While doing research for another blog I ran across a story in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram newspaper about Ladysmith high school and the Heart of the North Conference. The story was about Ladysmith winning the 1961 conference title, it’s first undisputed title since 1949. This isn’t a history of a conference north of Eau Claire, but there is a bit of background on the Heart of the North to put things in perspective. So, here goes, the non-history, history (Because all my

A few weeks ago, I received an email request for any old records I might have on Clintonville football from their new head coach, Nick Raasch. I have old files of records and admittedly I did not have much. One name stood out and I scratched my head wondering why I hadn’t done a blog on him when I wrote about multi-sport stars back in early 2021. Maybe because Mike Jirschele played in the mid-70’s and the others were stories from players who stared in the 60’s. Anyway, I be

The 1976 football season rolled around quickly after summer baseball, and it would be a very good year for the Truckers. They opened the season where they left off by beating Oconto in the opener 70-0. Mike Jirschele was spectacular as he rushed 11 times for 147 yards, running 43-yards for one touchdown, passing 16 and 27-yards for two more as well as kicking eight extra points and tossing for a 2-point conversion. Running the wishbone offense, he didn’t need to pass often