Wrestling can take some extra motivation, and for Luxemburg-Casco, Aaron Rodgers is bringing it; or at least his touchdown dance.

The Spartans wrestling program caps off with their top-ranked high schoolers, but in what seemingly everyone called “The Program,” Luxemburg-Casco has a booming youth wrestling program with kids as young as four-years old.

That’s where the “Hardest Working Sucker” comes in, pictured to the right.  18-year-olds need not apply for the belt, it goes to the young wrestler who worked the hardest in practice.  Coaches make an effort to spread the honor around.

The “Sucker” award comes with, of course, a lollipop.

Two rules for the wrestler who wins, a youth coach told me: whom ever wins has to wear the belt to class the next day.  Helps bring up enrollment and, come on, it’s a sweet belt.  The other rule?  When you win and put on the belt for the first time, you have to do Rodgers’ “Discount Double Check”-belt move.

During practice, as you see in the picture, the belt watches over the young wrestlers from a padded post in the middle of the wrestling room.  Luxemburg-Casco head coach Bob Berceau credits the school’s youth program with his team’s consistent success.

The Phoenix women are experts … professionals, at deflecting praise.  Record win streak?  No biggie.  Ridiculous rankings?  Meh.

Not that perfection needs motivation, but Green Bay’s star might have it — forward Julie Wojta was not included on the Wooden Award Midseason list, the top 20 candidates for the top women’s player in the nation.

Wojta’s having a crazy all-around year: 19.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, also leads the Phoenix in steals (3.8/game), blocks … Wojta is even tied for second on the team in assists.

Only two of the 20 players on the midseason list come from non-BCS teams (Delle Donne, Delaware and Shante Evans, Hofstra).

Wojta’s all around game boasts stats comparable to those on the list, and only Brittney Griner’s (on the list) Baylor Bears are, like Green Bay, undefeated.

I asked Phoenix head coach Matt Bollant earlier this season if he thought Wojta deserved to be considered for All-America honors, he said absolutely.  If these kind of individual awards are important … and, I’m just guessing, Wojta would be among the first to say they’re not … it might take a well-within-reach perfect record to escalate Wojta’s notoriety.

The Phoenix media relation folks say they don’t believe a Phoenix player has ever been named to the Wooden Award midseason list.  The award itself is given out April 6th.

You can find the complete list of players on the Wooden midseason list here: http://www.woodenaward.com/?p=1154

The phone is starting to ring for one of the top prep basketball players in the area — including some long distance, and increasingly high profile calls.  Little Chute forward Turner Botz is getting attention from a number of colleges, including Green Bay and some schools from BCS conferences.

“A lot of Horizon League schools, Boston College, Missouri Valley (conference teams), a lot of mid-majors, starting to get some more high-major looks,” said Botz.

Botz said Boston College first contacted him about three weeks ago, though there has not been a scholarship offer yet.

The 6’6 forward averages nearly 21 points and over 6 rebounds per game for the undefeated Mustangs, currently top-ranked in the FOX 11 Top 11.

“When the lights are really bright and the game is really huge, that’s when he plays his best,” said Mustangs head coach Mickey Martin.

Green Bay appears to be in play for Botz as well, who said he was going to meet with coaches Monday evening after practice.  There’s a possibility of a “5/4″ scholarship offer, where Botz would be asked to redshirt his freshman year, then become a scholarship player his second season at Green Bay when more scholarships open up.  Scott Venci of the Green Bay Press Gazette reports Pulaski’s Cody Wichmann received a similar “5/4″ offer.

Before talking on-camera, I spoke with Botz off-camera about the current Phoenix team, whom he’s been keeping up with.

“I gotta keep my options open,” said Botz.

Good situation to have.  Botz is just a junior, he can shoot, play inside, handle the ball.  At 6’6, he can be a physical, down-low presence in high school play (especially Division 3), but has the handle and outside shot to translate into a collegiate small forward.

Botz isn’t the only Mustang getting collegiate attention: fellow junior Kenneth Lowe told me he’s getting some contact from smaller schools, and visited UW-Stevens Point this past weekend.

Two solid weeks in the books in the Big Ten season and a very interesting Week 3 lies ahead.  Here are my picks!

Saturday:
(17) Ohio State vs. Miami (FL)
Penn State vs. Temple
Pittsburgh vs. Iowa
S.E. Missouri St. vs. Purdue
(7) Wisconsin vs. N. Illinois
Washington vs (11) Nebraska
South Carolina St. vs. Indiana
Miami (OH) vs. Minnesota
Northwestern vs. Army
Arizona State vs. Illinois

Upset Special:
(15) Michigan State vs. Notre Dame

Blowout Game:
Eastern Michigan vs. Michigan

Season Record: 28-8

After a pretty solid week one for me, it’s onto week two of the Big Ten football season.  My only two misses last week were Indiana, who lost to Ball State and Middle Tennessee, who lost to Purdue, in my upset special.  Middle Tennessee was leading Purdue by 14 points in the 4th quarter but could not hold on.  That’s alright, 10-2 is a pretty solid start.  Some interesting games on the docket this week including what will likely be a barn-burner at the Big House between Michigan and Notre Dame.  Ready for my picks?

Saturday:
Iowa vs. Iowa State
Florida Atlantic vs. (17) Michigan State
Oregon State vs. (8) Wisconsin
S. Dakota State vs. Illinois
E. Illinois vs. Northwestern
New Mexico State vs. Minnesota
(3) Alabama vs. (23) Penn State
Purdue vs. Rice
Virginia vs. Indiana
Fresno State vs. (10) Nebraska

Upset Special:
Notre Dame vs. Michigan

Blowout Game:
Toledo vs. (15) Ohio State

Season Record: 19-5

Finally, college football is back and the season kicks-off Thursday night, including the defending B1G Ten co-champion Wisconsin Badgers. Throughout the season I will be making my picks for each and every B1G Ten game…(yeah, I know the logo is weird, but I went with it anyway).  Each week I will also include my “Upset Special” and “Blowout Game” of the week.  A wide-open B1G Ten should make for a very entertaining season.  So, without further ado…

New Big Ten Conference logo. (PRNewsFoto/Big Ten Conference)

Thursday:
UNLV vs. (11) Wisconsin

Friday:
Youngstown State vs. (17) Michigan State

Saturday:
Northwestern vs. Boston College
Akron vs. (18) Ohio State
Indiana State vs. Penn State
Tennessee Tech vs. Iowa
Minnesota vs. USC
Western Michigan vs. Michigan
Arkansas State vs. Illinois
Ball State vs. Indiana

Upset Special:
Middle Tennessee vs. Purdue

Blowout Game:
Chattanooga vs. (10) Nebraska

Overall Season Record: 10-2

With the start of the NFL regular season just around the corner, I thought an explanation of the rules governing broadcasting NFL games might be helpful. Hopefully, this will answer some of your questions about game assignments and the process used.

* Because we are the home market for the Green Bay Packers, we are guaranteed to show all of the Packers games on Fox. This year we have 10 of those (so far). If the Packers are the late game, such as in Week 3, if the early game is running long, we will cut away from it to show all of the Packers game – even if that means viewers miss a great ending.

* We air every NFL game we can. If we have a Packers post-game show, it’s not replacing a game that’s available to us. As of now, we have four “Locker Room Live” post-games planned: Sept. 18, Nov. 20, Nov. 24, and Dec. 18.

* Just because FOX has games in both the noon and 3:15 pm slots does not mean we can air two games every week. The networks (usually) alternate doubleheader weeks. Sometimes we can air two, sometimes we can’t. FOX usually has at least one late game because of the west coast home NFC games in Arizona, Seattle and San Francisco, but that doesn’t mean we can always air them. It’s not our choice – it’s network rules. The upshot here: the on-air promos don’t necessarily translate to games on air here.

* FOX assigns us the other games, based on regional interest or national importance. This means we usually get NFC North games. We can request a change, but the network doesn’t have to grant it. In Week 1, for example, we have been assigned one Bears and one Vikings game. Because those two are NFC North teams, I can’t see us requesting a change (sorry, Detroit fans, but the Falcons-Bears game beats the Lions-Buccaneers matchup).

* For games between teams in different conferences, the network of the visiting team gets the rights. That’s why Fox 11 will have the Packers at Chargers game, and CBS will have the Denver at Green Bay game.

* Even if it is a Fox doubleheader Sunday, Fox 11 can’t air a game at the same time as a Packers home game. That’s why in Week 14, we are only airing a 3pm game – the Packers are at home at noon vs. Oakland on CBS.

* Local fans are guaranteed to see all of the Packers games, even if they are on cable (ESPN or the NFL Network). Those networks put the games up for bids to the local stations for the right to air them.

* The local stations have no control over the flexible scheduling. For the last seven weeks of the year, the NFL may decide to change games to give NBC a more attractive game in its Sunday night time slot. However, because Christmas is on a Sunday this year – and that’s the only NFL game – that Packers-Bears game absolutely will not be moved.

Given all of that, here is the tentative schedule for the NFL on Fox 11. Remember, the assignments for the non-Packers games very possibly could change based on how the year develops – so please don’t call in December complaining we aren’t airing a specific game just because it’s on this list now. That said, we should have games in all of these timeslots.

If you have any questions, post them below!

WEEK 1
Noon – Atlanta at Chicago
3:15 pm – Minnesota at San Diego

WEEK 2
Noon – GREEN BAY at Carolina

WEEK 3
Noon – Detroit at Minnesota
3:15 pm – GREEN BAY at Chicago

WEEK 4
Noon – Carolina at Chicago

WEEK 5
Noon – Arizona at Minnesota

WEEK 6
Noon – St. Louis at GREEN BAY
3:15 pm – Dallas at New England

WEEK 7
Noon – Chicago at Tampa Bay
3:15 pm – GREEN BAY at Minnesota

WEEK 8
Noon – Minnesota at Carolina

WEEK 9
Noon – Atlanta at Indianapolis
3:15 pm – GREEN BAY at San Diego

WEEK 10
Noon – Detroit at Chicago
3:15 pm – New York Giants at San Francisco

WEEK 11
Noon – Tampa Bay at GREEN BAY

WEEK 12
Thursday – 11:30 am – GREEN BAY at Detroit
Sunday – Noon – Minnesota at Atlanta

WEEK 13
Noon – Detroit at New Orleans
3:15 pm - GREEN BAY at New York Giants

WEEK 14
3:15 pm – Chicago at Denver

WEEK 15
Noon – GREEN BAY at Kansas City

WEEK 16
Saturday – Noon – Minnesota at Washington
Saturday – 3:15 pm – Philadelphia at Dallas

WEEK 17
Noon – Detroit at GREEN BAY
3:15 – To be determined based on playoff races

FOX 11′s Paige Pearson is moving on in her career, but before she goes, she says goodbye

Seven years ago I knew very little about the Badger state. I had no clue how to pronounce Oconomowoc. I didn’t know “Get up, get outta here! Gone!” was a favorite saying. I had never tasted deer chislic or a cream puff. And, I had no idea that green and gold flowed through many natives’ veins.

During those seven years I grew to love the state of Wisconsin. There’s nothing like watching a Bo Ryan blowup at the Kohl Center or a Prince Fielder bomb that Miller Park can barely contain. There’s nothing like listening to Mike McCarthy talk about “passion” or Matt Bollant discuss the “Green Bay way”. There’s nothing like feeling the Brown County Arena floor shake with anticipation during a basketball sectional final or the reverberation from the Lambeau Field sound system after Aaron Rodgers darts into the endzone.

I have enjoyed each and every one of those moments and many others. I have enjoyed the people of Wisconsin even more. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to tell some of Wisconsin’s most terrific sports stories. Thank you for embracing this South Dakota girl who wanted nothing more than to do do a good job and be a credible source. To my colleagues, thank you for your friendship. I have learned so much from so many of you.

The next chapter of my life will be very different. I have accepted the PR Manager position with the Omaha Symphony. I am so very excited about this opportunity. Connecting with people is my passion and this is simply another avenue to engage in that.

With that, so long Wisconsin. You’ve been very good to me, and I hope I’ve been good to you.

Sincerely,

Paige

P.S. I will continue to interact on Twitter (@PAIGER33) and sports will be a major point of emphasis.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy following the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Hey, the NFL lockout appears to be on the verge of being over, so with that in mind, here’s a look at 10 questions concerning the NFC North Division, which last season was won by the Chicago Bears.

For the Bears to repeat in 2011, their quarterback, Jay Cutler, will need to change the opinions of many after last year’s NFC championship game. So with that in mind, Cutler kicks off the top 10 questions: 

1. Will Jay Cutler rebound from last year’s NFC title game? The Bears QB left the game with an injured knee and looked disinterested on the bench as the Bears fell to the Packers. He needs to win many players and fans over this season, and if he doesn’t Cutler will become even a bigger target for criticism.
2. Who will start at QB for the Vikings? Brett Favre? Unlikely. First-round pick Christian Ponder, without a regular offseason, has little chance to succeed this season, so the Vikings need to find a veteran for at least this season if they have any desire to compete for a playoff spot. Watch out for Donovan McNabb or Matt Hasselbeck landing here.
3. Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy? The Lions QB has talent, but he’s been beat to a pulp his first two seasons, playing 13 of 32 total games. If he can stay healthy this season, he gives the Lions hope he is the QB for the future, but if he gets injured again, the Lions likely will need to upgrade the position in 2012, and that would be a setback for a team expected to make a run this season.
4. Can the Packers avoid the Super Bowl hangover? That’s always the question for the defending champs. With so many injuries last season, it would seem the Packers will be ready for another run as they should be healthier, plus the leadership on this team is great. However, the Packers are the hunted now which puts these players in a spot they never have been in.
5. Which first-round pick amongst the four teams has a chance to star with a short offseason? Nick Fairley, Detroit; Christian Ponder, Minnesota; Derek Sherrod, Green Bay; Gabe Carimi, Chicago. Quarterbacks almost always struggle as rookies, and with hardly an offseason, Ponder has little chance. Offensive linemen sometimes take time to develop because offenses in the NFL are more complex and the defensive linemen they face are bigger and faster then they saw in college, so Sherrod and Carimi should start slow. Defensive linemen, on the other hand, can sometimes just line up and go. Consider Fairley is a defensive tackle and plays alongside Ndamukong Suh. That makes his transition easier, plus it can be argued he was the best player in last year’s draft, based off what he did at Auburn. So it’s Fairley, who could make the Lions’ defensive line tough to deal with.
6. If healthy, can anybody in the NFC North touch the Packers? The Vikings have QB issues, the Lions are a team coming but not quite there and the Bears have questions on offense, especially with Cutler. So, no, the Packers should unseat the Bears as division champs.
7. What is the Vikings’ biggest concern for 20112? Keeping Adrian Peterson healthy, because if he gets banged up this offense will struggle to score points.
8. What is the Lions’ biggest concern for 2011? Defense. Even with Stafford out last season the Lions scored, but their defense, especially the back seven, is questionable. The defense has to improve for the Lions to improve.
9. What is the Bears’ biggest concern for 2011? Offense. Outside of Matt Forte, this offense lacks firepower. No, Devin Hester doesn’t count; he can’t run a pattern. For the Bears to remain a playoff team, their offense has to pick it up as the defense can’t win every game.
10. What is the Packers’ biggest concern for 2011? Charles Woodson. At some point this cornerback will show his age, and if it’s this season his drop in play would hurt a defense that relies on its cornerbacks to cover while it blitzes quarterbacks.

Welcome to this Wednesday edition of the Lunch Break! Here are the latest headlines from around the sports world!

Brewers continue to struggle
The Milwaukee Brewers lost for the seventh time in eight games last night in falling to the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-3.  Brewers pitcher Randy Wolf gave up four runs in the top of the first and three more in the top of the third to put the game out of reach early.  The Brewers were still without All-Star slugger Ryan Braun who missed another game with a strained calf.  Braun’s status is still up in the air for today’s afternoon game in Milwaukee. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm.

(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Clemens finally in court
Seven-time Cy Young award winner Roger Clemens was in court today for the start of his perjury trial.  Clemens is charged with lying about drug use after he told a House Committee under oath that he never used performance-enhancing drugs during his career.  The trial is expected to last into late August.  Here’s a look at the key figures in the case against Roger Clemens.

Lawyers back at it in New York
For the second consecutive day, lawyers for the NFL and players association were at work in the Big Apple sorting out paperwork that will hopefully expedite a resolution on a new collective bargaining agreement.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith are expected to return to negotiations tomorrow.

2018 Winter Olympics go to…
Pyeongchang, South Korea!  Pyeongchang defeated rivals Munich, Germany and Annecy, France. South Korea had failed in two previous attempts to get the winter games for both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

U.S. Women wrap up group play
The United States women’s soccer team wraps up group play against Sweden today.  A win or a draw secures Group C for the Americans, who have already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals.  Kickoff is set for 1:45pm.

Contador crashes in wild day at the Tour
Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador crashed during today’s 102-mile stage five ride across Brittany.  He was involved in one of of many crashes throughout the race that caused a few racers to drop out of the race.  Mark Cavendish of Britain won today’s Stage 5.

Tonight on FOX 11:

• The Brewers look to get back on track against the Diamondbacks, we’ll have highlights and reaction.
• We’ll take a look at roger Clemens’ first day in court.
• We’ll bring you the latest from the NFL.
• We’ll have highlights and reaction from the U.S. Women’s soccer game against Sweden.
• Join Drew Smith and the rest of the FOX 11 Sports Team at 5:00pm and 9:00pm

Join us each day at Noon on www.fox11online.com for the “Lunch Break.”

Content from the Associated Press was used in this article

On Twitter: @josh_morgan