Police: Patience and other tips for drivers heading to state track meet
La Crosse Police are reminding drivers to be patient when traveling around the UW-La Crosse area on Friday and Saturday.
They’re expecting big crowds of more than 20,000 people to attend the WIAA State Track and Field Championships.
The department posted some tips including that drivers should anticipate delays and allow extra time for travel.
They also suggest drivers stay alert due to the increase in both vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the two-day track meet.
The gates open on Friday at 8:30 a.m. for Division 1 competition, with Divisions 2 and 3 at 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, gates open at 8 a.m. for all sessions.
UW-La Crosse Parking Information
Prepping for state track at UWL
UW-La Crosse’s track and field facilities have seen plenty of activity over the past several weeks with more still to come.
This weekend brings the WIAA State Track Meet to the university.
Fresh off his men’s and women’s teams winning the NCAA Division III national track and field championships on their home turf, plus the MVC championships, Josh Buchholtz now must get ready for the state meet.
He’s the head onsite coordinator for the WIAA.
Buchholtz said he and all the volunteers look forward to this event every year.
“Even coming off the season that we had here as the track and field program at UWL, you’ve got to make sure you put out the best show that we can for the State Track Meet because the kids are coming to town. This may be the only state track meet, and we want to make sure it’s special.”
Many of the volunteers are former UWL track and field athletes who love the sport.
“They get to see a lot of their former teammates, or some of their former coaches; they’re excited for it. The fact that we’ll have that many people, 50-55 guys, and 60-70 women that’ll be working the state track meet and volunteering for it.”
Much of the university itself is occupied during the meet. Buchholtz said about 90 percent of the dorms are filled with athletes from around the state.
Last year, more than 3,400 athletes participated in the state track meet, according to Buchholtz. The stands were full, too. Over the two days, over 21,000 people came to watch the athletes set 25 new state records during the competition.
Buchholtz said having the state track meet here is a great way to showcase the university and the track program. A number of athletes, including Buchholtz himself, decided to come to UWL after participating here in the state meet.
Athletes arrive on Thursday.
The meet begins Friday morning and continues through Saturday.
Find spectator information here-Parking, food, safety, general information
Tickets available for Explore La Crosse Day with Brewers
A large group is expected again for Explore La Crosse Day with the Milwaukee Brewers next month.
Game day is June 18 at American Family Field.
It’s the 29th annual trip to the ballpark for baseball fans from the Coulee Region.
This year, the Brewers, who currently lead the National League Central Division, take on the Cleveland Guardians.
As in years past, fans enjoy a bus ride to and from the game, a big tailgate party, and a ticket to the game. Loge Outfield Box seats are where fans are seated this year.
The pre-game party also includes raffles with signed Brewers memorabilia from current and Hall of Fame players.
It also features live music from Nashville recording artist Corey Wise.
Tickets for adults are $110, while tickets for children 12 and under are $50.
They’re available by clicking here.
Busses are leaving from several locations including La Crosse, Onalaska, Stoddard, and West Salem.
West Salem comes up short against Whitefish Bay in D2 state semifinal
The West Salem Panthers fell 64-58 to Whitefish Bay in a WIAA Boys State Basketball Semi-Final game Friday afternoon in Madison at the Kohl Center.
The Panthers controlled much of the first half behind the efforts of Tyson Labus, who had 13 points for West Salem as they moved out to a 30-24 halftime lead.
Elliott Corcoran had nine for West Salem in the first half.
The lead jumped out to eight to start the second half on a Corcoran basket in the paint but was answered by Colin Julien for Whitefish Bay who drilled a three to trim the lead to 32-27.
His basket spurred a turnaround for the Blue Dukes. A Julien three with 12:28 off of a turnover gave them the lead at 39-37. Will Schmidt for West Salem drained a three for a brief 40-39 lead with 10:37 remaining.
A foul by Nathan Dillaber on Whitefish Bay's Jack Broderson put him on the line. He made both free throws for a 41-40 lead, which they never gave up for the rest of the game.
A three by Dillaber with 44 seconds left in the half cut the lead to 60-58, but the Panthers couldn't get any closer.
Tyson Labus had 23 for West Salem, with Corcoran adding 17 and Dillaber 9.
Colin Julien scored 21 for Whitefish Bay.
West Salem finishes their season at 24-5.
UW-L's Grieger named NABC Division III Player of the Year
A big honor for UW-La Crosse's Sam Grieger on Thursday as he's named the 2025-26 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Player of the Year for the NCAA Division III.
It's the first time any UW-L player in school history to earn the award and just the sixth one in WIAC history to do so.
Greiger, a junior, set school records this year in scoring (797), free throws made (212), free throws attempted (248), field goals made (275) and FG attempted (533). He scored 30 or more points nine times this season, including a 46-point outburst against UW-Oshkosh in January.
He led the Eagles to their first-ever WIAC tournament championship, finished second in school history for wins in a season (24-7) and made it to the Sweet 16.
Grieger is one of 10 players named by the NABC to its All-America First Team. He was selected as the NABC District 9 Player of the Year and the NABC All-District Team on Tuesday.
According to the university, Grieger is the first player since Tony Mane's Third Team selection in 2011 to be named to the All-America Team. Joe Werner is the only other player to receive the honor. He was selected twice, in 2006 (Third Team) and 2007 (Second Team).
This is the latest award for Grieger. Earlier, he was chosen as the D3hoops.com All-Region Player of the Year and voted as the WIAC Player of the Year.
Aquinas wins gold in WIAA Team Wrestling
The Aquinas Blugolds Wrestling Team brings home the gold over the weekend with a state championship.
The won the WIAA Division 3 State Team Wrestling Title by defeating Cedar Grove/Belgium on Saturday at the La Crosse Center.
It's the first year that the state team wrestling championships were held in La Crosse.
Some of the winners in the match include Tyson Martin at 285, Martez Sheard at 132, and Tyler Paulson at 144.
Two other local teams came up short in their bid for a state title. Holmen finished as runner-up after falling in the championship to Kaukauna in Division 1 on Saturday.
A co-op team from Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau/Melrose-Mindoro fell in their semifinal match on Saturday in Division 2 to Coleman.
Sweet 16 bids for UW-L Men's, Women's teams
Sweet 16 bids for both the UW-La Crosse men's and women's basketball teams with two wins over the weekend.
The men's team beat Hope College on Friday and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday to move to the next round of the NCAA Division III tournament.
On Saturday, the Eagles were led by Sam Grieger's 36 points as they went on to a 79-62 win.
The win means a Sweet 16 bid for the second straight season for the Eagles.
They head to Virginia to play at the University of Mary Washington on either Friday or Saturday.
The women defeated Carroll University of Waukesha 80-60 to make history for their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance. Grace Knupp had 17 for the Eagles, who led after the first quarter 20-16 and at the half 37-30.
A couple of runs kept the Eagles out in front. They started the second half with a 17-6 run to move out to a 54-36 lead, although Carroll would cut that to just three at 49-46. To start the fourth quarter, Julia Lokker of Carroll hit a three but then the Eagles dropped the next 14 of 17 points scored to put the game out of reach.
They continue their season on the road. The Eagles next play at New York University where they face Southern Maine late Friday afternoon. Tipoff is at 4 p.m. Central time.
UWL Men, Women advance to second round with Friday night wins
Both the UW-La Crosse Men's and Women's Basketball teams moved to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament with wins Friday night.
They both used big first halves to earn their wins and head to games on Saturday.
For the men, behind Sam Grieger and JJ Paider, the Eagles took a 42-27 halftime lead as they went on to a 75-61 win at Mitchell Hall. Grieger scored 16 with 7 rebounds and five assists over the Flying Dutchmen. Paider also scored 16, along with 7 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
They play Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (Calif.), who defeated Aurora University (Ill.) 84-60 in the other game at Mitchell Hall on Friday. Tip-of is at 6:50 p.m.
The Women's team took control of their game against La Grange (Ga.) from the start, scoring the first 14 points of the game and led 20-8 at the end of the first quarter. The final was 78-52.
Molly Janke had 14 for the Eagles, with Jenna Welsch and Malia Nelson with 12 each. Grace Knupp scored 11.
UWL faces Carroll University, who defeated DePauw University, on Saturday night at 7:45 p.m.
UWL Men's, Women's teams head to NCAA D3 tourney
It's tournament time for both the UWL men's and women's basketball teams this week.
Both teams got automatic bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament by winning their WIAC championship games over the weekend.
The men won its first WIAC Tournament with an 81-78 win on the road over UW-Whitewater on Saturday. The women also won their first ever WIAC Tournament with an upset 52-49 win over #1 seed UW-Oshkosh.
The men host the opening two rounds of the tournament at Mitchell Hall beginning Friday, March 6. The Eagles (22-6) play in the second game at 6:50 p.m. against Hope College (18-9) from Michigan. In the first game, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges of California (22-4) takes on Aurora University, Ill. (23-5), which tips off at 4:20 p.m.
The winners of those games move to the second-round game set for Saturday, March 7 at 6:50 p.m.
NCAA Division III Men's Brackets
For the UWL women's team, they'll play LaGrange College (Ga.) at 5:15p.m. Friday at Carroll University in Waukesha. Carroll then faces DePauw at 7:45 p.m. Winners play on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.
NCAA Division III Women's Brackets
Sparta grad wins bronze as asst. coach for Swiss Women's Hockey
A Sparta graduate helps her team win some Olympic glory at the recent Winter Olympics in Italy.
Cyndy Kenyon is a 2002 graduate of Sparta High School.
She later played two seasons for the Wisconsin Badgers Women's Hockey team. Kenyon was part of the 2006 team when they won their first NCAA national championship.
In recent years, she's lived in Switzerland as a skating and skills coach.
That led her to getting an assistant coaching position on the Swiss Women's Hockey team.
At the Winter Olympics, the team, much like the American victory, scored a dramatic goal for a 2-1 win over Sweden in the bronze medal game.