Hats off to Prescott senior wrestler Benny Olson. According to Wisconsin Grappler, the talented 12th grader is the #3 ranked wrestler at 106 pounds in the state of Wisconsin. Last weekend, Olson and junior Nolan Thomley both finished fifth in the Eau Claire North Invitational. Head Coach Ross Wargula and his charges are back in action this Saturday in the Cameron Invitational Tournament.

Head Coach Nick Johnson and the Prescott Cardinals passed the first test of an extremely difficult non-conference schedule with Saturday’s victory over the storied basketball team of Fall Creek. After Prescott plays in the Hastings Holiday Tournament against two Minnesota schools three times larger, the Cardinals will play a trio of private schools. First #7 ranked Onalaska Luther in La Crosse whose only loss was to the #1 ranked team in Division III West Salem. Second, Prescott will travel to Milwaukee to play #10 ranked Racine St. Catherine at the Fiserv Forum. And finally, the Cardinals will host Concordia Academy of St. Paul in the annual Minnesota-Wisconsin Border Battle.

Head Coach Owen Hamilton and the Prescott girls basketball team will face a big test this Friday in Hudson. The Raiders are 7-0 on the season and picked as the favorites in the Big Rivers Conference. Hudson, with an enrollment in excess of 1,800 students, is unranked.

Speaking of Minnesota, fans should be prepared for two games of rough and tumble basketball during the Hastings Tournament. Past experience has shown officials just across the river allow a much more physical style of play on the court.

Under the current WIAA football alignment proposal, Rice Lake will play in a newly formed Big River West Conference. The story is the Warriors were less than happy with the move to the Middle Border Conference where they finished in a tie for second place with Baldwin-Woodville While the gun deer season has drawn to a close, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters that plenty of unique hunting and trapping opportunities are still available this fall and winter. Whether hunters prefer large game, small game, waterfowl or gamebirds, Wisconsin has something for everyone.

Specifically, when it comes to deer, hunters in Pierce, St. Croix, and Polk counties have additional harvesting opportunities during the Antlerless Only Holiday Hunt: Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. For turkey, goose, and small game hunting opportunities, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov.

With all due respect to the Hodags of Rhinelander, there is one nickname I believe trumps the Hodag that was recently named best mascot in the United States. And that mascot is the Mellen Granite Diggers. The most noteworthy of the granite taken from the now closed Mellen quarries was shipped to Arlington National Cemetery in 1964 to be used at the grave of President John F. Kennedy. Students during that year can remember school being dismissed to watch the huge slabs of granite being loaded onto flatcars. A handful of quarries in Mellen are still in operation and produce anorthosite, otherwise known as “black granite,” that is sold throughout the Midwest.

Michigan Tech’s Isabella Lenz posted a season high 20 points and dished out five assists as the Huskies defeated 19th ranked Ferris State by a score of 67-52 on Sunday. Two days earlier, Lenz scored 14 points as the Huskies bested Lake Superior State at home by a score of 76-63. Michigan Tech improved to 3-1 in conference play and 9-2 overall on the season. Lenz is averaging 14.1 points per game for the Huskies. Prescott grad Haylee Yaeger and the UW-Stout Blue Devils improved to 7-1 on the season with an 84-51 win over Martin Luther College and a 58-47 victory over Finlandia.

The sports documentary “Hockeyland” is well worth the $6 rental fee. Focusing on the tradition-rich programs of Eveleth-Gilbert and Hermantown, the film follows both teams during the 2019-20 Minnesota hockey season. Whether it be the game highlights, player vignettes, or locker room speeches, the film does a tremendous job showcasing the importance of the game in the hockey crazed Land of 10,000 Lakes. And, seeing the film’s best player, Blake Biondi sporting a hairstyle that does not resemble that of a 1980’s hair band lead singer.

Headshaker of The Week. The College Bowl Season is upon us and college pigskin fans all throughout the state are at a fever pitch awaiting this weekend’s matchups. Conversations this week at morning coffee club at Ptacek’s will center around whether Cincinnati or Louisville will win the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Morning debates at the Twisted Oak will focus on if the University of Texas- San Antonio will have the upper hand over Troy in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl. And of course, during happy hour at Philander’s patrons will express their allegiance to either Marshall or the University of Connecticut on Monday in the granddaddy of them all, the Myrtle Beach Bowl. The college bowl season. It’s a headshaker.