District makes tough decision - Community Shoppers, Inc.

JANESVILLE
10 MESSENGER ■ Sunday, September 14, 2008
communityshoppers.com
SPORTS
JIM IM CHEADLE HEADLE
SCALES AND TAILS
Organizations
make a real
difference
One reason we get to enjoy many outdoor
endeavors is the willingness of sportsmen and
women to donate money and time to their
favorite sport. One of the oldest groups that
exemplifies this type of support is Ducks
Unlimited.
In 1937, during the Dust Bowl drought conditions,
the loss of wetlands dropped waterfowl
numbers to unprecedented lows. Rather than sit
by and hope for the best, a small group decided
to move forward with a mission statement built
on habitat conservation.
Today, Ducks Unlimited is the largest and
most-productive private organization in the
world. Over 1 million supporters fund projects
in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin
America and the Caribbean. The group’s funding
supports causes wherever waterfowl
migrate, breed or overwinter.
Restoring and keeping wetland areas contributes
greatly to the welfare of much more
than ducks and
He said it:
To date, DU programs
have conserved more
than 12.2 million acres
in North America.
geese. Wetlands
are the filtering
system for the
water we drink,
and also control
flooding. If the
wetlands along
the Mississippi
delta had not been tampered with, scientists
believe there would be significantly less stormand
hurricane-related damage.
Wetlands also support and offer habitat to
more than 900 wildlife species. When we drain
fields and marshes and remove fence lines, we
are contributing to the loss of more than 80,000
acres of prime habitat each year.
Probably the main reason groups like Ducks
Unlimited are so effective is that they are private,
and their funds are unrestricted by government
intervention.
During the past year, a whopping 87 percent
of the group’s expenses went directly to conservation
work. A real tip of the huntin’ cap goes to
those folks. To date, DU programs have conserved
more than 12.2 million acres in North
America.
Now, you have an opportunity to contribute.
Ducks Unlimited is sponsoring an event at 5:30
p.m. Sept. 25 at the Eclipse Center in Beloit.
Along with what always is a great meal, you
have an opportunity to win some great door
prizes and raffles. For ticket information, call
Steve Edwards at (608) 365-4520. Hope to see
you there.
*****
Now that goose season is on, I’ve had some
requests for the corned goose recipe. Like many
of you, I don’t consider Canada goose one of my
favorites. Years ago while corning some venison,
I diluted some of the leftover brine and soaked a
goose breast. When I took it to a game feed, I
had folks ask me what kind of ham it was. You
need to try this one!
You need 4 cups of water, ½ cup of Tender
Quick pickling salt, 1 tablespoon pickling spices
and one medium onion. Cut the breast in half
lengthwise. Chop the onion, and pat onion and
spices on the meat. Place in a crockpot; dissolve
the salt in the water and pour over meat. Make
sure meat is submerged, and refrigerate for
eight hours. Pour off the liquid and rinse meat
under running water. Place meat back in pot,
don’t add any liquid and cook till tender.
The Wild Goose says: Hummingbirds are
migrating, boost feeders to 1 cup sugar to 3
cups water and be sure to keep them clean.
Editor’s note: Write Jim Cheadle at 4108 W. Spring Creek, Beloit
WI 53511. Call him at (608) 365-5280. E-mail him at jcheadle@inwave.com.
VIEW FROM THE VALLEY
Sam Killian/staff
Above left, Edgerton High School senior quarterback Bryan Gregory hands off the ball to junior running back Kyle Johnson
during practice Tuesday. Above right, junior defensive end Cal Lindvedt, right, blocks junior center Andrew Miller during a
drill. Edgerton is one of several area schools adjusting to the newly expanded and realigned Rock Valley Conference.
Rock Valley schools adjusting to life
in realigned, expanded conference
BY RICK WEST
STAFF WRITER
EDGERTON — Citing a desire
for improved enrollment parity,
the Wisconsin Interscholastic
Athletic Association is debuting a number
of revamped conferences in southern
Wisconsin.
The Rock Valley Conference received
a substantial facelift, and began play
Friday with a 12-team, two-division format.
Six of the eight former RVC teams
will make up the South Division, while
Evansville and Edgerton, the largest
schools from the RVC, will be joined by
Whitewater, Jefferson and East Troy
from the former Southern Lakes
Conference and McFarland, formerly of
the Badger Conference, in a North
Division. The divisions are based more
on student enrollment than geography,
with six of the smallest schools in the
south (see related graphic).
Edgerton head coach Mike Gregory,
whose team faced East Troy Friday,
said the new competition will make
things interesting for the Crimson Tide.
“It’s going to be a huge adjustment,”
he said. “You’re used to playing the
same people ... We have to increase our
scouting and try to get some more
film.”
RVC President Bruce Gunderson
said the move should even out the competition
for some of the schools.
“There were some of the smaller
schools that wanted a better chance to
compete and have the opportunity of
getting into the playoffs,” the principal
at Palmyra-Eagle High School said.
“We felt if we didn’t go with a divisional
SPORTS BRIEFLY
■ UW-Whitewater remains No. 2 in poll:
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater held
onto the No. 2 spot in the D3Football.com
weekly rankings. The Warhawks, who
defeated St. Xavier University 24-9 Sept.
5, received four of 25 first-place votes.
Mount Union (Ohio) College maintained its
No. 1 ranking, earning 20 first-place
votes. UW-Whitewater beat Mount Union
in last year’s national championship
game. The Warhawks played Saturday at
He said it:
“It’s going to be a
huge adjustment.
You’re used to
playing the same
people ...”
— Mike Gregory
coach, Edgerton Crimson Tide
system, they wouldn’t get into the playoff
picture.”
According to the WIAA playoff procedure,
teams with winning conference
records qualify for post-season play. A
major issue, however, surfaces in weeks
two and eight of the conference season
when interdivisional games, which
count in the conference standings, are
scheduled.
“The more games you have in your
conference, the better chance of having
a winning record,” said coach Paul
Ackley of RVC newcomer McFarland.
Coaches from the smaller South
Division disagree.
“I don’t like the fact that the
crossover games are going to count,”
said second-year Beloit Turner coach
Andy Coldren. “Being a smaller school
and having schools like Jefferson, that
have close to 800 kids, count toward
whether or not we make it to the playoffs
— I’m not a big fan of that.”
Edgerton senior quarterback Bryan
Gregory said it may take some time to
get adjusted to the team’s new RVC
foes.
“Before, you knew everyone and it
was a rivalry,” he said. “Now it’s like
you’re coming in and playing noncon-
UW-Eau Claire.
■ Snappers’ Revere receives another honor:
Beloit Snappers center fielder Ben Revere
has added the Brodie Trophy to his collection
of post-season accolades. The trophy,
awarded by the Snappers’ coaching staff,
recognizes Revere as the team’s top player.
After joining the Snappers in late April,
Revere led the Midwest League with a
.375 batting average and .428 on-base
percentage; ranked second with 44 stolen
bases and third with a .497 slugging per-
HOW THEY FINISHED
Rock Valley Conference
2007 standings:
Big Foot ......................................... 7-0
Evansville ....................................... 6-1
Brodhead-Juda ............................... 5-2
Edgerton ........................................ 4-3
Palmyra-Eagle ................................ 3-4
Beloit Turner .................................. 2-5
Parkview ........................................ 1-6
Clinton ........................................... 0-7
2008 Rock Valley divisions, with
most-current student enrollment:
South Division
Big Foot (566)
Brodhead (441)
Clinton (395)
Beloit Turner (381)
Parkview (375)
Palmyra-Eagle (365)
North Division
■ McFarland (675)
■ Whitewater (658)
■ Jefferson (625)
■ East Troy (617)
Edgerton (566)
Evansville (564)
■ Assigned to Rock Valley Conference in ’08
ference games.”
Some conferences, like the Badger,
don’t count crossover contests.
“Until we get into game play and into
the season, we’re not going to know if
it’s working,” Gunderson said. “We left
the door open to re-evaluate this every
year.”
Players, coaches and fans already
may have gotten their first look at the
new conference, but coaches aren’t sure
how the season will unfold.
“To see how it plays out is going to be
interesting,” Clinton Cougars Coach
Chris Jaecks said.
— Staff writer Sam Killian contributed
to this report.
centage. Revere also
led the Snappers in
hits, doubles, triples,
stolen bases and
slugging percentage.
In last month’s
Baseball America
magazine, Midwest Revere
League coaches voted
Revere as the league’s best batting
prospect, as having the best strike-zone
judgment, the fastest base runner and
most exciting player.