There were a few things that opened the eyes of fans at Friday’s Middle Border Conference opener between Prescott and Somerset. First, the impressive 42-point performance by Jordan Malmlov whose three-point range appears to be anywhere beyond the half court line. Somerset Head Coach Troy Wink shook his head with palms extended and to the sky each time the Cardinal sharpshooter drained a trifecta. Second, junior Dallas Wallin hauled down an impressive 23 rebounds in a game that featured more whistles and whistling than an old Roger Whittaker song (a few people will get this one). Wallin also added 16 points as the Cardinals won a rough and tumble contest that featured more than 50 free throws.

Senior wrestler Benny Olson won last Saturday’s Ellsworth Invitational Tournament in grand fashion by pinning Bronson Shea of Dover-Eyota in the first period of the title match. Olson’s march to the tournament championship began by defeating New Richmond’s Jaxson Lorentz by fall in his opening match and outlasted Ellsworth’s Noah Walker 8-7 in the title qualifying match. Olson finished the season with an impressive record of 31-11 last year and is identified as among the top wrestlers in the 106-pound class. Prescott’s Quinn Glasby finished a solid fourth place in the 182-pound division.

The Wisconsin Sport Network released its first set of boys and girls rankings. As expected, the Prescott Cardinals boys are ranked in the top 10 a #8. West Salem is the top-ranked team in Division 3 and returns four of their five starters from their state qualifying team a year ago. Prescott and West Salem are the only two teams from the Arcadia Sectional listed in the top 10. There are no girls basketball teams from the Amery Sectional ranked in the top 10.

From the WIAA: The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control approved the addition of lacrosse as a sanctioned sport this month. After receiving a presentation from the committee assigned to evaluate the feasibility of adding boys and girls lacrosse to sports sponsored by the WIAA, the board unanimously passed the proposal that targets the spring of the 202324 school year for the inaugural season with a tournament series. It’s the first time an entirely new sport has been introduced for both genders since the addition of boys and girls soccer in 1982-83.

The Prescott CAB Company members are in the process of creating plans for a future Firehall Field facelift including mock drawings of a covered spectator pavilion behind home plate and a new concession stand along the third base side of the facility.

Michigan Tech guard Isabella Lenz drained three three-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds as the Huskies defeated Purdue-Northwest by a score of 86-83. Lenz and company rebounded from a tough 86-80 loss to Kenosha-Parkside in the conference opener for both teams. Michigan Tech is now 7-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Lenz is averaging 13.4 points per game and his shooting over 42% from three-point land. Michigan Tech will host Lake Superior State on Friday and Ferris State on Sunday as the Huskies continue Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

UW-Stout forward and Prescott alumnus Haylee Yeager finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds as UW-Stout picked up a huge conference win over 19th ranked UW-Oshkosh. Yeager’s double double helped the Blue Devils improve to 2-0 in conference play and 5-1 overall.

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR announced the 2023 state park and forest annual admission stickers and trail passes are now on sale. The 2023 stickers and passes for admission to parks, forests, recreation areas and trails are valid from the date of purchase through Dec. 31, 2023. The cost is $28 for Wisconsin residents and $38 for non-residents.

Headshaker of the week. It is a safe bet to say the city of Prescott is composed primarily of Green Bay Packer and Minnesota Vikings fans. Anecdotally, I would say the number of rooters who cheer on the green and gold hovers around 70%. That is what makes witnessing what I have seen on the Malone Elementary playground recently in the parking lot after the basketball games, and in the hallways of Prescott High School so striking. A considerable number of youngsters are doing “the griddy,” the signature celebration of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. It must bring great consternation to Packer Backer parents to see their child pay such homage to a member of the purple and gold. Undoubtedly to them, it’s a headshaker.