Medford Bulldogs in state competition

The Medford Bulldogs Pee Wee A youth hockey team (top photo) placed third at the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association’s 12U Divison 4A state tournament, held March 9-10 in La Crosse. The Bulldogs entered the eight-team tournament as the fourth seed. They skated past fifth-seeded Stoughton 8-2 in their first game, highlighted by a four-goal second period and three-goal third. Facing top-seeded Spooner in the semifinals, Medford tried to rally from a three-goal deficit in the third period but came up short 3-2. The Bulldogs faced host team and seventh-seeded River Valley in the third-place game Sunday and broke away from a 3-3 tie by scoring the last five goals in an 8-3 win. Spooner beat Barron-Chetek 10-3 in the championship.

Team members include (kneeling l. to r.) Alaina Strama, Charley Peterson, Cashton Reis, Bailey Olwell, Crandel Harder, (back) coach Ryan Peterson, coach Stan Strama, Stanley Thums, Joren Stokes, Wyatt Crass, Dawson Rappe, Sawyer Seidl, Breckyn Klemm, Max Losiewicz and coach Nick Klemm.

The Medford Bulldogs Squirt team placed fifth at the 10U Division 4A state tournament, held March 2-3 at Altoona. The Bulldogs entered the eight-team tournament as the sixth seed. They were beaten 5-3 in their first game by the third-seeded Ice Wolves from Dodgeville 5-3. Medford had a 2-1 lead midway through the second period before the Ice Wolves scored three straight goals. The Bulldogs beat seventh-seeded Barron-Chetek 6-3 in their second game, turning around a 1-0 deficit by scoring three times in the second period. In the fifth-place game, Medford outscored fourth-seeded Monroe 7-6. The Bulldogs trailed 3-0 early in the second period and 5-2 late in the period, but a goal with 41 seconds left sparked a late comeback that ended with four straight goals, including the game-winner with nine seconds left.

Viroqua beat Marinette 7-3 in the division’s championship game.

Team members include (l. to r.) Harrison Keeling, Archer Kesan, Finnegan Murphy, Marty Thums, Bennet Sperl, Silas Bohn, Jace Vach, Emma Koepke, Westley Nuernberger, Charli Harris, Clayden Nuernberger, Timmy Lang and Charli Decker. The team is coached by Joel Nuernberger, Eric Vach and Jesse Bohn.