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Menomonie News Net
May 28, 2025, Issue 28
Local News Group
May 28, 2025
In Issue 28, we follow up on last week’s devastating downtown fire with the official news release, ways the community can help, and a message from the mayor.
The rest of the issue is packed with student news and updates you won’t want to miss.
If you’ve missed previous issues, you can catch up HERE. And don’t forget—we are beginning to post updates throughout the week at menomonienewsnet.org as news happens, not just on Wednesdays!
As always…news for the community, by the community.
Editors: Layne Pitt & Becky Kneer; MNN Contributors; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz
Website: menomonienewsnet.org Submit News: [email protected]
In this Issue…
Menomonie Fire Dept Press Release
244 Main Street Structure Fire on May 20
PRESS RELEASE: 244 Main Street Structure Fire
On Tuesday, May 20 at 10:16 pm, the Menomonie Fire Department was dispatched to 703 3rd Street on a report of a smoke showing from a building. This address is associated with the apartments above 244 Main Street.
The first fire engine arrived on scene at 10:18 and found smoke coming from the south end of the structure between cracks in the brick and along the foundation. Firefighters entered the building with a hose line and went into the basement where they found dense smoke, zero visibility and extremely high heat conditions. A thermal imaging camera showed a deep-seated fire that had been burning for quite some time prior to being discovered.
Despite water application into the area, conditions deteriorated quickly and firefighters rapidly evacuated the basement, having to leave their hose line behind. With the knowledge all occupants were accounted for, the difficult decision to change tactics was made. Fires in these types of buildings create unique challenges where common walls can lead to losing an entire block of buildings, not just the original fire building.
Mutual aid from several surrounding fire departments, along with heavy equipment from CR Bryan & Sons was requested.
Firefighters set up a defensive perimeter in an effort to contain the fire to 244 Main Street. Throughout the night crews poured hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into the building after access was made by operators in an excavator. Although the fire was contained to the original building, the common wall between 244 Main and Mood Boutique allowed smoke and water to migrate causing significant damage to the boutique. Crews remained on the scene until 10:30 am the following morning (Wednesday) to monitor and extinguish hot-spots in the debris. Although an exact cause has yet to be determined it is believed to be electrical in nature.
This incident required a significant amount of manpower, assets and teamwork. We want to thank the following entities and individuals for their assistance:
Menomonie Police Department for their quick action evacuating occupants of the second-floor apartments and continual assistance throughout the event. Their work greatly improved the outcome of this fire.
Menomonie Public Works and Water Department for their efforts throughout the night controlling access into the scene, contacting outside agencies, maintaining wells and monitoring water tower levels to ensure a sufficient water supply to fight the fire.
Clint Zack, John Zack and Curt Bryan from CR Bryan & Sons for their expertise with the excavator while opening up the building in near zero visibility conditions. Without a doubt, the work you performed was the main reason the fire was contained to one building. Well done!
Our neighboring fire and ambulance services for their incredible assistance. Elk Mound Fire, Boyceville Fire, Colfax Fire, Durand Fire, Colfax EMS, Boyceville EMS, Eau Claire Fire and MABAS Division 117 Director, Quentin Popp. We especially want to thank Colfax EMS for covering two EMS calls during the fire. Their assistance with manpower and equipment played a large role in the outcome of this fire.
The American Red Cross for providing assistance to those displaced by the fire and delivering food and water to the firefighters at the scene.
We also want to thank the community for their support during and after the incident. Those at the scene were respectful of firefighters working to control the situation and provided assistance when needed. Many individuals and businesses from the community delivered food and water during the incident and well into the next day at the fire stations. We work in a great community and the response during this incident shows exactly that.
Finally, we offer our sympathies to those directly affected by the fire. Please know we fully understand the loss you have suffered and hope the coming days and weeks bring comfort and promise of recovery.
Denny Klass, Chief
Menomonie Fire Department
Donating to Fire Relief Fund
MENOMONIE - Downtown Menomonie recently posted on their Facebook page links to a fund that has been set up for those people and businesses that were affected by the May 20 fire on Main Street, as well as thanking those who had already made a donation.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible community here in Menomonie. Our city has experienced a lot of loss in the past year, and you all continue to show up for each other time after time.
In just over 24 hours, $4,010 has been donated to the fire relief fund that will help tenants, vendors, and businesses affected by the fire.
If you would like to donate, you can do so in one of three ways.
1️⃣ Donating through GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/c0d07346
2️⃣ Donating through Downtown Menomonie's website: https://www.downtownmenomonie.org/donate
3️⃣ Donating via check. Make checks payable to Downtown Menomonie with the memo "Fire Relief Fund" and deliver or mail to 503 Broadway Street South, Suite #20, Menomonie, WI 54751.
A Message from Mayor Knaack
Source: City of Menomonie Facebook Page
Growing up in Menomonie, I’ve witnessed many changes—some transformative, others deeply tragic. The tragedies, in particular, leave lasting scars. I still remember the car that went through the ice at Lake Menomin one spring...the great storm of 1980 that uprooted trees and destroyed buildings...devastating car accidents that claimed lives of people I knew...the pain of losing neighbors to methamphetamine addiction… accidents at the rodeo and races…the sudden passing of a Menomonie police officer…and most recently, the heartbreaking plane crash that took four cherished members of our community.
Now, we face another painful loss: a fire has destroyed a historic downtown building and severely damaged a neighboring business.
But what stands out to me through all of these moments of heartbreak is not just the sorrow—it’s the strength. Time and time again, Menomonie has come together. We lean on one another, lift each other, and rebuild—not just our buildings, but our bonds.
Bricks and mortar do not define Menomonie. Our resilience, our compassion, and our determination define us. We are a community that shows up in times of need, holds each other close, and rises stronger every time we are tested.
As your Mayor, your neighbor, your friend—and as a son of Menomonie—I have unwavering faith that the sun will rise again over a stronger, more connected, and more vibrant community.
Menomonie is not just a building, but a community of caring people, and that’s what makes Menomonie truly special.
Randy Knaack,
Mayor of Menomonie
Menomonie Optimist Club Honors Ashley Slupe
An outstanding Dunn County high school student, Ashley Slupe of Menomonie High School, was honored as the Menomonie Optimist Club Youth of the Month for May.
Ashley Slupe is the daughter of Angie and Greg Slupe, and has been a three sport athlete at Menomonie High School, lettering in tennis, hockey and soccer. She provided team leadership as captain for both the tennis and hockey teams this past year. Ashley earned all-conference recognition in hockey.
She has served the Student Council throughout her high school years and is secretary of that body. Ashley also has served on the LINK leadership program, which helps mentor new students to the school each year. Ashley has also been a member of the National Honor Society.
Outside of school, she traveled on a mission trip for her church to Mexico. Ashley’s favorite classes are in the sciences and health-related courses. She plans to attend Lawrence University to major in biology and play on the Viking’s hockey team.
An interesting note is that Ashley’s father, Tom Slupe, was himself honored as a Youth of the Month during his high school career in Menomonie.
In addition to honoring Youth of the Month, the Menomonie Optimists conduct work projects with local students each year at Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area, have in the past provided dictionaries to every third grade student in Dunn County, and host the Menomin Meander, a family-friendly and totally free bike ride around Menomonie’s Lake Menomin Loop each August.
Ashley Slupe with parents Angie and Greg
David Williams is a Menomonie resident and retired UW-Stout administrator.
CVTC Student Finds Community
Dejntxhee Vang, known as DJ, plans to attend UW-Stout in her hometown of Menomonie with aspirations of a career in art therapy.
By Alyssa Van Duyse, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Dejntxhee Vang, known as DJ, delivered the graduation speech at Chippewa Valley Technical College on May 22 and walked the stage to receive her associate degree in University Transfer–Liberal Arts. Vang is a first-generation college student and plans to attend UW-Stout in her hometown of Menomonie with aspirations of a career in art therapy.
Dejntxhee Vang’s career dreams have ebbed and flowed, mostly influenced by her surroundings.
Vang, known as DJ, yearned to be a farmer like her cousins in Missouri. Her family lived with them when she was young. Her goals morphed into art and design when the family moved to Alaska.
She briefly explored science fields like biology and physics. Ultimately, though, she found a passion for art and psychology.
After delivering the graduation speech and walking the stage to receive her associate degree in University Transfer–Liberal Arts from Chippewa Valley Technical College on Thursday, she plans to pursue a degree in Studio Art at UW–Stout in her hometown of Menomonie, with aspirations of a career in art therapy.
Deciding on college wasn’t easy for Vang. She enrolled at CVTC in 2022 after hesitating and taking multiple campus tours.
“I’m the very first person in my family to actually go to college,” she said.
The decision to go came with uncertainty and pressure. She wanted to choose a program that worked with her end goal. She also put pressure on herself to get good grades.
But that wasn’t all. She joined the Army National Guard after her first semester at CVTC.
“I joined the Army because I knew for sure they were going to change me,” she said. “It teaches a lot of control, leadership … it puts you outside of your comfort zone.”
She faced physical and emotional challenges during training, including illness during her final 10-mile march. But her breakthrough moment came when her drill sergeant and peers encouraged her to keep going.
“I really did push past my limits physically and mentally,” she said. “When I came back to my civilian life, I continued pushing myself. I would have been disrespecting myself if I just left it there in the Army.”
In addition to the Army, CVTC’s Empower Club gave Vang a place to call home. She rose from a general member to President. She participated in leadership trips to Madison and Chicago, which deepened her campus involvement.
“I wasn’t expecting that I would care so much about a club,” she said.
To her, the Club was a microcosm of CVTC as a whole.
The College is more than an academic stop for Vang, it’s a community where she grew in confidence, found her voice and began her journey of helping others, she said.
“I feel (my transformation) has really given me a lot of opportunities. I just really blossomed,” she said. “And I didn’t expect to care so much about my advisors. It’s kind of heartbreaking that I’m graduating because I really care, I have such a strong connection here, and I feel like this is my community.”
Alyssa Van Duyse, Chippewa Valley Technical College, may be contacted at [email protected]
Annual P.E.O. Thrift Sale this Thursday and Friday
Proceeds go toward scholarships, grants and loans for women
P.E.O. of Menomonie is having its yearly thrift sale at the United Methodist Church on 2703 Bongey Drive on Thursday, May 29 from 8 to 5 and Friday, May 30 from 8 to 12 noon.
These thrift sales have been an annual event in Menomonie since 1980. The proceeds are given to women as scholarships, loans and grants to start or continue their higher education.
Questions contact Marie Young at [email protected].
P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) is a non-profit organization that supports women’s education.
MHS Grads: Where are They Now?
Alison (Ali) Ramaeker - Class of 2006
By Judy Foust This week our memorable MHS graduate is Alison (Ali) Ramaeker, class of 2006. Her path has taken her to many different places, but I’m sure you’ll agree it was because of her tremendous drive, focused on specific goals. Read on to see what I mean….  MHS senior photo After graduating from Menomonie High School, I committed to playing Division I soccer at North Dakota State University, competing in the Summit League. As a true freshman, I saw time on the field in both midfield and defensive roles and quickly learned the demands of D1 athletics—balancing classes, practices, study hall, and constant travel. I spent most of my first semester living out of a suitcase and airports. It was then that I declared my major in Exercise Science, aligning my academic interests with my passion for sports and performance. At the end of my freshman year, a change in career goals led me to transfer schools. Having been recruited by Minnesota State University–Moorhead during high school, I decided to continue my soccer career there, competing in NCAA Division II. I spent the next three years as a center midfielder for the MSUM Dragons, was honored to serve as team captain for 2 years, and graduated with both academic and athletic recognition.  College soccer At MSUM, I earned a double major in Exercise Science and Biology, along with minors in Coaching, Nutrition, and Strength and Conditioning. I completed internships in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Biomechanics. In cardiac rehab, I created personalized training plans for patients recovering from cardiac events and procedures. At a performance enhancement facility, I learned to assess biomechanical inefficiencies using Dartfish motion analysis technology and applied that knowledge to develop individualized training programs. After graduating from undergraduate school, I was accepted into the Physician Associate Master’s Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The PA profession, created during World War II to address physician shortages, is an accelerated medical pathway based on the medical model. PAs are trained to care for patients across the lifespan, from birth through end-of-life, with hands-on clinical experience instead of a traditional residency. My class had just 25 students, and I chose to focus on Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. Upon successful completion of my PA boards, I was accepted to an Emergency Medicine fellowship at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. My first full-time job brought me back to Western Wisconsin where I worked as both a hospitalist and emergency medicine provider at St. Croix Medical Center in St Croix, WI. On my very first day, I delivered a baby and transitioned another patient to comfort care—a powerful reminder of the full scope of life we encounter in medicine. Eventually, I focused solely on Emergency Medicine, working with Infinity Healthcare Group based in Milwaukee. | That position took me to Chicago, where I served as a traveling PA at hospitals across Wisconsin and Illinois, including Eau Claire, Kenosha, and Libertyville. I enjoyed living in a “small big city” and found peace running along the lakeshore between shifts. Driven by a desire for adventure, I accepted a position in Emergency Medicine at NYU’s Emergency Department, which brought me to Brooklyn, NY. Adjusting to city life came with challenges—especially the morning train commutes and carrying groceries home. Although I was living in a small apartment, I adopted a rescue pit bull named Nala. Together, we navigated the complexities of New York City and formed a strong bond. Eventually, I realized the pace of the city was more than I wanted long-term so I relocated to New Jersey shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, I returned to the ICU and hospitalist as a nocturnist, while also working day shifts at a local urgent care clinic. It was during this time that I met my current partner—also an essential worker. He is a firefighter with the FDNY, stationed at the iconic “Ghostbusters” firehouse in Tribeca.  During Covid pandemic During the pandemic, my older brother Ben was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer that had metastasized to his liver. Following this life-changing news, I transitioned back into Emergency Medicine and began working at Columbia University Medical Center–New York-Presbyterian, where I have been employed for the past three years. In addition, I hold a part-time position at a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic, where I diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pain and disorders in close collaboration with specialists in Rheumatology, Neurology, and Orthopedics Throughout my career, I've navigated challenging environments from the front lines of the COVID 19 pandemic to deeply personal experiences, such as the loss of my brother Ben and my rescue pup Nala, months apart in 2024. These experiences continue to ground my approach to medicine.  Current photo Reflecting on my journey, I am deeply grateful for my upbringing in Menomonie. I cherish the priceless roots of family, friends, community support, athletics, laughter, and education that our small town provides. Each day, I carry this appreciation with me as I navigate my professional and personal life. Readers, you can see what I meant about Alison’s intense focus and longstanding love of athletics and caring for others. (She was just like this when I had her as a seventh grade reading student)! She’s come a long way since her graduation in 2006, hasn’t she?  Judy Foust is a retired longtime 7th Grade Reading Specialist at Menomonie Middle School. To submit info to her or to request an interview she may be contacted at [email protected] |
MHS Class of 2025 Walk with 215 Graduates
By MNN Staff
The graduation ceremony was held on Sunday, May 25, 2 p.m. in the main high school gymnasium. The event was lived-streamed. You may click HERE to view.
Congratulations and best wishes Class of 2025!
MHS Extracurricular News: May 22-30
Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements
May 22
For the second year in a row, Menomonie is the outright Big Rivers Conference champion at Boys Tennis! After going undefeated in conference play during the regular season, the Mustangs dominated the conference tournament yesterday claiming first place at five of the seven flights! Harrison Davis is the champion at number two singles, Bruce Behrend at three singles, and Caleb Gunderson at four singles. The doubles team of Jack Winterfeldt and Jacob Rue won the conference championship at two doubles, while Sam McWithey and Davin Ellis are champions at three doubles. Earning first team all-conference is Micah Gunderson, Tristan Webb, Jack Winterfeldt, Jacob Rue, Harrison Davis, and Bruce Behrend. Earning second team all-conference is Sam McWithey, Davin Ellis, and Caleb Gunderson. Congratulations on another incredible conference championship!
Please welcome back your state Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl (FICB) consolation bracket winners: Brody, Ray, Luke and Aiden. They started yesterday a little slow, losing their first two matches on the final question. After that, they stepped into the transformation booth and came out ready to rock and roll. They won the next 3 matches, placing them 3rd in the state out of 28 teams. Congratulations and thank you for an exciting day. (Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Asset Builders held their annual Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl (FICB) in Madison on May 21; this is an interactive educational game designed to help promote financial literacy and awareness among high school students). This year’s results: First Place – State Champion: Nicolet High School; Second Place: Northland Pines High School; Final Four: Oshkosh West High School; Final Four: Rhinelander High School; Consolation Champion: Menomonie High School.
May 23
Finally the Golf Team had a sunny day but a tough course made it tough scoring for all teams at the BRC 18 hole final at New Richmond Golf Club Thursday. The Mustangs struggled to a 7th place in the meet but still managed to finish in 5th place overall in the final BRC standings. Leading the Mustangs were Quin Rabeneck carding an 83, Wes Miller 84, Tyler Reckin 85, Isaac Rynes 89 & Trent Wold 90. Also congratulations go out to Tyler Reckin for earning 2nd team all conference honors for the 2nd straight year! Next up are Regionals Tuesday at Troy Burne, Final BRC Boys Golf standings, Hudson 69. EC Memorial 51.5, River Falls 51.5, Chippewa Falls 43.5, Menomonie 36.5, Rice Lake 36, New Richmond 20, EC North 16.
Varsity Softball travelled to New Richmond to play their last regular season games of the year in a double header. The Mustangs swept the Tigers to finish the regular season 19-7. 19 wins is the most wins in a season in Menomonie softball history. The sweep also moved the Mustangs to 10-4 in conference which is good enough to secure 2nd place, a position softball has not been in since 2012. Defensively, Jaidyn Stouff had a stellar night at 3rd base as well as great pitching performances from all 3 senior pitchers; Amanda Holzhueter, Maci Marlett, and Siera Auth. Offensively the Mustangs were led by Amanda Holzhueter going 4-6, Reese Barfknect who had 4 hits including a 2 RBI game-winning triple in game 1 and a home run in game 2, and Adison Hasse with 3 hits. Jaidyn Stouff and Siera Auth each added 2 hits on the night. JV Softball also won 2 tough games against New Richmond. Game one was 8-5 with Kalyn Fisher and Mya McMahon going 3-3. Game two was won with a score of 4-2 behind great pitching from Presley Verdon who threw 12 strikeouts in 5 innings. Vivian Lorenzen hit a triple in both games and Joss Turner added a double in game 2. The Mustangs begin their playoff run on Tuesday vs. North at Wakanda at 5:00.
JV2 Baseball defeated Fall Creek 9-6 last night. JV2 is now 7-5 on the season and will play Eau Claire Memorial tonight in a double header at Wakanda Park. Varsity Baseball lost to Wisconsin Rapids 4-3 last night. Max Jaeger threw 4 innings allowing no earned runs. Owen Welch and Cage Sorenson each collected hits while James Hoff scored 2 runs for the Mustangs. Menomonie baseball is back in action tonight for a double header against Eau Claire Memorial at Carson Park starting at 4:30. JV Baseball lost 9-6 against Wisconsin Rapids last night. Zack Bird and Tyler Sutherlandthrew well for the Mustangs. Offensively, Easton Anderson had a ground rule double and Tyler Sutherland had 2 hits while collecting 3 RBIs
Public Meetings: Week of May 28 - Jun 4
City of Menomonie
Mon June 2 City Council - 7 p.m.
Click HERE for full calendar.
School District of Menomonie
Thur June 5 Last Day of School
Fri June 6 Professional Development Day
Click HERE for full calendar additional details
Dunn County
Wed May 28 Facilities Committee - 5 p.m.
Wed June 4 Planning Resource & Development - 8:30 a.m.; CJCC Executive & Operations Committees - 11 a.m.
Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting
The Dunn County Board of Supervisors held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 21.
Check out the highlights below, and watch the full meeting on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dunncounty1854
Menomonie Events at a Glance
Photo: Debra Bell
Tues June 3 - 1st Ludington Guard Band Concert - 7:30 p.m. Wilson Park (thru Aug 5)
Sat June 7 - National Trails Day - Red Cedar Trail - 10 a.m. to Noon
Thu June 12 - 1st Music Over Menomin - 7 p.m. - Lakeside Park (thru Aug 14)
Sat June 14 - Flag Day Ceremony 10 a.m. & Mabel’s Community Celebration 4 -10 p.m.
Wed June 18 - Walldogs Community Sneak Peak 5-7 p.m. Mabel Tainter
Menomonie Collegians
2025 Track and Field Season Wrap-Up
Ryan Dingwall, a 2024 Menomonie High School graduate, competed for UW-River Falls. Photo: UW-River Falls Sports Information
By Layne Pitt
The collegiate track and field season has wound down at all levels of competition, with the exception of the NCAA Division I championship, which wraps up June 11-13 in Eugene, Ore. Bella Jacobsen, a Menomonie High School graduate who competes for the University of Wisconsin, will compete at the NCAA West First Round at the University of Texas, Thursday, May 29, in the 10,000-meter.
Ryan Dingwall, a freshman at UW-River Falls, got his first taste of collegiate competition this year, competing in 10 meets for the Falcons. Dingwall threw the shot put and the weight throw during the indoor season and the shot put and the hammer throw during the outdoor season. Dingwall set career-bests in the weight throw (43-feet, 2.25-inches) at the Warren Bowlus Open at UW-Stout, Jan. 31, the shot put (42-3.25) at the UW-River Falls Winter Classic, Feb. 8 where he placed third, and in his final meet of the season at the Janis Rider/Doug Bolstorff Invitational at Macalester College April 26, hit a personal-best in the hammer throw (130-3).
Gaby Skorczewski, a sophomore at Lawrence University in Appleton, continued to tally points for the Vikings at the Midwest Conference meets. As we reported after the indoor season, Skorczewski went to the podium three times for the indoor championship and did the same thing for the outdoor iteration. Skorczewski finished fourth in the 400-meter finals, coming on the heels of a personal best in the preliminary round with a time of 59.76 seconds. Skorczewski was seventh in the 400-hurdles and was a member of the fifth-place 4x400-meter relay team. The Vikings competed at the Wisconsin Private College Championship, April 6, and Skorczewski podiumed in the 400m (5th), 4x100-relay (6th) and 4x400-relay (7th). Skorczewski set season outdoor best times in the 200m (27.70), the 400m (59.76) and 400-hurdles (1:10.07).
Josh Boyette, a sophomore at UW-Stout, just missed the podium in the decathlon at the WIAC Outdoor Championship, placing ninth in the grueling two-day event. Boyette took a big jump over his previous best decathlon score, tallying nearly 200 more points, finishing with 5921 points. At the 2024 WIAC Outdoor Championship, Boyette placed 15th. Throughout the season, Boyette set personal-best marks in six of the 10 decathlon events - the 1500-meter run, the discus, the 110-high hurdles, the 400-meter run, the shot put and the 100-meter dash.
Alexis Anderson, a junior at UW-Stout, competed in the pole vault at five meets this season, marking a season-high of 8-feet, 11.50-inches at the UW-Stout Quad, Feb. 14.
Madeline Palmer, a junior at Winona State University, scored for the Warriors at the NSIC Outdoor Championship May 8 at UM-Duluth with an eighth place finish in the 10,000-meter with a time of 38:23.58. Palmer competed in six meets this year for the Warriors, two indoor and four outdoor meets. The 10K was Palmer's primary event in 2025, competing in the event at three outdoor meets. Palmer produced a season-best time of 37:39.20 at the Phil Esten Challenge at UW-La Crosse, April 17. Palmer also competed in the 5000-meter outdoor and the mile and the 3000-meter indoor.
Madison Lehman, a freshman at UW-Eau Claire, competed at the WIAC Outdoor Championship, setting a personal best time of 12-minutes, 20.78-seconds in the 3000-meter run, placing 21st. Lehman set personal bests throughout her first season as a Blugold in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. At the Uncaged Eagle Invitational at UW-La Crosse, May 9, Lehman clocked an outdoor best in the 1500-meter run (5:08.06). Indoors, Lehman set markers at the UW-La Crosse Caged Eagles Invitational Feb. 21 in the mile (5:31.64) and at UW-Stout's Warren Bowlus Open Jan. 31 in the 3000m (11:26.13).
Brooklyn Hoff, a freshman at UW-Stevens Point, led the Pointers on the cross country team in the fall and continued her success during the indoor and outdoor track and field season. Hoff placed 16th in the 5000m at the WIAC Outdoor Championship and was 19th at the WIAC Indoor Championship in the 3000m, where she set a personal-best time (10:44.84) in the event. Hoff set personal-bests in the 5000m (18:30.72) at the UW-Platteville Invitational April 11, in the 1500m (5:13.16) at the Rex Foster Twilight at UW-Whitewater April 4, and in the indoor mile (5:37.28) at the Midwest ELITE Invitational Feb. 15 at UW-Whitewater.
Bella Jacobsen, a sophomore at Wisconsin, ran unattached during the indoor season, but returned to varsity competition during the outdoor season. Jacobsen scored for the Badgers at the Big 10 Outdoor Championship held in Eugene, Ore., May 16, placing eighth in the 10,000m (33:34.26). Jacobsen set a personal-best with a fifth place finish in the 5000m (16:12.42) at the Badger Challenge., May 2. In her first outdoor meet of the season at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific, Calif, April 16, Jacobsen set a career-best in the 5K (16:13.47), a mark she would break less than a month later. Jacobsen ran unattached at the Alex Wilson (Indoor) Invitational at Notre Dame, placing third behind a pair of Notre Dame runners in a time of 9:31.90.
Layne Pitt is the retired UW-Stout Sports Information director and also worked more than a decade at the Dunn County News.
Menomonie Collegians is a regular feature of Menomonie News Net. The column is not limited to student-athletes, but may be a former MHS student in a play, forensics, music or any type of collegiate competition. If you know of a Menomonie Collegian, please email [email protected].
The column Menomonie Collegians by Layne Pitt is licensed under a CC BY SA 4.0 International license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
For a Calendar of Events in the Menomonie Area, visit Kathy Weber’s Menomonie Minute.
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