The high school sports season is officially underway across the Chippewa Valley, and Thursday night provided plenty to talk about.
Football took center stage as teams opened their seasons, while girls golf and girls tennis are already underway and volleyball, cross country, soccer and girls swimming are quickly approaching regular-season competition.
Chippewa Falls Makes a Statement in Season Opener
Chippewa Falls got off to an impressive start Thursday night, rolling past D.C. Everest 50-22.
The Cardinals piled up more than 430 rushing yards while forcing four turnovers defensively, including three fumbles and an interception. Special teams also made an impact, highlighted by a blocked punt.
Gavin Schiltz added to the strong performance with a pair of field goals, including an impressive 42-yarder.
One of the biggest takeaways was the depth Chippewa Falls showed offensively. The Cardinals had five or six different players carrying the football in the first half, giving head coach Rakovich plenty of options.
Considering D.C. Everest won the Wisconsin Valley Conference last season, the 50-22 victory was an especially encouraging way for Chippewa Falls to begin the year.
Big Rivers Conference Wins Four of Six
The opening night also featured several matchups between teams from the Big Rivers and Wisconsin Valley conferences.
The Big Rivers came away with four wins in the six meetings.
Hudson picked up a dominant 52-7 victory over Wisconsin Rapids, while Stevens Point, one of the teams expected to contend for the Wisconsin Valley title, defeated River Falls 41-18.
Menomonie also earned a 36-21 victory.
Elsewhere, Boyceville opened with a convincing 41-6 win over Ladysmith. Boyceville remains one of the premier Division 7 programs in the area and figures to be a major contender in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference.
Glenwood City also made a statement, shutting out its opponent 43-0.
In eight-player football, Gilman opened the season with a 57-0 win over Phillips, while Alma Center-Lincoln defeated Turtle Lake 42-18.
McDonell and Regis Renew a Rivalry
One of the most intriguing games on Friday’s schedule will take place at Carson Park when McDonell returns to 11-player football and takes on Eau Claire Regis.
It’s a matchup with plenty of history, but the two programs haven’t met since 2010.
Regis enters the season ranked No. 2 behind conference rival Mondovi in the Wisconsin Division 6 state rankings. The Ramblers return plenty of all-conference talent and will provide an immediate challenge for McDonell.
The last meeting between these programs was a wild one. Regis eventually won 49-41 after building a 42-7 halftime lead, with future Texas Rangers pitcher Kyle Cody playing quarterback for McDonell.
After more than a decade apart, the rivalry finally gets renewed.
Other Football Games to Watch
There are plenty of other intriguing matchups on Friday’s schedule.
Cadott vs. Edgar could be one of the most interesting tests of the night. Edgar was the Division 6 runner-up last season and has established itself as one of Wisconsin’s premier high school football programs.
Cadott enters the season with high expectations and returns plenty of talent from last year’s team. Regardless of the result, a competitive performance against Edgar would give the Hornets plenty of confidence heading into next week’s matchup with Stanley-Boyd.
Another game worth watching is Augusta at Colfax. Both programs have dealt with struggles in recent seasons, including numbers and consistency, and both are looking for a fresh start. One of the teams will open the season with a win.
Other games on the radar include:
- Altoona at Fall Creek
- Mondovi at G.T.
- Red Raiders at Holmen
- Marshfield at Rice Lake
- Thorp at New Auburn
- Stanley-Boyd at Colby
The Thorp-New Auburn matchup could have playoff implications down the road, as both teams are coming off playoff appearances or near misses and will need every win they can get in challenging conferences.
Girls Golf Season Already Underway
Football isn’t the only sport getting attention.
Girls golf is already several events into the season, and the Clover-Croy Conference held a meet in Bloomer on Thursday.
Stanley-Boyd won the team competition, while Alexis Nass of Fairchild was the low individual.
Clara Kongshaug of Colfax-Elk Mound also turned in a strong performance, finishing second individually.
The Clover-Croy Conference continues to grow as a girls golf conference, bringing together programs from the Clover Belt, Dunn-St. Croix and Lakeland areas.
Colfax-Elk Mound made the state tournament last year, while Bloomer’s Ellen Nelson was also a state qualifier. With several talented golfers returning, the conference should be an interesting one to follow this fall.
Tennis, Volleyball and Cross Country Are Next
Girls tennis is also underway, with Altoona hosting a large two-day invitational featuring several area teams.
Conference competition is expected to begin next week.
Volleyball has reached the end of its first week of practice, with teams beginning to prepare for scrimmages and regular-season competition.
One of the biggest early-season events will be the Stout Sprawl, a massive two-day tournament at Johnson Field House. The event will feature numerous local programs, including Chippewa Falls, McDonell, Bloomer, Stanley-Boyd, Cadott, New Auburn and Eau Claire-area schools.
For fans looking to get an early look at many of the area’s top volleyball teams, the Sprawl should be one of the best opportunities of the opening weeks of the season.
Cross country is also getting ready to begin competition next week after wrapping up its first week of practice.
Soccer and girls swimming have also started practice, with soccer games scheduled to begin next week.
Fall Sports Season Is Just Getting Started
The high school sports calendar is about to get very busy.
Football has already provided plenty of excitement after just one night, while golf and tennis are underway. Volleyball, cross country, soccer and girls swimming are all about to join the regular-season schedule.
By this time next week, virtually every fall high school sport will be in full competition mode.
And if Thursday night was any indication, it’s going to be a fun fall across the Chippewa Valley.
