Coaching retirements continue, Spring sports underway, Winter All-State honorees announced

Pat McDonald retires as Rapids Hockey Coach

On Thursday, March 20, Wisconsin Rapids Hockey Coach, Pat McDonald announced his retirement from the position after over 30 years of coaching.

McDonald coached the Raiders for 28 seasons, beginning in 1997, where he had a record of 431-231-18 with six Wisconsin Valley Conference titles, and eight appearances at state where his teams advanced to the Frozen Four five times.

He also served as the Boys Golf Coach for 12 years. Coach McDonald won a conference title and served as an assistant to Baseball and Girls Golf.

Track and Field seasons underway

Despite a large snowstorm on the first day of spring, the Indoor Track and Field season got underway on Thursday, March 20 when Wisconsin Rapids hosted its annual indoor meet with Reedsburg, Rhinelander, Columbus Catholic and Port Edwards in attendance.

The Rapids Boys won their division with a score of 90, while the Girls were third at 33.

Port Edwards was fifth in both fields with scores of 1 in the Boys and 9 in the Girls.

Assumption competed in the two-day UWSP Invite where defending Division 3 champion in the 100M and 200M Dash, junior, Bella Thomas, continued her sprinting success, winning the 60-Meter Dash with a personal record of 7.78- seconds.

Nekoosa participated in the Mauston Invite at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse. They had one top-ten finish, Jarret Wilcox placing fourth in the Pole Vault with a height of 10-feet, six-inches.

All-State honors announced

With the conclusion of the winter sports season, the awards for local athletes rolled in with several earning awards.

Assumption Girls Basketball had a trio of athletes make the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State lists. Junior, Jordyn Jaglinski and senior, Anna Schooley being named to the First Team, while Sarah Shaw was Honorable Mention.

Port Edwards senior Brynden Beck and Assumption junior, JT Schlaefer, both made the Honorable Mention list of the WBCA Division 5 Boys All-State Lists.

Wisconsin Rapids Hockey senior, Tyson Vilbaum, was slated in the Honorable Mention List of the WHCA All-State Honors.