It’s been a packed stretch across Wisconsin high school sports, with state tournaments in track and field, golf, softball, soccer, and baseball all overlapping—and local teams making their presence felt in a big way. Bloomer Girls Make History in Track Field One of the biggest stories of the we ek came out of the track and field state meet, where the Bloomer girls captured the Division 2 team championship—marking the first team state title in school history in any sport. It was the culmination of a dominant season and years of building toward this moment. The highlight performances kept coming: The 4×800 relay team of Sierra Hartman, Alia Hartman, Braelynn Hartman, and Sophie Strand not only defended their elite status, but also broke their own Division 2 state meet record. That group has now reached the state podium three straight years and is flirting with all-time state history in the event, with times inching toward the nine-minute barrier that has never been reached at the state meet. Sierra Hartman added a state title in the mile. Alia Hartman took home gold in the two-mile. Grace Crichey added a runner-up finish in the long jump. This was more than just a one-week breakout. It’s been building for years through cross country success, near-misses at state meets, and a group that’s consistently been among the best in Wisconsin. When it finally broke through, it felt like the natural ending to a story that’s been developing for a long time. More Track Field Standouts Across the Area It wasn’t just Bloomer making noise. Rice Lake’s Carter Kuchta had a strong showing, winning both the mile and two-mile. Menomonie’s Laura McCollough delivered a standout performance in Division 1, setting a new record in the mile and also winning the 800-meter state title. McCollough, who is headed to Washington to continue her career, capped off a historic prep run that already includes a cross country state championship and one of the fastest times ever recorded in that meet. In the girls 4×800 relay scene, it was a dominant year for the region overall, with Bloomer (D2), Menomonie (D1), and other area programs all producing championship-level performances. State Golf: Strong Finishes and Breakthroughs The state golf tournament in Madison also produced some impressive local results. Rice Lake finished third in Division 2. Bloomer placed sixth in Division 2 as well. Altoona’s Elliott Skinner was in the spotlight individually, finishing second overall with a 143 at University Ridge after a highly consistent spring season. In Division 3, Kohler continued its tradition of golf excellence with a team championship performance, while other area programs like Ladysmith and Altoona also had strong showings. Baseball: River Falls Makes a Statement In Division 1 baseball, River Falls emerged as one of the biggest surprise runs of the postseason. They knocked off Hudson in shutout fashion in the sectional, then followed it up by shutting out Menomonie 1-0 to punch their ticket to state. Hudson entered the postseason as one of the most dominant teams in the Big Rivers Conference, but River Falls’ pitching depth completely flipped the script at the right time. Now seeded sixth at state, River Falls heads into the tournament with momentum—and a rotation that’s proven it can shut down anyone. Somerset, St. Croix Falls, and More Baseball Drama Elsewhere in baseball: Somerset is back at state for the first time since 2004 and enters as a No. 4 seed after a strong sectional run. St. Croix Falls advanced out of Division 3 with a key win over Elk Mound. Fall Creek and Elk Mound both turned in strong seasons in a loaded Western Cloverbelt, sharing a conference title and pushing deep into the postseason. In Division 4, Marshfield Columbus and Loyal are set for a semifinal matchup in what has been a conference-heavy bracket at state. It’s been a postseason full of upsets, pitching dominance, and momentum swings—everything you expect from high school baseball in June. Softball, Soccer, and Everything Else Softball continues its state tournament run, with Medford still alive and Spooner competing in Division 3 action after a strong sectional push. Weather has also played a role, forcing schedule adjustments and reshuffling games across multiple divisions. In girls soccer, Rice Lake remains in contention in Division 3 sectional play, while McDonell-Regis-Cornell wrapped up a strong season despite falling just short in postseason action. Looking Ahead With spring sports nearing their finish line, the calendar is quickly shifting: Baseball state tournaments continue through next week Soccer wraps up next Friday with state competition Summer sports are right around the corner And locally, fans still have more action coming: The Express have the night off but return this weekend at Carson Park against Thunder Bay. The Eau Claire Axmen hit the road for a matchup with the Nebraska Siege. It’s been a busy, chaotic, and exciting stretch of high school sports across Wisconsin—and as always, the Chippewa Valley is right in the middle of it. ...read more read less