Sports Digest

Registration open for SnoDags youth Nordic program

Registration for the Northwoods Nordic Ski Club’s SnoDags youth ski program is underway. The program is for children in grades 1-4, plus inexperienced fifth graders. 

“The Northwoods Nordic Ski Club’s Sno-Dag program is a great opportunity to introduce your child to the sport of cross-country skiing and enjoy the winter snow with other kids,” the club stated in a press release. 

The group will meet once a week, on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 5 p.m. at the Northwoods Ski Trails, located at Northwood Golf Club in Rhinelander. Registration may be done online at HodagNordic.com through Jan. 3. There is no cost for the program itself, however a Northwoods Nordic Ski Club membership is required. Details about membership are also available at HodagNordic.com.

Classic no-wax skis, boots and poles required for children to participate. Equipment rental is available  and will be conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Team Meeting Room of the Hodag Dome. Cost of rental equipment is $30.

WIAA Board of Control holds December meeting

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control approved a fast-track conference realignment recommendation and other action items at its December meeting last Friday.

The board voted in support of a conference realignment fast-track recommendation to move The Prairie School from an independent status into the Southeast Conference in girls’ golf only, effective next fall. Other action items approved by the board include the acceptance of 2023-24 independent audit report provided by Hawkins Ash CPAs, as well as the monthly general financial fund statements and reports.

The executive staff provided information to the board reviewing the Wisconsin Athletic Director Association Conference in November, the fall tournament series, continued efforts to recruit and retain licensed sport officials, as well as updates on the Student-Athlete Leadership Team and the Calendar and Contact Committee. The staff also created awareness of the upcoming membership elections and the Feb. 25, 2025, deadline to declare candidacy.

The board was apprised of a number of potential Constitutional amendments to be voted on by the membership at the annual meeting. Included in the discussion was the possible elimination of the middle level membership; a maximum contest limit for ninth-grade programs; Name, Image and Likeness regulation language and the efforts to educate the membership on the topic; election dates; a requirement for fans ejected from an interscholastic event to complete an online sportsmanship course prior to attending future home events; and a proposal addressing summer coaching contact advanced by the Calendar and Contact Committee.

WIAA performance factor results in fall divisional movement

STEVENS POINT — The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association performance factor initiative has advanced through the process for the second year with a review of the fall sports to be effective in 2025.

The performance factor initiative promotes school programs that reach a threshold of tournament success based on a performance point system allocated over a three-year period. Programs that have accumulated at least six points to engage a promotion to a division with higher enrollments — if their 2025-26 tournament placement enrollment doesn’t initially move them up a division — are listed below.

Boys’ cross country (9): Cedar Grove-Belgium, Hudson, Kohler, Lakeside Lutheran, Marquette, Oconomowoc, Solon Springs/Northwood, Stevens Point, West Salem.

Girls’ cross Country (7): Appleton Xavier, Bloomer, Muskego, Neenah, Slinger, University School of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Rapids Assumption.

Football (9): Badger, Bay Port, Edgar, Grantsburg, Green Bay Notre Dame, Kimberly, La Crosse Aquinas, Stratford, Wrightstown.

Girls’ golf (6): Bay Port, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Madison Edgewood, Middleton, Prescott, Westosha Central.

Boys’ soccer (6): Brookfield East, Lake Country Lutheran, Marquette, Middleton, Shoreland Lutheran, Waukesha West.

Girls’ tennis (5): Appleton Xavier, Arrowhead, La Crosse Aquinas, Middleton, University School of Milwaukee

Girls’ volleyball (6): Appleton Xavier, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Howards Grove, Oconomowoc, St. Croix Falls, Wonewoc-Center.

The performance factor process affords schools the opportunity to appeal their promotion to the division with the next largest enrollments based on performance points. Of the 48 programs listed above that compiled points to engage in a promotion, 11 appeals were submitted. The Classification Committee  approved two appeals — Wonewoc-Center in girls’ volleyball and Xavier in girls’ cross country.

Additionally, the initiative affords schools the opportunity to request to move to a division with lower enrollments for all sports except football, swimming & diving, and track & field in 2025-26. The Classification Committee approved four requests in girls volleyball (Omro, Oshkosh North, Salam and Sheboygan South), one in boys’ soccer (Sheboygan South), one in boys’ cross country (Sheboygan South) and one in girls’ tennis (Sheboygan South).

The current committee consists of nine athletic directors, two principals ad seven superintendents.

The WIAA will determine the tournament Series assignments to be released for all 2025 fall sports except football and girls volleyball in early January 2025.