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BLUGOLDS BLANK BETHEL

4 IN THE NET PUTS UWEC AT OVER 40 GOALS FOR THE SEASON

August 23, 2023
Words/Photos by Branden Nall

Now that October has arrived, the sun has become only a memory when the 7 p.m. whistle blows on the soccer pitch. Although the 80-degree weather is a definite welcome versus what is inevitably soon to come. 

Just over 2 minutes into the game the Blugolds put their first mark on the scoreboard as Sean Redmond(Lebanon, TN) found the back of the net. 

Bethel held tight in the first half and shared a good chunk of field control, but didn't have the cards in play to get any more than 4 shots off. 

UWEC's Jacob Sampson(McFarland, WI) took an unassisted shot during the 34th minute and also found the back of the net to put the scoreboard at 2-0 before the half. 

Despite 6 shots on goal during the second half, Bethel was unable to add any number higher than 0 to the scoreboard. Matching their first-half shots of 7, the Blugolds managed to get it past the defenders 2 more times adding goals by Nathan Donovan(Hazel Green, WI) at 51:29 and Will Heinen(Champlin, MN) at 60:16. 

The Blugolds move to 8-1-2 on the season

Full Box Score Summary

PHOTO GALLERY


Student Athlete Membership  -  Back To School Special!! CLICK FOR DETAILS.

hydration key as soccer heats up for season!

PREP BOYS SOCCER 2023 season starts with sucker punch HEATWAVE!

August 23, 2023
Words/Photos by Branden Nall

wILLIAMS TAKES ON 

PARIS-BREST-PARIS 

Andy Williams riding the Coulee Challenge 1200k during August of 2022.

August 24, 2023
Words/Photos by Branden Nall

Andy Williams of Eau Claire has finished the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 (1230 actually) kilometer Randonneur cycling event that happens once every 4 years. 

What is Randonneuring? Long distance, unsupported cycling. Generally, a cyclist that completes specific and approved routes by stopping at designated checkpoints before completing the route in the allotted amount of time. 

PBP, as the cycling world calls it, is a 764.28 mile bike ride across France that sits atop many cyclist's bucket list. If the ride itself doesn't seem challenging enough, the road to get there is not for the faint of heart - or lungs....or, legs.....or, your mind. 

There are a few small pieces to add to this puzzle before you can even toe the start line for PBP. A Randonneur cyclist must complete with a qualifying time at least one of each 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k events by mid June of the same year PBP takes place.  

Then after you complete those requirements, you register. When you register, you know you get 90 hours to complete the route and stop at all the check points. That is like asking someone from Eau Claire - to ride to Washington DC in 90 hours. 

Congratulations, Andy! 

3 for 3, NET DOMINATION

October 28th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall

Thursday night held high regard for 3 Chippewa Valley prep volleyball teams. 

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blugolds swat yellowjackets

October 26th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall

Tuesday night was the final regular season home game for the #14 Blugolds before heading to #10 UW-Whitewater, Friday(7pm) and Concordia on Saturday(2pm). 


continued

ABES, MACKS, VIKINGS, RAMBLERS SET FOR STATE

October 25th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall

Saturday was another day for the books as the Memorial Old Abes Cross Country Team, boys and girls, swept the D1 sectional meet in Onalaska. 

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The Cloverbelt Sectional Cross Country meet on Saturday October 22 at Whispering Pines Golf Course in Cadott.

RAMBLERS SURPASS 400 Points

October 25th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall

Under the Friday night lights at Carson Park in Eau Claire, the Regis Ramblers football team ran through the giant R banner that separated them from double and triple digits.  continued

PLAYOFFS ON THE PITCH

October 20th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall

The WIAA Boys Soccer Playoffs started on Tuesday with stellar play coming from both sides of the field. Here is how the brackets sit. 

PREPS

prep Volleyball playoffs in full swing

October 19th, 2022
Words/Images by Branden Nall

This year's volleyball playoffs are stacked with some hot Chippewa Valley teams. Here is the breakdown after last nights round 1 regional.     PREPS 


blugolds TOPPLE #3

9/29/22 Eau Claire - words/photos by Branden Nall


Coming off of wins against top 10 teams Gustavus, Hope and Calvin; and sitting at #3 in the country with a record of 13-0, the University of Northwestern came into McFee ready for a battle against the National Champion Blugolds on Wednesday night. 


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metal collector

BROOKLYN SANDVIG AND THE BREAKFAST OF A CHAMPION

Words and Photos by Branden Nall

Before her senior year gets going, Brooklyn Sandvig, crowned State Champion in the 100m, 200m and 400m dashes, last month, will embark on a trip to the AAU Junior Olympic Games at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro.

Sandvig’s dominance has taken the Track and Field scene by storm over the past 2 years. Not just in the Chippewa Valley or the state, but nationally as one of the fastest humans in high school – ever. Presumably, powered by small multi-colored crunchy round cereal?

Snuggling with a box of Fruit Loops and popping a few into her mouth as she walks shoeless on the track, it was as if I was witnessing a metaphorical mindset crushing multiple-colored rings resembling those of the Olympic logo.

Maybe it’s an ‘unknowing’ competitive mentality that keeps the recent high school junior humble and fun witted, or maybe it’s because she tells those work/life scales to stay equal. Either way, there is never a dull moment with her spirit.

Smiley. Funny. Relaxed. As a kid should be.

Then – she steps on the track.

Closes her eyes…

…breathes.

"Relax your face."

"You want every bit of energy in your legs.”

To we onlookers, that track, and those competitors seemingly turn into that box and crunchy rings. The gun shocks the system waking up a giant. As quickly as the gun’s echo dissolves, she is already 3 steps out of the blocks and hugging that track like that multi-colored cereal box.

Each competitor a ring. Crushed one-by-one as her apparent love/hate relationship with those shoes comes to an agreement – 2nd is the first loser.

She does not like losing.

As she makes the last turn into the 400's final 100 meters, voices start in her head. "Relax your face", she hears from her coaches.

“You want every bit of energy in your legs”, she states after I ask about her prowess and maturity regarding relaxation during races. “You want to feel your face jiggle. You don’t look good running, so why even try?”  

Sprinting down the final straight-a-way she looks as though her eyes are closed, but she assures that they are open and she is paying attention. As she crosses the line, typically seconds before her next competitor, it’s like she awakes from a meditative state of propulsion, to wondering on-to the infield knowing her goal was accomplished – they all could read the back of her jersey.

This spring WIAA track season was filled with a couplet of weather challenges. “Winter took a little bit longer and meets were cancelled. I didn’t hit my best until it started getting warm again.” She said. This worried her a little as she only hit her best a couple times before heading to state.

“I feel like state is going to be a big day for me”.

And it was. Gold in the 100, 200 and 400.

Comments, Ohs and Ahs, from the crowd as spectators watched her dominance were not secluded to a section, but everywhere. Some of the boy sprinters that were gearing up for the finals were in complete awe and event workers were taken back at her speed.

Summer, now that warm weather has descended up the Chippewa Valley, is filled with morning workouts and evening gym sessions. Sprinkled with work, watering flowers(pun intended) and sharing her green thumb, then some fun on jet skis buzzing around the lake.  – but not too much and not right before competitions.

During the summer, she runs and competes for the Milwaukee Mustangs Track Team. “They have way more medals than me. They are so good!” She says about her teammates.

This summer she has earned her second trip and year-in-a-row, to the AAU Junior Olympic Games. She will be running the 100, 200, 4x100 and 4x400 relays for the Mustangs. Competition starts Monday August 1st and lasts the week.

Brooklyn in seeded 2nd in the 100 meter, just .09 sec behind the first seed.

4 seed in the 200 at only .46 seconds behind the top seed.

Top 8 for both the relays.

These seeds project her and her team to be in the finals for every event.

She tries to eat as healthy as possible – fruit rings not included. And has an affinity for oceanography which she would like to study in her collegiate future. She has been touring some possible colleges and even has had some collegiate coaches head to her. Such as the home state NCAA D1 Wisconsin Badgers.

You can catch al the action in Greensboro via livestream, here.


fierce freedom: justice run

Every year Fierce Freedom (fiercefreedom.org) holds a running event in Eau Claire to raise funds for the organization. We 100% support their mission to eliminate all Human Trafficking. We are excited to have captured some bits of the action!

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE PHOTO GALLERY WILL GO TO FIERCE FREEDOM!

PHOTO GALLERY

cavaliers net sturgeons

10 Run Rule enforced in 7th inning with 15 - 3 win.

4 Cavs .500 or higher at the plate led Eau Claire to a gripping victory over the visiting Jim Falls Sturgeons. The Cavs are on a 4 game win streak with Holmen up next on July 25th at Carson Park. 1st pitch set for 7pm.

Schaller is perfect

Christian Schaller sends it in Semi-Final

Words and Photos by Branden Nall

EAU CLAIRE  -  Chippewa Falls Post 77 and Eau Claire Post 53 squared-off at Carson park this afternoon under intermittent clouds and blazing sun. Late morning rains in Eau Claire had fizzled and baseball was being played. 

I don't think that a pitcher wakes up in the morning and says, "I'm gonna throw a not-hitter, today." But, I could be wrong. 

However, when the stars align and God and the universe high-five, sometimes a No-Hitter is less than satisfactory. Today - one of those days! 

5 innings. 7 strikeouts. 0 walks. And a whole host of support from the other 10 guys playing defense. 

If you know baseball, you just read '5 innings' and I presume are questioning my attention to detail. Not only was Schaller perfect, but the bats were on fire for Post 53 as they went 14 runs on 15 hits. Which put the run rule into affect after a lead of 10 at the end of 5 innings. 

Tomorrow, Eau Claire will play for the Regional Championship at 2pm at Carson Park against winner of tomorrow's 11am match-up. Chippewa Falls will play at 11am tomorrow at Carson Park against the winner of the 6pm game tonight at Bollinger Fields in Eau Claire. 

Will we see Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire battle again at 2 tomorrow? 


uwec Student-athletes honored by nabc

Tuesday the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES announced it's 2021-22 Team Academic Excellence Awards and Honors Court representing the highest level of academic achievement earned by student-athletes. Among those selected was the UWEC Men's Basketball team. They have earned this prestigious award 7 of the last 9 years. 

5 players took home the Honors Court award including, Nathan Banasik, Nate Hau, Spencer Page, Alex and Brock Voigt.  

out and active to pro-tour

Eau Claire - Words and photos by Branden Nall

LOCAL DISC GOLFER EVOLVES FROM JUST A WALK DOWN THE FAIRWAY TO TAKING ON THE BEST IN THE WORLD, GROWING THE SPORT.

One of the fastest growing sports in the United States(possibly world) is Disc Golf. The Professional Disc Golf Association stands by this. The sport has seen an incredible influx of players, events and major sponsorships taking shape over the last few years and prompting an explosion over the pandemic. 

High caliber players on the Professional Tour have contracts that chart millions of dollars with ESPN now providing coverage of some major events. 

"I was a bit nervous that Hannah was on my card, until I found out the GOAT wasn't there, then I relaxed a little." -Sami Osterberg

magic at run for the lights

CHIPPEWA FALLS - Words/Photos: Branden Nall

Every November the Chippewa Falls Parks and Recreation Department holds, “Run For The Lights”. A 5K run that supports the famous Irvine Park Christmas Village and its massive display of holiday lights – which can possibly be seen from space.   continued


You can’t be a slacker if you want to reach your goals!” -Lydia Fish