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LOCAL SPORTS
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STEVENS POINT - Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Tisha Venturini won five Olympic Gold Medals, five World Cup Championships and 12 NCAA titles between the three of them.Â
Now that their soccer careers have come to an end, they now travel the US teaching the next generation of players. This weekend, their camp called Team First Soccer Academy is in Stevens Point.
So what exactly is it like for a junior soccer player from Wisconsin Rapids to not only meet her soccer idols, but to play with them?
"They've always been an inspiration to me. Mia Hamm, you watch soccer, if you watch soccer, you know who Mia Hamm is, you know who Kristine Lilly is, you know who they are. It's amazing that they're ten feet in front of me teaching me how to do soccer drills, it's awesome," said 15-year-old Hannah Nyman
Kristine Lilly knows how to handle that excitement but she uses the camp as a way to show kids that she's also a regular person, not just a player.
"Wow! She's not really that tall, she's not really that big, but she's good," said Lilly.
The soccer stars are trying to visit all 50 states with their camp.Â
This is their first time in Wisconsin. They came to UW-Stevens Point because the women's head coach, Dawn Crow, was their teammate at the University of North Carolina where the team went 97-1-1.
"Any opportunity to help a teammate and support what they're trying to build in this community is important for us," said Hamm.
So how did they decide exactly to do this team oriented camp?
"We played for the National team together for 17 years and we saw each other every month, for months on end and so selfishly we wanted to see each other and we also wanted to share the love of the game," said Lilly.
That love of the game is now being shared with the next generation, which to Kristine is an inspiration.
"We grew up with no female role models, at least in soccer, it was all male predominantly in every sport," said Lilly.
Mia Hamm knows how big of a role model she is, and she takes the time and effort to give back to the soccer world.
"We're not here to show up and sign some autographs and go have coffee for the rest of the afternoon. We're, as you can see, on the field, a part of every part of this curriculum, every session," said Hamm.
That hard work pays off for the campers, which makes the experience of meeting these huge soccer stars even better.
"These women are really good and really strong players and I think that encourages us to become like them," said Nyman.
Other former teammate, Tisha Venturini is usually at the camps with Mia and Kristine, but was back home due to family matters. The camp will continue into Sunday and then the team first crew will be on to their next stop.
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HAYWARD, WISCONSIN - Chopping, sawing and log rolling pretty much sum up the jobs of lumberjacks. And for the last 58 years, Hayward, Wisconsin hosts the Lumberjack World Championships.
Kate Witkowski loves traveling to Hayward every year for the world championship weekend.
"This is THE big event so if you win this, you get to call yourself a world champion," said Witkowski.
Kate is from Land O'Lakes, Wisconsin and got her start as a lumber"jill" when she was at UW-Stevens Point.
But not all lumberjacks are from Wisconsin, or even the United States.
"Yes, I am the first Belgian competitor here at the World Lumberjack Championships," said Koen Mrartens.
Mrartens is from the Province of Antwerp in Belgium. He is a tree climber arborist, which is how he got into the world of lumberjack-ing.
"There are a lot of good competitors here so it's a good opportunity for me to learn," said Mrartens.
With competitors coming from all over the world, why is the event held in Hayward, Wisconsin? Because of the lumberjack history.
"Lumberjack sports started as a professional career. There were lumberjacks running down the rivers with the logs. Which adds a historical context and a nice culture to the event and I'm really proud to say I'm from Wisconsin and I have that background," said Witkowski.
The female lumberjack culture has grown quite a bit since then. And Kate couldn't be happier.
"I think that challenge in itself is pretty appealing to me. We kind of have to work a little bit harder to make a name for ourselves and prove that we deserve to be here," said Witkowski.
It was a little nerve-racking to watch the lumberjacks and Jills handling such axes and saws and going so fast. But to them, it's simpler than that.
"What's going through my head when I'm chopping? Is just chopping, nothing else, just chopping. It's me, my axe and the block beneath me," said Mrartens.
Koen is a pretty straight-forward guy. Even when it comes to summing up his experience in Wisconsin.
"It's awesome. Just one word- it's awesome to be here," said Mrartens.
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RHINELANDER - The Rhinelander Rebels hosted the first round of the regional legion baseball tournament Wednesday night.
Merrill faced off against Eagle River to get the regional, double-elimination tournament started on Wednesday. Merrill won 17-3.
Next up was Antigo and Minocqua.
The game started off with Antigo's bats on fire. Run after run would make it home and Antigo would take down Minocqua 13-3.
As of now, predications are showing that it could come down to a battle between Antigo and Rhinelander in the final game Saturday night.
Rhinelander vs. Shawano started at about 8:15 Wednesday to end the night of games.
Full tournament schedule:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19
Game 1: Merrill vs. Northwoods, 3 p.m.
Game 2: Antigo vs. Minocqua, 5:30 p.m.
Game 3: Shawano vs. Rhinelander, 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 20
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 21
If Winner of Game 1 win Game 5
Game 7: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6, 3 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 8 p.m.
If Loser of Game 3 wins Game 5
Game 7: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 3 p.m.
Game 8: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 5:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 22
If Winner of Game 1 wins Game 5 OR If Loser of Game 3 wins Game 5 AND Winner of Game 6 wins Game 9
Game 10: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 9, 5:30 p.m.
Game 11: Repeat Game 10 (if necessary), 8 p.m.
If Loser of Game 3 wins Game 5 AND Winner of Game 7 wins Game 9
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 9, 5:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, JULY 23
Rain Date, if necessary
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TOMAHAWK - Eighteen-year old Tomahawk native Gabrielle Jahn knows every turn of the Tomahawk Speedway by heart. She's watched races at the track her whole life, and even raced on the clay oval last summer. But Gabby wasn't always able to race.
"She was in casts for two years. It was hard," said Gabby's mother, Krysta.
Gabby has a progressive neurological disorder that affects her legs.
"I would be tripping and falling and all this nonsense," said Gabby.
It all started when Gabby was two. She underwent years of testing without ever finding concrete answers. Then, her life took another tough turn.
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THREE LAKES - Sports camps teach you to respect the game, your teammates, and coaches. In Three Lakes, basketball players had no trouble looking up to their coach for the day on Monday. That's because that coach has played all over the world.
Brian Butch towers over young basketball players in Three Lakes like a giant.
"I've never even seen somebody his height before," said Three Lakes senior Karlie Volk.
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STEVENS POINT - Sports today include more technology than ever before. Science is more advanced, data is more easily available, and coaches and athletes are more willing to use it all.
On Thursday July 13, UW-Stevens Point hosted the Great Lakes Analytics in Sports conference to allow people to teach, learn, and share everything they know.
"This is the way of the world now, whether it's in sport or anything else. It's analyzing data to make smarter and more efficient decisions," said Robert Morris University Sport Management Professor John Clark.
Those decisions about strategy, practice, and even medical benefits are backed by numbers more than ever before. That's why UWSP decided to host Wisconsin's first ever sports analytics conference.
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WAUSAU - Summertime in Northern and Central Wisconsin means time spent on the water. That usually means time on a boat for fishing or just for leisure. Another popular way to enjoy the water is in a kayak. And Wausau offers one of the best locations for it.
"It's really just enjoyable to be out on the water and you're always learning," said Whitecap Kayak Neal Schroeter.
Thanks to Whitecap Kayak, learning the ropes of whitewater kayaking is better than ever. Schroeter started the company 12 years ago to teach young people about the sport.
"As they learn, then we have them help instruct and lead trips," said Schroeter.
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REGIONAL SPORTS
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GREEN BAY - The Packers 2017 preseason opponents were announced Monday.
The Pack will face the Eagles, Redskins, Broncos, and Rams.
Green Bay will host the Eagles to start the preseason before traveling to play Washington and Denver on the road.
Then the Pack will conclude the preaseason with another home game against the Rams.
Exact dates and times will be announced in the near future.
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BUFFALO, NY - Top-seeded Villanova was bounced from the NCAA Tournament by eighth-seeded Wisconsin, which overcame foul trouble for two of its stars in the second half Saturday to upset the defending champions 65-62 in the East region.
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MADISON - MADISON, Wis. (AP) Senior guard Bronson Koenig scored 17 points in his final home game, combining with D'Mitrik Trice to give No. 22 Wisconsin's offense a second-half boost in a 66-49 victory over Minnesota on Sunday.
The Badgers (23-8, 12-6 Big Ten) secured the second seed in the conference tournament and got a sorely needed confidence boost to end the regular season after having lost five of their previous six games.
Nate Mason had 17 points for Minnesota (23-8, 11-7). The Golden Gophers had won eight straight.
Koenig hit five 3s in the second half, including baskets on three straight possessions with less than 3 minutes left. Trice had a four-point play after getting fouled on a 3-pointer with 12:24 left, before hitting a layup about 20 seconds later.
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MADISON - MADISON, Wis. (AP) â€" Nigel Hayes scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, Ethan Happ had 20 points and No. 11 Wisconsin beat No. 23 Maryland 71-60 in a choppy, foul-filled game on Sunday.
The Badgers (22-5, 11-3) overcame 27 points from Terrapins guard Melo Trimble to snap a two-game losing streak and stay in a tie atop the Big Ten with Purdue.
Bronson Koenig scored all nine of his points in the second half, giving the Badgers a lift with his jump shot after the senior missed a game with a left calf injury. Wisconsin shot 51 percent in the second half.
Wisconsin pulled away slowly, turning a six-point halftime deficit into a 12-point edge with 3 minutes to go in a game that lacked flow because of frequent whistles.
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MADISON - Bryant McIntosh scored 25 points, and defensive-minded Northwestern beat No. 7 Wisconsin 66-59 on Sunday, securing an important win for the school's bid to make its first-ever NCAA Tournament.
Dererk Pardon added 11 for the Wildcats (19-6, 8-4), who confounded the Big Ten-leading Badgers by doubling dominant big man Ethan Happ.
Nigel Hayes scored nine of his 13 points in the second half for the Badgers (21-4, 10-2), who had their eight-game winning streak snapped.
The Badgers didn't let up despite falling behind by 10 with 1 minute left, closing to 60-55 with less than 15 seconds after Zak Showalter hit two foul shots.
But McIntosh followed with two free throws with 42 seconds left, and Wisconsin ran out of time.
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ATLANTA, GA - The Atlanta Falcons are headed to their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history after routing the Green Bay Packers 44-21 in the NFC championship game.
Matt Ryan threw for four touchdowns, including a 73-yard catch and run for a highlight-reel score by star receiver Julio Jones. The defense played just as crucial a role in containing quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense.
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GREEN BAY - Receiver Jordy Nelson will miss the Green Bay Packers' divisional round playoff game on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys because of injured ribs.
Coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday that Nelson would not be medically cleared to take part in the team's final practice on Saturday, and that the medical staff determined that Nelson would not be ready for the game.
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