Sports

Christian Patzka set his goal 12 months ago. He never wavered, and he most certainly delivered. Patzka, a standout cross country runner at Wisconsin Heights/Barneveld, finished fifth at the state meet in 2018. And as Patzka headed home from the race held at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids, he had just one target in 2019.

STOUGHTON — After the final whistle had blown, many of the Sauk Prairie seniors remained on the field. There were some smiles, some tears, and a few pictures taken with friends who had ventured onto the field.

They’ve been at the front of the pack all season long. They seemingly have jet fuel in their veins. And the competition has often been in the rearview mirror for Wisconsin Heights/Barneveld cross country standouts Christian Patzka and Samantha Herrling.

Two down, two to go. That’s how the Wisconsin Heights/Barneveld boys soccer team looks at things. The Vanguards, trying to qualify for the state tournament for the first time in school history, won a WIAA Division 4 regional championship last week.

MADISON — It has been a remarkable four-year run for the seniors on Sauk Prairie’s boys cross country team.

Jakob Wilson and the rest of the seniors on Sauk Prairie’s boys soccer team made sure their final game on the home pitch would be a memorable one last Saturday evening. The Eagles spent the day having lunch together and hanging out at the school in anticipation of securing a regional championship and extending their season at least one more week.

Year one was a blast. Year two could even better.

This outcome never crossed their collective minds. Such a conclusion was never considered. And why would it be? Wisconsin Heights’ girls volleyball team, the No. 2 seed in their sectional, hosted third-seeded River Ridge in a WIAA Division 3 regional final last Saturday. But River Ridge stunned the Vanguards with a 19-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 win.

Sauk Prairie made numerous treks to the awards podium at the Platteville Invitational last Saturday. But the Eagles saved their best award for last when they walked away with the championship of the nine-team meet despite not recording a single-first-place individual or relay finish.

BEAVER DAM — Well, it’s official: the Eagles have landed ... in the WIAA playoffs, for the first time since 2007. Needing a win to guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason, Sauk Prairie’s football team went to Beaver Dam last Friday and left with a resounding 56-22 win in the final game of the regular season.