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3 quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s spring practice No. 12: Defense soars on interception-filled day

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3 quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s spring practice No. 12: Defense soars on interception-filled day


The Wisconsin Badgers had their 12th practice of the spring and their final one before Saturday’s spring showcase, where fans will get a chance to see their new-look team early in the offseason.

To say the least, it was a rough day for the offense, as the defense thrived throughout the morning, racking up highlight play after highlight play.

Here are three quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s spring practice No. 12.

Interceptions steal the day

The Badgers defense had six (yes, six!) interceptions on Thursday, as the offense had the worst day yet. To make matters worse, much of the damage came when the top teams faced off.

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Senior quarterback Billy Edwards had a day to forget, throwing four interceptions, each of which was either a poor decision or a throw by the transfer. The problem? Edwards didn’t have many positive plays or a bounce-back away from the interceptions.

He airmailed a throw to the sideline for Jayden Ballard on a great play design that got him free between the intermediate and deep levels against Cover 2. He had a pass batted at the line of scrimmage. There were a few sacks on the day. There were some snap issues. And, more importantly, there weren’t the explosive plays that offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’s offense was predicated on.

The Badgers offense has been very inconsistent through the first 12 practices of the spring, especially in the passing game. Sophomore quarterback Danny O’Neil had a few spot reps with the first-team offense on Thursday in a change, and Wisconsin also gave some second-team reps to walk-on Milos Spasojevic as a result.

The backups didn’t have much better results either. O’Neil had an interception that safety Matt Jung plucked out of the air, while Spasojevic threw a pick to freshman Cooper Catalano, who made a great catch.

There was just zero life for an offense that has really been looking to pick things up, although some crafty play designs continued to come out.

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The biggest play of the day was when Spasojevic came in with the second-team offense, as the walk-on hit freshman wide receiver Eugene Hilton with a sweet over-the-shoulder ball that the wideout slowed down for to haul in.

But, apart from that, it was primarily a defense-dominated day with tons of interceptions.

Freshmen getting extended looks

The Badgers 2025 freshmen class had quite a few early enrollees, as nearly two-thirds of the group came to campus this spring.

There have been several players who are starting to make plays, but a few are beginning to separate themselves with chances alongside either the first or second-team offense.

Leading the way is freshman wide receiver Eugene Hilton, who has been a feature with the No. 2 offense all spring long. Now, understand that wide receivers see quite a bit of rotation, so there aren’t really any set groups at the position, but it’s notable that Hilton is getting as many opportunities as he is this early.

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For the first time that I’ve seen this spring, Hilton was in there with the first-team offense for a few snaps as the Badgers rotated receivers, playing on the boundary with Tyrell Henry in the slot.

In addition, some of the freshmen offensive linemen are already getting thrown into the fire. Offensive tackle Nolan Davenport quickly ascended to the second-team right tackle spot, which he’s had to hold down as reserve tackle Barrett Nelson is out for the spring with an injury.

But, Hardy Watts has also seen some opportunities, and he was a fixture at right guard with the second-team offense on Thursday as Kerry Kodanko assumed the first-team duties while J.P. Benzschawel and Emerson Mandell did not partake in team drills.

It’ll take some time for the freshmen offensive linemen to develop, especially shape-wise, but it’s a notable step that they’re getting thrown in the fire this early.

Cooper Catalano had his best day yet, as he caught a nice jumping interception, breaking on an out-route that was thrown behind the intended target. He later also caused a fumble on wide receiver Davion Thomas-Kumpula working in space.

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As the Badgers get into the fall, much of the focus will be on their developing 2024 and 2025 classes, which will be integral to the team’s success over the next few years.

Safeties continue to shine

Earlier this spring, I noted the safety room as a strength, as the group bounced back well from the loss of Hunter Wohler with some key retentions and additions.

Moving Austin Brown back to safety has provided the room with more depth, alongside returning starter Preston Zachman, while transfer additions Matt Jung and Matthew Traynor have made their marks at certain times in the spring.

On Thursday, it was Zachman and Jung’s turn to shine.

Zachman had the best day of any defender, finding his way around the football on several occasions. I charted him with three interceptions or very-close interceptions on Billy Edwards, as the safety just found a way to be around the ball and capitalize when chances were there.

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Jung, on the other hand, had a sweet interception (or near interception) by breaking well on the ball, and he was constantly around the ball.

Jung is built like a linebacker at 6’3, 225 pounds, and he drives downhill to make plays at the line of scrimmage. But, he also has a nose for the football, as seen with his nine interceptions and four pick-sixes a season ago.

The Badgers safety room will definitely be tested by a tough schedule, but they’ve seemed to have found some gems in the group, which bodes well for defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s new scheme.



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Insider: Wisconsin Man Charged With Possession Of Virtual Child Pornography

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Insider: Wisconsin Man Charged With Possession Of Virtual Child Pornography


POLK COUNTY (DrydenWire) – An investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, into multiple cybertips from Google about suspected child sexual abuse materials has resulted in felony charges for a Wisconsin Man.

Cody Struemke, age 27, of Amery, WI, is facing nearly a dozen charges for possessing child pornography, including Felony Possession of Virtual Child Pornography.

The criminal complaint against him alleges that Struemke saved a photo from Facebook of juveniles known to him, and digitally edited the photo to make it appear they were nude.

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Wisconsin health professionals share tips to protect against respiratory illnesses

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Wisconsin health professionals share tips to protect against respiratory illnesses


MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -Respiratory illness season has begun in Wisconsin, with health professionals reporting increased flu cases and higher demand for medications and vaccines.

Over-the-counter medicines are flying off the shelves at Forward Pharmacy in McFarland, according to manager Tony Peterangelo.

“We’ve had to increase like how much of some of that stuff we’ve kept on hand,” Peterangelo said. “We had to make some special orders to really bulk up on some of it too.”

Forward Pharmacy manager Tony Peterangelo filling prescriptions as the respiratory illness season begins.(WMTV/Camberyn Kelley)

Upland Hills physician Benjamin Hecht said the respiratory illness season typically begins after Thanksgiving.

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“As of right now, we are just starting in the last week or two to see some Influenza A. Last year was a pretty tough flu year for us, influenza in Wisconsin. It’s still to be seen how severe of a year this is going to be in 2025-26,” he said.

Respiratory viruses are hard to avoid according to the Upland Hills physician.

“You can wear masks and wash your hands a ton, but you’re going to get exposed to these viruses at some point,” Dr. Hecht said.

RSV poses concern for young children

Dr. Hecht said another concern this season is RSV, particularly for young children with developing immune systems.

“The kids that get this, especially the really young kids, that don’t have a mature immune system, they can get pretty sick from RSV. That’s a particularly scary one. If you’re in a position where you qualify to get that vaccination or perhaps your kids do, please consider that,” Dr. Hecht said.

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Forward Pharmacy is meeting demand for vaccines, which Peterangelo said can help protect against viruses.

“All of that stuff reduces the need to scramble on the back end to get antibiotics and cough suppressants. It doesn’t completely reduce your risk, but it reduces it enough that your likelihood of getting that is down,” Peterangelo said.

Forward Pharmacy is meeting demand for vaccines, which Peterangelo said can help protect...
Forward Pharmacy is meeting demand for vaccines, which Peterangelo said can help protect against viruses.(WMTV/Camberyn Kelley)

The pharmacy has given out dozens of flu and covid shots in a day.

“I would say maybe in the 60 to 80 range,” Peterangelo said.

Dr. Hecht said influenza B will come later in the season. He recommends people with severe respiratory symptoms like breathing troubles to see a doctor.

“The big thing is just living a healthy lifestyle, staying well hydrated, getting good sleep, doing what you can with physical activity and exercise to make sure your immune system is in tip top shape,” Dr. Hecht said.

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According to new CDC data, doctor visits for flu-like symptoms rose to more than 3% in the last two weeks. The majority of flu cases are caused by a mutated strain that causes more severe illness, particularly among older adults.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.



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Former Trump aides appear in Wisconsin court over 2020 election fraud charges

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Former Trump aides appear in Wisconsin court over 2020 election fraud charges


MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Two attorneys and an aide who all worked on President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign appeared in court Monday for a preliminary hearing in Wisconsin on felony forgery charges related to a fake elector scheme.

The Wisconsin case is moving forward even as others in the battleground states of Michigan and Georgia have faltered. A special prosecutor last year dropped a federal case alleging Trump conspired to overturn the 2020 election. Another case in Nevada is still alive.

The Wisconsin case was filed a year ago but has been tied up as the Trump aides have fought, unsuccessfully so far, to have the charges dismissed.

The hearing on Monday comes a week after Trump attorney Jim Troupis, one of the three who were charged, tried unsuccessfully to get the judge to step down in the case and have it moved to another county. Troupis, who the other two defendants joined in his motion, alleged that the judge did not write a previous order issued in August declining to dismiss the case. Instead, he accused the father of the judge’s law clerk, a retired judge, of actually writing the opinion.

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Troupis, who served one year as a judge in the same county where he was charged, also alleged that all of the judges in Dane County are biased against him and he can’t get a fair trial.

Dane County Circuit Judge John Hyland said he and a staff attorney alone wrote the order. Hyland also said Troupis presented no evidence to back up his claims of bias and refused to step down or delay the hearing.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the allegations.

The same judge will determine at Monday’s hearing whether there’s enough evidence to proceed with the charges against the three.

The former Trump aides face 11 felony charges each related to their roles in the 2020 fake elector scheme. In addition to Troupis, the other defendants are Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who advised Trump’s campaign, and Mike Roman, Trump’s director of Election Day operations in 2020.

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The Wisconsin Department of Justice, headed by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, brought the felony forgery charges in 2024, alleging that the three defrauded the 10 Republican electors who cast their ballots for Trump in 2020.

Prosecutors contend the three lied to the Republicans about how the certificate they signed would be used as part of a plan to submit paperwork to then-Vice President Mike Pence, falsely claiming that Trump had won the battleground state that year.

The complaint said a majority of the 10 Republicans told investigators that they were needed to sign the elector certificate indicating Trump had won only to preserve his legal options if a court changed the outcome of the election in Wisconsin.

A majority of the electors told investigators that they did not believe their signatures on the elector certificate would be submitted to Congress without a court ruling, the complaint said. Also, a majority said they did not consent to having their signatures presented as if Trump had won without such a court ruling, the complaint said.

Federal prosecutors who investigated Trump’s conduct related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot said the fake electors scheme originated in Wisconsin.

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The Trump associates have argued that no crime took place. But the judge in August rejected their arguments in allowing the case to proceed to Monday’s preliminary hearing.

Trump lost Wisconsin in 2020 but fought to have the defeat overturned. He won the state in both 2016 and 2024.

The state charges against the Trump attorneys and aide are the only ones in Wisconsin. None of the electors have been charged. The 10 Wisconsin electors, Chesebro and Troupis all settled a lawsuit that was brought against them seeking damages.

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This story has been corrected to show that the attorneys who are charged formerly worked on Trump’s campaign, but are still practicing attorneys.

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