Cheerleading at Sparta High Causes Controversy Throughout the School

By: Desiree Harr

Since the year of 2009 - 2010, all of the cheer squads have been cut except one. The cheerleading squad that's left is the wrestling squad. Football cheerleading has just been cut this past year and left many girls upset.

This year's seniors feel very strongly about it. Senior Katie Sprague says, "Cheerleading was what I did after school and meant a lot to me. It made me mad when they cut it specially knowing that it would be my final year as a football cheerleader and I would be a captain."

Sprague continues, "I was a football cheerleader for three of my high school years, so having it cut my senior year was a little disappointing to me." Sprague also states, "the cheerleading teams in the school should be a little bit more organized with how they are set up and either have all teams or none."

Senior Alayna Drake, a cheerleader from the previous football and wrestling cheerleading squads, talks about what she thinks of the issue. Drake says, "I think that from being on both of the teams that I would have to say that they are both a lot of fun, but if one squad is going to be cut, the other should as well. It's not fair to the other girls that get cut." All the girls are anxiously waiting to hear if a change is going to be made.



football cheeleaders of 2009-2010 at cheer camp



football cheerleaders doing a stunt at a home game!

By: Brandon Rickert

Wisconsin Badgers running for another touchdown. The Badgers are now ranked 7th in the country. Photo taken by: Racer Loyalton

The number seven ranked Wisconsin Badger put up 83 points on Saturday against the Indian Hoosiers at Camp Randal Stadium in Madison. With a final score of 83-20 Badgers improve their standings to 9-1.

The Wisconsin Badgers became the first Big Ten team to put up over eighty points since 1950 when the Ohio State Buckeyes beat Iowa 83-21. They scored on all twelve times they touched the ball, scoring eleven touchdowns, which is second most touchdowns scored in Big Ten history.

With 598 total yards and 83 points, the Badgers averaged 1.38 points per minute. Badgers went into yesterday's contest against the Indiana Hoosiers with a four game winning streak, including wins over number one Ohio state 31-18, and number fifteen ranked Iowa 31-30.

The Badgers started with a 4-0 record before falling to Michigan State 34-24 in week five of the season. After that loss the badgers dropped in the ranking but now with two major upsets they find themselves 9-1, ranked seventh in the nation and in the drivers seat for a share of the Big Ten Conference Title. If the season was to end today the Badgers would be Co-Conference Champions with Ohio State and Michigan State.


If all three teams, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State all win out, there will be a three way tie for the Big Ten Conference Title. With top Conference rank, Wisconsin is considered number one in the conference for bowl game representation. For Badgers to win the conference out right, Ohio State and Michigan State must lose in the last two weeks of regular season play.

The Badgers lead all Big Ten Conference teams in the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) standings, conference champions for the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10, Big 12, and the Southeastern conferences are given an automatic berth into one of the five BCS bowl games.

This gives them a heads up on bowl games over other conference teams. If the Badgers continue to be ranked number seven these last two weeks of the regular season, they are predicted to play the number three ranked TCU (Texas Christian University) Horned Frogs on January first 2011 in the Rose Bowl held in Pasadena California. The number one and two ranked teams will fight in Glendale, Arizona on January 10 in the Tostito's BCS National Championship Game to see who will receive the rightful title of National Champions.

As of right now the National Championship game would be between the University of Oregon ducks and University of Auburn Tigers, but with two weeks left in regular season of play, anything is possible.

Gun Deer Season Beginning Saturday

8 pointer Davey Pennel shot last year, opening morning at his land up north.

The 2010 gun deer season in Wisconsin is going to be getting underway on Saturday, November 20.

Hunters are getting their licenses and are beginning to prepare for the 2010 gun hunting season, if they haven't already. Sparta High School has many kids that enjoy hunting and are preparing to bring home that big buck.

Some hunters travel each year to go hunting, some of them have land in different cities and others just stay close to home. "Me and my family go up north every year for the first week of the hunting season, we prepare by setting bait piles, putting stands up, clear brush for scrapes, and of course we all sight in our guns," said junior gun hunter Davey Pennel.

Although hunting is exciting to many, some people don't enjoy hunting at all. "My mom and dad don't like hunting. I have tried getting them into it but they are just not interested even though my uncles and grandpa love it," said Pennel.

A large percent of non-hunters are girls. "My mom and sister don't like hunting, but they don't mind that me and my uncles hunt together. I wish they did hunt though, I think it's cool when girls like to hunt," said Pennel.

6 pointer Davey Pennel shot at his land up north

Anyone that plans on hunting not only should prepare physically, but mentally as well. It is big to get prepared mentally. "If you go into the hunting season thinking your not going to be successful you probably won't be," said Pennel.

COW 97's CMA Party

By:  Kala Lindley

On Wednesday, November 10th, COW 97 hosted a CMA Awards Party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Onalaska.

At the event, guests were able to watch CMA’s 44th Country Music Awards.  People who attended had a chance to win several prizes, which included cd’s, Country Fest tickets, as well as the “Ultimate Ticket Pass.”  The Ultimate Ticket Pass included a pair of tickets to see Sara Evans, George Jones, and Blake Shelton.  “Not only did people who attended  this event be able to watch the CMA’s on over 30 HD TVs, they also had a chance to score some prizes from Buffalo Wild Wings as well as have a chance to win tickets to various concerts that will be held in Wisconsin Dells at the Crystal Grand Music Theatre,” states Tracy Lindley, COW 97 Marketing consultant.

Staff at COW dressed up as some of today’s and yesterday’s favorite country music stars.  “Rumor had it that John Rich, Zac Brown, Jennifer Nettles, Randy Houser, Minni Pearl, and even Dolly Parton were there!” adds Lindley.

The party began at 6 pm.  For further information, check it out on www.Cow97.com under the events tab.