The Prairie du Chien baseball team should contend for the Southwest Wisconisn Conference title again this year, said Coach Mark Pedretti, who is in his 19th season.
Pedretti noted that the Blackhawks return All SWC pitchers Brett Hogan, Nate Mezera and Kevin Aspenson to a team that went 23-4 overall and 15-0 in conference action last year and were Regional champions.
Helping to lead the way for the Blackhawks as they take on top conference foes such as Platteville, Richland Center and River Valley will be returning letterwinners Hogan, Aspenson, Mezera, Ryan Pedretti, Jordon Panka, Dalton Kansier and Levi Pintz.
Helping Pedretti in preparing the team will be assistant coaches, Steve Jones, Drew Bode, Dale Hanson, Nate Cejka and Jeff Mara.]

Drive to prove themselves propels Prairie girls

Members of the Prairie du Chien High School softball team are, front row, from left, Kaiti Mergen, Allie Clausen, Carley Ritter, Jamie Feye, Katie Lenzendorf, Taylor White and Taylor Lawrence. Middle row, Sydney Fritz, Samantha Yager, Jamie Hampton, Cassidy Scheetz, Sara Schneider, and Lainee Bulawa. Back row, Coach Ashley Strnad, Morgan Banasik, Janyl Kozelka, Katie Lorenz, Tresa Becwar, Emily Jackson, and Head Coach Liz Steiner. (Photo courtesy of B&C Photography)

Prairie du Chien girls softball may have lost their big bats out of the line-up due to graduation, but that won't deter them from having a successful season this year!
Head Varsity Coach Liz Steiner-Hall admit, "We lost some great players who graduated last year including our pitcher/catcher combo, but we are building upon that with the current team members. Our defense will have to work a lot harder."
Returning letterwinners include Janyl Kozelka, Katie Lenzendorf, Jamie Feye, Emily Jackson, Cassidy Scheetz, Katie Lorenz, Allie Clausen, Taylor White and Sara Schneider.
Ashley Strnad is the assistant varsity coach and Kate Hermsen is the varsity reserve coach.
Steiner-Hall believes that team chemistry and the drive to prove themselves will make the team successful this season. "Taylor White, Janyl Kozelka, Jamie Feye and Katie Lenzendorf are great team leaders who can put the ball in play and push the juniors toward success," says Steiner-Hall.
"The team has a lot of strengths-„they work well together and we have an athletic junior class coming up to add to our talented seniors. We are a great fielding team with a ton of potential. Our weaknesses are filling in our pitching and catching hole, but I'm confident in the girls and am very excited for a successful season," states Steiner-Hall.
As far as conference competition goes, Steiner-Hall believes the girls will hold their own in the conference, even with Lancaster always being a tough squad to beat.

Younger athletes to step up for boys track

The goal for the Prairie du Chien High School boys track team this season will be to finish in the top three at the Southwest Wisconsin Conference Meet, said Head Coach Mitch Tollefson.
Tollefson said that the key to a successful season for the Blackhawks will be to figure out early the work ethic that it takes to be successful.
The team lost three of its top five scorers from last season, including the second-highest scorer Kyler Allen. Tollefson said that the team will look to its young group of sprinters to make up the points.
"With such a young team, we will have to look to some younger athletes to step up at some big meets this season," he said. Leading the way will be returning letterwinners Derek Dressler, Cole Lewis, Eric Mezera, Evan Sinram, TJ Valley and Nick Ziel.

Like the boys, the girls shooting for top three

Members of the Prairie du Chien High School girls track team are, front row, from left, Claire Long, Kaliann Bauer, Kelsie Smock, Jamie Wilkinson, Molly Stram and Kelsey Ohlert. Middle row, Anne Riebe, Caitlin Hare, Lori Bierman, Katie Panka, Chandra Mara, Cierra Steiner and Taylor Moret. Back row, Head Coach Mitch Tollefson, Coach Jim Rohde, Manager Elizabeth Govier, Coach Tyler Kester, Coach Dan Bauer and Coach John Hendrix. (Photo courtesy of B&C Photography)

The goal for the Prairie du Chien High School girls track team this season will be to finish in the top three at the Southwest Wisconsin Conference Meet, said Head Coach Mitch Tollefson.
The girls will have the challenge of making up for the loss of four of their top five scorers from last year, including distance runner Danielle Stark. "Lori Bierman will need to step up and fill in the gap in the distance events, which she is very capable of doing," said Coach Tollefson.
Tollefson noted that the key to success for the Prairie girls will be staying healthy and competing every day in practice.
Helping to lead the way as the team takes on top conference rivals such as Platteville will be returning letterwinners Kaliann Bauer, Chandra Mara and Jamie Wilkinson.
Aiding Tollefson in preparing the team are assistant coaches John Hendrix, Tyler Kester, Colleen Teynor, Dan Bauer and Jim Rohde.

Lady Blackhawks are determined to win

"We are a brand new school sport this year, but the girls are very eager learners," commented Head Coach Channing Bogle about this season's Prairie du Chien girls soccer team, which is an official sport after a two-year probationary period.
Bogle, Varsity Reserve Coach Kati Forsythe, and the entire team have a tough road ahead of them. Platteville has a very strong team as does Richland Center.
Bogle is hoping that the Prairie du Chien girls soccer team's success will come from learning the strength of support in the 4-4-2 system they are playing. "If we learn and use the system„our success will increase," says Bogle.
"Our weakness is that this is a new program, but these girls are determined, they are coming together and we are really enjoying being out there," states Bogle.
Bogle adds, "For those of you who are ïnew to futbol' come and watch some games, it can only increase your appreciation for the difficulty and endurance of the sport. Come cheer us on!"
Helping to lead the way for the Prairie du Chien girls this season will be returning letterwinners Natasa Ljubic, Anna Stoeffler, Alyssa Blizard, Abby Rooney and Sara Koresh.

PdC boys golf has strength in numbers

Members of the Prairie du Chien High School boys golf team are, front row, from left, Jim Cavanaugh, Ben Smethurst, Barron Dillman, Jordon Stevens, Nolan Bowar, Dylan Kazynski, John Rickleff, Kevin Lenzendorf and Nick Cooley. Middle row, Head Coach Pat Gasser, Steve Sheckler, Cody Steiner, Brett Kaber, Logan Shihata, John David, Kris Graewin and Assistant Coach Kyle White. Back row, Brian Gasser, Dan Gillitzer, Ian Miller, Ryan Kozelka, Kyle McCoy, Mike Wagner, Josh Panka, Nick Wall and Zack Orr. (Photo courtesy of B&C Photography)

With 24 players, the major strength for Prairie du Chien boys golf is in the numbers.
Head Coach Pat Gasser, along with volunteer assistants Layne David and Kyle White, have their hands full with the majority of the players not having much varsity experience. Only three players are returning letters„Senior Kevin Lenzendorf, Junior Dylan Kazynski and Sophmore Kris Graewin.
"We lost Will Davis, Nate Keeney and Paul David from last year's team," commented Gasser. "But we've replaced them with a lot of youth."
Gasser believes the keys to success for the Prairie du Chien boys golf team will be how well some players step up and getting contributions from Dan Gillitzer, Brian Gasser and Jordan Stevens.
According to Gasser, Platteville seems to be the leader in the conference but Lancaster and Dodgeville should be good contenders. With a team that doesn't have much varsity experience, Gasser is hoping to be somewhere in the middle of the pack.