#PointerNation News

Mineral Point High School is very proud to announce our Top Scholars for the Class of 2025! A sincere congratulations to:

-- Valedictorian Matthew Goninen

-- Salutatorian Lila Thousand

-- Salutatorian Ella Kroll

-- Salutatorian Jadyn Swinehart

Please join us in applauding this tremendous accomplishment! Read more about these high achievers here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2025/02/class-of-2025-top-scholars/

Make plans to join us for Graduation Friday, May 23 at 7 pm in the gym to celebrate the wonderful #PointerNation Class of 2025!

(Goninen photo by Madisyn Photo+Video; Thousand photo by ann gorgen photography; Kroll photo by Shannon Marie Photography; Swinehart photo by Camae Blackburn)

#PointerNation is your WIAA Regional Team Boys Wrestling Champion and will wrestle in the Team Sectional Tuesday in MP! In addition to the team title, Mineral Point advances 10 to the Individual Sectional next Saturday at Westby. Congrats to:

- 1st: Memphis Burkhalter 106#

- 1st: Roen Carey 144#

- 1st: Kade Rule 175#

- 2nd: Liam Carey 120#

- 2nd Jacob Dannenberg 150#

- 2nd: Sammy Springer 138#

- 3rd: Matt Aurit 285#

- 3rd: Sawyer Dannenberg 157#

- 4th: Emmett Collins 165#

- 4th: Lennon Ewert 113#

This is the 3rd Regional Title for Kade Rule and the 2nd for Roen Carey.

Congrats, also, to our other Pointer place winners:

- 5th: Elliot Kite 132#

- 5th: Clayton Yanna 190#

- 6th: Alan James 215#

As the top team in the field of 13, MP tallied 261.5 points, narrowly outdistancing runner-up Iowa-Grant/Highland by just one point at 260.5.

Make plans to join us Tuesday night right here in MP beginning at 6 pm for the Team Sectional Semifinal vs. Royall/Wonewoc-Center. The winner will then wrestle immediately after (vs. either La Crosse Aquinas or Iowa-Grant/Highland) in the Team Sectional Final with the victor earning a spot in the Team State Tournament at the UW Field House in Madison Saturday, March 8.

Keep it going, Big Blue!

(Graphic uses a photo taken by Tori Carey)

We had a great night on the mat hosting the first-ever WIAA Girls Wrestling Regional Friday! #PointerNation advances four to the WIAA Individual Wrestling Sectional next Friday at Prairie du Chien with State berths on the line! Congrats to:
- 1st: Dealya Collins 126#
- 2nd: Tatum James 114#
- 3rd: Emily Heisner 185#
- 4th: Breken Blackford-Hesselberg 107#

Congrats, also, to the girls who wrapped up successful seasons, just missing Sectionals by one spot:
- 5th: Ryley Reichling 132#
- 5th: Haylee Yager 235#

As a team, the girls finished 2nd (out of 17 teams) with 118 points behind champion Lancaster with 137.5.

A special shout out to our amazing cheerleaders -- of the 17 teams at the Girls Regional, #PointerNation was the only one to have our cheer squad present!

A big congrats to #PointerNation Senior Gymnast Ally Baehler! Ally was named a recipient, along with River Valley/Barneveld's Anya Seffrood, of the Lisa Steger Spirit of Gymnastics Award at Saturday's invite in Platteville.

Lisa Steger was a former Head Coach of the Platteville/Belmont Gymnastics team, who sadly passed away at the young age of 25 after achieving her goal of winning the WIAA State Team Title in 1994.

This award is given to Senior gymnasts who have dedicated four years to high school gymnastics and exemplify leadership, sportsmanship, and a kind, encouraging nature. This award is determined by the SWC coaches.

Receiving this award is a testament to Ally's character and friendly nature which extends beyond her teammates.

She is the sixth Dodgeville/Mineral Point/Iowa-Grant/Highland Gymnast to receive this honor, joining Sateash Berge (1995), Torrie Tibbits (2007), Cassie Look (2010), Miah Lemanski (2020), and Ashlie Baumgartner (2022). Please note that five of the six of our co-op recipients are Pointers, which speaks to the type of young people we have at MPHS!

When you can’t go to the Post Office, the Post Office comes to you! Thank you to Clerk Kathy for helping our Kindergarten friends get some very special Valentine letters sent!

1st Graders are 100 days brighter and celebrated with a glow party!

Congrats to Matthew Aurit and Reid Acherman who has been named to the Small School South roster for the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star game Saturday, July 19 in Oshkosh! Read more here: https://www.wissports.net/news_article/show/1331688

#PointerNation Elementary was feeling the love Friday with all the classroom Valentine's Day parties!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! The MPHS National Honor Society was excited to gift an ice cream party to the 4th Grade Class Friday afternoon as a reward -- please congratulate the 4th Graders on being the class to donate the most food in weight for the NHS December Food Drive!

In case you didn't already know, these young Pointers love you to pieces!

Best wishes to our public speakers headed to Sub District Forensics at Pecatonica Monday, and competing in Sub District virtually! This year's #PointerNation team is comprised of the following 42 members:

- Farrago: Kalea Biddick, Maci Muchow, Jadyn Swinehart

- Group Interpretation: Drew Aschliman, Brett Bossert, Sadie Miller, Sophie Miller & Roni Thousand

- Group Interpretation: Kate James, Chloe McVay, Kendyl Ruf, Jessica Schubert & Kendall Wenger

- Group Interpretation: Eli Lindsey, Laci Lindsey, Atley Potterton, Jacob Phillips & Jaxson Wendhausen

- Moments in History: Brynn Swenson

- Play Acting: Josie Dunn & Cole Hentrich

- Play Acting: Gabe Hook, Cooper McGuire, Shayna Sigg & Suttyn Weinbrenner

- Play Acting: Brooke Paynter, Finn Renwick, Taitin Riley & Lila Thousand

- Poetry: Anthony Luu, Landyn Moellers, Violet Renwick, Faye Schuette

- Prose: Lilly Berget, Lily Fox, Carver Potterton, Jaycee Privett

- Public Address: Anthony Buleje Cadena

- Radio Speaking: Matthew Goninen, Stephanie Wallace

- Solo Acting: Ryley Reichling, Madelyn Steffes

After learning more about Valentine’s Day and some of the most popular gifts, Luis and Liam made their own chocolate covered fruit to get in the holiday spirit!

Love is in the air this time of year, especially for our 1st Grade Student Teacher from UW-Platteville, Ms. Madilyn Behnke! She had some very exciting news to share this week and her students had to guess what it was -- congrats to Madilyn and her fiancé, Alex Karls, on their engagement!

We are lucky to love Bo and Cooper!

1st Graders traveled down deep in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada to learn about the Titanic!

When the swing comes out in Early Childhood, you know it's going to be a great day!

Congrats to Lily Fox, Anthony Luu, and Autumn Robb who participated in UW-Platteville's Tri-State Honors Band Saturday! The event culminated with a concert at the Center for the Arts.

The 4K ice skating rink and concession stand are open for business -- lace 'em up!

The WIAA Girls Basketball Postseason brackets were released Sunday!

Kudos to the #PointerNation Girls Basketball Team for earning the #4 seed and a first round bye in our WIAA Division 4 bracket! Mineral Point will host the winner of #5 Lancaster/#12 Iowa-Grant Friday, February 28 in the Regional Semifinal.

Full brackets will be posted here: https://halftime.wiaawi.org/CustomApps/Tournaments/Brackets/HTML/2025_Basketball_Girls_Div4_Sec3_4.html

We hosted the first-ever WIAA Girls Wrestling Regional Friday night! Check out some snapshots added to the wrestling album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=MineralPointSchoolDistrict&set=a.1113140124121202

Article and video from Monday's School Board meeting is now available here (including approval of the 2025-26 calendar): https://mineralpointschools.org/2025/02/february-school-board-notes-votes-2/

A feel good #WhyWednesday! Check back for a quote from staff, students, and maybe even you, on why #PointerNation is a great place to be!

This week's from Veda says, "I love Pointer Nation because when you're feeling down, people will always make you feel supported and joyful and that's why I love Pointer Nation."

Mineral Point Unified School District

commUNITY

Creative

Caring

Champions

Wisconsin's Open Enrollment period begins February 3 for the 2025-26 school year and runs through April 30.

Even if you're not sure on your plans for the fall, you can apply for Open Enrollment now. Applying does not bind you to attending.

In 2013-14, 38 non-resident students chose Mineral Point Schools. In 2024-25, that number has risen to 105 non-resident students choosing MP.

Visit us and see why -- we look forward to welcoming you in #PointerNation!

Please read more information here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2025-26-open-enrollment/

Join our middle/high school vocalists at the Mineral Point Opera House Tuesday, February 25 for a free concert beginning at 7 pm! Our talented students look forward to performing for you.

A reminder there will be no classes in #PointerNation Friday, February 28 as it is a staff work day/professional development. Enjoy the long weekend!

We'd love to have you join our sub pool! There will be a Substitute Teacher Training held at CESA 3 in Fennimore at 9 am on March 4. This training is one of the requirements for a sub license in Wisconsin (including the minimum of an associate's degree). Participants can register here: https://cesa3.eventsmart.com/events/substitute-teacher-training-march-4-2025/

#PointerNation is excited to host an upcoming Iowa County Advisory Meeting, bringing education, government, and local businesses together!

Please plan to join us Wednesday, March 5 from 6-8 pm at MPHS. All are welcome at this free event. Thank you to Cummins for providing supper from Bob's BBQ!

Join us for an engaging conversation on bridging the gaps between education, businesses, and government. These systems are deeply interconnected, each relying on the others to thrive.

This event aims to bring together diverse perspectives to explore how we can collaborate more effectively and support the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

By working together, we can create a stronger, more prosperous Iowa County. We encourage representation from all Iowa County communities, schools, businesses, and government - your voice matters!

Register using the QR code or using the link here, so it is known how much food to order: https://cesa3.eventsmart.com/events/iowa-county-advisory-council-meeting/

We look forward to seeing you!

#PointerNation events coming up this week -- join us! (Please note these schedules are always subject to change)

Monday, February 17
-- Boys Basketball vs. Platteville (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Radio: 97.7 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@queenbradiosports and https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
Digital tickets (cash still accepted at door): https://gofan.co/app/school/WI13618
Digital program: bit.ly/mpdigitalprogram
-- Subdistrict Forensics at Pecatonica 4 pm

Tuesday, February 18
-- WIAA Team Sectional Semifinal Wrestling vs. Royall/Wonewoc-Center at MP 6 pm. (Winner advances to Sectional Final immediately following vs. either La Crosse Aquinas or Iowa-Grant/Highland). Radio: 107.1 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@queenbradiosports and https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
MP fan ticket link: https://gofan.co/p/BF6C3ED5B040910AF57CAFFD16A6EC7788210D8E52E1FDDF
-- Girls Basketball at Darlington (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Radio: 93.7 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@DarlingtonRedbirds
-- MS Girls Basketball at Cuba City 4 pm

Wednesday, February 19
-- Early Release 2 pm (every Wednesday)

Thursday, February 20
-- SWC Conference Gymnastics Meet at Southwestern/Cuba City/Benton/Darlington 5 pm. Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/hazel-green/organization/18847/southwestern-high-school
-- Girls Basketball vs. Fennimore (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Radio: 107.1 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@queenbradiosports and https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
Digital tickets (cash still accepted at door): https://gofan.co/app/school/WI13618
Digital program: bit.ly/mpdigitalprogram

Friday, February 21
-- WIAA Individual Sectional Girls Wrestling at Prairie du Chien 4:30 pm. Radio: 97.7 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@queenbradiosports and https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/prairie-du-chien/organization/7502/prairie-du-chien-high-school
-- Boys Basketball vs. Riverdale (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
Digital tickets (cash still accepted at door): https://gofan.co/app/school/WI13618
Digital program: bit.ly/mpdigitalprogram

Saturday, February 22
-- WIAA Individual Sectional Boys Wrestling at Westby 10 am. Radio: 97.7 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@queenbradiosports and https://twitch.tv/wwvpllcwestby

-- Boys Basketball at Marshall (JV 5 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/marshall/organization/1925/marshall-high-school

Please be aware of other companies claiming to livestream our games, especially if there are links different than posted above and ask for credit card and personal information -- these are scams. We will update this pinned post as available livestream information is relayed to us.

"Grounded by our history as one of the oldest publicly supported schools in Wisconsin, Mineral Point Unified School District is the heart of a small community that educates and inspires our students for a bright future in a big world."

Email: joelle.doye@mp.k12.wi.us
Website: mineralpointschools.org
Location: 705 Ross Street, Mineral Point, WI, USA
Phone: (608) 987-0740
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MineralPointSchoolDistrict