Jon Masson
@JonMassonWSJ
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Jon Masson most recently was a sports reporter for the @WiStateJournal covering high school, college and pro sports for the State Journal, https://t.co/zMtBt3vhpe.
Sun Prairie, WI
Joined September 2010
I have decided to retire from the Wisconsin State Journal. I have enjoyed working with so many great colleagues. Thanks to the students, athletes, coaches, athletic directors, administrators and parents who have helped me tell the stories. Thanks for reading all these years.
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I'm so sorry to hear that Middleton athletic director Bob Joers, who was fighting pancreatic cancer, passed away last night. I appreciate the help Bob provided with my job. He was a kind man.
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Sun Prairie athletic director Eric Nee has sent an email to Sun Prairie families that if upcoming new county health orders don’t permit in-county competitions, Sun Prairie will permit and begin competitions outside the county Jan. 23.
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Before I reduce my Twitter usage on the furlough, I would like to pass along good thoughts for Middleton athletic director Bob Joers and wish him and his family the best.
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Sun Prairie AD Eric Nee: In an effort to bring the entire community together following the tragedy on July 10, we will not be charging admission at the August 24 home football game. We will be accepting donations at the gate that will go to the Sun Prairie disaster relief fund.
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Madison La Follette is the new No. 1 team in Division 1 in The Associated Press boys basketball state rankings. The Madison Memorial girls have moved into a tie with Bay Port for No. 1 in Division 1 in The AP girls poll. Beaver Dam remains No. 1 in Division 2 in the girls poll,.
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Madison Memorial girls soccer coach Cathy Patton was named coach of the year in the Big Eight. Sun Prairie's Alexis Baker was the player of the year.
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We are directing positive thoughts toward Beaver Dam girls basketball coach Tim Chase. He told me he is beginning a medical leave of absence from teaching and coaching after a recent cancer diagnosis. There is a story online at
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Madison Memorial's Mike Harris and Sun Prairie's Brian Kaminski were named as coaches of the year in the Big Eight Conference for football. Tom Cabalka of Middleton was assistant of the year. First-team QBs were Richie Gilles of Sun Prairie and Jason Ceniti of Madison Memorial.
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UW-Stevens Point announces that Matt Hockett has been named women's basketball coach.
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The Big Eight Conference athletic director of the year award will be renamed the Bob Joers Award in honor of the late Middleton athletic director. Joers, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last fall, died May 15.
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Madison East athletic director T.J. Rogness said Alysha Justice has accepted an offer to become the next girls basketball coach at Madison East.
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Big Eight announces its girls basketball team, including: Player of the Year: Demetria Prewitt, Madison La Follette. Coach of the Year: Angie Murphy, Verona. Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Prewitt and Marie Outlay, Sun Prairie. Sun Prairie and Verona were co-champions.
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Middleton girls bball coach Jeff Kind, who's retiring from teaching after this school year, told me yesterday he likely would have retired from coaching after his team's great season, especially if the Cardinals had won the state title. But now he's reconsidered & wants to return.
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Today I am covering the NCAA Division III football semifinal between host UW-Whitewater and St. John's (Minnesota) at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater. A lot of folks tailgating in the 26-degree temps.
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I have appreciated the help from Baraboo AD Jim Langkamp and his staff in recent weeks when I've made trips there for events. Baraboo has aided the Dane County schools, particularly with basketball games lately. Janesville Parker plays DeForest in boys bball tomorrow in Baraboo.
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Waunakee players being introduced with teachers who made a difference for them in school. I like this type of gesture for people who have been important in the students' lives. I saw this at a recent Sun Prairie girls bball too.
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Elkhorn student section chanting overrated as Jalen Johnson steps to the line. He makes the FT and blows a kiss to the Elkhorn student section. He makes the next FT. Follows with a dunk next time down the court.
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Madison Edgewood athletic director Chris Zwettler said the school's Board of Trustees gave approval for Edgewood to compete in winter sports.
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DeForest wins in overtime 74-73 over Milton in boys basketball in the Badger East title game. Max Weisbrod’s shot off a drive with about 9 seconds left turns out to be the winner.
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WIAA communications director Todd Clark said the WIAA executive staff received a proposal to move the fall sports season to the spring and the spring sports to the summer. The WIAA right now has fall sports remaining as scheduled, but the Board of Control will study the proposal.
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AP all-state boys basketball team is out -- Sun Prairie's Jeff Boos is the state's coach of the year, Nicolet's Jalen Johnson is player of the year, Jaden Kreklow, Anthony Washington, Caden Nelson and other area players. Check sports for the story and list.
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Thanks for the kind remarks about my coverage of last night's bball game in Edgerton, amid the snowstorm. Sometimes prep reporters and photographers in the state must work in their vehicles, sending stories and photos after night games to make deadline. Glad the hotspot worked.
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It is my third consecutive day covering an event at Madison Memorial. I always appreciate the hospitality of Spartans AD Jeremy Schlitz and his staff. No truth to the rumor I slept in the bleachers here last night.
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McFarland junior wing Teagan Mallegni is a heavily recruited girls basketball player. McFarland girls basketball coach Sara Mallegni said Iowa, the University of Wisconsin, Oregon, Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, Louisville and Ohio State currently are her daughter's top candidates.
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Scott Swanson has been named the new Madison La Follette athletic director, according to an announcement this afternoon from Madison Memorial AD Jeremy Schlitz, who is the Madison School District AD. Swanson was the Lancers' football coach. That position now is open.
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Big Eight ADs Monday approved and adopted the schedules for the WIAA’s traditional spring season and the resumption of activities for conference spring sports, according to Madison Memorial AD Jeremy Schlitz. All Big Eight schools plan to compete in the traditional spring season.
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Honors in the Big Eight for boys basketball went to Madison La Follette's Isaiah Stewart as player of the year; Madison East's Keonte Jones as defensive player of the year; La Follette's Curtrel Robinson as coach of the year. La Follette won the title.
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Sun Prairie's Marlon Ruffin, Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson, Waunakee's Mitch Listau, Madison East's Keshawn Justice were first-team choices in Division 1 on the WBCA boys basketball all-state team. Ruffin, Johnson and Listau were unanimous choices.
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Columbus senior running back/linebacker Colton Brunell told me during an interview this afternoon in Columbus that he has verbally committed to North Dakota for football. He led the state in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns last season for the D-4 state champion Cardinals.
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Verona football coach Dave Richardson told me running back Jackson Acker, who's a University of Wisconsin commit, is participating in football in the alternate fall sports season in the spring.
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In addition to seeing a dramatic game between DeForest and Milton that was decided in overtime and quite a duel between Max Weisbrod and Jack Campion, we learned that this will be Craig Weisbrod’s last season as DeForest coach.
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Sun Prairie senior Marlon Ruffin told me he has interest from several universities (including Eastern Kentucky, Tampa, Eastern Illinois, Missouri State); the University of Wisconsin still is in the mix for a PWO. UW bball coaches want to talk with him after the Final Four,he said.
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McFarland junior girls basketball player Teagan Mallegni has drawn widespread interest from colleges. What's the experience been like?
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Sun Prairie wins its first state title in boys swimming and diving.
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Jack Herkert of Verona committed to Stanford for track according to Verona's Mark Kryka.
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Madison Memorial football is 7-0 in the Big Eight and overall with two regular-season weeks left. The Spartans have clinched a share of the Big Eight title. The last time the Spartans finished undefeated in the Big Eight was 1984, AD Jeremy Schlitz said in response to my question.
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The Sun Prairie girls have won the Big Eight Conference track and field meet with 143.75 points. Madison Memorial next with 112.
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It is always fun to listen to the various bands at state girls basketball, particularly Fall River, which plays classic rock songs and features a singer. A little Pat Benatar at halftime this morning.
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Sun Prairie's Marlon Ruffin announced on Twitter that he has committed to UW-Milwaukee for men's basketball.
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Jessica McCracken, Poynette associate principal and athletic director, tells me that Steve Maselter has been named the new girls basketball coach at Poynette.
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ICYMI: Sun Prairie's Jeff Boos was coach of the year and Nicolet's Jalen Johnson was player of the year on the AP all-state boys basketball team. Jaden Kreklow, Anthony Washington, Caden Nelson also were on the team, plus honorable mention area choices.
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On the Madison All-City football team, Madison Memorial quarterback Jason Ceniti is the back of the year, Madison La Follette's Luke Vitale is the lineman of the year and Madison Memorial's Michael Harris is the coach of the year.
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Everyone was super nice and helpful at Black Hawk High School today.
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Madison Memorial's Leilani Kapinus was named the girls basketball player of the year in the Big Eight Conference. Memorial's Daiysha Brown was the defensive player of the year and Memorial's Marques Flowers was coach of the year. Middleton and Memorial tied for the title.
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It was announced the new inductees to the Madison Sports Hall of Fame on June 1 will be Roy Boone, Peggy Kelly Gierhart, Chris Grainger and Brand Winchester. Other award winners: Kelly Sheffield, Demetria Prewitt, Bill Schultz, Bob Buchanan, Alessandro Malterer, Nicolar Rivera.
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McFarland receives the gold ball after winning the WIAA Division 3 state title in girls soccer.
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Coach Dan Zweifel of Monona Grove won his 300th game today. Edgewood AD Chris Zwettler acknowledged this before tonight’s game.
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Verona's Kelly Annen was named Big Eight Conference coach of the year for girls volleyball. Madison Memorial's Abbey Maier was named player of the year, according to the team released tonight.
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The WIAA announces Award of Excellence recipients. Area and region schools include Baraboo, Fort Atkinson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Monroe, Oregon, Sauk Prairie, Stoughton, Watertown and Wisconsin Dells.
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Sad day with Bob Joers' passing. We have a story online at and there will be a version of it in Sunday's State Journal. Here's the link for the online version.
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Mount Horeb boys basketball coach Todd Nesheim tweets that his team has been given the go-ahead to play road games. The Mount Horeb school board had a meeting tonight.
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Jacy Weisbrod of La Crosse Aquinas made a D-3 record seven 3-pointers today at state, according to the WIAA. DeForest boys basketball coach Craig Weisbrod told me last night she is his niece and the cousin of his son, DeForest junior Max Weisbrod.
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Muskego, Kimberly, Bay Port and Madison Memorial are undefeated and if they remain undefeated after this week's final games they are leading candidates for top seeds in Division 1 when the upcoming seeds/pairings are done.
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From Portage AD Ed Carlson: "As of this time, Portage High School plans on moving forward with Winter Sports this season with increased safety protocols and advisement from the 2020 WIAA Return to Winter Sports Considerations.".
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According to a release from the Big Eight Conference, Madison East senior Ashala Moseberry is the conference player of the year for girls basketball, Sun Prairie's Alexis Baker is the defensive player of the year and Madison Memorial's Marques Flowers is the coach of the year.
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I am covering Sun Prairie at Middleton football. John Hart is scheduled to be the photographer. Always good to see Rob Reischel, Dennis Semrau and Jimmie Kaska in the press box.
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Verona activities and athletic director Joel Zimba said that Curtrel Robinson has been hired as Verona's new boys basketball coach. Robinson had been at Madison La Follette as the boys basketball coach.
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Here's my video of Oregon's Katelyn Studebaker making the winning shot against Madison Memorial in the WIAA Division 1 regional final in girls basketball.
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Verona defeats Milwaukee Marquette 2-1 in the Division 1 boys soccer final.
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Jalen johnson's dunk bends the rim and we will have a delay.
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Corvonn Gaines is the new athletic director at Madison West, according to an announcement from Jeremy Schlitz, Madison Memorial athletic director and the Madison School District athletic director.
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As Sun Prairie baseball prepares for state ,,, when the Big Eight Conference picked its all-conference team, Rob Hamilton was named coach of the year and Davis Hamilton (Rob's son) was player of the year.
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DeForest’s Max Weisbrod announces on Twitter he has committed to Northern Michigan for men’s basketball.
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Sydney Hilliard of Monroe talks about last night's win over Monona Grove.
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Sun Prairie has opened a 34-0 lead at halftime. Jerry Kaminski with five touchdown passes.
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Germantown's Kamorea "K.K." Arnold is one of 34 players selected for the 2021 USA women's basketball U16 national team trials.
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McKenna Warnock of Monona Grove is the Gatorade girls basketball player of the year for Wisconsin, Gatorade announced.
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Madison Edgewood girls golf coach Peggy Gierhart told me more than $19,000 has been raised so far this year at the Crusade Fore a Cure golf tournament.
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According to a couple messages I received, Monona Grove last night decided to start winter sports and play outside the county.
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From Stoughton AD Mel Dow: District Administrator Tim Onsager decided to permit low-risk winter sports, medium-risk winter sports & high-risk winter sports to schedule & participate in limited practices & competitions outside Dane County Jan. 7 through the WIAA tournament series.
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Justin Bieber, Jensen Ackles, Frederic Chopin, Kesha, Javier Bardem, Ron Howard, Mark Paul-Gosselaar, Harry Belafonte, Alan Thicke, Robert Conrad all have/had March 1 as their birthday -- as do I. We'll probably go out tonight for cake after state gymnastics in Wisconsin Rapids.
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The WIAA just issued a statement that the girls basketball tournament and boys basketball sectionals this week will go on as planned.
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Monona Grove boys basketball coach Dan Zweifel is working on putting together a schedule.
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Colin Schaefer with seven catches for 146 and two TDs. Stevens more than 200 yards passing. Two TD passes. game-winner on a sneak.
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I hope everyone is staying well. I am beginning a furlough at the newspaper. Please send any news announcements or inquiries relating to high school sports to prep editor Art Kabelowsky and any general sports news announcements or inquiries to sports editor Greg Sprout. Thanks.
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Madison La Follette athletic director Scott Swanson said Austin Wills has been named the school's new football coach.
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Madison La Follette boys basketball coach Curtrel Robinson tells me that senior guard Donneil Gray has committed to Grambling State for men's basketball.
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Brayden Dailey of Cuba City announces on Twitter he has orally committed to UW-Green Bay (coached by Will Ryan) for men's basketball.
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UW-Green Bay commit Bailey Butler turned in an excellent all-around performance and had good support from her teammates in Black Hawk’s win over Waunakee. Waunakee coach Marcus Richter said Butler probably will be Miss Basketball this season. My story — at
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ICYMI: From Madison Edgewood: Edgewood athletic director Chris Zwettler announced his retirement as a teacher, boys varsity basketball coach and athletic director effective the end of this school year. He gave 33 years of service.
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Following up on others' tweeting yesterday, the WIAA's Todd Clark tells me "at this time the WIAA hasn't spent any serious staff time and discussion on the executing a plan to flip seasons." It's a topic that could be discussed, but would need Board of Control review & approval.
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First baseman Riley Ripp grabs the grounder, steps on the bag and Waunakee wins the Division 1 state championship with a 3-1 victory over Arrowhead.
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Beaver Dam girls basketball coach Tim Chase, who is being treated for colon cancer, tells me he is scheduled to coach tonight.
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From earlier today, Madison Memorial football coach Michael Harris receives an honor from the Packers.
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Kreklow dribbles out the clock. New Glarus wins 67-62 over Oshkosh Lourdes. The Glarner Knights win the Division 4 state title. New Glarus' second upset based on seeds.
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Scott Swanson replaces Alisha Raabe as athletic director. Raabe was the Lancers' interim AD last school year. She has become an assistant principal at La Follette.
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From Sauk Prairie AD Josh Boyer: "Right now, we are hopeful that we can still participate and have a fall season with schools in our conference and.surrounding area that decide they too can safely play.".
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Sun Prairie’s softball team is the second seed and will play seventh-seeded Beaver Dam at 8 am Monday at Bay Port High School in a WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal. The winner advances to a semifinal at 2 pm Monday at UW Green Bay. The final is Wednesday.
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Alyssa Blair of Sun Prairie and Florida Gulf Coast playing Miami in the NCAA women's basketball tournament on Espn2 right now.
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ICYMI: A feature about Middleton's versatile Cole Toennies, who has returned four punts for touchdowns, caught eight touchdown passes and intercepted two passes.
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Sun Prairie softball coach Jamie Olson confirmed that Cardinals sophomore pitcher Maddie Gardner has made an oral commitment to the University of Wisconsin.
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WIAA communications director Todd Clark messaged me this just now: "The State Boys Basketball Tournament is still scheduled to be played next week at the Kohl Center. More information will be available tomorrow, and this is a continuously fluid situation.".
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Sun Prairie boys and girls sweep the regional team titles in track and field.
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