Wisconsin

Studs and duds from Wisconsin's win over Rutgers: Tawee Walker's big arrival

Published

1 year ago

October 12, 2024

Studs and duds from Wisconsin's win over Rutgers: Tawee Walker's big arrival

Wisconsin delivered a statement performance in its 42-7 win over Rutgers on Saturday.

It is the team’s second blowout victory in as many weeks, signaling possible improvement — if not a full-on resurgence — under head coach Luke Fickell. The 4-2 overall record and 2-1 record in Big Ten play is important, but not as critical as the team’s fantastic form entering a pivotal portion of the schedule.

Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin Badgers blowout win over Rutgers

Wisconsin’s dominance was led by an offensive unit that finished the afternoon with 549 total yards — 240 passing and 309 rushing. It was another all-around effort from the offensive line to the skill players. It is a real signal that Phil Longo’s air raid attack is gaining some traction in its second season at the program.

For more on the biggest individual contributors to the victory, and some not-so-fantastic performances, here are our studs and duds from Wisconsin’s dominant win over Rutgers:

STUD: Tawee Walker

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Tawee Walker (3) carries the ball during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Tawee Walker had a career afternoon, totaling 198 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 24 carries. His total is the highest for a Wisconsin running back since Braelon Allen in 2021, and the highest road total since Jonathan Taylor’s trip to Lincoln, Nebraska in 2019.

Walker had already emerged as Wisconsin’s clear RB1. He’s now ascending toward becoming one of the best running backs in the conference.

STUD: The offensive line

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Darrion Dupree (13) celebrates his touchdown run with offensive lineman Jake Renfro (57) during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

No rushing performance is complete without strong play from the offensive line. Saturday was just another instance of the position group being the strength of the 2024 Badgers team. It led the offense to 309 total rushing yards, 6.6 yards per carry and allowed only one sack.

Credit to OL coach A.J. Blazek, who has done a fantastic job with the veteran group. It looks like the best Wisconsin offensive line since 2019.

DUD: Nathanial Vakos

Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers punter Gavin Meyers (28) holds the ball for Wisconsin Badgers place kicker Nathanial Vakos (90) during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to find true ‘duds’ from an all-around victory. Kicker Nathanial Vakos will qualify after he missed his only field goal attempt of the afternoon.

STUD: Preston Zachman

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) carries the ball as Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Aaron Witt (59) and safety Preston Zachman (14) pursue during the first half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Preston Zachman had his best game of the season on Saturday, finishing with 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception. He has been an unsung hero of the Wisconsin defense to date, forming an excellent safety duo with star Hunter Wohler.

DUD: Hunter Wohler (the punt returner)

Wisconsin Badgers safety Hunter Wohler (24) runs through a drill during fall training camp at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.

Again, it’s hard to find true ‘duds’ from a great team win.

Wohler had a strong afternoon as the leader of the Badgers’ defense. He’s on this list only as a punt returner, as he nearly muffed Rutgers’ second punt of the afternoon. His inclusion on this list is more of a comment on Wisconsin’s general punt unit. It has been a weak point of the team thus far with several players having muffed kicks.

At least Wohler dove on the loose ball, then proceeded to catch each of Rutgers’ remaining punts.

STUD: Nyzier Fourqurean

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean (3) celebrates after a defense stop during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Fourqurean had a fantastic afternoon against Rutgers. He finished with two key solo tackles and one pass deflection. Each of his plays on the ball came at big moments when Rutgers was attempting to extend a drive. He stood out as one of Wisconsin’s best players of the afternoon.

DUD: The entire Rutgers team

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano walks on the field before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Not sure what else can be said about the Rutgers team that was 4-0 two weeks ago, and just looked the way it did against the Badgers.

Head coach Greg Schiano said postgame the team ‘couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time.’ Whatever that means, I agree.

STUD: Elijah Hills + Wisconsin’s defensive line

Wisconsin defensive lineman Elijah Hills (94) battles with an offensive lineman during the team’s 14th spring practice, which was held Tuesday morning April 30, 2024 at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK

Hills was a key force on Wisconsin’s defensive line yet again against Rutgers. He finished with just two tackles, but his presence was clear as Rutgers star RB Kyle Monangai struggled to find any consistent running room.

The Badgers’ 4th-and-1 stop inside their own red zone defined the day on defense. Hills was a big part of that effort.

DUD: Athan Kaliakmanis

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) throws the ball during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

A final passing stat line of 12 for 32 completions, 103 yards, 0 touchdowns and one interception is forgettable, to say the least. It is far from the career day that Kaliakmanis had against the Badgers as a Minnesota Golden Gopher two years ago.

STUD: Vinny Anthony

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (8) catches the ball during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Another week, another batch of explosive receptions from WR Vinny Anthony. He led the team in receiving with 81 yards. His presence on the outside has made a big difference for Phil Longo’s offensive attack.

STUD: Wisconsin’s coaching staff

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell looks on during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Luke Fickell, Phil Longo and Mike Tressel deserve credit after that performance. The team showed signs of struggle, but it got better as the afternoon continued — a sign of good coaching. The biggest takeaway from the win is that the Badgers are turning a corner and improving every week. That, again, is a testament to the coaching staff.

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Wisconsin

When does daylight saving time start? What to know before clocks ‘spring forward’

Published

5 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

When does daylight saving time start? What to know before clocks ‘spring forward’

Sunny spring evenings are just a few days away.

This weekend, clocks will “spring forward” as Milwaukee switches to daylight saving time for spring and summer.

That means you lose an hour of sleep the night before, but the city gains an extra hour of light in the evenings starting March 8, when the sun will set at 6:49 p.m., according to timeanddate.com.

The seasonal change often reignites debates about whether daylight saving time should exist at all. Though the time adjustment allows for more daylight during spring and summer evenings, many experts have argued it disturbs the body’s circadian rhythms and has other health drawbacks.

Here’s what to know as daylight saving time approaches.

When does daylight saving time start?

Daylight saving time will resume on Sunday, March 8. Clocks will jump forward one hour between 2 and 3 a.m., meaning there will be more light in the evening and less light in the morning.

When does daylight saving time end?

Daylight saving time will end for the season on Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks are turned back an hour at 2 a.m.

What is daylight saving time?

Between March and November, Wisconsin residents set their clocks forward by an hour to gain more daylight in the evenings. During the other four months of the year, the clocks fall back to allow for more daylight in the mornings.

Daylight saving time was enacted during World War I in an attempt to save on fuel costs by adding an extra hour of sunlight to the day. While it’s a common misconception, its creation had nothing to do with allowing farmers to work longer hours, and the agriculture industry actually “fervently opposed” the measure, according to the Library of Congress.

When is the first 7 p.m. sunset of 2026 in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee will get its first 7 p.m. sunset of the year on Tuesday, March 17, according to timeanddate.com.

That day, the sun will rise at 7 a.m. that day and set at 7 p.m.

Why do some people want to end daylight saving time?

In the decades since daylight saving time was enacted, politicians, sleep experts and farmers have all pushed to change the practice, either by eliminating daylight saving time or making it permanent year-round.

In 2020, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said the United States should “eliminate seasonal time changes in favor of a national, fixed, year-round time.” Daylight saving time disrupts the circadian rhythms of the human body, and the abrupt time change has been linked to higher risk of mood disorders and heart diseases, according to the organization.

The risk of vehicle crashes also increases each spring when drivers are especially sleep deprived after losing an hour of rest, the academy said.

As of October 2025, 19 states have enacted legislation to observe daylight saving time year-round, if Congress were to allow such a change, and two states and several territories observe permanent standard time year-round, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Over the years, some Wisconsin lawmakers have also drafted legislation to end daylight saving time, but those efforts have stalled.

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Wisconsin

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

Published

17 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

1 day 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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