easter egg hunt. However, this year it was cold and misty so it made it a little more difficult. The goal is to run and find the eggs but it was so cold and rainy everyone was falling and getting wet. It made it entertaining. On the running side of things, last year was a memorable year. I had lost 4-5 seconds on my 400 time and made it to sectionals. It gave me the drive for this year to continue to drop those times and make it farther this year.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you are not in school or competing in a high school sport?

A: I love to hang out with my friends and family. They are my support system and I appreciate them more than anything. My boyfriend, Dakota (Bazile), my parents (Craig and Aleta), and my brother are my No. 1 fans in everything I do. I just love sitting down and spending time with them. I also have two amazing puppies who I play with and take on walks, and I am just so lucky to have amazing people in my life.

Q: Favorite TV show, movie and musical artist?

A: My favorite show at the moment is an older one. It is called “Long Island Medium.” Theresa is amazing to me and I just love watching her show and seeing her read people. It’s interesting to me.

My favorite movie, I have two. My favorite movie ever is “Grease.” I know every word of every line in that movie, just ask my family. However, I also love the movie “13 Days” which is about the Cuban missile crisis.

My favorite musical artist is impossible to choose. I have been listening to a lot of Dan and Shay lately, but anything country is right up my ally.

Q: Name one thing about yourself that not many people know.

A: I went to Germany my sophomore year, and it was amazing!

Q: What’s the greatest piece of advice you have ever been told?

A: God has a plan for me. Trust it.

It is my motto I live by 100 percent. Keeps my grounded and not too overwhelmed with life.

Shawano Community High School staff, parents and volunteers determined they wanted to improve the athletic culture at the school after a Wednesday presentation led by athletic director Joel Wondra.

That determination was made after Wondra led an exercise — which was designed by Jeff Janssen, a sports pyschologist that Wondra heard speak at the Wisconsin Athletic Director Association meeting in November — that analyzed the school’s productivity and results (winning) and relationships within a program.

Coaches and assistant coaches at the high school were invited to the meeting by Wondra, along with some parents, booster club members and board members that showed interest.

Sticky notes — one for a particular team and a second for the athletic program as a whole — were placed into a chart drawn on a white board that was separated into eight groups of cultures, as defined by Janssen. Wondra did not reveal the eight types of culture until after all the sticky notes had been placed.

All of the team-related sticky notes landed in either the “comfortable,” “congenial,” “competitive” or “constructive” cultures, with none landing in the “cutthroat,” “corrosive,” “country club” or “championship” boxes.

The sticky notes representing the athletic program were not as favorable, with almost each one landing in the “corrosive,” “comfortable” or “country club” culture boxes.

After Wondra revealed the distinctions of each box, about half of those in attendance agreed upon where they placed their sticky notes.

While many did not think they needed to move their sticky notes, many were interested in improving the culture at the school and within the individual teams, which will likely lead to further discussions about the athletic culture moving forward.

“From tonight’s meeting I think most people believe the culture around our athletic programs could use some improvement,” wrestling coach Mike Homan said after the meeting. “I also see a group of people who are willing to help make changes to improve our culture. I’m excited to see where this program can guide our program in the future.”

Wondra said there have been multiple times since the start of his tenure at Shawano that he has had conversations regarding the school’s culture with various stakeholders — parents, coaches, community members and board members.

Wondra made it a point that the conversation would not be dictated by him, hoping instead to lead the conversation and allow the stakeholders to proceed as they wished.

The presentation started with individuals in attendance defining what culture is.

“Culture is important because it’s what you build your program on over the course of time,” said girls basketball coach Ryan Koenig. “It’s about being successful on and off the court while creating friendships and memories with your players and teammates. Culture also shows younger generations what expectations are to be part of the program in the future and hopefully inspires them to be the best they can be.”

“Culture is everything. It can have such a great impact on the school and the community,” said football coach Al Tomow. “It’s important everyone is on the same page and that kids hear a consistent message from coaches during all sports seasons. When standards and expectations are consistent, it makes it easier for the kids to work hard. Everyone is working towards the same goal, not just our individual sport success.”

From there, Wondra’s presentation moved on to discussing Janssen and his book, “How to Build and Sustain a Championship Culture.” The exercise came from the book, which Wondra hopes to get in the hands of each individual leading the culture change.

Wondra ended the meeting by handing out forms, where individuals could write down particular days of the week and times in a day that they could meet again to continue the discussion.

Wednesday’s meeting could have been the only one if those in attendance chose so, but many individuals filled out the forms. Wondra hoped to have the group meet before the end of the school year and then possibly again over summer so that the start of a plan could be in place for the 2019 fall season.

“As I said in the presentation, it’s not my place to come in and tell the community that your culture might be messed up and we need to do something about it. That’s not my style,” Wondra said. “I was hoping that sharing that with the group, that they would agree that they would want to talk more about it and I think that we accomplished that.”