WSAW Hilight Zone Podcast

There's so much to unpack with Northland Pines' Nora Gremban. Her mom is her coach and she has run nine marathons—something that blows Gremban's mind. She's so passionate about psychology and the brain that it supersedes her love for running. Oh, and she's won the Division 2 State title in the 800 and 1,600 meter races in each of the last two seasons. She's still a junior. We unpack all of it in a...

There's an expectation around Mosinee softball—win a conference title. Mosinee won 11 in a row from when they joined the Great Northern Conference in 2009-2019. They took back the crown in 2022. Noah Manderfeld speaks with players Martina Miller and Alanna Bembenek along with head coach Kelly Remondini about the high Mosinee expectations and how their great chemistry this season might be their tic...

The Columbus Dons baseball team has three, reliable starting pitching options. The best part is—they're all juniors. Options 1A, 1B and 1C are Emmitt Konieczny, Cy Becker and Blake Jacobi as Columbus tries to follow up their first state appearance in school history with another. Noah Manderfeld speaks with Konieczny, Becker and head coach Jared Krasselt about the potential for this pitching staff,...

In a game that lasted over five hours, had over two hours of gameplay, and saw 122 combined shots, the UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team pulled out an NCAA Tournament win over Augsburg in the second-longest game in D3 history.    In this episode of the Hilight Zone Podcast, Ben Helwig speaks with Pointers' goalkeeper Ryan Wagner and forward David Hill, who scored the game-winning goal in the game...

Lakeland girls basketball is going to state for the first time since 1993, and you could say they are excited for the trip to Green Bay. Noah Manderfeld speaks with Julianna and Kristina Ouimette, along with Lily Fortier about the dream trip to state as two of them near the end of their high school careers.

Laona/Wabeno girls basketball is heading to state for the first time in their history. And it comes two years after losing five seniors. Noah Manderfeld talks with the seniors Grace Krawze and Kaylyn LaRock along with head coach Andrew Harrison about their history trip to state that includes a confident statement from Harrison, and the potential for a Griddy in Green Bay.

It's been 15 years since Mosinee boys hockey has made the trek to Madison for state. To get there, they finally beat conference rival Lakeland in the playoffs. Today's conversation is with senior Caden Schmirler and junior Grant Kuklinski about the accomplishment ahead of their debut on the state stage.

Two years after the Rhinelander girls swimming team won a state title, the boys side adds their program's first-ever banner next to it. That's a feat the Hodags don't take lightly. Noah Manderfeld speaks with seniors Carter Gaber and Daniel Gillingham about taking the first state title in program history back to Rhinelander, and what the accomplishment means to the team and the community.

Rhinelander native Parker Retzlaff is just 19 years old, but he is already a full-time driver in NASCAR's Xfinity Series. Retzlaff will drive the No. 31 with Jordan Anderson Racing in 2023. Noah Manderfeld speaks with the young driver ahead of his first-ever Daytona race and his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series.

The Newman Catholic boys senior athletic class has quite the laundry list of achievements at the small school. They've won back-to-back 8-player football state titles, regional titles in baseball and basketball along with a top-five finish in golf. They are also a very lively bunch. Noah Manderfeld speaks with Mason Prey, Eli Gustafson, Conner Krach and basketball head coach Jeff Waldvogel about w...

We've all heard the noise—Wausau East Athletics are on the downturn. Their boys basketball team aims to reverse that notion. Their thrilling 77-69 overtime win over D.C. Everest is a start to bigger goals. Noah Manderfeld talks with their leading scorer Jesse Napgezek, Isaac Rozwadowski and head coach Dan Garrett about their win over the Evergreens, and what it means for Wausau East Basketball now...

Almond-Bancroft boys basketball's TJ Lamb is a certified passer. His 8.1 assists per game are third in the state, and he is nearing the school record books in all-time assists and steals.  Noah Manderfeld speaks with TJ along with his dad and coach, Curt Lamb, about the junior's vision on the floor, and the relationship between father and son, as well as coach and player.

It's been an up and down few years for Wisconsin Rapids native Vince Biegel. The NFL linebacker had a breakout season with the Miami Dolphins in 2019, then tore his Achilles before 2020 before injuring his calf in the 2021 training camp. Now he's with the Baltimore Ravens with a clean bill of health, and he's ready to get back to work. Noah Manderfeld talks to Biegel about his opportunity ahead in...

Lakeland girls' soccer is returning to state for the first time since 2004 and the second time ever. It comes in the same year they won their conference for the first time in 11 years. It's a big deal in Minocqua. Noah Manderfeld speaks with Sophia Myshchyshyn and Leah Wolf along with head coach Stephanie Hartzheim about how big it is for the school, and what they look to do in Milwaukee.

Medford softball is back-to-back Great Northern Conference champions and enters the playoffs as a two-seed.  But the group has many storylines including their ultra-competitiveness. Noah Manderfeld speaks with Martha Miller, Rynn Ruesch and Laurissa Klapatauskas as well as head coach Virgil Berndt to give some examples of their competitiveness. They also talk about how good it feels to be on top o...

The Mosinee 4x200 and 4x400 girls relay team was one second away from making the podium at state last year, and they return nearly everybody. I speak with Adalyn Lehman, Kate Fitzgerald, Claire Selenske, Britt Fitzgerald and Katelyn Baars along with coach Craig Martens about their dynamic, their indoor performance and how they are hoping to get on that podium.

SPASH runner Roisin Willis has another world record, this time the fastest distance medley relay time ever recorded. Willis set the mark with three new balance professionals at the unveiling of their new facility "The Track," besting the previous indoor mark by five seconds. I speak to her about the opportunity and the moment, as well as discuss her high school season as she looks to break her own...

After making a thrilling run through the postseason last year, Marathon baseball's Jaden Koeller and Grant Warren hope to recapture some of that magic ahead of their new season.

Stratford native Macey Kilty was on the biggest stage of her wrestling career so far. She was in the finals of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials until a shoulder injury in the final bout ended her hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. 11 months after the injury, Noah Manderfeld talks to the wrestler about that moment, the recovery and where she is at since returning to competition.

Former Wausau West Track and Field star Brook Jaworski is coming off one of the most stunning moments of her career: tripping over a hurdle in the NCAA Preliminary Round last spring. But her mindset since has been one of focus. Noah Manderfeld talks with Jaworski in a candid interview about that moment, and how she hit the reset button this year to qualify for the indoor championships, but also ho...

Lakeland Union's Julianna and Kristina Ouimette aren't your average sister duo. They are best friends. What was meant to be an interview about Julianna Ouimette committing to Lehigh for girls basketball turned into one about her and her sister's relationship. The conversation starts with Julianna about her commitment, but then quickly turns to the pair about their height difference, cooking recipe...

For the second year in a row, Lakeland Union boys hockey is back in the state tournament. But this year, their mindset is a bit different. Head coach Jake Suter along with players Max Masayesva and Cooper Fink about the feeling of going to state, and how they intend to make noise this time around.

Mosinee girls basketball is 23-1, and they believe they have a chance at state. A team made up of mostly seniors, they look like one of the most dangerous teams in Division 2. Noah Manderfeld speaks with the team about the regular season, specific games and the team's goals moving forward in a playoff run.

For the first time ever in 100 years in conference, Marshfield is outright Wisconsin Valley Conference champions. With an 11-0 record in the conference so far, the year 2022 will be on the banner forever. Noah Manderfeld speaks to coach Chris Fischer, Gavin Fravert and Chase Hinson about the season and their upcoming playoff matchup against D.C. Everest.

The Hall brothers are an interesting duo, but their story this season with D.C. Everest boys basketball is special. Colton, the senior, tore his ACL before the season started. His brother Marcus, the junior, has filled his role, averaging 29.6 points per game The pair talk with Noah Manderfeld about an analogy including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, pick-up basketball game, Marcus’ success and...