WSAW Hilight Zone Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Exploring local faces in North Central Wisconsin Sports, WSAW's Hilight Zone Podcast aims to tell the stories of athletes, coaches, and programs from around the region.
Don't stress, the Ouimette sisters of Minocqua will still play Division 1 basketball together. It'll just be in a different city than originally planned.
Julianna is transferring from Lehigh after her freshman season to play for UW-Green Bay and naturally, her sister Kristina followed her commitment there.
Noah Manderfeld talks with the pair about the decision and the benefits Green Bay offers than has them very excited to be close to home.
For months, Antigo long jumper MacKenzie Wissbroecker has strived for the 19-foot long jump. Last Friday, she achieved that in front of the very person who initially held the school record, Cherie Dillahunt.
There's a lot to unpack with the senior who is going for a three-peat in the long jump at state in Division 2.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Wissbroecker about the moment she set her new PR, the potential three-peat and her future goals at Winona State next season.
Seven freshman, five sophomores, three juniors and one senior is the roster construction of Chequamegon softball. There's a lot of young talent for a Fighting Eagles squad on the rise.
Sports Director Noah Manderfeld speaks with Head Coach Paige Herbst and sophomore Angelina BeBeau about the youth movement up north, and how the unique roster construction is pushing players to grow even faster.
Few people spend 33 years at one job. But Tom Anderson isn't most people. He's entering year 33 at Iola-Scandinavia as their head softball coach and he's loving every minute of it.
He's had a lot of success in that time, as well. He's sitting at over 440 career wins and just won his first state title last season.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Anderson about his career and his passion for the game of softball— even if he didn't know the game when he started coaching.
A new era on the gridiron is underway at D.C. Everest with offensive assistant Braden Mitchell being promoted to Head Coach.
NewsChannel 7's Nolan Bulmahn dives into how the combo of football and family fuels Mitchell to strive for success as the Evergreen's sixth coach in program history.
Columbus Catholic and Almond-Bancroft boys basketball are the two central Wisconsin teams who will be playing at state in Division 5 and they are the top two seeds. However, the programs are quite different.
Columbus is making their third trip to state since 2017 and has nine seniors on their team, while Almond-Bancroft has just two seniors and is making their first trip to state in school history.
In this episode, Noah Manderfeld speaks with Emmitt Konieczny, Blake Jacobi and Head Coach Joe Konieczny of Columbus and TJ Lamb, Ayden Phillips, Shane Klismith and Head Coach Curt Lamb of Almond-Bancroft about each team's trip to state.
Marathon is a basketball town and Thursday night will be a special one for the community. The boys basketball team will be making the trip down to Madison to play Kenosha St. Joseph in the WIAA Division 4 State Semifinal game. It will be their first trip to state since 2018.
These Red Raiders remember that 2018 team fondly- the five seniors were in 6th grade at the time. In this episode, they look back on that trip and how much that influenced their desire to get back to Madison.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with seniors Tyler Underwood, Cooper Hoeksema, Grant Warren and head coach Adam Jacobson about the moment and how they will feel when they step onto the Kohl Center floor.
Stratford native Derek Kraus will be racing in NASCAR's Cup Series, a dream come true. He will be sporting the No. 16 in a part-time role for six races this year for Kaulig Racing starting this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
In this episode, Kraus talks with Noah Manderfeld about his excitement for the new adventure and what this accomplishment means to him.
It had taken over a century for Marshfield boy's basketball to win an outright Wisconsin Valley Conference title. Now they've done it three years in a row. It's a run of excellence that deserves a deeper look.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Brook Hinson, Chris Pohl and head coach Chris Fischer about what's made this team successful and why playoff success could be coming their way this season.
It's been 17 seasons since Pittsville girls basketball has had success close to this season's. They are 18-4 as they near the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, hoping to make their first state title appearance since 2004.
In this episode, Reese Grimm, Brynn Friday, Brooke Grossman and Head Coach Jason Knott discuss the special season and how things will only look up from here.
Last year, Marcus Hall was helping D.C. Everest boys' basketball win games in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. This year, he's part of the Green Bay men's team that has gone from worst to first in the Horizon, all with a new head coach and a boatload of new players.
NewsChannel 7's Ben Helwig visits with Hall on his first year playing D1 college basketball, the role he's playing and what makes this Phoenix team so special.
Last year, the Crandon girls' basketball team took home a share of the Northern Lakes Conference title. That group was led by five seniors.
This year, a new group, featuring a blend of veterans and young contributors, is charting its own path to success, while relying on the lessons learned from the seniors before them.
NewsChannel 7's Ben Helwig speaks to Crandon players Alexis Shallock, Samara Kane, Lily Palubucki and Laurne Littleton about the strong start to the season and how they're making a name for themselves.
Phillips girls basketball has won their regional in each of the last three years. There's a number of reasons, but at the core of the Loggers success is family and consistent winning.
NewsChannel 7's Noah Manderfeld speaks with Kacy Eggebrecht, Mataya Eckert and head coach Mike Eggebrecht about what makes this program special, and their desire to get over the hump and into the WIAA state tournament.
Pacelli Boys basketball was two wins away from state last season and that's a good thing when you see how much of their roster is returning.
They lost just two seniors from that team, and they return their two scoring leaders in Camden Schurk and Jaydon Awe. Both are sophomores.
NewsChannel 7's Noah Manderfeld speaks with those two and senior Logan Mayer about the hopes this team has of building off last season's performance.
Gabe Sommers grew up racing bandoleros at State Park Speedway in Wausau. The Plover native had no idea that he'd become a tour champion. However, that's exactly what happened. On Oct. 8, Sommers won the Oktoberfest 200 at La Crosse Speedway to claim the 2023 ASA Midwest Tour title.
Ben Helwig visits with Sommers about his journey through the racing scene and how he is grateful for the ride.
Lakeland's Saylor Timmerman is going to the SEC for softball. The junior who throws 70 milers per hour has committed to Arkansas.
Noah Manderfeld speaks to the flamethrower about her decision, and her goals for the last two seasons at Lakeland.
September of 2021. That's the last time Marshfield volleyball lost a Wisconsin Valley Conference match. They've won 27 straight regular season matches and they haven't dropped a set in any of those matches.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with seniors Abby Ongna and Ashlyn Barwick along with head coach Dawn Sadowska about the streak and what it's doing for the future of the program.
Through their first four games, the Three Lakes/Phelps football team is averaging nearly 35 points per game. On defense, they've given up just 26 points all season. Those are totals emblematic of how the number two team in eight-player has won games this season, using their perfect blend of strength and speed.
Ben Helwig visits with Three Lakes/Phelps head coach Tyler Maney, quarterback Jared Kaufman, running back LJ Terlizzi and wide receiver Tyler Janikowski on how this team is a long-time coming and why this group still has plenty more to accomplish.
On Saturday, Sept. 16, Andy's Madison Capitols will host the Green Bay Gamblers at Marathon Park in the first-ever USHL game in Wausau. It will also mark a family reunion for the Brandt family.
Andy and Brian Brandt Jr. both grew up in Wausau and played for Wausau West. Once each of their playing careers were over, they became coaches. Andy is now the head coach and general manager for the USHL's Madison Capitols, and Brian is the head coach for Wausau West boys hockey. He is also a part-owner for the Wausau Cyclones.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with the two of them about how much this event will mean to the family, and how their lives have intertwined in coaching.
It's been quite the couple of years for Wausau East football. The Lumberjacks played just two games in 2020. In 2021, they were unable to field a varsity roster. The last two years they've been bouncing as a JV team and in 8-player.
Finally, on August 11, they returned to varsity 11-man action, topping Lakeland 23-7 in Minocqua. It was their first win in 1,440 days.
Now, the team prepares for their first installment of Wausau's greatest rivalry since that two-game 2020 season; the Log Game. The game with history all the way back to the early 1970's will be renewed when East faces Wausau West on Friday night. It's not just the first meeting in a long time, it'll also be their last.
NewsChannel 7's Ben Helwig visited with Wausau East head coach Tyler Kramer as well as quarterback Pacey Weber and wide receiver Caden Werth on the emotional start to the season and why Friday's Log Game against Wausau West may just be the biggest of their lives.
Wausau’s Brady Cleveland had the dream of his life come true when he was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the NHL draft. For Brady, the moment was stamp on a lifetime of hard work.NewsChannel 7's Noah Manderfeld spoke to the Wausau native about what draft night was like and what he's doing as he gets ready for his freshman season with the University of Wisconsin.You can find the video story of this interview at https://www.wsaw.com/2023/07/14/whirlwind-year-cleveland-puts-hard-work-into-perspective/.
Wausau native and racer Luke Fenhaus reached victory lane in just his third race in the ARCA Menards Series East, winning in Nashville on a last lap restart.
It's been a great start to the season for Fenhaus through four races of his first full-time season in the ARCA series, who's sitting in second in the standings.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with the Wausau driver about the moment he won at Nashville, and returning home to race at Wisconsin's short tracks, including State Park Speedway.
In 2020, Macey Kilty suffered a devastating shoulder injury in the 2020 Olympic Trials. Just two years later, the Stratford native would suffer the same injury while pushing for the Olympic rings once again. Through perseverance and the help of her loved ones, she's feeling better than ever, with some monster matches looming that could determine her fate for Paris 2024.
Ben Helwig visits with Kilty on her road second road to recovery and why her Wisconsin roots are always fuel for her to keep going.
Janel McCarville is the next SPASH girls basketball head coach.
If you don't know the McCarville name, look no further than her 2013 WNBA Championship ring with the Minnesota Lynx. But her home is Stevens Point, and she is back to replace her former head coach Kraig Terpstra as the new Panther coach.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with McCarville about her path from Stevens Point to the pros and then back to Point as she prepares to lead the Panthers this winter.
For over a decade, Russell Gymnastics has been a hub for young gymnasts in central Wisconsin. However, success is just one aspect of what makes this place home. Take it from three stand-out gymnasts who will be competing on the biggest of stages. Hear from Arianna Ostrum, a level ten competing at Nationals in Oklahoma, as well as Addison Brock and Abigail Berens, both level nine athletes who are competing at Westerns in Idaho. They're joined by Debbie and Dave Russell, two of their coaches and the owners of Russell Gymnastics about the road to success and the family they've become in Stevens Point.
There's so much to unpack with Northland Pines' Nora Gremban. Her mom is her coach and she has run nine marathons—something that blows Gremban's mind. She's so passionate about psychology and the brain that it supersedes her love for running. Oh, and she's won the Division 2 State title in the 800 and 1,600 meter races in each of the last two seasons. She's still a junior.
We unpack all of it in a conversation with Gremban.
There's an expectation around Mosinee softball—win a conference title. Mosinee won 11 in a row from when they joined the Great Northern Conference in 2009-2019. They took back the crown in 2022.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with players Martina Miller and Alanna Bembenek along with head coach Kelly Remondini about the high Mosinee expectations and how their great chemistry this season might be their ticket to another conference title.
The Columbus Dons baseball team has three, reliable starting pitching options. The best part is—they're all juniors.
Options 1A, 1B and 1C are Emmitt Konieczny, Cy Becker and Blake Jacobi as Columbus tries to follow up their first state appearance in school history with another.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Konieczny, Becker and head coach Jared Krasselt about the potential for this pitching staff, and how a little bit of small ball may be in the cards for the Dons this season.
In a game that lasted over five hours, had over two hours of gameplay, and saw 122 combined shots, the UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team pulled out an NCAA Tournament win over Augsburg in the second-longest game in D3 history.
In this episode of the Hilight Zone Podcast, Ben Helwig speaks with Pointers' goalkeeper Ryan Wagner and forward David Hill, who scored the game-winning goal in the game's fourth overtime. They discuss the physical exhaustion of playing in such a long game, the jubilation in victory, and how they're preparing for the next round of the tournament.
Lakeland girls basketball is going to state for the first time since 1993, and you could say they are excited for the trip to Green Bay.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Julianna and Kristina Ouimette, along with Lily Fortier about the dream trip to state as two of them near the end of their high school careers.
Laona/Wabeno girls basketball is heading to state for the first time in their history. And it comes two years after losing five seniors.
Noah Manderfeld talks with the seniors Grace Krawze and Kaylyn LaRock along with head coach Andrew Harrison about their history trip to state that includes a confident statement from Harrison, and the potential for a Griddy in Green Bay.
It's been 15 years since Mosinee boys hockey has made the trek to Madison for state. To get there, they finally beat conference rival Lakeland in the playoffs.
Today's conversation is with senior Caden Schmirler and junior Grant Kuklinski about the accomplishment ahead of their debut on the state stage.
Two years after the Rhinelander girls swimming team won a state title, the boys side adds their program's first-ever banner next to it. That's a feat the Hodags don't take lightly.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with seniors Carter Gaber and Daniel Gillingham about taking the first state title in program history back to Rhinelander, and what the accomplishment means to the team and the community.
Rhinelander native Parker Retzlaff is just 19 years old, but he is already a full-time driver in NASCAR's Xfinity Series. Retzlaff will drive the No. 31 with Jordan Anderson Racing in 2023.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with the young driver ahead of his first-ever Daytona race and his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series.
The Newman Catholic boys senior athletic class has quite the laundry list of achievements at the small school. They've won back-to-back 8-player football state titles, regional titles in baseball and basketball along with a top-five finish in golf. They are also a very lively bunch.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Mason Prey, Eli Gustafson, Conner Krach and basketball head coach Jeff Waldvogel about what makes this group special.
We've all heard the noise—Wausau East Athletics are on the downturn. Their boys basketball team aims to reverse that notion. Their thrilling 77-69 overtime win over D.C. Everest is a start to bigger goals.
Noah Manderfeld talks with their leading scorer Jesse Napgezek, Isaac Rozwadowski and head coach Dan Garrett about their win over the Evergreens, and what it means for Wausau East Basketball now and in the future.
Almond-Bancroft boys basketball's TJ Lamb is a certified passer. His 8.1 assists per game are third in the state, and he is nearing the school record books in all-time assists and steals.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with TJ along with his dad and coach, Curt Lamb, about the junior's vision on the floor, and the relationship between father and son, as well as coach and player.
It's been an up and down few years for Wisconsin Rapids native Vince Biegel. The NFL linebacker had a breakout season with the Miami Dolphins in 2019, then tore his Achilles before 2020 before injuring his calf in the 2021 training camp.
Now he's with the Baltimore Ravens with a clean bill of health, and he's ready to get back to work.
Noah Manderfeld talks to Biegel about his opportunity ahead in Baltimore and how he keeps a positive mindset despite the roadblocks.
Lakeland girls' soccer is returning to state for the first time since 2004 and the second time ever. It comes in the same year they won their conference for the first time in 11 years. It's a big deal in Minocqua.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Sophia Myshchyshyn and Leah Wolf along with head coach Stephanie Hartzheim about how big it is for the school, and what they look to do in Milwaukee.
Medford softball is back-to-back Great Northern Conference champions and enters the playoffs as a two-seed.
But the group has many storylines including their ultra-competitiveness.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Martha Miller, Rynn Ruesch and Laurissa Klapatauskas as well as head coach Virgil Berndt to give some examples of their competitiveness. They also talk about how good it feels to be on top of Mosinee two years in a row.
The Mosinee 4x200 and 4x400 girls relay team was one second away from making the podium at state last year, and they return nearly everybody.
I speak with Adalyn Lehman, Kate Fitzgerald, Claire Selenske, Britt Fitzgerald and Katelyn Baars along with coach Craig Martens about their dynamic, their indoor performance and how they are hoping to get on that podium.
SPASH runner Roisin Willis has another world record, this time the fastest distance medley relay time ever recorded.
Willis set the mark with three new balance professionals at the unveiling of their new facility "The Track," besting the previous indoor mark by five seconds.
I speak to her about the opportunity and the moment, as well as discuss her high school season as she looks to break her own state record.
After making a thrilling run through the postseason last year, Marathon baseball's Jaden Koeller and Grant Warren hope to recapture some of that magic ahead of their new season.
Stratford native Macey Kilty was on the biggest stage of her wrestling career so far. She was in the finals of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials until a shoulder injury in the final bout ended her hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.
11 months after the injury, Noah Manderfeld talks to the wrestler about that moment, the recovery and where she is at since returning to competition.
Former Wausau West Track and Field star Brook Jaworski is coming off one of the most stunning moments of her career: tripping over a hurdle in the NCAA Preliminary Round last spring. But her mindset since has been one of focus.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Jaworski in a candid interview about that moment, and how she hit the reset button this year to qualify for the indoor championships, but also how badly she wants to finish business in the outdoor season.
Lakeland Union's Julianna and Kristina Ouimette aren't your average sister duo. They are best friends.
What was meant to be an interview about Julianna Ouimette committing to Lehigh for girls basketball turned into one about her and her sister's relationship. The conversation starts with Julianna about her commitment, but then quickly turns to the pair about their height difference, cooking recipes and everything in between.
For the second year in a row, Lakeland Union boys hockey is back in the state tournament. But this year, their mindset is a bit different.
Head coach Jake Suter along with players Max Masayesva and Cooper Fink about the feeling of going to state, and how they intend to make noise this time around.
Mosinee girls basketball is 23-1, and they believe they have a chance at state.
A team made up of mostly seniors, they look like one of the most dangerous teams in Division 2.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with the team about the regular season, specific games and the team's goals moving forward in a playoff run.
For the first time ever in 100 years in conference, Marshfield is outright Wisconsin Valley Conference champions.
With an 11-0 record in the conference so far, the year 2022 will be on the banner forever.
Noah Manderfeld speaks to coach Chris Fischer, Gavin Fravert and Chase Hinson about the season and their upcoming playoff matchup against D.C. Everest.
The Hall brothers are an interesting duo, but their story this season with D.C. Everest boys basketball is special.
Colton, the senior, tore his ACL before the season started. His brother Marcus, the junior, has filled his role, averaging 29.6 points per game
The pair talk with Noah Manderfeld about an analogy including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, pick-up basketball game, Marcus’ success and more.
If you ask Neillsville girls basketball head coach John Gaier the key to winning, he'll likely respond with, "defense wins championships."
It's worked wonders this season. The team is allowing just under 25 points per game, holding teams to under 20 points eight times on their way to a 19-2 record.
NewsChannel 7's Noah Manderfelds speaks with Junior Delaney Rochester and Senior Emma Moseley, along with Gaier about how important defense is and how they hope their style of play will win a championship.
The first-ever WIAA-sanctioned girls wrestling state tournament was held on Jan. 29. The tournament was a milestone for the sport of girls wrestling, which has long competed with the boys in the past.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with the Wausau West girls wrestling team (Anya Mueller, Chloe Weisenberger, Savanna Danielson, Sabina Ramos, Ashley Danielson and Alianna Totzke) about the experience, and what the tournament means for the sport.
- That's how many rushing yards Wausau West's Colton Geurink had in their season-opening win over De Pere. He also added five touchdowns to that line.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Geurink about the game, If he expected to rush for that many yards and what his goals in development are this season.
Rhinelander football has started to cement itself as a team to be feared. Last season, they won two playoff games and brought success to Hodag country.
In a preview of the 2021 season, Noah Manderfeld talks with head coach Aaron Kraemer and quarterback Jacksen Smith about how they continue the successful Rhinelander tradition, how Smith will fill the shoes of outgoing quarterback Quinn Lamers, and what the team will look like with a strong senior class after losing another strong class last year.
Wausau East football made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 varsity season. They cited low numbers, which they say just 14 upperclassmen were signed up to play. They do still intend to play 8-man football
Noah Manderfeld talks with athletic director Kurt Vanden Heuvel and head coach Henry Kremnitzer about the decision, what this means for the kids and what the future of Wausau East football holds.
Wausau East's Luke Fenhaus put the racing circuit on notice when he finished second in the SRX race at Slinger Speedway. He competed against racers like Tony Stewart and Marco Andretti.
Matt Infield talks with the 17-year-old about the experience, what the race was like and where he sees his career going.
Stratford's Derek Kraus has had a difficult sophomore season. It seems like every race, something happens that sets him back. Through it all, he's still been able to capture his first two career poles in the Gander RV and Truck Series.
Matt Infield talks with Kraus about the season thus far, and where he sees the rest of the season going on his quest for a first career NASCAR victory.
For the last 44 years, Don Behnke has been at the helm of SPASH cross country. For nearly 20 of those years, Kevin Hopp has been by his side as co-head coach. In 42 of those 44 years, the program has made an appearance at state. They've won 11 titles.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with the two about a lifetime of coaching at SPASH, what has made the program so successful for many years, but also how the two co-head coaches work so well together.
Stevens Point runner Roisin Willis qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials with the best 16-year-old time in 800-meter United States history. She backed that up by qualifying for the semifinal at the trials against the best in the country.
Noah Manderfeld talks with the SPASH high schooler about her performance and why she thinks her future is so bright.
The Warrens have known baseball their whole life. The dad, Steve, is the varsity baseball coach. His two sons, Grant and Brock, have been playing their whole life. But because of a three-year age gap, they've never played on the same team together. Until now.
In the one year they have together on the same team, Marathon is going to state. Noah Manderfeld talks with Brock and Grant Warren about baseball in their family, how special this year has been and how excited they are to represent Marathon at state.
In the winter, Phillips girl's basketball lost in the sectional final against Fall Creek. Now in softball, the Phillips advanced to state by beating....Fall Creek.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Rachel Callow and Jada Eggebrecht about how good that felt, but also about the group of nine girls who play together in basketball, volleyball and softball. The group that plays together almost year-round finally gets their shot at a state title.
Rhinelander Quarterback Quinn Lamers is going to play football at the University of Montana next year. But that decision didn't surprise anyone. His cousin, Marc Mariani, is Montana's all-time leading receiver and he played seven seasons in the NFL.
Matt Infield talks with Lamers about the decision, growing up idolizing Mariani and the process that led him to follow his footsteps.
Pacelli softball has one expectation at the beginning of the year: They are going to make the state tournament. They've done so in three straight seasons and they are knocking on the door of a fourth straight appearance.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with head coach Ann Molski, along with players Sami Miller and Briar Armatowski about the weight of those expectations. They also talk about the offense and why it is consistently good, as well as the traditions the team has on the field.
The Wittenberg-Birnamwood Softball team has a saying after every win. They say "we don't suck." This year, they've had plenty of chances to say that. They sit at 12-1 and have already clinched at least a share of the Central Wisconsin Conference-East.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with head coach Charity Fraaza, along with players Abi Fraaza and Jasmin Duranceau about the season and the turning point in the middle of the year. They also talk about some of those traditions they have at the beginning and the end of games.
D.C. Everest Lacrosse was 4-1 through five games and had their sights on a Bay Valley Conference title. They would lose the final four games of the regular season.
Noah Manderfeld talks with players Devin Gumz, Dominic Tilton and Parket Hurt about the start and what happened the last for games, plus they talk about how they look to turn the page ahead of the postseason.
Marshfield's Gary Varsho has almost 40 years of professional baseball under his belt, 15 of those as a player. A longtime coach and scout as well, Varsho has seen close to everything the game has to offer.
Matt Infield talks with Varsho about his decision to retire, and walks through Varsho's experience in professional baseball.
SPASH's Roisin Willis had one goal in mind entering 2021: She was going to qualify for the Olympic Trials. However, what seemed like an achievable goal seemed just out of her grasp after many attempts.
Just last week, Willis ran a personal best time of 2:00.78, which was the fourth-fastest in 800-meter history and fastest time ever for a 16-year-old.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Willis about coming agonizingly close to qualifying for the trials, all the way up until she broke the time she needed just two weeks before the deadline.
Jordan Zimmermann pitched 13 seasons in the major leagues, establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball during part of that span. But before he took the mound in Washington D.C, Zimmermann started here in Central Wisconsin at Auburndale and UWSP.
In part two of discussing Zimmermann's career in our area, Matt Infield talks with Zimmermann's high school coach at Auburndale, Mark Brost. He talked about seeing Zimmermann's talent in elementary school and how he turned from a catcher to a pitcher in his days at Auburndale.
Jordan Zimmermann pitched 13 seasons in the major leagues, establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball during part of that span. But before he took the mound in Washington D.C, Zimmermann started here in Central Wisconsin at Auburndale and UWSP.
In part one of discussing Zimmermann's career in our area, Matt Infield talks with two former college teammates Mike Thrun and Jake Frombach. They talk about the run to the college world series with Zimmermann and what it was like to watch a former D3 teammate tear through the big leagues.
Former UWSP standout swimmer Jack Englehardt has qualified for the Olympic Trials in June.
Noah Manderfeld talks with him about what it felt like, plus they walk through his UWSP years, the successes and the lows that brought him to this point.
Marcus Jaworski was a key part of the Iola-Scandinavia Team that was a win from going to state. He is one of four players from that team that hasn’t graduated.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with Jaworski about how it feels to be the only returner on the rotation and one of a few on the team, how much it hurt when they lost in 2019 to Stratford, a game he feels was his last chance to advance to state.
Garrett Groshek signed with the Las Vegas Raiders just minutes after the NFL draft concluded.
Matt Infield sits down with the Amherst native to talk with him about the deal with the Raiders, how excited he is and what he thinks about playing under head coach Jon Gruden
Cole Caufield is one of the best hockey talents to come out of central Wisconsin. Just days after making his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens, we look back at where his career started--in a SPASH uniform.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Caufield's former linemates at SPASH Barrett Brooks and Dayne Hoyord about the "crazy" ability Caufield showed as a sophomore, and how the rink rat couldn't get away from the game of hockey. Of course, Caufield's constant smile is all you need to know he loves being on the ice.
To view the full video story of this interview, you can click this link.
Amerst native Garrett Groshek is preparing for the NFL draft after four seasons in five years with the Wisconsin Badgers.
The running back has gone through an extensive training process and now will sit and wait for draft day.
Matt Infield talks with Groshek about the journey he's taken to get to draft day and what those three days will be like waiting for a phone call.
There's a new person in charge of the WIAA and it's Steven's Point native Stephanie Hauser.
Last Friday, the former SPASH athletic director was voted the executive director of the WIAA, becoming the first woman to do so.
Matt Infield talks with Hauser about making history and the challenges that lie ahead for the WIAA.
Wausau's Matt Thums pick up a gold medal for team USA in the Wheelchair Curling- B World Championships last week. More importantly, they qualified for the World Championships in the fall.
Noah Manderfeld speaks with the skip of the team, Thums, about the journey, how the moment felt and what his team's last two goals are on the road to the Paralympics in 2022.
Legendary Mosinee softball head coach Todd Felch was a legend. He won 11 straight conference titles to end his tenure, guided the team to two state tournaments and won one in 2014. But after he stepped down last May, his assistant Kelly Remondini takes the reigns.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Coach Remondini as well as senior player Zoe Gburek about the adjustment to a new head coach, how the team is prepping for their first game in two years and how they plan on making it 12 straight conference titles.
The title was years in the making. With Katelyn Ramthun's goal in overtime, the Central Wisconsin Storm were state champions for the third time in program history.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Ramthun, who walks us through the championship game, a tight one that ended 2-1. She also talks about the moments she remembers after she scored the game-winning goal.
Former Wausau West standout Brooke Jaworski is in her second year running track at the University of Texas. On this episode, Reece Van Haaften talks through her record-setting career with the Warriors. He also talks to her about her time at Texas, and how she's handled dealing with injuries.
If you have an idea for "The Hilight Zone Podcast" feel free to email us at sports@wsaw.com.
Sam Hauser is going pro. The former SPASH star made the announcement after his 2020-2021 season at Virginia ended in a first-round exit at the NCAA tournament.
Matt Infield spoke with Hauser about his decision and recaps his time at Virginia and Marquette.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
The UW-Stevens Point men's hockey program is known for its illustrious history, but the 2019 national champions were unique.
Reece Van Haaften and Matt Infield sit down with three players from that squad (Tanner Karty, Colin Raver and Steven Quagliata) and head coach Tyler Krueger to discuss the run to the title.
If you have an idea for "The Hilight Zone Podcast" feel free to email us at sports@wsaw.com.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are breaking barriers. Their front office is the first female-majority front office in Northwoods League history.
Chloe de Vries and Hannah Jurgens talk with Matt Infield about how they feel it's important. As Hannah put it, they want "to have people stop thinking that's cool that we work in baseball. And instead just thinking of that as a normal thing."
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Paul Jesperson led the Merrill Bluejays to its lone win at state in boys basketball, but he is most well known for his buzzer-beating shot against Texas in the NCAA Tournament.
Reece Van Haaften sits down with the Merrill native to discuss the shot he made with Northern Iowa five years ago and what the Northcentral Wisconsin community means to him.
If you have an idea for “The Hilight Zone Podcast” feel free to send us an email at sports@wsaw.com
Julie Giese was born and raised on a Colby dairy farm. She went to college for animal science. Now, she's president of Pheonix Raceway.
Matt Infield talks with Giese about her wild journey through NASCAR to the position she is in now; one of two female presidents of NASCAR tracks.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Two years ago today, the incredible happened. In the Division 5 state semifinals, Tom Nystrom fired up a heave from half-court with a chance to send his team to the championship. It went in.
On the anniversary, Matt Infield and Noah Manderfeld talk with Nystrom, Bryce Fuerlinger and Jarred Mandel, as well as head coach Joseph Konieczny about the moment. They walk through the season, the morning before and the euphoria that took place after the shot went in.
If you have any other incredible moments or teams from past Central Wisconsin teams, send us an email at sports@wsaw.com
Normally, the high school volleyball season is in the fall. For SPASH, their season was upended. They moved their season to the alternate schedule in the spring.
That means their season just started one week ago. I speak with head coach Molly Williams along with seniors Amahra Matthai, Andrea Zwicker and Dylan Wall about what the process has been like. We talk about the workouts they went through while at home, how different the games feel and how tough it was to watch their Wisconsin Valley Conference opponents play a fall schedule while they had to sit out.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Three Lakes girls basketball is coming off of what some consider to be the greatest upset in WIAA girls basketball state tournament history. They took down the top seed Black Hawk and ended their 75-game winning streak in a game no one coming.
Matt Infield runs back the podcasts with Sydney Lurver, Kara Sowinski and coach George Lurvey to go into detail about how they stopped Black Hawk. They walk you through each moment of that day, from the bus ride to La Crosse to the bus ride returning to Three Lakes.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Edgar boys basketball is heading to state for the first time since 1997, and it couldn't feel sweeter.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Brayden Baumgartner, Drew Guden and Kyle Brewster about the road to state and how much sweeter this feels after their football season was cut short before state. Head coach David Huss also talks about the group and discusses their matchup with Lourdes Acadamy on Friday.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
For a small school like Three Lakes, making the state tournament is a big deal. But they don't want to just make it, they want to make some noise.
Matt Infield talks with Sydney Lurvey, Kara Sowinski and head coach George Lurvey with the state-bound team about their road to this point, and how this journey started in elementary school.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Assumption is going to state for the first time since 2016. They've done it behind a speedy point guard and two tall forwards. Emily Bohn and Jessie Grundhoffer each stand at six feet tall. Emily is six-foot-two, while Jessie is six-foot. That creates a scary two-headed monster in the paint.
Noah Manderfeld talks with both of them about the offensive strategy behind them, plus what makes this team tick.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
SPASH boys basketball won the Wisconsin Valley Conference for six straight years from 2013-2018. The Panthers took back what they believe is rightfully theirs in 2021. This is SPASH's first WVC crown with John Krull as its head coach. Sports director Reece Van Haaften talks to the head coach plus junior Nate Streveler and senior Gavin Hyer.
If you have a story you'd like featured on "The Hilight Zone Podcast" feel free to email the NewsChannel 7 sports team at sports@wsaw.com
Philip Flory was a basketball star in Wisconsin Rapids. After transferring to Oshkosh late in his career and graduating, he was a preferred walk-on at Seton Hall. After a transfer and injuries, he was out of basketball altogether.
Now he's back on the court with the UWSP Pointers. Matt Infield talks with the star along with head coach Bob Semling about Flory's journey back to central Wisconsin and what he hopes to accomplish at UWSP.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
1950 is the last time the Athens boys basketball team won a conference title. With their Marawood North title locked up, that changed in 2021.
Sports director Reece Van Haaften and Noah Manderfeld talk with co-coaches Jeramie Penny and Aaron Ellenbecker, along with players Cooper Diedrich, Dayne Diethelm and Cobie Ellenbecker about the title.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
This year's Mosinee girls basketball team won the Great Northern Conference for the first time since 2016. Mosinee's defense was suffocating all year long. NewsChannel 7's sports director, Reece Van Haaften, chatted with junior Adalyn Lehman and senior Aly Gonzalez about the team's defense.
If you have an idea for "The Hilight Zone Podcast" feel free to send it to us via email at sports@wsaw.com.
Natalie Decker is a staple in the Central Wisconsin racing community. The Eagle River native has climbed up the ranks of the racing community. In 2020, she raced full time in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Now, she'll be the only female racer in the Xfinity Series.
Reece Van Haaften talks with Decker along with Jay DeMarcus, the sponsor of Decker's racing team Reamu, along with Grammy winner and face of the car Jason Crabb about the transition to the Xfinity Series.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Fresh off of his 1,000th point, Wisconsin Rapids star Dylan Lisitza had time to process the moment and what it means to him.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Lisitza about what was going through his head when he scored the special point. He also talks about what got Lisitza into basketball and the journey he took to where he is today.
If you have any episode ideas, you can email sports@wsaw.com
In 2017, Maggie Plaza was celebrating a state title with the Central Wisconsin Storm. Little did she know, her future had much more in store.
In May, Plaza will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In this podcast, Noah Manderfeld talks with Plaza about her journey from wanting to play hockey at the college level to joining the ROTC program at Marquette. Lieutenant Colonel Ioannis Kiriazis about her development at Marquette. She describes graduating and joining the Army as "just like winning a state title."
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Phillips is currently 14-1, and they have just one senior on the roster. Jada Eggebrecht is a junior, and she's currently dropping 24.1 points per game. That's tied for 6th in the state.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Jada about the season she's having, how her mentality of shooting has had to adjust with her playing in the post more and about her experience on the AAU circuit.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.
Bella Opelt is the school record holder in almost every category at Neillsville besides total points. Just two weeks ago, she hit the 1,000 mark for points in her career. However, when you ask Bella what her favorite part of basketball is, she says it's the defense.
Noah Manderfeld talks with the Neillsville senior and her coach John Gaier about her success in a defensive oriented program. Along the way, they go into detail about how Bella is using her skill and knowledge to help coach younger kids like Coach Gaier's granddaughter.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Reece Van Haaften chats with Mosinee's Caden Schmirler on how scoring comes so easy to him. Schmirler has potted 22 goals as of Monday afternoon. That's good enough for 10th best in the state of Wisconsin.
If you have any ideas for "The Hilight Zone Podcast", feel free to email them to sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear them.
Stratford wrestling is annually in the state wrestling tournament as one of the top ranked teams in the state. But in a year like no other, a big change has occurred.
Legendary head coach Joe Schwabe stepped down last spring, making new way for Brad Davison. Davison brings youth to a program that is much younger than they were a year ago.
Matt Infield sits down with Davison, along with wrestlers Hunter Ford, Elijah Lucio and Gavin Drexler. They talk about the coaching change, COVID-19 safety protocols and everything in between.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Jerry Sinz has been coaching the Edgar Wildcats football team for as long as many people have been alive. He just went through one of the weirdest seasons he's ever seen.
Matt Infield talks to Jerry about the dominant season that Edgar had, what it was like to game plan against teams that you may have just scheduled late in the week. He also asks Jerry the big question: is it time for retirement?
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
88 career goals. 167 career points. On the ice, Max Toijala is a hockey coach's dream. Off the ice, he's even better.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Lakeland Union senior forward Max Toijala about his play, what drives him, what it was like going to Wisconsin Badger games as a kid and the work that he puts into the game to get to where he wants to be.
We also continue our conversation with head coach Jake Suter where he talks about Max off the ice. He agrees that Max is a stud, but couldn't give enough praise to him as a person.
If you have any episode ideas, please email us at sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
The Suters. You know the name. Bob Suter, Gary Suter and Ryan Suter. Many other relatives have also gone on to have hockey careers.
Jake Suter is one of them, but now that it's over he's giving back to the local hockey community. Jake has been head coach at Lakeland Union for two years. His dad Gary, and NHL hall of famer, has been helping out for 10-15 years. Noah Manderfeld talks with Jake about growing up in the locker room, being a Suter and what hockey means to the family.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
Makenna Guden set the Edgar girls basketball all-time scoring record on Tuesday (1-5-2021). Reece Van Haaften talked with her on Wednesday about the record and how she became the player she is. Guden mentioned her two brothers playing a part. If you're wondering, Guden has 1,263 points and is only 12 away from setting the school's all-time record.
If you have any ideas, feel free to send them our way by emailing us at sports@wsaw.com.
The Newman Catholic basketball team has seen its struggles the last few years. This year, those struggles have disappeared. The big change? Their new head coach Cory Marquardt.
Noah Manderfeld talks to Marquardt at practice about this season and what has led to this turnaround. With both of them being Drake University graduates, he also asked about his Drake University coaching days and how that has helped teach him this year.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
The Medford girls basketball team is right in the thick of the Great Northern Conference race. Star point guard Marissa Fronk thrives on the bright lights. Fronk's style of play shows what type of person she is. She likes to share the ball, but head coach Greg Klapatauskas tells Reece Van Haaften that he wants to see Fronk shoot the rock a little more.
If you have any ideas for our podcast, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
The Medford Raiders boys basketball team is undefeated. The Raiders are led by Peyton Kuhn. Reece Van Haaften talks to head coach Ryan Brown who helps walk us through how Kuhn went from being a volume scorer to a well-rounded player.
If you have any episode ideas, email us at sports@wsaw.com
Three sport athletes. You see it in high school, but sometimes it's tough to understand how in the world someone has time for that. Kit Kronberger does. She plays basketball, golf, and softball at Wausau East. That’s in addition to school.
Noah Manderfeld talks about how she does this, why she does this and which one is her favorite.
If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
The WIAC announced sports were returning February first. That includes UWSP Pointers athletics.
Noah Manderfeld talks with the track and field team's Brooke Wellhausen and Jared Schrang, as well as head coach Brett Witt. They talk about the 45 minute dance party Wellhausen had when she found out the news and how excited they are to get back on the track.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
The Edgar Wildcats football team was one of the best teams in the state. On the AP all-state team, they received plenty of honors. Head coach Jerry Sinz was given coach of the year, while running back Kyle Brewster was named to the 2nd-team all-state and linebacker Austin Dahlke was named to the 1st-team all-state.
Noah Manderfeld talks with Kyle and Austin about the honors, while also looking back on the team's performance this season and the disappointment behind not having a state title game.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
The Merrill girls basketball team was forced into quarantine just one week into the season due to multiple positive tests within the team. Head Coach Adam Smith and senior guard Courtney Krueger joins Noah Manderfeld to talk about what quarantine has been like, what the season has been like under COVID-19 restrictions and how they anticipate it going moving forward.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
In our exploration into COVID-19 in winter sports, Reece Van Haaften talks with Wausau West Hockey player Lucas Langlois and head coach Brian Brandt. The Warriors are currently in quarantine and discuss what it's like to stay in shape from home. They also talk about playing hockey safely in a pandemic and what it's like playing with a mask.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
The Central Wisconsin Storm is annually one of the best girls hockey programs in the state of Wisconsin. The co-op team with Mosinee, Wausau, D.C. Everest, Merrill and Marathon just saw it's head coach, Pete Susens, retire after last season. Susens is the winningest hockey coach in Wisconsin prep hockey history, and led the Storm to a state title in 2017.
Now Jacques Du Vair takes over. In this episode, we talk with Coach Du Vair and senior Kayla Piskula about how they plan on turning the page to a new era.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
In what was truly a season like no other, the WSAW sports team of Reece Van Haaften, Matt Infield and Noah Manderfeld recap just how chaotic this season was. You see the show on TV, but we take you into what goes in behind the scenes to make the Hilight Zone what it is.
We talk about the time crunch we work on, how we kept up with the many cancellations and scheduling seasons and how bittersweet the end of this season is.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
Mosinee football had a special season, and it was powered by three key players, Drayton Lehman; Cyle Kowalski and Michal Dul. The trio put up some of the best offensive numbers in the state, and all are seniors.
Reece Van Haaften talks with them about their bond, and what makes that offense works. All three have unique names, but none of them have a name that's mispronounced more than Dul. They shared a laugh over that, among many other things.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
It’s part two of our Hodag week after a historic week in Hodag athletics, and we talk with the Rhinelander state champion swimming team. Shortly after the football team completed their come back, the girls swimming team topped it by winning their first ever state title. Reece Van Haaften talks with three swimmers: Malia Francis, Abi Winnicki, and Makenna Winnicki. There were some special moments this team had Friday night, like when they returned to Rhinelander at 3 in the morning and decided to continue celebrating. The boys team surprised them in the pool and celebrated with them in the pool until four in the morning. It’s a moment they will remember forever.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
It’s part one of our Hodag week after a historic week in Hodag athletics. In this episode, Noah Manderfeld sits down with Rhinelander football head coach Aaron Kraemer and their starting quarterback Quinn Lamers. It’s no secret, the Hodag football team is usually not good. But since Kraemer took over as head coach last year, they have made back-to-back playoff appearances and have completed a 180-degree turn on the perception of the program. We talk about that culture shift, that moment when Lamers crossed the goal line to score the winning touchdown against Lakeland, and what this season feels like looking back on it. If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
In this special signing day episode of the Hilight Zone Podcast, Reece Van Haaften talks to Wild Rose's Ashton Schwartzman, who signed with North Carolina to run track. Schwartzman discusses why he chose North Carolina, the difficult process it was to narrow it down to the Tar Heels, and how he fought with his mom through the process, only to receive a huge hug at the big day.
If you have any episode ideas, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Stratford's own Derek Kraus has found just a little success on the track, finishing 11th in NASCAR's Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series in his rookie campaign. The 19 year old discusses his rookie year, what it’s like racing on tracks with absolutely no in-person experience on them before the race, and which tracks were his favorite to race at.
If you have any episode ideas, be sure to emails sports@wsaw.com. We’d love to hear from you.
We head to the pitch, where we catch up with the Columbus Catholic soccer team from Marshfield. For this squad and their conference, the Central Wisconsin Conference, many of the teams play with a co-ed roster. What makes this work?
Plus, we dig into how this team has practically grown up together since pre-k, and how they bring that to the field, as well as some strong conditioning techniques that help them out.
The Dons made it to the sectional finals but lost to Arcadia. This interview was conducted before those games. We’ve got players Mira Torbey and Grant Olson, as well as head coach Jeff Edwards with us.
If you have any episode ideas, be sure to emails sports@wsaw.com.
Noah Manderfeld and Reece Van Haaften sit down with Wausau tennis players Anika Eder and Katie Meyer, an infectious doubles team that recently made it to state. We dig into all the important topics, like Katie's sunglasses and siblings. Anika and Katie also describe what make's their partnership work, and talk about the one class they together in that allowed them to build a bond.
If you have any ideas for future episodes, feel free to email sports@wsaw.com.
It’s the final episode of our exploration of COVID-19 in the high school football season. Noah Manderfeld sits down with Marathon Head Coach Ryan Winkler, who’s team also had a sudden halt to the season due to COVID-19. We talk about how it was to receive the news, how they stayed in touch while working remotely, and how this makes him appreciate the little things.
In part two of our three part series exploring COVID-19 in high school football, Matt Infield sits down with Marshfield Head Coach Denny Goettl about his team's sudden delay just days before the start of the season. He also discusses how they spent one week preparing for not one, not two, but three possible teams for a Friday game, and how those Friday feel when you do get on the field.
It’s part one of the Hilight Zone's three part series exploring COVID-19 in high school football. Noah Manderfeld and Reece Van Haaften talk with Stevens Point Panthers head coach Pete McAdams and senior player Carter Borchardt about how it felt to have their season postponed to the spring, how scheduling has worked, and what they've been doing on Friday nights.
Hear stories from local athletic faces in Central Wisconsin, stories that matter to you.