The 9 most notable Chippewa County sports stories of the year

The year 2024 was one to remember in Chippewa County sports.

Success on the local, state, national and worldwide stage lined the past 12 months with many more potential triumphs in the weeks and months to come.

Here's nine of the year's biggest stories (in no particular order) from the county sports landscape.

Chippewa Falls boys 1,600-meter relay runners (from left) Samuel Hebert, Ethan Faschingbauer, Carter Bowe and Jackson LeMay look at their posted time after finishing first in preliminaries on May 31 at Veterans Memorial Field Complex in La Crosse.

Chippewa County's seven track and field teams found success at the spring's WIAA state track and field championships in La Crosse.

Chippewa Falls, Bloomer and Cadott all brought home state titles, while McDonell and New Auburn earned podium finishes.

The 1,600-meter relay team of Ethan Faschingbauer, Jackson LeMay, Carter Bowe and Sam Hebert captured the Division 1 state championship, while LeMay, Jackson Bohland, Faschingbauer and Bowe were second in the 800 relay and Hebert was runner-up in the 400.

Ava Krista returned to the Division 1 girls podium, finishing fifth in the triple jump.

The Bloomer freshman quartet of Aliya, Briella and Ciara Hartman and Sophie Strand scored a Division 2 3,200 relay state title, and Ciara won the 3,200 title in dominant fashion.

Ciara also was third in the 1,600, while Briella took fourth in the 400.

Cadott sophomore Iszy Sonnentag repeated as Division 3 state champion in the 400 and used a late push to help the 3,200 relay team of Emma Kowalczyk, Cortney Weggen, Jaycee Stephens and Sonnentag to third place.

Alex Tokarski earned podium finishes in the Division 3 boys 110 and 300 hurdles for McDonell, and the girls team of Anne Siegenthaler, Anna Thaler, Elyse Bushman and Erin Siegenthaler placed fifth in the 1,600 relay.

Thaler also took sixth in the triple jump.

Andrew Gotham's top toss helped the New Auburn junior finish fourth in the Division 3 boys shot put.

Chippewa Falls boys hockey holds up its Division 1 sectional title plaque after defeating Stevens Point on Feb.

24 in Hudson.

The Cardinals program put together arguably its greatest season in team history in 2023-24.

Chippewa Falls won the program's first Big Rivers Conference championship since 1989 on the way to the team's seventh trip to state.

Chippewa Falls, which ended the regular season as the top-ranked team in the state, carried the momentum of the top seed in a daunting sectional to state, where the Cardinals fell in heartbreaking fashion 6-5 in overtime to the Brookfield East co-op in the state semifinals.

A 24-4 season included many accolades along the way, with Jackson Hoem and Scott Parker being selected as the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association's Player and Coach of the Year, respectively.

McDonell senior Kali Goulet battles to take a ball away from Cuba City junior Olivia Olson in a Division 4 girls basketball state semifinal at the Resch Center in Green Bay on March 7.

The Cardinals weren't the only team throughout the year to reach lofty heights.

McDonell girls basketball earned a share of its second straight Western Cloverbelt championship before qualifying for state for a fourth year in a row and the first time in Division 4.

The New Auburn girls basketball team captured its first East Lakeland title since 1997 and is off to an unbeaten start to this season.

Chippewa Falls/McDonell gymnastics once again finished among the state's Division 1 elites by taking fourth at the state team championships, while Chippewa Falls/McDonell's Ava Krista and Bloomer/Colfax's Olivia Price reached the podium in individual competition.

The Thorp softball and Eau Claire Regis/McDonell girls soccer teams made return trips to state.

The Cardinals reached the Division 5 state semis, while the Saints fell in the Division 4 semifinals.

McDonell volleyball captured its sixth straight regional championship and won a share of a third straight Western Cloverbelt crown before falling in the Division 3 sectional semis to Barron.

It was the second year in a row the Macks were knocked out of the postseason by the eventual state champion.

Longbella Chippewa Falls native and McDonell graduate Thomas Longbella scored the biggest win of his professional golf career in early May, winning the PGA Tour Americas KIA Open in Ecuador.

Longbella used a strong charge on the third day to take the lead before the final day was washed out due to rain.

Longbella finished 16th in the season-long tour Fortinet Cup standings despite missing time due to injury.

Longbella earlier in the year made his second PGA Tour start at the Corales Puntacana Championship, missing the cut by one stroke after shooting 3-under through the first two days of competition.

Stanley-Boyd head coach Jeff Koenig looks on during a practice on Aug.

8 at Oriole Park in Stanley.

The year 2024 saw plenty of turnover in the coaching ranks, including some of the county's longest and most successful leaders.

Parker's seventh time leading the Chippewa Falls boys hockey team to state proved to be his last.

The coach retired following his 37th season as leader of the Cardinals.

Parker posted a 461-378-30 record throughout his career, which started in 1987.

Stanley-Boyd football coach Jeff Koenig stepped away following his 21st season this fall.

Koenig had a 161-68 career record with Stanley-Boyd and led the program to the 2013 Division 5 state championship.

Don Cooper wrapped up a decade leading the McDonell girls basketball team in August when he stepped down after guiding the Macks to a fourth straight appearance at the state tournament.

Cooper had a 190-75 record, including a pair of Western Cloverbelt championships and a 2023 Division 5 state title.

Cooper's departure was a part of a busy set of coaching changes around the county as nearly half of its 16 basketball coaching spots changed leaders, as did the Chippewa Falls boys and Chippewa Falls/Menomonie girls hockey teams.

Wedemeyer Two Chippewa County coaches will enter 2025 preparing to be inducted into halls of fame.

Longtime McDonell baseball coach Eric Wedemeyer was announced earlier this month as a member of the 2025 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame class.

Wedemeyer led the Macks for 19 seasons, posting a 320-116 record with 10 Western Cloverbelt championships, 12 sectional appearances, seven trips to state and five state runner-up finishes.

Raykovich Chippewa Falls football coach Chuck Raykovich will add another honor to his lengthy resume when he is inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Raykovich recently wrapped up his 51st season coaching football and has led the Cardinals since 1986.

Raykovich, already a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer, is 16th in state history in wins with a 274-195 overall record and is sixth in state history in games coached (469).

UW-Green Bay guard and Chippewa Falls native Caelan Givens capped her college basketball career by helping the Phoenix reach the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament in March.

Chippewa Falls graduate Caelan Givens and McDonell grad Ben Retzlaff both played a role in their respective basketball teams reaching the NCAA Tournament in March.

Givens overcame injuries for her final season and played in 27 games as the UW-Green Bay women's team posted a 27-7 record, won the Horizon League championship and earned a No.

11 seed for the tournament before falling to No.

6 Tennessee 92-63 in the opening round.

Retzlaff, the assistant athletics director for men's basketball, helped the Marquette men's basketball program in a successful season, which featured a 27-10 record and run to the Sweet 16 before falling to NC State 67-58.

The Chippewa Falls equstrian team secured its 11th consecutive WIHA Division A state championship in October in Madison.

The dynasty continued in 2024 as the Chippewa Falls equestrian team took home its 11th consecutive WIHA Division A state championship in October in Madison.

The squad once again dominated the competition in winning the largest division title with 377 points, besting Oregon (239) and Menomonie (156) for the top prize.

Division A is made up of any team with at least 11 riders, and Chippewa Falls flexed its muscle in extending its championship string into a second decade.

Bloomer sophomores Aliya Hartman (left) and Briella Hartman (right) helped the Blackhawks win a Division 2 state track and field championship in the 3,200-meter relay and finish runner-up at the Division 2 cross country championships.

It was another fall to remember for the Bloomer cross country program as the Blackhawks boys and girls both found success at the Division 2 state championships in Wisconsin Rapids.

The girls team earned state runner-up for a second year in a row, finishing behind University School of Milwaukee by 20 points.

Ciara (second), Briella (11th) and Aliya (13th) Hartman and Strand (21st) led the charge at the front for the Blackhawks.

Junior Seth Rogge led at the 2-mile mark before finishing fifth in the boys competition.

Cadott junior Kaleb Lodahl celebrates after defeating Bruce senior Ronan Garcia by sudden victory in their semifinal matchup at 120 pounds on Jan.

6 in Cadott.

Ava Krista Mick Marlow (31) covers the puck.

Bloomer's Domanyck Schwarzenberger (4), Stanley-Boyd's Riley Weltzin (54) Bloomer sophomore Addyson Zwiefelhofer battles Cadott sophomore Danielle Sikora for a rebound on Monday evening in Cadott.

Stanley-Boyd's Dylan Seichter Bloomer/Colfax senior Lauren Ruff makes a vault attempt on Monday evening in Bloomer.

Bloomer/Colfax's Olivia Price Fall Creek's Jack Walden (23) and Bloomer's Zeke Strand (12) battle for a rebound.

Chi-Hi boys hockey celebrates with the student section after defeating Stevens Point for the Division 1 sectional championship on Saturday in Hudson.

Members of the McDonell girls basketball team celebrate a made 3-pointer on Thursday evening against Phillips in Ladysmith.

Chippewa Falls sophomore Collin Clary makes a pole vault attempt on Tuesday at Dorais Field.

Mykle Buhrow celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a home run.

Stanley-Boyd celebrates at home plate after a home run from Nevaeh Walters.

Cornell/Lake Holcombe's Landon Larson slides safely into home to score.

Chippewa Falls senior Mykle Buhrow scores on a play at the plate against Superior on Friday afternoon at Casper Park.

McDonell's Elyse Bushman (middle), Cadott's Iszy Sonnentag (right) Cadott sophomore Gavin Roscoe celebrates after a chip in on the fourth hole during the Stanley-Boyd invite on Monday at Whispering Pines Golf Course in Cadott.

New Auburn senior Julia Lyons (8) celebrates after scoring a run against Flambeau on Monday evening in New Auburn.

Cole Perlberg (1) Bloomer's Briella Hartman (left), Eau Claire Regis' Ashley Chilson and McDonell's Elyse Bushman (right) sprint to the finish of the girls 1,600-meter relay.

Chippewa Falls' Mick Marlow Cadott sophomore Iszy Sonnentag smiles after winning the 100-meter hurdle finals at Division 3 sectionals on May 23 in Cameron.

Chippewa Falls assistant coach Shelly Miller and Ali Geist walk off the field as New Richmond celebrates at the end of Thursday's game.

Cadott's Emma Kowalczyk, Jaycee Stephens and Cortney Weggen celebrate as the 3,200-meter relay finishes third in Division 3.

Chippewa Falls junior Samuel Hebert crosses the finish line to win the Division 1 1,600-meter relay state championship on Saturday in La Crosse.

Olivia Hasselwander (24) is frustrated after having a shot attempt stopped.

Braydon Gassen (48) Lake Holcombe's Kaden Jones (9) and Emmit Johnson (2) celebrate after an interception.

Lydia Steinmetz Weston Leverson (73) stays cool with water during a timeout.

New Auburn junior Nora Jensen (8) and sophomores Elise Branville (3) and Whittney Gotham (17) celebrate after a point against Cornell on Thursday in New Auburn.

Chippewa Falls senior Aaron Christie heads the ball against Wausau West on Saturday at Dorais Field.

Chippewa Falls junior Colton Petska (85) celebrates after a turnover against D.C.

Everest on Friday evening at Dorais Field.

New Auburn's Chester Lang (24) and Frederic's Leif Lahti (2) battle for a pass.

Stanley-Boyd defensive backs Madden Mahr (left) and Carson Hodowanic (right) force a fumble against Eau Claire Regis on Saturday at Carson Park in Eau Claire.

Chippewa Falls junior Grant Von Haden celebrates after scoring his second goal against Eau Claire North on Oct.

8 in Eau Claire.

Anne Siegenthaler (15) Thorp and McDonell watch the coin toss before Friday's game at Dorais Field.

Cadott celebrates a point.

Nadya Berg (4) Stanley-Boyd quarterback Carter Isenberger (12) and Rudy Kletsch (83) celebrate after a touchdown pass connection.

Bloomer junior Seth Rogge leads the pack near the 2-mile mark in Saturday's Division 2 boys state cross country championships at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

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