2010 Football: No. 18 Wisconsin upsets No. 1 Ohio State 31–18

The 2010 football team started the season with a respectable 5-1 record and a No. 18 rank heading into their week seven matchup.

This matchup was a doozy — UW hosted the No. 1 team in the country, Ohio State. The Buckeyes, led by star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, had national championship aspirations. They entered the matchup 6-0, having dominated their opponents by an average of nearly 30 points per game.

A game in Camp Randall Stadium is never easy for any opponents — a fact the Buckeyes found out on the very first play. In arguably the most exciting moment in Wisconsin football history, senior receiver David Gilreath started the game with a bang — returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. This play set the tone for the Badgers, who never looked back.

Junior tailback John Clay led the Badgers’ offense, rushing for 104 yards on the night, including two first-half touchdowns, which helped the Badgers race out to a 21–0 lead. Freshman running back James White complemented Clay, adding 75 yards and a touchdown of his own. Senior quarterback Scott Tolzien consistently moved the ball when called upon, going 13-for-16 passing for 152 yards and one interception.

The game’s story was the Badgers’ stout defense, which held the Buckeyes high-flying offense to just 18 points. Junior defensive end J.J. Watt was the star of the day with two sacks and a tackle-for-loss, cementing his status as a first-round NFL draft prospect. Safety Blake Sorensen sealed the game with a red zone interception as the Badgers knocked off a number-one ranked opponent for the first time since 1981.

Despite shortcomings in Pullman, Badgers remain focused, optimisticOn the turf, culture, coaching and camaraderie can propel a program toward a conference championship game and garner recognition across Read…

2017 Men’s Soccer: Wisconsin topples undefeated No. 2 Indiana in the Big Ten Soccer Championship

The Wisconsin 2017 Big Ten soccer championship victory over Indiana may be the least famous upset on this list, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.

UW has struggled at times within its soccer program in comparison to some of their Big Ten foes. In summary, the men’s team has made seven NCAA tournaments, winning one Big Ten tournament and one improbable national championship in 1995.

Indiana, on the other hand, is a true blue blood. They have made the NCAA Tournament 47 times, won 13 Big Ten tournaments and eight national championships.

In 2017, the Hoosiers finished the regular season undefeated, with 13 wins and four ties. They were ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Badgers, meanwhile, finished the Big Ten regular season ranked fifth in the conference.

But, in a winner-take-all title game, anything can happen. In this particular matchup, goalkeeper Philipp Schilling delivered a heroic performance. Schilling made eight saves throughout regulation and overtime to keep the Badgers alive. His efforts continued into the shootout, where he stopped two penalties and scored one himself to secure victory for the Badgers.

Wisconsin coach John Trask summed up the performance in an interview with UW Athletics.

“Phil is as good of a goalkeeper as there is in the country, and he proved that today,” Trask said. “No group of Wisconsin players have ever hoisted the trophy, so just a huge congratulations to our guys.”

2021 Women’s Volleyball: Wisconsin defeats undefeated No. 1 Louisville in NCAA Semifinal

The 2021 Wisconsin volleyball team is undoubtedly one of the most electric teams in school history, regardless of the sport. Led by four-time All-American Dana Rettke, the team won Wisconsin’s first volleyball national championship Dec. 18 when they defeated Nebraska in five sets. But, their season’s most impressive result came two days earlier against Louisville.

The Cardinals entered the Final Four undefeated, a perfect 32-0. They had a star-studded roster headlined by two first-team All-Americans, setter Tori Dilfer and middle blocker Anna Stevenson. The representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference looked unstoppable all tournament, only dropping one set through the first four games.

The unflappable Badgers did not buy into the Louisville hype, starting the match with a close 25–23 first-set victory. But, the Cardinals quickly bounced back with a 25–15 second set thrashing.

The Badgers won the third set 25–21 behind seven kills from freshman Anna Smrek. Smrek had the game of her life with an absurd 20 kills and an extremely high .704 hitting percentage.

The resilient Cardinals battled back again in the fourth set, taking it 25–23, setting up a winner-take-all all-fifth set to 15 points.

The teams traded blows early in the fifth set, splitting the first ten points 5–5. The Badgers then began to pull away. Two kills by Devyn Robinson, a kill by Julia Orzol and an error by Anna DeBeer padded the Badgers’ lead to 9–6.

Wisconsin stayed hot, winning five of the next eight points to set up match point. A Louisville kill delayed proceedings, but a poetic Smrek kill sealed the deal for the Badgers. For the second time in seven years (more on that later), Wisconsin had defeated an undefeated team from Kentucky to advance to the national championship game.

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2023 Women’s Hockey: Wisconsin conquers No. 1 Ohio State in the National Championship

Arguably the most successful athletics program at Wisconsin is the women’s hockey team. Their seven national championships are the most of any sport at UW, and this one stands out from the rest for one main reason — they were major underdogs.

A strong opening two rounds and a nail-biting overtime win against Minnesota secured the Badgers’ spot in the national championship game, their opponents, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes were the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and also won three of the four regular-season matchups against the Badgers — including a 5–0 blowout.

The game itself was close throughout. Standout freshman Kirsten Simms fired home the game’s lone goal in the first period. Senior goalkeeper Cami Kronish led Wisconsin’s fierce defense the rest of the way, stopping all 31 shots she faced in her final collegiate game.

Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson lauded Kronish’s performance in his postgame remarks.

“I’m just really happy for Cami,” Johnson said. “When she got on the big stage she showed everybody that through hard work and determination, and waiting for an opportunity, good things can happen.”

Not only was this an improbable title for the Badgers, but this victory broke a tie with Minnesota for the most national championships, cementing the UW’s spot as the country’s premier women’s hockey program.

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2015 Men’s Basketball: Wisconsin stuns undefeated No. 1 Kentucky in NCAA Tournament

If you asked 100 Badger fans to choose one game they could relive, the majority would likely choose the 2015 Final Four against Kentucky.

The Wildcats entered the game 38–0 and were considered shoo-ins to complete the first perfect college basketball season since 1976. Boasting future NBA stars in Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker, alongside lottery picks Willie Cauley-Stein and Trey Lyles, Kentucky was truly a force to be reckoned with.

The Badgers were no slouches themselves. Led by the national player of the year Frank Kaminsky and future first-round pick Sam Dekker, Wisconsin entered the game with an overall record of 35–3. The Badgers also had some extra motivation, having lost to Kentucky in the Final Four the previous season.

The Badgers started the game on the front foot, jumping to a 23–16 lead. Kentucky, however, pulled themselves back into the game and knotted up the score by halftime. Wisconsin led 56–52 midway in the second half when the Wildcats finally made their push.

Kentucky rattled off eight straight points to take a four-point lead with under five minutes to play. The Badgers’ historically potent offense went seven minutes without a field goal. The game looked like it was slipping away from the Badgers — until Dekker provided a spark.

First, Dekker made a tough driving layup to end the Badgers’ scoreless streak. After forward Nigel Hayes putback tied the game at 60, Dekker struck again. This time, the Wisconsin native hit a stepback three over future first-overall pick Towns, giving the Badgers the lead. Dekker immediately followed that up by taking a charge on the defensive end.

Wisconsin never relinquished the lead, hitting their free throws to put the finishing touches on an improbable 71–64 victory. “On Wisconsin” blared throughout the stadium as the Badgers advanced to the National Championship, while Kentucky’s dream season ended in a 38–1 nightmare.

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Deion Sanders seamlessly transformed the University of Colorado-Boulder into one of the nation’s most beloved programs. Quinn Ewers and the University of Texas regained their position as a playoff threat following a signature win in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 9.

This fall, head coach Luke Fickell and University of Wisconsin hope to mimic a metamorphosis of this magnitude. The Badgers, following an opening weekend rout versus the University of Buffalo, dropped a thriller in their first road test of the season in Pullman, Washington.

With a combined seven quarterbacks and wide receivers arriving at Camp Randall via the transfer portal, some could pinpoint the modifications in personnel as a roadblock this fall. Fickell, UW’s 31st leader in school history, still remains optimistic about his platoon’s room for growth.

“It’s always about continuing to grow,” Fickell said in a postgame conference. “I’m not going to blame it on, ‘well, this is the first year of this offense or this defense.’ No, the reality is we have enough talent to win and we can play well enough to win. I don’t think anything should hold us back. We just have to find ways to do better jobs in putting our guys in situations where they can be successful…I’ll put that on myself, and we’ll continue to grow.”

Now, with first-year quarterback Tanner Mordecai at the helm, Wisconsin looks to return to the apex of the Big Ten with a revamped offensive system and a collection of weapons in Fickell’s toolbox.

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Mordecai, one of three quarterbacks to commit to Wisconsin from the transfer portal, concluded his career at SMU as the program’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns and third in passing yards. While his 278-yard effort and strong performance during the second half against Washington State could not ignite a Badger comeback, the Texas native voiced a glass half full outlook on UW’s position down the line.

“I think we’re right there,” Mordecai said. “It’s like we can feel it, we can smell it. I think it just goes back to our preparation…trust our gameplan.”

His hopefulness resonated with teammates as well.

Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen, renowned for his bruising style of play, offered a similar perspective on what the season could entail for his iteration of UW’s football program.

“I think we’re really close,” Allen said. “We’ve played two games together. I wouldn’t say people play their best ball in the first two games. I think we’re still growing. This is a pretty complex game, a complex system [with] a lot of moving parts. I think we’re all just still getting comfortable with it. As we keep on playing, we’ll just get better.”

Unlike last season, where surprising losses and shifts in the coaching staff seemed to haunt Badger faithfuls, this group appears unruffled and self-assured.

The Badgers, dialed in on their next opponent, flushed their recent failure down the drain before Tuesday’s practice. Mordecai, the man most prone to scrutiny, employed a short-term memory when acknowledging the recent adversity.

“Sunday, we watched the film, we learned from our mistakes,” Mordecai said. “After that, it’s all about Georgia Southern. So that’s what we’ve been focusing on, our opponent this week and not trying to dwell on what happened last week…all you can do is get back to work.”

Similar to his head coach, Mordecai’s evident confidence and composure on the gridiron translates to how he operates outside the athletic realm.

Allen, arguably the most draft-ready skill player on the roster, acknowledged the significance of his quarterback’s mental fortitude on the entire offensive unit.

“I think he’s really poised,” Allen said. “Obviously you saw him take control of the offense in the second half and make a comeback for us. [He] made some huge plays, both with his legs and through the air. So I think that’s kind of where his experience comes into play, being in those situations before and just keeping his head on straight, keeping us in the game.”

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After recording 17 carries and 144 yards in Wisconsin’s first bout of the 2023-2024 campaign, Allen witnessed his responsibilities dwindle on the road. In a split backfield with Chez Mellusi, establishing consistency could prove challenging for offensive coordinator Phil Longo and company.

Like any premier athlete, the 19-year-old expected a few more touches following his seven-carry output in Washington. His priorities, though, revolve around departing the playing field as a victor, something Fickell prioritized as soon as he arrived in Madison.

“Obviously, a little bit disappointing, more so due to the fact that we lost the game,” Allen said. “If we win the game, obviously you feel a little different about it, but … [I] wish I had a little bit more of an impact on the game. Whatever it takes to win is just kind of the fact. That we didn’t win stung more. I’m willing to do whatever.”

In one of the Badgers’ most highly anticipated seasons of recent memory, UW’s most prolific athletes feel self-assured and ready to develop into a formidable member of the Big Ten. Like anything new, the program may encounter some early turbulence.

“We’re excited about moving forward because there is no time to rest and relax,” Fickell said. “The reality is you’ve got a 2-0 Georgia Southern team that knocked off Nebraska last year at home, so hopefully that is a great awareness to all of us.”

In its third game of the season, Wisconsin returned to Camp Randall where they secured a 35-14 victory over Georgia Southern University on Saturday, Sept. 16

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Amongst a strong field of competitors, UW finished in second place out of 15 teams. Leading the way was true freshman Kate Brody, who has emerged as one of the top performers early on.

Brody shot a total of 215 over the three days, finishing one shot below par to place sixth. After the first day of action, Brody emerged in second place behind the eventual winner — Camryn Carreon of the University of Texas at San Antonio.

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This came with varying weather and course conditions throughout the entirety of the tournament, something that head coach Todd Oehrlein noted on Sunday.

“The greens were fast, breeze blowing, made it a little challenging for club selection,” Oehrlein said. “But, overall I thought we did a good job.”

The Badgers overcame those initial worries and took advantage of the home course with ease. In addition to Brody’s prowess on the greens, Vanessa Ho followed and tied for 10th with a score of 218, two-over-par.

Ho had performed consistently throughout the tournament, finishing with scores of 72, 73 and 73 on each of the three days.

Carly Carter, after a quality showing at the Cougar Classic a week ago, tied for 14th with a score of 219, good for four-over-par.

UW rounded out the scoring with Chloe Chan and Alexia Siehl, as each athlete did enough to maintain the Badgers’ spot within the top three. Chan tied for 37th, rising 20 spots on the final day.

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Their valiant effort on the final day allowed UW to overcome a deficit against Delaware, shooting two-over-par and making up six points. The Badgers finished at nine-over-par as a team, besting the Blue Hens’ 10-over score.

South Florida stood out amongst the field, shooting three-under-par as a team for the tournament — taking the crown in a dominant fashion.

It was a step in the right direction for UW, who now looks to maintain their momentum at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate in Denver, Colorado, from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8.

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Through the Recreation & Wellbeing program at the University of Wisconsin, any student can sign up to play in a multitude of sports, including volleyball, basketball, softball and more.

The program provides opportunities for students to be active and create new friendships outside the constant grind of academics in the classroom setting. UW recently upgraded the system in which you sign up to play, offering students easier access to create teams and know their schedules using Fusion Play.

“You can organize it by category, so you can check certain boxes such as your gender, sport and times and days that you’re available to play,” University of Wisconsin junior Nate Navarro said. “Then, it will give you a bunch of options with a link that you send to your teammates, and then you click the link which makes them download the app. You send an invitation and get hooked up pretty easily.”

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Through the use of Fusion Play, the Recreation & Wellbeing program at UW has the ability to track statistics, stream live gameplay and display schedules throughout the season. It’s a simple tool, making the sport feel similar to the intramural student-athletes.

Positive feedback has spread across the nation about the app, as it has gained support from other large institutions such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Baylor University. Similar sentiments are being expressed at UW.

“It definitely took a minute to figure out, but I use the app and it seems a lot more organized than the old system,” Navarro said. “So, I’m pretty happy with it.”

Navarro is an experienced intramural participant at UW. Here in Madison, Navarro has been a part of intramurals for the first two years of school, and plans to continue to play throughout his junior year. He’s played in basketball, volleyball and soccer in his first two years enrolled as a Badger.

Navarro has taken advantage of the multiple chances the Recreation & Wellbeing program has offered at UW, using his experience as a break from the academic wear-and-tear of college student life.

“I think it’s a great way to get a good group of friends together, and you just go out and have fun,” Navarro said. “Sports have always been my escape, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to be able to play some competitive games at an organized level with refs and all of that, without too much stress or anything around that. It’s a good academic escape.”

While Navarro has been involved in intramurals for multiple years now, it started in the fall of his freshman year. Sophomore Ryan Kwon had a similar experience, as he discovered his love for intramurals in the fall 0f 2022.

Action-packed summer paves way for exciting fall for Badger AthleticsFootball Sweeping changes and high expectations for the upcoming season defined an eventful summer for sports at the University of Read…

Kwon gathered a group of freshmen as a new student at UW, and played in a two-month season of volleyball.

“When I came to Wisconsin, I knew I always wanted to get involved with it, whether it was club sports or intramural sports,” Kwon said. “So, when I didn’t make the team for club volleyball, I gathered a group of guys who also played volleyball and from there we just found the [intramural] league.”

Kwon created college memories on the court in a fun, low-commitment league. While summarizing their eventful year, he recalled a major comeback during one of their matches as his favorite moment of the season.

Playing once a week, sometimes even twice, Kwon developed new friendships with his peers and found the ability to be active in the middle of a stressful school schedule.

“Some of the guys that I played with are some of my best friends on campus,” Kwon said. “So I’ve definitely created a bond with them. It’s all really fun, and I’ve always loved playing volleyball.”

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In addition to the memories, bonds and distraction from academic life, the competition level throughout the leagues is noteworthy.

Many high school athletes come to college and are left with just academics after being used to participating in one or multiple sports previously, such as Navarro and Kwon. Recreation & Wellbeing’s intramural program allows students to fulfill that lasting competitive drive.

“It gets intense, which is something that I appreciate,” Navarro said about the gameplay. “I like how they have an A and B league for most sports. You can kind of feel out where you’re at and join the appropriate league. If you want to play in the A league, it’s pretty competitive.”

As new friendships evolve and students return to their competitiveness, the intramural league will continue to grow at UW, including the sports it offers this fall.

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After weathering yet another shaky start in the first half, where the Badgers faced a 137-yard deficit, Luke Fickell’s squad continued its second-half success. UW forced three turnovers that led to points on the offensive side.

Sophomore safety Hunter Wohler led the way on the defensive side of the ball. The safety notched 10 total tackles, a sack and two timely interceptions.

“We’ve had some adversity,” Luke Fickell said after the game. “We’ve been put in situations where you have no choice … You come out the second half and you lay down, or you come out the second half and dig deep and find out where that passion is coming from.”

This week’s blowout win comes at a critical time for the Badgers following last week’s upset loss against Washington State. After recording a negative turnover ratio through their first two weeks of play, the Badgers were able to record six total turnovers and protected the ball on the offensive side.

“When the plays were there, they had an opportunity to make them,” Fickell said. “Coach Brady [Collins] said that with about two minutes and 13 seconds to go, ‘Hey, we’re in the positive in the turnover.’ I said, ‘Don’t you dare jinx this thing; who knows what can happen in two minutes and 15 seconds.’”

On the offensive side of the ball, the Badgers were able to once again find success running the football. All 35 of Wisconsin’s points arrived via the ground game.

Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi both combined for 155 yards and three scores. However, it was Tanner Mordecai’s effort on the ground, rather than through the air, that proved to be a key in Saturday’s victory.

The former Southern Methodist University gunslinger rushed seven times for 36 yards and two scores despite being known for his prowess through the air.

“When it comes down to it, he’s an aggressive guy,” Fickell said. “Sometimes we try to hold him back, but the reality is in order for him to be himself, in order for him to do and be the player that he is, he’s got to have some freedom to be able to move around.”

While this victory serves as a solid building block, the Badgers still need to improve in several key areas before conference play. UW is set to open its conference schedule against Purdue Sept. 22.

Despite forcing five interceptions, the Badger defense still struggled to slow the Georgia Southern offense. The Eagles put up 455 offensive yards, 383 of which coming through the air. The Badger secondary will have to improve going forward, especially in zone coverage.

Offensively, the Badgers will need to be better early. For the third straight week, Wisconsin found itself plagued by inconsistency in both the passing and running game. UW put up just seven points in the first half.

While the third quarter heroics have been admirable, Big Ten opponents will be far less forgiving if the Badgers find themselves unable to move the ball in the first half.

“We’ve got to find a way whatever that spark is … whatever that third quarter momentum is or formula is, just try to find it for the first half,” said Fickell.

While the Badgers were able to bounce back after last week’s brutal loss, they still have work to do if they have their eyes set on securing their first West title since 2019. With matchups against Purdue and Iowa both on the horizon, UW will look to tighten the screws.

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The six dimensions of life include social, emotional, financial, intellectual, occupational and physical, according to Forward360. They’re surrounded by nine multidimensional programs.

“The Forward360 model is this idea that Wisconsin Athletics supports its students holistically in their experience,” Associate Director of Community Relations Caitlin Quillen said. “So we think a lot about areas of wellness with student athletes. The most common ones we are going to think of are their physical and mental [health].”

In addition to Badgers Give Back, there are other sections which offer similar services and opportunities — including the likes of academic services, meditation training and performance nutrition, to name a few.

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The other portion of Forward360 focuses on career, leadership and academic advising. It sets a tone to prepare student athletes for their future and form their role within society, outside of sports, emphasized and defined by Badgers Give Back.

“What do you want to do with your skills [and] abilities, your talents to be a part of this community and be a part of a future community,” Quillen said of the approach when entering Badgers Give Back, led by the vision of Assistant Athletic Director for Community Relations Jackie Davenport, who’s worked in the program for a decade.

Athletes’ representation at the University of Wisconsin is key throughout every branch of the community, which is why programs such as these are so influential.

“They [Badgers Give Back] always reach out and say ‘we’re going to collect supplies,’” Vice President of Education of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, Taylor Jackson, said. “Most recently, for the ‘Back to School’ supply drive, they had over 1,000 items that they had collected. So, just a huge amount of resources for our members, but then they also show up and volunteer as well.”

A similar example of the recent work of the Badgers Give Back program was over the summer, helping out with the Miracle League of Dane County. During this time, student athletes spent eight Wednesday’s at Phoebe Bakken Memorial Park in Cottage Grove, located about 10 miles outside UW’s campus, helping manage games and, most importantly, having fun.

It was noticeable, according to the founder and executive director of the Miracle League of Dane County, Bill Schultz. He witnessed the program providing services throughout other aspects of the city, and he wanted to get their help as volunteers for his participants over the summer.

“They came out in a van every Wednesday during the summer,” Schultz said. “I don’t think they expected what they saw and what they experienced, because you could tell in their eyes and through their voices what they have said about it. It just moved them and inspired them more than they ever expected.”

Schultz didn’t have extreme expectations for the group — he just wanted them for a week or so. It eventually changed when they committed for the entire summer.

From the moment the athletes hit the field, the creation of new friendships and bonds ensued, a common result deriving from these experiences for all parties.

“Everything we do, we try to make it sustainable,” Quillen said. “So, it’s really important to Jackie [Davenport] and I that we’re not just showing up in community, doing something, getting a couple of pictures … We’re more concerned about embedding ourselves into that organization and making sure we support them long term.”

Notes, highlights, projections for UW athletics in 2023As the summer comes to a close and the weather begins to cool throughout the Midwest, students at the University Read…

The volunteer work of the athletes allowed children with social and physical disabilities to enjoy and play the game of baseball in a safe manner. Participants now had the opportunity to be a part of the game they loved.

It didn’t stop positive interactions for both the athletes and children, each of whom bonded at a high level.

“The athletes were putting kids on their shoulders and running around the bases with them,” Schultz said. “You had them doing high fives … all kinds of hand gestures, talking to the kids, taking photos with them. And it wasn’t like a photo-op. It was all organic.”

The friendships didn’t end once the gates were locked at Bakken Park, as a future began to develop between the two programs. The Badgers Give Back will be back and volunteering with the Miracle League of Dane County next summer, expanding to more teams due to the number of athletes who volunteered to help out, according to Schultz.

To stay in touch over the offseason, two members of the Wisconsin women’s hockey team asked one of their new friends to join them for a full gameday experience at LaBahn Arena, according to Schultz. Life-changing moments, all through the work of serving the community.

“I think that’s the best part of my job,” Quillen said about the relationships developed between participants and volunteers. “I get to empower student athletes to find their voice and what that looks like in our community.”

As the Badgers Give Back program provided quality services to the Miracle League of Dane County, Schultz realized the potential of the resources the university offers for the future.

It wouldn’t stop at just athletes either. Schultz aspires to gain the help of students enrolled at UW, attempting to offer similar experiences and highlights to those interested.

“It kind of inspired me to work with some other parts of UW for students that might like to get involved,” Schultz said. “Because the Badgers [Give Back] is a great example of the impact it has on [participants].”

Along with the Miracle League of Dane County, the program does work with the UW Children’s Hospital, grocery shopping for the Goodman Center and organizing and delivering supplies for the aforementioned Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, to name a few.

As opportunities arise and volunteer work continues to evolve, the Badgers Give Back program takes advantage. The lasting impact continues to be significant, for everyone.

“We are trying to be active in different spaces where we see that there’s a need and where there’s a voice … to really support and thrive Madison,” Quillen said.

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Sweeping changes and high expectations for the upcoming season defined an eventful summer for sports at the University of Wisconsin.

The first signal that UW Athletic Director Chris Mcintosh would not tolerate mediocrity and transformation was on the horizon came in December, when Mcintosh chose Luke Fickell to lead a complete rebuild of the football program.

From hiring an “Air Raid” offensive coordinator to the influx of transfers in the January portal window, Fickell provided exactly that immediately following his hiring. These changes continued over the summer as Fickell continued to stamp his impact on the program.

The primary focus of every college football program over the summer is its upcoming recruiting class, and this summer, Fickell and co. locked in on convincing rising high school seniors from around the country to pledge their futures to the red and white.

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While there are still several months before early signing day in December, the Badger’s 2024 recruiting class is shaping up to be a great one. With a current overall rank of 24th in the country per 247Sports, this class would be the Badger’s second-best in the past 15 years.

This class also reflects a shift in philosophy due to Fickell’s eagerness to find talents from around the country. The group consists of players from 13 different states and only two players from the state of Wisconsin.

The revamp of the football program will be on more than just the field. Over the summer, Wisconsin hired Van Wagner, a behemoth in the sports production industry, to enhance the in-person experience at Camp Randall.

These changes, including removing Wisconsin’s pregame runout song “Where The Streets Have No Name,” will hopefully improve a Camp Randall game day atmosphere that grew stale by the end of last season. In a recent press conference, Coach Fickell addressed one problem in particular he hoped these changes would tackle.

“I’m curious to see how our students show up,” Fickell said. “If we can try to find a way to get them in a little bit earlier.”

UW junior Nicole Butz offered an outlook similar to Wisconsin football fans throughout the country–overall optimism.

“I think we could be really good this year.,” Butz said. “The team will be a lot more fun than those in the past few years.”

Notes, highlights, projections for UW athletics in 2023As the summer comes to a close and the weather begins to cool throughout the Midwest, students at the University Read…

Men’s Basketball

The eventful summer was not limited to the football team. The Wisconsin men’s basketball team is also working to improve after a lackluster 2022-2023 campaign.

Sophomore guard Conner Essegian and incoming sophomore transfer guard AJ Storr both experienced international competition while representing Armenia and the Bahamas, respectively.

Meanwhile, Greg Gard was busy on the recruitment trail, adding 4-star point guard Daniel Freitag to his 2024 recruiting class. Freitag will be the fifth highest-rated player to ever sign for Wisconsin, according to the 247Sports composite, if he fulfills his commitment.

Men’s Hockey

The other major off-season coaching change in the athletic department was hiring Mike Hastings to lead the Men’s Hockey team. With him, Hastings brought a string of transfers from his previous squad, Minnesota State, to help give the Badgers some more firepower.

Hastings was also hot on the recruiting trail, securing commitments from Center Gavin Morrisey and defenseman Luke Osborn and Logan Hensler. These commitments could be key in the Badger’s quest to revive the former powerhouse program.

Kohl Center and LaBahn Arena

The hockey and basketball teams may also be aided by an off-court decision the athletic department made this summer.

This past month, UW announced it will begin selling alcohol at the Kohl Center and LaBahn Arena for both Basketball and Hockey games. This is a welcome change that could help the atmosphere, according to Ben McLenaghan, the president of Wisconsin’s student section, AreaRED.

“I think that selling alcohol will definitely help more than it hurts,” McLenaghan said. “I think it’s honestly really good timing as we’ve been seeing a general increase in the rowdiness and energy of basketball and hockey fans at the Kohl Center, so I’m glad that this is a compliment to that.”

Several more fall Badger sports have begun or will begin play soon, toting high expectations.

Volleyball

The Wisconsin volleyball team opened the season 5-0, including two wins over #21 Arkansas and a win over #24 Tennessee. This strong start earned the Badgers a first place national ranking in the AVCA Volleyball poll.

Soccer

The Women’s soccer team started the season hot, with three wins, one loss and two draws in their first five games. Buoyed by a dominant 3-0 win against LSU and a hard-fought 0-0 tie on the road against number three North Carolina, the women’s squad should be competitive at the top of the Big Ten once again.

The Badger men’s team is having their best start to the season in years, with three wins and a loss in their first four games. Second-year coach Neil Jones led the team to a victory over Kentucky, the number two team in the country at the time. The United Soccer Coaches recently awarded the team with a ranking of number 21, their highest ranking since 2018.

Cross Country

The Cross country programs will also begin their seasons with lofty goals. The men’s team was ranked #5, and the Women’s team was ranked #18 in the USTFCCCA national preseason poll.

Among all the hoopla of conference realignment, Chris McIntosh and the athletic department have not been afraid to make changes they believe will best position the Badgers for the future. As the fall season gets underway, we’ll see if their choices pay off.

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The tradition was born Oct. 10, 1998 when the University of Wisconsin played Purdue in their homecoming match, according to the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

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“I feel like the ‘Jump Around’ is nationally recognized as one of the most present football traditions around the country,” UW junior Ainsley McElligott said. “‘Jump Around’ isn’t the main reason I go to football games but I will always wait to leave until after they’ve done ‘Jump Around.’ I think a lot of people come to Badger games to experience this tradition.”

“Jump Around” originated when injured tight end Ryan Sondrup, a 1999 graduate, was interning for the UW Athletics marketing team. He wanted to create more excitement in the stadium. He decided to inquire about making a stadium playlist with former Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing Kevin Kluender, according to ESPN.

Sondrup’s teammate Erik Waisanen, a 2000 graduate, was bartending at Wando’s, a local bar, when Sondrup decided to come in to test out different songs for the next game. After only hearing the first four notes of “Jump Around” blast at Wando’s, they immediately decided it needed to be heard throughout Camp Randall, according to ESPN.

The following Saturday, the game was tight going into the fourth quarter, the Badgers only leading by a touchdown against the Drew Brees-led Purdue team. At the start of the final stretch, the speakers blared the House of Pain hit and the stadium was lifted. Everyone jumped along to the catchy lyrics of “Jump Around,” according to the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

The tradition never died and has been going strong until this very day. Every game, Camp Randall explodes to “Jump Around” before the fourth quarter to give the Badgers an extra push with a single game exception in 2003 due to stadium renovations. Going just one game without hearing the song sent fans into an uproar, leading administrators to get the engineers approval for it to play at the next game, according to the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

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“The ‘Jump Around’ tradition gives me a sense of pride for being at Wisconsin,” McElligott said. “Almost every person around the country has heard of the ‘Jump Around’ tradition and it makes me feel proud for being part of it. I think every person that goes to the football games waits for ‘Jump Around.’ You really haven’t gone to a Badger game if you haven’t jumped around.”

Everlast, the House of Pain front man, paid a visit to the Badgers Nov. 5, 2022 for the Maryland game. Thanking Wisconsin for keeping the song alive for 30 years and counting, Everlast got to experience the enthusiasm fans bring to the game, according to ESPN.

“It’s so culturally recognized,” UW sophomore Grayson Mandl said. “It’s something that if you’re not a football fan, you can enjoy it. And even as a football fan, it makes the game more exciting.”

“Jump Around” not only motivates spectators, but has in turn impacted game outcomes for the Badgers. The Badgers have rallied back from trailing their opponent in the fourth quarter after being energized by the stadium.

Highlighted on Sept. 24, 2005, UW welcomed No. 14 ranked Michigan to Camp Randall Stadium, and trailed in a back-and-forth affair heading into the fourth quarter. Down 20–16, quarterback John Stocco snuck through the defense and scored a touchdown to put the Badgers up 23-20 with 24 seconds remaining. Eventually, they won the game and defended their home turf with an upset victory.

Similarly, on Nov. 15, 2008, Wisconsin took on their Thanksgiving rivals in a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Down after the third quarter, Wisconsin was looking for a burst of energy to get on top. Camp Randall brought the excitement to the players with “Jump Around” and turned the game around winning 35–32, according to ESPN.

“It is a very important part of Wisconsin football culture, because it gets everybody excited for something that’s late in the game,” Mandl said. “And it doesn’t matter if they’re winning or losing, everybody still is good. You can even see it when the other teams come in … they’re taking it all in.”

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The Badgers entered the contest having won five of their last six matchups against the Golden Eagles with an overall series record of 11-7-5.

Wisconsin continued to ride the hot hand of UCLA transfer Nate Crockford at goalkeeper, who had only conceded two goals all season prior to this battle. Opposite him was Marquette sophomore Ludvig Målberg, a key reason why Marquette remains perfect so far this season.

The Golden Eagles jumped on the Badgers early, as just one minute in, forward Ryan Amond collected the ball off a throw-in, then sliced through the Wisconsin defense, playing a delightful one-two off midfielder Edrey Caceres. Amond then slid the ball past Crockford, giving Marquette the 1-0 advantage.

Moments later, the Golden Eagles nearly doubled their lead when forward Abdoul Karim Pare juked past Nils Vallotto, but his curling strike went just wide of Crockford’s net. Marquette continued to pile on the pressure as Crockford parried a long-distance effort from Caceres.

After a slow start, UW fought back. A Birgir Baldvinsson corner bounced out to Tim Bielic, whose shot deflected over Målberg and into the top corner, evening the game at 1-1 in the 14th minute.

Marquette got their next big chance off a counterattack following a Badger corner. Amond played an over-the-top through ball toward Karim Pare, who found himself one-on-one with Crockford. Crockford, however, came up with a huge kick save to keep the score even.

Minutes later, another Marquette longball reached striker Brooklyn Merl on the edge of the Badgers’ box. Merl brought the ball down and fired a looping shot over the outstretched arms of Crockford and into the net, restoring Marquette’s lead in the 37th minute.

The score remained 2-1 into halftime, leaving the Badgers with an enormous task ahead of them if they wanted to avoid their second defeat of the season.

A slow start formulated for the Badgers in the second half, similar to the beginning of the match. Marquette forward Noah Madrigal cut the ball back to Caceres, whose shot deflected past a helpless Crockford into the net, giving Marquette a 3-1 lead just 28 seconds into the second frame.

Marquette gave the Badgers a golden opportunity in the 51st minute, as defender Jai Hsieh-Bailey powerfully slid after a loose ball, but caught Maxwell Keenan instead. The referee deemed this violent conduct, leading to an eventual red card handed to Bailey, putting the Golden Eagles a man down for the final 40 minutes of action.

On the ensuing free kick, Caceres deflected Baldvinsson’s cross back toward his own net, but Målberg just managed to tip the ball over the bar for a corner kick.

The Badgers thought they had their second goal a few minutes later when Thomas Raimbault tapped in a Ryan Keefe-headed pass. The linesman, however, judged Keefe to be offside, so the goal was ruled out.

Marquette continued to stifle Wisconsin’s attack for the remainder of the game, securing a 3-1 victory for the Golden Eagles.

The Badgers continue their season this Friday with their Big Ten opener on the road against Indiana University.

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The field consisted of multiple quality Power 5 opponents, including the likes of Ohio State University, Iowa University and the University of Minnesota to name a few. A successful day began with the running of the men’s 8000 meter race.

It was Joshua Truchon who stole the show, as the West Allis, Wisconsin native and former Gatorade Athlete of the Year turned in the winning time of 24:10, placing first amongst a pool of 62 competitors.

Truchon’s performance was ultimately the vision of the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, Mick Byrne, who allowed some of his underclassmen to compete at the college level. 

“We’ll put some guys in there and give them an opportunity and see where they’re at,” Byrne said in a press conference last week. “Hopefully, they’ll be guys that’ll contribute later on in the season when it really matters.”

The men’s team placed fourth out of six squads, paced by Truchon. 

On the other hand, the women’s team finished first as a team to begin their season. Seven of the top eight runners return for the Badgers this season, according to Byrne. Some had the chance to run Saturday.

In the 5200 meter race, it was Victoria Heiligenthal, Isabella Jacobsen and Danielle Orie who turned in times of 18:18 to establish themselves within the top-10. 

Pack-running was the key to success for the women’s team on a warm day in the Madison area, as Samantha Stieve and Kylie Finger rounded out the scoring for UW, placing 11th and 14th respectively. Stieve clocked in at 18:23 and Finger followed at 18:33. The cardinal and white were able to fend off a strong Michigan team, who combined to score 49 points, finishing in second.

Both teams earn some time off to continue to develop and train before they travel to Chicago on Sept. 29 to compete in the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational, hosted by Loyola University Chicago.

The Badger Classic was just one of four meets Wisconsin will host in the 2023 season, as the Zimmer Championship Course will be the home of the Nuttycombe Invitational Oct. 13, Big Ten Cross Country Championships Oct. 27 and the Great Lakes Regional Nov. 10.

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