Stratford’s defense gave up a backbreaking opening drive to Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s offense, but then the Tigers held the Chargers scoreless for the rest of Friday’s home game. Unfortunately for Stratford, Wittenberg- Birnamwood’s long touchdown drive and two-point conversion to start the game held up as the Tigers were dealt an 8-6 loss. It was Stratford’s first loss this season.

By Ross Pattermann There may be no place like home, but even playing at home did the Marathon Red Raiders no favors on Friday. The Red Raiders hosted the undefeated Colby Hornets for their homecoming game, and the second ranked team in D-6 looked every bit the part of a potential state champ. Marathon struggled to get stops on defense and failed to move the ball on offense against a talented

The Athens varsity volleyball team won both of its matches during the Eau Claire Regis tournament on Saturday. Athens beat Alma by scores of 25-20 and 2515. Sydney Coker, Jazelle Hartwig and Addison Lavicka recorded six attack kills apiece. Sophia Coker collected three solo blocks and two block assists. Jazelle Hartwig led the team with 13 pass assists and Savannah Epping with 16 digs on defense.

By Casey Krautkramer The Athens boys cross country team took second place at the Wisconsin Rapids Assumption Invite on Thursday. Auburndale won the race and Edgar finished in fifth place. Athens junior Nathan Wolf placed third in 18 minutes, 27 seconds, while his sophomore teammate Andrew Schaer was fourth in 18:30. Brooks Kraus finished 11th in 19:02, Nicholas Pittman 14th in 19:52 and

By Casey Krautkramer Marathon’s football team ran into an angry Edgar squad on Friday, after Edgar suffered a 29-14 road setback to Colby the previous week. The Wildcats let off some steam against the Red Raiders right away, by scoring 27 first-quarter points in a dominating 42-0 home win. It only took Edgar a few plays to nearly score a touchdown Marathon, but Wildcats senior Ayden Weisenberger

By Casey Krautkramer Marathon’s volleyball team found itself in a dog fight with the Loyal Greyhounds in the first set of Thursday’s home match, but the Red Raiders were able to get a close win. Marathon then easily won the next two sets to win the nonconference eas- match against Loyal. Red Raiders junior setter Ashley Phakitthong said her team fed off energy created from its home pep

By Ross Pattermann Long before the 8-man football season began for ‘Jays head coach Todd Diethelm and defensive coordinator Craig Diedrich, the two got together to brainstorm X’s and 0’s. Athens was moving from a traditional 11man style to 8-man and neither was sure if that experiment was going to work. Four games into the season and it’s clear to see the Athens’ 8-man experiment

If Edgar head coach Jerry Sinz ever gets tired of coaching, he might have a career gambler. Not that this is likely, after nearly 50 years at the helm of the Edgar Wildcats football program. But Sinz and his ‘Cats certainly rolled the dice during their Marawood Conference opener with the Colby Hornets last week. Both teams came into the contest highly regarded in the state in their respective