Welcome to Menomonie News Net Vol 2, Issue 27. You can read and search for archived issues and articles HERE.

On this Memorial Day weekend consider this interesting fact: “Across Dunn County more than 4,539 veterans are laid to rest in over 80 cemeteries. Each year, volunteers place flags in their honor, ensuring their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.” That’s alot of flags, service and caring!

Have a safe holiday weekend…..

Editorial Team: Layne Pitt, Becky Kneer, Marsha Biggs; MNN Contributors; Advisory Team Volunteers; Tech Support: Tracy Glenz

Donate online HERE  OR by mail - check to MNN, PO Box 63, Menomonie. Your donations bring us closer to our goal of hiring part-time staff.

Website: www.menomonienewsnet.org

Submit story ideas to: [email protected]

In this Issue...

• MHS Graduation Ceremony Sunday May 24

• Menomonie Observes Memorial Day with Observance at …

• Dunn County Manager Highlights May 20 Board Meetin …

• Pancake Breakfast Opens Downsville Museum this Sat …

• Local Organization Hosts Resource Fair for Communi …

• MHS Grads - Luisa Gerasimo ‘82

• Green Ribbons Mark National Mental Health Month in …

• Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro Project Supports UW- …

• Community Foundation Announces Grant Opportunities …

• Chippewa Valley Leaders Host Partnership Summit Ad …

• Dunn Energy Cooperative Holds 89th Annual Meeting

• Public Meetings May 20-27

• Menomonie Events at a Glance May 20-27

• MHS Extracurricular Activities May 13-20

• Menomonie Collegians - Hasse, Holtzhueter, Daniel

MHS Graduation Ceremony Sunday May 24

Menomonie High School Graduation for the class of 2026 will be held on Sunday, May 24th at 2pm, MHS Gymnasium.

Click to watch the graduation ceremony live-stream on Mustangs TV.

Source: SDMA webpage

Menomonie Observes Memorial Day with Observance at Evergreen Cemetery

This year’s event marks 125 year span observances held at Evergreen

By Becky Kneer, MNN

Did you know that Memorial Day observances in Menomonie have been held at the historic Evergreen Cemetery since 1901?

This year’s ceremony begins at 9:30am on Monday, May 25 at Evergreen Cemetery located on 13th Street NE.

Program will include:

• Guest Speaker: Randy Wood, Gulf War Veteran, U.S. Marine Corp

• Invocation/benediction: Pastor Rene Mehlberg, First Congregational Church

• Vocalist: Cassie Giannini

• Readings: Scouting members Isaiah & Lillianna Bushendorf and VFW Auxiliary

• Reading of names of Dunn County veterans deceased within past year

• Salute by Menomonie Honor Guard

• The playing of Taps by Menomonie High School students Oliver Kerze and Timmy Berends

The observance is hosted by the Dunn County Patriotic Council, Hosford-Chase Post 32 American Legion, Menomonie Post 1039 VFW, Menomonie Honor Guard and AMVETS Post 72.

What to Know:

• Bring a chair or blanket to sit on during the ceremony.

• Those with mobility concerns are encouraged to arrive early and drive onto the cemetery “island” for closer parking. The road into the park closes at 9:30am and remains closed during the ceremony but parking remains available alongside the road leading to the cemetery.

• In the event of heavy rain, the ceremony will be moved to The Yard (formerly Dean & Sue’s) at 2002 Midway Rd (2 mi west of Menomonie off Hwy 29)

• After the ceremony, attendees are welcome to stay and walk the beautiful cemetery grounds.

About Evergreen Cemetery

Established in 1873 with land donated by the Knapp, Stout & Company Lumber operation, the cemetery has been on the State and National Register of Historic Places since 2006.

Surrounded by Lake Menomin, the cemetery became an ‘island’ between the 1920s and 1950s as water levels rose. It offers stunning views in every direction, with more than 6,300 recorded gravesites along winding, rustic paths. Many of Menomonie’s founders are buried here, and the grounds include a monument to Civil War Veterans. Memorial Day services have been held here since 1901, making this annual observance a proud tradition that continues to bring the community together.

Other Memorial Day Ceremonies in Dunn County on May 25

• Hay River Cemetery (Hwy 25 & 64) 7:45am; Host: Johnson-Whistler American Legion Post 323 & AMVETS Post 72

• Zion Cemetery, 8:30am; Host: Johnson-Whistler American Legion Post 323 & AMVETS Post 72

• New Haven Cemetery, 9:15am, Host: Johnson-Whistler American Legion Post 323 & AMVETS Post 72

• Connorsville Lutheran Cemetery, 9:45am, Host: Johnson-Whistler American Legion Post 323 & AMVETS Post 72

• Chimney Rock, 10:15, Host: Johnson-Whistler American Legion Post 323 & AMVETS Post 72

• Hay River Town Hall, 11am, Host: Johnson-Whistler American Legion Post 323 & AMVETS Post 72

• Wheeler Cemetery, 11:30am, Host: AMVETS Post 72 and Wheeler VFW

• Boyceville Tiffany Cemetery, Noon, Host: AMVETS Post 72 and Wheeler VFW

• Lucas Cemetery, 1pm, Host: AMVETS Post 72

• Potters Field - Menomonie, 3pm, Host: AMVETS Post 72 and Menomonie Honor Guard

Across Dunn County more than 4,539 veterans are laid to rest in over 80 cemeteries. Each year, volunteers place flags in their honor, ensuring their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.

Memorial Day is a time to reflect, remember, and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Please consider joining in one of these meaningful tributes.

For more information about the Memorial Day events contact: Dunn County Veterans Service Office 715-232-1646 or [email protected].

Becky Kneer is an LTC, U.S. Army Nurse Corp (Retired) and co-editor, MNN.

Sources: News release, Dunn County Veterans Service Office.

Dunn County Manager Highlights May 20 Board Meeting

Each month, Dunn County Manager Dan Dunbar shares a video message with highlights of the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting.

This month the Board meets Wednesday, May 20, 7pm at the Dunn County Government Center, Rm 54.

Click to review the agenda.

Source: Dunn County Facebook Page

Pancake Breakfast Opens Downsville Museum this Saturday

Source: Downsville Community Museum Facebook event page

Local Organization Hosts Resource Fair for Community

Event will be held at Compass IL (formerly Center for Independent Living). The community is invited.

Source: Facebook event page

MHS Grads - Luisa Gerasimo ‘82

Luisa Gerasimo - Class of 1982

By Judy Foust, MNN Guest Columnist

This week I was delighted to interview a Menomonie graduate who is known for her creativity, intellect,compassion, and curiosity—Luisa Gerasimo.

Luisa attended MHS from middle school through the first half of 9th grade and returned to MHS for the last half of her senior year.

Her main memories from high school revolve around three teachers she especially admired and learned from. The word that first came to her mind when she mentioned High School Honors English teacher (as well as her forensics co-coach) Ellwyn Hendrickson was “amazing!” His knowledge and rigorous expectations were sometimes a challenge, but always a learning experience. As a lover of poetry, Luisa chose that category to successfully compete in forensics events regionally and at the state level. She used poems by Jeanne Lohmann on death, setting her apart from the competition, which that year favored poems for children.

Pat Reisinger, her Home Economics teacher, also left a mark on Luisa. Mrs. Reisinger helped her sew her first seam and improve her baking skills!

The third teacher that Luisa knew she would never forget was choir teacher Karen Peterson. Not only was she excellent in the music field, but she also related well to the students in her choirs. Luisa recalls being dressed in a full-length ball gown while singing and dancing with Joe Wagner to ‘Shall We Dance’from the musical ‘The King and I’ at a memorable MHS concert where the microphone malfunctioned.

After graduation, Luisa participated in a federal work/study program where she was assigned to work at The Mabel Tainter Memorial Library. She remembers climbing the ladders to get to the highest bookshelves. she also remembers the Pinkepank sisters who worked there. (Those of you who go way back in time may remember the sisters as iconic figures who were ever-present to keep the library organized and to serve as support for learning. A small, framed photo of them still hangs in the main reading room).

Luisa also worked at Bubbling Springs Farm which is celebrating 55 years this month. The family milked cows and grew organic crops. Like most farm kids she helped with barn chores, made hay and weeded gardens. To this day, anything relating to the natural environment is something Luisa loves. She especially enjoys camping and canoeing in the Boundary Waters.

When Luisa and her mother took a road trip to attend a family wedding in San Francisco, they visited the stately campus of Mills College in Oakland where Luisa hoped to apply. This private women’s college was a beautiful and serene environment; she knew she wanted to attend. Luisa remembers the graffiti in the bathrooms which showed caring and intellect instead of insults or worse. The college was a multicultural microcosm where she double-majored in Sociology and Anthropology, with an emphasis in Ethnic Studies—all areas of interest that helped her in the career paths she later followed. Following graduation in 1986, Luisa worked in Admissions for six years at UW-River Falls.

She had met her future husband, Mike, in high school in Minneapolis in 1979. They married in 1988. Luisa and Mike then re-built a house on her family farm and have “pretty much been there ever since.”

Mike is a master carpenter who founded Bubbling Springs Solar, a solar thermal manufacturing business, with Luisa in the early 2000s. Their business was purchased in 2009. Mike is now “retired” but seems to be working more hours than ever keeping the family beef farm going.

Luisa received a Master of Arts in Leadership at Augsburg University in 2013. She noted that kid number one graduated from Stout that year, and kid number two graduated from MHS. “We had a memorable giant party for the three of us that summer.”

When asked about her career she decided to list what she’s currently involved in: Human Development and Relationship Educator; ‘Strong Couples’ online coach; Facilitator for jail literacy program; Making Reading Memories program (parents read to their children and the recording/book are sent to their children); teacher of parenting courses through UW-Extension; Chair of the Dunn County Housing Action Team; Board member of the United Way of the St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, and of the Charter Oak Foundation.

In their free time, Luisa and Mike enjoy canoeing the Boundary Waters and spending time at their cabin near Canada. Luisa also likes traveling with her mother and sisters. Among the places they’ve been to are France, Greece, Basque country (Spain), and New Orleans.

When discussing why growing up in Menomonie was such a positive experience, Luisa listed the beauty of the natural environment and the caring community. She also appreciates the clean water and rolling hills. One of her fondest memories is attending the band concerts in Wilson Park.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with Luisa for this interview. Her enthusiasm for life shone through everything we discussed. We can be glad that Luisa decided to make Menomonie her permanent home!

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]

Green Ribbons Mark National Mental Health Month in Dunn County 

MENOMONIE — Throughout May, the Dunn County Zero Suicide Team — made up of community members and Human Services and Public Health staff — is marking National Mental Health Month by encouraging residents to wear and display green ribbons to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma of dealing with mental health issues.

The campaign includes hanging green ribbons at the Dunn County Government Center and in downtown Menomonie. Ribbons are available at Dunn County Human Services in the Government Center. Ribbons and information are being distributed at libraries, schools, clinics and participating businesses, and county staff are attending community events to share resources and answer questions.

Alaina Hagen, Dunn County Lead Service Facilitator for Comprehensive Community Services in the Human Services Department, said the ribbons are intended to spark conversation and remind people that help is available. Wendy Winger, Licensed Behavioral Health Manager in the Clinic and Community Support Program, is assisting with the effort. 

“We want the ribbons to be a simple, visible way for people to show support and to open up conversations about mental health,” Hagen said. “Green represents renewal, hope and healing. Seeing a ribbon in the community can be the nudge someone needs to reach out.” 

Hagen said the campaign aims to encourage people to ask for help.

“Asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness,” she said. “We hope the ribbons encourage neighbors to check in with one another and to use the services that exist right here in Dunn County.”

Demand for services in the county has increased, Hagen said, with more residents showing more acute symptoms and having complex needs.

“We’re seeing higher levels of distress across age groups, and there aren’t enough specialized providers for psychosis, acute care and adolescent mental health,” she said. “For people proactively seeking care, our outpatient clinic typically schedules new clients within one to three months. When someone is in crisis, access can be much more difficult because symptoms often interfere with the ability to seek and engage with supports.”

This is the Zero Suicide Team’s second year promoting Mental Health Month with green ribbons as part of its broader goal to try to prevent suicide in Dunn County. For ribbon locations, upcoming events or assistance finding services, contact Dunn County Human Services or visit the county Behavioral Health webpage. Go to https://dunncountywi.gov/humanservices and click on the Behavioral Health tab. 

Information available at Dunn County Behavioral Health Services (715) 232-1116. For immediate help in a mental health emergency, call 911, the Northwest Connections crisis line at (888) 552-6642, or the 988 Suicide Lifeline for 24/7 support.

NOTE: On Wednesday, May 27, join the Dunn County Zero Suicide Team by wearing GREEN in support of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Green represents hope, healing, renewal, and support for the 1 in 5 adults experiencing mental illness. Together, we can help reduce stigma and create a community of compassion and understanding.
💚 Wear green clothing or accessories
💚 Snap a photo of your green gear, your team, or your crew
💚 Share your pictures on the Facebook page

Let’s flood Dunn County with green and show that mental health matters.

Source: News release, Facebook page

Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro Project Supports UW-Stout Construction Students’ Industry Experiences

By Abbey Goers, UW-Stout

MENOMONIE – Donning hard hats and safety vests, construction management and risk control students from University of Wisconsin-Stout recently stood at the base of the Cedar Falls Hydroelectric plant and peered up at the 60-foot-tall dam that creates the 1,800-acre Tainter Lake, north of Menomonie.

Cedar Falls Hydro is one of 19 hydroelectric facilities in Wisconsin operated by Xcel Energy, with a total generating capacity of about 272 megawatts of renewable and carbon-free electricity.

Xcel Energy is in the midst of a multi-year, $50 million+ project designed to improve the safety and increase spillway capacity of the Cedar Falls Hydro Dam. The phased upgrade first involves upgrades to the spillway, including tie-back anchors and mass concrete infill work. Future phases involve installing upstream cofferdams to install new spillway gates and constructing a downstream stilling basin to help reduce erosion of the riverbed at the dam.

Students in the Heavy Construction Methods & Equipment class, led by Assistant Professor Janelle Skoyen Hestekin and Lecturer John Beckfield, visited the site to see Xcel Energy’s project in operation and witness real-world applications surrounding the major community asset and capital project.

“Xcel Energy supports investment in educating the next generation of construction professionals by providing exposure to real-world construction projects and practical work experiences with UW-Stout students interested in the field of engineering, design and construction,” said Xcel Energy Project Manager Anthony Witkowski.

Prior to their visit, students worked together as a mock construction company to develop a broad-based construction plan for a mass concrete infill project, inspired by the Cedar Falls Hydro project. They presented their plan, which included materials, equipment, scheduling, staffing, permits, environmental quality, safety and job hazard analysis, and cost estimates to Witkowski and other Xcel Energy staff at the Cedar Falls site.

“It is clear the students put a significant amount of thought and preparation into their presentations in the areas of construction planning, construction safety, project scheduling and project cost estimating. I appreciated the clear written and verbal communication presented by the students,” Witkowski said.

Xcel Energy is an active member of UW-Stout’s Construction Industry Advisory Committee, from which the collaboration and learning opportunity arose. Hestekin adapted her course structure to incorporate the project and guided students throughout the process.

Click to read the complete article.

Abbey Goers works in Marketing Communications at UW-Stout.

Community Foundation Announces Grant Opportunities and Free Grant Writing Workshop

The Community Foundation of Dunn County (CFDC) is pleased to announce that applications are currently being accepted for the Women’s Giving Circle Grant Cycle, while the Foundation’s next Community Impact Grant Cycle will officially open on June 1. Local nonprofits, government organizations, schools, and community groups serving Dunn County are encouraged to explore these funding opportunities designed to strengthen and enrich the community.

The Women’s Giving Circle supports projects that improve the lives of women, children, and families in Dunn County through collective philanthropy and community-driven giving. Grants are awarded to programs and initiatives that create meaningful local impact. Applications are due by June 1 at 5 pm. Apply at cfdunncounty.org/wgc.
In addition, CFDC’s August Community Impact Grant Cycle will open on June 1 and supports projects in areas including arts and culture, health, education, recreation, the environment, basic human needs, and other civic initiatives that benefit Dunn County residents.

To help organizations prepare strong applications, CFDC will host a free Pop-Up! Workshop: Grant Writing 101 on Tuesday, June 2, from 3-4 PM at the Menomonie Market Food Co-op.

This workshop is designed for nonprofits and agencies that are new to grant writing or looking to refresh their skills before upcoming deadlines. Topics include the 7 Steps to Writing a Successful Grant, evaluation criteria, Community Foundation funding opportunities, and other Dunn County funding resources. Refreshments will be provided.

Space is limited, so advanced registration is required. Register at cfdunncounty.org/pop-up-grantwriting101/.

Complete grant details, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application materials can be found at cfdunncounty.org/grants.

Organizations with questions about funding opportunities, workshop participation, or proposal ideas are encouraged to contact Ray Pagenkopf at [email protected] or call the CFDC at 715-232-8019.

The mission of the Community Foundation of Dunn County is to promote charitable giving that creates a permanent source of capital to benefit and enrich the quality of life for everyone in the Dunn County area.

Chippewa Valley Leaders Host Partnership Summit Addressing Local Economic Pressures

CHIPPEWA FALLS - University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension educators from Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties have announced a collaborative regional event designed to break down professional silos and address the complex challenges facing the Chippewa Valley.

The ‘2026 Partnership Summit: Building a Unified Strategy’ will be held on Friday, May 29 at the Market on River in Chippewa Falls.

The summit aims to move beyond emergency response and toward a long-term, coordinated strategy for regional stability. Community leaders, nonprofit managers, and public sector employees are encouraged to register at https://go.wisc.edu/95p9wq.

The morning session will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Sarah Halpern-Meekin, Professor of Women, Family and Community and Director of the Institute for Research on Poverty at UW-Madison. Alongside a panel of local experts, Dr. Halpern-Meekin will present data on how issues like housing, childcare, food insecurity, and transportation intersect to impact the economic health of local families.

In the afternoon, the summit will transition to "Open Space Technology," a unique meeting format that allows participants to build their own agenda. This approach is designed to facilitate community dialogue on cross-issue solutions, moving away from isolated "silos" and toward geographic cooperation.

Margo Dieck, a Health and Well-Being Educator for UW-Extension and summit organizer, emphasized the urgency of this collaborative approach.

"While organizations in the community weathered the fall 2025 SNAP withholding, record-high gas prices are putting new pressures on families in our community as they balance getting to work and paying bills," said Dieck. "Many folks live in one community, have childcare in another, and work in a third. We have to work across these geographic and professional boundaries to find real solutions."

Registration for the summit is free and includes lunch provided by the Menomonie Market Food Co-op. Because space at the venue is limited, organizers request that participants register by May 22.

Contact: Margo Dieck UW-Madison Extension, [email protected], 715-839-4712

Source: News release

Dunn Energy Cooperative Holds 89th Annual Meeting

MENOMONIE - Dunn Energy Cooperative celebrated their 89th Annual Meeting of Members on Thursday, May 14. Over 130 people attended, enjoying a buffet dinner with conversation.

Guest speaker, Ashely DeMuth, Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke on the ‘state of Dunn County’. DeMuth shared that 65% of children entering primary school today will work in job categories that don’t even exist yet. She said that Dunn County’s story is still being written, with Dunn Energy members an important part of it - encouraging engagement at the very local level.

General Manager/CEO Jesse Singerhouse took time to recognize several groups: the twenty-two scholarship recipients; those who took part in the Power Connection Program, and employee milestones. Several long-time employees are retiring in 2026 including John Hestekin, Journeyman Lineman (37 years), Becky Weber, Billing/Accountant (27 years), and Dee Fox, Compliance Officer (22 years).

Singerhouse and board president Jeff Gasteyes held an informal Q & A session in the form of the ‘Plugged In’ video podcast that DEC recently launched. Members were encouraged to ask questions and topics that came up included grid stability, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy.

During the business portion of the meeting, three incumbent directors retained their seats: Karl Varnes will continue to serve District 1 in his second term; Dean Stokke will continue to serve District 4 in his fourth and final term, and Rachel Kummer will continue to serve District 9 in her third term.

All attendees were treated to a pound of cheese from cooperative neighbor Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery and six members won bill credits ranging from $25 to $400.

For more information contact Jolene Fischer, 715-232-6240 [email protected]

Source: News release

Public Meetings May 20-27

City of Menomonie

Wed May 20 Urban Forestry Board Meeting, 1 pm AGENDA 

Mon May 25 Plan Commission, 7pm

Click HERE for full calendar.

School District of Menomonie

No scheduled meetings

Sun May 24 High School Graduation, 2pm, High School Auditorium

Click HERE for full calendar additional details

Dunn County

Wed May 20 County Board of Supervisors, 7pm AGENDA

Thur May 21 Planning, Resources & Development Committee, 8:30am; Criminal Justice Collaborating Council, 4pm AGENDA

Click HERE for calendar, documents, recordings & public commenting

Menomonie Events at a Glance May 20-27

Wed May 20 Farmers Market, 10am-4pm, Wilson Park; MHS Choir Concert, 7pm, MHS Auditorium; Sea Shanty Singalong, 7pm, Brewery Nonic

Thur May 21 Red Cross Blood Drive, Noon - 6pm, Stout Craft Company; MAKE-It Thursday, 5-8pm, Rassbach Museum

Fri May 22 Red Cross Blood Drive, 8:30-2:30, Stout Craft Company; Red Cross Blood Drive, 9am - 3pm, Leisure Services Ctr, 1412 6th St E

Sat May 23  Downsville Museum Spring Pancake Breakfast, 8am - 11am, Downsville Museum; Farmers Market, 8am - 1pm, Wilson Park

Sun May 24 MHS Graduation, 2pm, MHS Auditorium, Live-stream

Mon May 25 Memorial Day Evergreen Ceremony, 9:30am, Evergreen Cemetery; Potters Field Ceremony, 3pm, Potters Field

Tue May 26 Red Cross Blood Drive, 11am - 5pm, Phillips Medisize, 428 Technology Dr

Wed May 27 Community Resource Fair, 9am - 3pm, Compass IL, 2920 Schneider Ave SE; Farmers Market, 10am - 4pm, Wilson Park

MHS Extracurricular Activities May 13-20

Compiled from MHS Daily Announcements

Thursday, May 14

JV Baseball defeated New Richmond 6-5. Gavin Watkins collected 3 hits for the Mustangs, while Spencer Auth threw 3 innings to collect the win on the mound. JV2 Baseball defeated New Richmond 6-5. Zayde Stout had a walk off single to cap off his 4 hit day. Brody Anderson, Kayden Farrah, and Parker Behrens also collected 2 hits on the day. Oliver Sullivan threw 5 innings collecting 5 strikeouts. Varsity Baseball defeated New Richmond 6-3. Luke Bystol and Landon Mittlestadt paced the Mustang offense with 2 hits, along with Max Jaeger who had the go ahead RBI in the 6th inning to put the Mustangs ahead for good. Bailey Casey threw 5 innings to get the win and Cade Lamb came in and got the save for the Mustangs.

Friday, May 15

The Golf Team competed in the 20 team Rice Lake Invitational Thursday at Turtleback Golf finishing in 7th place. Top 7 team scores: Hudson 302; Rice Lake 309; River Falls 312; Bloomer 316; ECM 318; New Richmond 318; Menomonie 319. Leading the way were Tyler Reckin shooting a 4 over 76 good for a tie for 5th place overall, Wes Miller 77 & 11th overall, Trent Wold 82 & Ben Dahms 84.

Tuesday, May 19

The Mustangs Boys Golf Team finished the BRC regular season on their home course Monday at Tanglewood by finishing in 1st place! Top team scores: Menomonie 145; Hudson 151; Rice Lake 156; ECM 157; River Falls 157. Leading the way were 1st place Medalist Trent Wold carding a 3 under par 33, followed by Wes Miller & Quin Rabeneck both shooting a 1 over 37, good for 4th place overall & Tyler Reckin 38 good for 7th. Great team win!

Congratulations to the Girls Track and Field Team for winning the Big Rivers Conference championship meet last night in Eau Claire. The girls had all-conference athletes in 14 of the 18 events, led by conference track athlete of the year, Lauren McCalla, who set BRC meet records in the 1600 and 800 meter runs and anchored the meet record setting 4 by 400 team as well. This is the girls' first team BRC title in Track and Field since 1995!

Congratulations to the Boys Track and Field Team for their outstanding performances yesterday at the BRC Championship Meet. The boys finished 5th overall, outperforming their expected finish. The following individuals earned all-BRC honors. Noah Winder earned all-BRC honorable mention with a 3rd place finish in the 800m run. Javan Butler earned all-BRC 2nd team with 2nd place finishes in the 100m and long jump. Javan also ran the 2nd fastest time in MHS history in the 100m with a 10.85. Evan Olson, Noah Winder, Owen Pelzel and Luke Ray earned all-BRC 2nd team for their 2nd place finish in the 4x800m relay. Congratulations boys!

Menomonie Collegians - Hasse, Holtzhueter, Daniel

Softball Seasons Wind Down for Local Collegiate Players

By Layne Pitt, MNN Contributor

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The collegiate softball season has finished for three Menomonie High School graduates. Adison Hasse is a freshman outfielder at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill., Amanda Holzhueter is a freshman infielder at UW-River Falls and Keiara Daniel is a freshman outfielder at Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, Minn.

Adison Hasse
Hasse and her Dominican University teammates advanced to the Regionals of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament last weekend, competing in the Wartburg, Iowa, Regionals.

The Stars were coming off an exciting NACC Tournament championship where they were the No. 1 seed and earned the automatic bid by winning the double elimination tournament working their way to the championship games through the elimination bracket. Dominican would claim the tournament title and the automatic bid when they defeated second-seeded Benedictine University twice.

Hasse played in both NCAA games as a pinch runner. Dominican earned the No. 4 seed into the regional tournament and faced top-seed University of Redlands (Calif) in the opening game, May 14,  and second-seeded Wartburg College in the second game. Dominican fell behind 5-0 early, but made a comeback late in the game to pull to within 5-3. Hasse entered the game in the sixth inning with two outs, but was not advanced as would Redlands hold on.

Dominican took a first-inning lead the next day against Wartburg, but the host team would put up six runs in the fourth inning for a 6-1 lead. Hasse would play a part in the Stars rally in the bottom of the inning. Hasse came in to run for Madisen Butler and came home all the way from first on a two-run double to cut the score to 6-3. Each team would add more runs, but the season would end for Dominican (29-19, 19-5 NACC) on an 8-4 loss.

Hasse played in 29 games throughout the season, starting three games in right field and one game in left field. She finished the season with 13 runs, most off the bench. Hasse collected four hits in 16 at-bats and laid down one sacrifice bunt.

Amanda Holzhueter
Holzhueter, a second team all-BRC pick in 2024, pitched for Mustangs, but is listed as an infielder at UW-River Falls.

Holzhueter saw action in 22 games for the Falcons, starting four. She predominately entered games as a pinch hitter, going 4 for 24 (.125), but got her money’s worth with each hit, collecting three doubles and eight RBI. Early in the season, Holzhueter twice drove in three runs in a game, getting her first collegiate base hit, a three-run double against Bethany Luther, then repeated the feat with a bases-loaded double against Manchester College three weeks later. The Falcons finished the season at 9-30 overall, 2-12 in the WIAC.

Keiara Daniel
Daniel saw action in 29 games at RCTC, starting 10 games in the outfield. She finished the season batting .239 (11-46) with 10 runs scored, driving in six runs. Four of her hits were doubles and she stole five bases in five attempts. Daniel had one sacrifice hit. Daniel posted a fielding percentage of .944 and collected three outfield assists. The Yellowjackets finished the season at 17-21 overall and 9-7 in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC).

Menomonie Collegians is a regular feature of Menomonie News Net. The column is not limited to student-athletes, but may be a former Menomonie area 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/

Menomonie Mustangs Athletics and Activities | UW-Stout Blue Devil Athletics 

For a Calendar of Events in the Menomonie Area, visit Kathy Weber’s Menomonie Minute.

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