MEDFORD FOOTBALL PREVIEW - REGAINING THEIR EDGE Raiders put in the work as Hackbarth era begins
With a block from tight end Logan Langdon, Colton Soczka picks up positive yardage during Medford’s football scrimmage session with Eau Claire Regis Friday morning at Carson Park. Soczka and Langdon are two of 18 seniors on the roster for the 2026 Raiders, who open their season Friday at Holmen. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS With a block from tight end Logan Langdon, Colton Soczka picks up positive yardage during Medford’s football scrimmage session with Eau Claire Regis Friday morning at Carson Park. Soczka and Langdon are two of 18 seniors on the roster for the 2026 Raiders, who open their season Friday at Holmen. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
Time will tell, but in the first two weeks of the season, change appears to be a good thing for a Medford Raiders football team that is quickly putting 2025 in the rearview mirror.
While each year ...
Gilman’s Reece Weir goes for the tip kill, while Brynn Komanec and Averie Olynick are ready for a potential block by Athens during the first round of play at Tuesday’s Medford Invitational. The Blue Jays won this match 2-0. Gilman went 1-3 for the day, beating Medford 2-1 for its win. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
Set to open the season today, Thursday, at Timm’s Hill, the Medford Raiders boys 2026 cross country team includes (l. to r.) coach Sabrina Bach, Tanner Gebauer, Samuel Back, AJ Arndt, Nevyn Gripentrog, Parker Ried, Jordan Lavin, Peyton Ried, Angus Hamland, Corbyn Radlinger, Manny Espinoza, Ace Arndt, Hudson Schilling, Daniel Clark and head coach Stephen Reynolds. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
Medford goal keeper Eric Paul leaps to make a save during the first half of Tuesday’s season-opening soccer game at Rice Lake. Always a tough opening opponent, the Warriors defeated the Raiders 4-0 in a game shortened to 53 minutes by lightning. TRAVIS NYHUS/RICE LAKE CHRONOTYPE
Ava Dallmann and Madelyn Anderson bump the ball back and forth to get warmed up for Monday’s volleyball practice in Rib Lake. The Redmen got their 2026 season started by going 0-2 at Loyal on Tuesday. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
