Wisconsin

James Thompson Jr. is ready for Wisconsin’s bowl game and eager to lead the defensive line in 2024

Published

5 months ago

December 27, 2023

James Thompson Jr. is ready for Wisconsin’s bowl game and eager to lead the defensive line in 2024

MADISON – Even with one game remaining this season, James Thompson Jr. has already started to contemplate his goals for the 2024 season.

Thompson knows he likely will be the old guy, the elder statesman among Wisconsin’s defensive linemen next season.

“It is crazy,” the defensive end joked. “I hate that.”

Thompson will be a fifth-year senior next season. With end Rodas Johnson already having hit the transfer portal and senior nose tackle Gio Paez moving on after this season, Thompson will have by far the most experience among the team’s linemen in 2024.

Younger/less experienced players such as Curt Neal, who appears set to start at end against LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl, Jamel Howard and Ben Barten will need a mentor. Ditto for several younger linemen set to join the program.

“Without a doubt,” Thompson said. “Me being the most experienced and being able to know how it is and what you’ve got to do to prepare right, what you’ve got to do to take care of your body, how to train right. … I’ve got to be able to set an example for everybody.

“Because the way you leave this program is how you set it for the future.”

Thompson has taken baby steps at UW but he has continued moving forward.

He made his UW debut at Michigan in 2020 and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. He played sparingly in 13 games in 2021 and recorded seven total tackles. His role increased last season, though nose tackle Keeanu Benton was the alpha dog of the unit. Thompson started seven games and finished with two sacks and 23 tackles in 13 games. Thompson this season has started nine of 12 games and has three sacks, five tackles for loss and 24 total tackles.

He has arguably applied the most consistent pass rush among UW’s linemen. His goal for 2024 is to be a force against the run and the pass.

“I’m going to try to put everything together next season,” he said. “Just be an overall better player and do everything coach wants me to do. Be versatile.”

One of the players Thompson is eager to watch in the bowl game Monday is Neal. The 6-foot, 290-pound redshirt freshman was a reserve nose tackle during the regular season but has moved to end since the departure of Johnson.

“He is a guy who (has) a high motor, creates disruption,” Thompson said. “He is like a little ball of energy. His motor is phenomenal. He just goes out there and plays ball.

“That is what you need. You need guys to play violent, fast. If they mess up, they mess up. But at least they cause some havoc. That is what Curt does.”

Thompson considered Johnson one of his closest friends on the team. He acknowledged it wasn’t easy seeing Johnson decide to transfer. Thompson insists he isn’t going anywhere.

“I’m here to play football for the University of Wisconsin,” he said. “That’s what I love to do. I’m focusing on that.”

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Wisconsin

Northeast Wisconsin native VanDehy wins at final Cellcom Green Bay Marathon

Published

7 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

Northeast Wisconsin native VanDehy wins at final Cellcom Green Bay Marathon

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The 25th Cellcom Green Bay Marathon was the last, but went out with a Northeast Wisconsin native claiming victory in the final women’s race.

Kathy VanDehy of Menasha originally planned to run the full marathon in 2019 before it was cancelled due to weather. Five years later she ran the full 26.2 mile race for the first time on Sunday.

“Really cool, really cool. I came into the race just trying to have fun and enjoy the distance and being here on the last one and just being able to do what I love. Being out there with the community support and just hearing all along the course like I don’t even know you and you’re cheering for me, that’s really fricken cool,” said VanDehy.

NIicholas Chelimo of Grand Prairie, Texas won the men’s race with a time of 2:24.32.

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Wisconsin

DNR: Plan ahead as camping demand in Wisconsin continues to rise

Published

14 hours ago

May 19, 2024

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DNR: Plan ahead as camping demand in Wisconsin continues to rise

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – An increasing number of people are taking to Wisconsin state parks during the summer for an outdoor favorite, camping.

Suzanna Topel has camped at Devil’s Lake State Park for over 50 years.

“Well, we love state parks,” she said. “We’ve been coming here since I was little… probably… I remember age two, three with my folks and then we took over, we began family camping with my children.”

Her family books their campsite 11 months to the day, the earliest you can secure a spot at a Wisconsin state park.

“Well, they’re kind of tricky. I have to say,” she said about the reservations. “You have to look far ahead, you can’t wait. You immediately either call the 800 number, because I’m old-schooled, that’s what I do. Or you book online if you’re computer savvy.”

Business operations sections chief for the Wisconsin DNR Chris Pedretti says while campers can book 11 months in advance, not many do.

“There is a perception out there that you have to do everything 11 months in advance because demand is so high. That’s not really the case,” he said. “In actuality, about 10% of our reservations are done at the 11-month window. So, there’s a big percentage of reservations that are done in between then.”

Pedretti adds that certain campsites book up faster than others.

“If you want to go to on Memorial Day weekend to Door County, there’s going to be a lot of competition for those sites.” But there’s a lot of other state parks and forests around the state that have sites available as well and they all offer great things to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”

With over 6,000 sites spread out across the state, there are plenty of options this summer. Even if you have your site set on one spot in particular.

“Sometimes you’re lucky, people will get cancel and you can get it. But if you want electricity, you’ve gotta grab ‘em while they’re hot,” Topel said.

Pedretti says people looking to book a particular campsite should keep checking their website as cancelations are made on a regular basis. He adds there is a notification feature that can alert your phone if a property becomes available.

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

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Wisconsin

Motorcyclist dead after Friday crash in Wisconsin Rapids

Published

21 hours ago

May 19, 2024

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Motorcyclist dead after Friday crash in Wisconsin Rapids

The crash happened about 7:10 p.m. Friday at the intersection of State 54 and Washington Street.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – One person is dead following a motorcycle versus vehicle crash Friday evening in Wisconsin Rapids.

The crash happened about 7:10 p.m. Friday at the intersection of State 54 and Washington Street. According to the initial investigation, a vehicle was traveling north on State 54 at Washington Street and was attempting to turn left onto Baker Drive, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department. The motorcycle was traveling south on State 54 and hit the passenger side of the vehicle, which turned in front of the motorcycle, the release said.

The driver of the motorcycle suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Marshfield Medical Center where he later died from his injuries, the release said.

The occupants of the vehicle were treated by Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department EMS and released at the scene.

The police department said it is not releasing the names of those involved at this time.

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Editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at jrokus@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @Jamie_Rokus.

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