WSAW Hilight Zone Podcast

Reliving Moments Part Three: UWSP Hockey Wins the 2019 National Title

The UW-Stevens Point men's hockey program is known for its illustrious history, but the 2019 national champions were unique.

Reece Van Haaften and Matt Infield sit down with three players from that squad (Tanner Karty, Colin Raver and Steven Quagliata) and head coach Tyler Krueger to discuss the run to the title.

If you have an idea for "The Hilight Zone Podcast" feel free to email us at sports@wsaw.com.

Changing the Norm: Wisconsin Rapids Rafters' Front Office

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are breaking barriers. Their front office is the first female-majority front office in Northwoods League history. 

Chloe de Vries and Hannah Jurgens talk with Matt Infield about how they feel it's important. As Hannah put it, they want "to have people stop thinking that's cool that we work in baseball. And instead just thinking of that as a normal thing."

If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.

Reliving Moments Part Two: Merrill's Paul Jesperson's NCAA Tournament Buzzer-Beater

Paul Jesperson led the Merrill Bluejays to its lone win at state in boys basketball, but he is most well known for his buzzer-beating shot against Texas in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Reece Van Haaften sits down with the Merrill native to discuss the shot he made with Northern Iowa five years ago and what the Northcentral Wisconsin community means to him.

 

If you have an idea for “The Hilight Zone Podcast” feel free to send us an email at sports@wsaw.com

Colby's NASCAR star: Julie Giese

Julie Giese was born and raised on a Colby dairy farm. She went to college for animal science. Now, she's president of Pheonix Raceway.

Matt Infield talks with Giese about her wild journey through NASCAR to the position she is in now; one of two female presidents of NASCAR tracks.

If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.

Reliving Moments Part One: Columbus Catholic's Buzzer Beater

Two years ago today, the incredible happened. In the Division 5 state semifinals, Tom Nystrom fired up a heave from half-court with a chance to send his team to the championship. It went in.

On the anniversary, Matt Infield and Noah Manderfeld talk with Nystrom, Bryce Fuerlinger and Jarred Mandel, as well as head coach Joseph Konieczny about the moment. They walk through the season, the morning before and the euphoria that took place after the shot went in.

If you have any other incredible moments or teams from past Central Wisconsin teams, send us an email at sports@wsaw.com

Back at Home: SPASH Volleyball

Normally, the high school volleyball season is in the fall. For SPASH, their season was upended. They moved their season to the alternate schedule in the spring.

That means their season just started one week ago. I speak with head coach Molly Williams along with seniors Amahra Matthai, Andrea Zwicker and Dylan Wall about what the process has been like. We talk about the workouts they went through while at home, how different the games feel and how tough it was to watch their Wisconsin Valley Conference opponents play a fall schedule while they had to sit out.

If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com. 

History Made: Three Lakes Girls Basketball

Three Lakes girls basketball is coming off of what some consider to be the greatest upset in WIAA girls basketball state tournament history. They took down the top seed Black Hawk and ended their 75-game winning streak in a game no one coming.

Matt Infield runs back the podcasts with Sydney Lurver, Kara Sowinski and coach George Lurvey to go into detail about how they stopped Black Hawk. They walk you through each moment of that day, from the bus ride to La Crosse to the bus ride returning to Three Lakes.

If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com. 

Partying Like It's 1997- Edgar Boys Basketball

Edgar boys basketball is heading to state for the first time since 1997, and it couldn't feel sweeter.

Noah Manderfeld talks with Brayden Baumgartner, Drew Guden and Kyle Brewster about the road to state and how much sweeter this feels after their football season was cut short before state. Head coach David Huss also talks about the group and discusses their matchup with Lourdes Acadamy on Friday.

If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.

 

Making a Mark: Three Lakes Girls Basketball

For a small school like Three Lakes, making the state tournament is a big deal. But they don't want to just make it, they want to make some noise.

Matt Infield talks with Sydney Lurvey, Kara Sowinski and head coach George Lurvey with the state-bound team about their road to this point, and how this journey started in elementary school.

If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.

 

6 Feet Tall and Going to State: Assumption Girls Basketball

Assumption is going to state for the first time since 2016. They've done it behind a speedy point guard and two tall forwards. Emily Bohn and Jessie Grundhoffer each stand at six feet tall. Emily is six-foot-two, while Jessie is six-foot. That creates a scary two-headed monster in the paint.

Noah Manderfeld talks with both of them about the offensive strategy behind them, plus what makes this team tick. 

If you have any episode ideas, email sports@wsaw.com.