Wisconsin

These are the Wisconsin-tied athletes heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics

Published

2 months ago

January 14, 2026

These are the Wisconsin-tied athletes heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics begin Feb. 6 (with some preliminary matches starting earlier), and Wisconsin will be well represented at the showcase in Milano/Cortina, Italy. That includes a powerhouse in speed skating, a 20-year-old luger from Brookfield and a laundry list of current and former Wisconsin Badgers in women’s hockey.

Here are the people to know:

BIATHLON

Deedra Irwin, 33, Pulaski

She started biathlon at age 25 after attending a camp and will now appear in her second Olympics after taking seventh in Beijing, the best finish for an American in an individual biathlon event. She attended Michigan Tech where she played three sports (cross-country skiing, cross country and track and field).

Paul Schommer, 33, Appleton

Also an Olympian in Beijing, the Kimberly High School alumnus Schommer took seventh in the 4x6k mixed relay. He attended The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Kevin Bolger, 32, Minocqua

At the Beijing Olympics, he took ninth in the 4x10k relay and 17th in the men’s sprint freestyle. He most recently took seventh in a relay at the 2025 world championships.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Wisconsin is all over the women’s hockey scene, with a whopping five current players suiting up in the Olympics (four for team USA) and a total of 12 current or former players competing for either USA, Canada or Czechia. The U.S. will be a gold-medal favorite one Olympics cycle after taking second to Canada. The arch-rivalry has ample UW presence on both sides.

The head coach of the women’s team, John Wroblewski, is a native of Neenah. Current University of Wisconsin athletic trainer Stefanie Arndtand former UW director of operations/equipment manager Sis Paulsen are on the Team USA staff, as well.

Britta Curl-Salemme, 25, University of Wisconsin

She played for UW from 2018-24, and the North Dakota native now plays in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, where her Minnesota Frost team won the league title in 2025. She’s competed in four World Championships for Team USA.

Laila Edwards, 21, University of Wisconsin

The Ohio native has played on two World Championships teams and will become the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s Olympic team after she already became the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s senior national team. She’s one of four current Badgers on Team USA.

Caroline Harvey, 23, University of Wisconsin

The New Hamsphire native is perhaps the top player in the country, leading the nation in assists and sitting second in points. The defender could become the first overall pick in the upcoming Professional Women’s Hockey League draft. This already is on her second Olympics; she played on the 2022 team before she even began her UW playing career.

Hilary Knight, 36, University of Wisconsin

A legend in the sport, she’ll be competing in her fifth Olympics, the most of any women’s hockey player in U.S. history. She won two national titles at Wisconsin and remains the UW career scoring leader with 143 goals (second in points at 262). She’s been a Team USA captain since 2023.

Ava McNaughton, 21, University of Wisconsin

One of three goaltenders on Team USA, she’s the second-youngest player on the team. The Pennsylvania native ranks second in the NCAA with a 1.27 goals-against average.

Kirsten Simms, 21, University of Wisconsin

She’s playing in her first Olympics after two stints on the World Championship teams. She’s one of nine Badgers to clear 200 career points, including the game-tying and winning goals in the thrilling 2024 title-game win over Ohio State.

Emily Clark, 30, University of Wisconsin (playing for Canada)

Now a three-time Olympian with a gold and silver already to her name, Clark is back for one more round. She was part of the Badgers’ 2019 championship team.

Blayre Turnbull, 32, University of Wisconsin (playing for Canada)

She played for Wisconsin from 2011-15 and is bouncing back from a scary 2021 injury in which she broke her fibula celebrating the IIHF Women’s World Championship victory. She received her gold medal with a smile on her face, on a stretcher. She had a goal and two assists in the semifinal win of the 2022 Olympics, a 10-3 win over Switzerland.

Daryl Watts, 26, University of Wisconsin (playing for Canada)

The first-time Olympian transferred to Wisconsin in 2019 and set a program record for most assists in a season with 49, leading the NCAA with 74 points. She had the game-winning goal in overtime against Northeastern in the NCAA championship game in 2021.

Ann-Renee Desbiens, 31, University of Wisconsin (playing for Canada)

The goalie won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2017 and led the Badgers to four Frozen Fours, breaking the NCAA record for shutouts along the way. She won a silver medal in 2018 and gold in 2022, when she made 38 saves in the final game against USA.

Sarah Nurse, 31, University of Wisconsin (playing for Canada)

She played with the Badgers from 2013-17. In 2018, she scored what turned out to be the winning goal for Canada in her team’s 2-1 win over the United States in pool play. Though the U.S. won that gold medal, she posted a tournament-leading 18 points at the 2022 Olympics as Canada defeated USA in the final, with Nurse notching a goal and assist.

Adéla Šapovalivov, 19, University of Wisconsin (playing for Czechia)

The current Badgers freshman forward (and fifth current UW player to play in the Olympics) is the first European player to play for UW and the first Badger to appear in the Olympics for a team other than USA or Canada. Her team will face Team USA on Feb. 5 in Milan. She was named Best Forward at the 2024 U18 Women’s World Championships.

LUGE

Marcus Mueller, 20, Brookfield

Mueller, a Brookfield Central alumnus, won the U23 world championship in men’s doubles with teammate Ansel Haugsjaa in 2025 and is a three-time junior World Cup gold medalist in men’s doubles, as well. The pair will team up in Cortina as well. As a 12-year-old, Mueller made a luge track in his basement.

NORDIC COMBINED

Ben Loomis, 27, Eau Claire

Loomis will head to the Olympics for a third time after competing in Pyeongchang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022. Last Olympics, he took sixth on the team large hill event, and he took 10th in that event four years earlier. The event features cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Loomis, who moved to Utah as a teenager but still learned ski jumping at Flying Eagles Ski Club in Eau Claire, was the USSA Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year in 2016 and joined the Army in 2019.

SPEED SKATING

Jordan Stolz, 21, Kewaskum

The young speed-skating phenom has a chance to become the face of the Olympics for the United States, in any sport. With his specialties in the 500 meters, 1,000 meters and 1,500 meters, he has a real chance to win three golds. He has 10 medals overall in world championships races, including seven gold and two silver.

Emery Lehman, 29, Marquette University

Heading to his third Olympics, the Illinois native already has a bronze medal to his name after winning it in Beijing in 2022 with the men’s team pursuit. He took gold in the same event in 2025 at the world championships. He played club hockey during his days at Marquette. In 2014, Lehman became the youngest male U.S. speed skater to make his Olympic debut, besting a record previously set by Wisconsin speed-skating legend Eric Heiden in 1976.

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Wisconsin

Sister Bay, Wisconsin: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Published

2 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Sister Bay, Wisconsin: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Located in scenic Door County, Wisconsin, the town of Sister Bay is a waterfront town directly on Green Bay. Outdoor enthusiasts head to Sister Bay for its access to hiking trails, nature preserves, and water pursuits such as boating, fishing, and ice-skating during winter. The town hosts a number of seasonal festivals including a film fest, marina fest, outdoor concert series, and the Door County Festival of Fine Arts. The annual Roofing of the Goats Parade is a popular event tied to Al Johnson’s, a local restaurant known for goats that graze on its rooftop during summer months.

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Wisconsin

Vote: Who is Wisconsin High School Boys Basketball’s Top Guard of 2025-26?

Published

15 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Vote: Who is Wisconsin High School Boys Basketball’s Top Guard of 2025-26?

With the action-packed Wisconsin high school boys basketball regular season completed and March Madness beginning, it’s time to take a look at some of the outstanding players and cast your vote for the best.

We began by looking at the most prolific individual scoring threats, talented 3-point shooters,strong rebounders, and top free-throw shooters so now it’s time to take a look at the high-caliber guards from throughout the state.

There are hundreds of high-caliber boys basketball players in Wisconsin, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

Voting remains open until March 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

(Players are listed in alphabetical order and all nominees are leaders from the 2025-26 season as compiled by Bound.com, and WIAA; the poll is below the list of athletes)

Castillo is averaging 25.4 points per game with 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals for Greendale (18-6 overall record).

Collien is averaging 15 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Oakfield (21-3 overall record).

Edwards is averaging 14.1 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for D.C. Everest (21-3 overall record).

Gray Jr. was averaging 24.3 points per game with 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals prior for West Allis Central (22-2 overall record).

Hereford is averaging 36.4 points per game with 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 4.1 steals for Beloit Memorial (22-2 overall record).

Johnson is averaging 27.3 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 steals for Milwaukee Juneau (22-1 overall record).

Jones is averaging 23.3 points per game with 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals for Germantown (15-9 overall record).

Kern is averaging 16 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for New Berlin West (21-3 overall record).

Kilgore is averaging 14.6 points per game with 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 steals for Kewaunee (24-0 overall record).

Kohnen is averaging 16.3 points per game with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals for Slinger (20-4 overall record).

Knueppel is averaging 17.4 points per game with 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals for Wisconsin Lutheran (24-0 overall record).

Loose is averaging 18.2 points per game with 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals for Port Washington (23-1 overall).

Manchester is averaging 35.8 points per game for Mount Horeb (19-5 overall record).

Platz is averaging 19.5 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals for Brookfield East (19-5 overall record).

Prochnow is averaging 21.3 points per game with 11.1 assists, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 steals for Reedsville (21-3 overall record).

Resch is averaging 21.3 points per game with 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals for Arrowhead (18-6 overall record).

Schultz is averaging 27.4 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals for Plymouth (17-7 overall record).

Schwalbach is averaging 15 points per game with 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for Kaukauna (21-3 overall).

Sweeney is averaging 15.5 points per game for Appleton North (20-4 overall record).

Vandenberg is averaging 13 points per game with 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds for Freedom (23-1 overall).

About Our Player Poll Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

— Jeff Hagenau | jeffreyhagenau@gmail.com

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