Change V -X ie F w e D r P w Click to buy NOW! w m o w c .d k. ocu-trac SPORTS WEEKEND, AUGUST 29-30, 2020 | chippewa.com | SECTION B N FL | GREEN BAY PACKERS Team believes continuity is the key Packers return most “You can’t take anything for were mostly devoted to replac- granted in the NFL, and no two ing guys on the way out, with of roster from last year seasons are alike,” Packers coach Christian Kirksey taking over Matt LaFleur said. “This year for Blake Martinez at linebacker, STEVE MEGARGEE certainly has some unique cir- Rick Wagner getting an oppor- AP Sports Writer‌ cumstances, and we talked about tunity to succeed Bryan Bulaga GREEN BAY — The Green Bay that all offseason. Whoever can at right tackle. Packers are counting on consis- handle these circumstances the The Packers believe the offense tency to get them over the top best will have a tremendous will surge now that they’ve had a after finishing a game away from jump on everybody else.” year to adapt to LaFleur’s system. the Super Bowl three of the last The Packers’ offseason moves “I think the beauty has been six years. indicated they believe they al- the expansion of both stuff that Green Bay returns much of ready have enough talent to con- we used to do and stuff that Matt the nucleus of a team that went tend for a Super Bowl berth. brought with him,” quarterback 13-3 and won the NFC North Green Bay drafted with an eye Aaron Rodgers said. “I think while benefiting from good for- on its ong-term future, as first- that’s kind of the jump that we’re ASSOCIATED PRESS‌ tune. The Packers stayed healthy round pick QB Jordan Love might hoping for in Year 2 is to build on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) runs in front of San last season and also went 9-1 in not take any meaningful snaps what we did last year and then to Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sheldon Day during the second half of the games decided by eight points or for the next couple of years. The NFC Championship football game last season in Santa Clara, Calif. fewer. Packers’ free-agent signings Please see PACKERS, Page B2 LOOKING BACK | PREP SPORTS COMMENTARY AUG. 29-SEPT. 4 Chi-Hi runs wild Team tops 500 yards at Eau Claire Memorial in 2000 CHIPPEWA HERALD Looking Back is a weekly series from The Chippewa Herald, taking a look at the goings on in the Chip- pewa County sports world during this week one, five, 10, 20 and 30 years ago. One Year Ago (2019)‌ Aug. 29: Ella Behling ran to a seventh-place finish to lead the Chi-Hi girls cross coun- try team at the River Falls Ex- treme Meet. The Cardinal girls were second as a team with 86 points with Haley Mason (12th) and Lydia Fish (15th) also fin- ishing near the front. Ben Le- May finished eighth and Ryan Beranek was 14th as the boys team was fifth. Aug. 30: Nick Walker ran for ROSS EVAVOLD, CHIPPEWA HERALD‌ 196 yards and two touchdowns Denny Laramy, whose roots with the McDonell athletic program go back several decades, applauds as the school’s boys basketball team exits its to lead a potent New Auburn bus during the team’s state championship celebration in March 2016. ground game in a 50-22 vic- tory over Mellen. The Trojans had 454 rushing yards as a team with Caleb Edinger add- ing 105 yards and two touch- downs, Zachary Fedie had 60 Unsurpassed passion yards and a score and Domonic Johnson had 47 rushing yards with two second-half touch- basketball and baseball before edge for the game and ability to events happen and taking care down runs. Laramy’s love for becoming the first freshman to teach it, whether he was coach- of officials and opposing teams. Sept. 3: Joey Thaler finished athletics, teaching letter at Eau Claire State Col- ing or officiating. “He was always there for you second to lead the McDonell lege (the University of Wiscon- “He didn’t just ref the game, no matter what you needed, boys cross country team to vic- were second to none sin-Eau Claire) and staying in- he explained to kids many times when you needed it,” McDonell tory at the Loyal/Greenwood In- volved as an athlete in a number – especially as he got older – baseball coach and alum Ryan vitational. Dan Anderson came enny Laramy’s passion for of sports throughout his life. what they did wrong,” Roesler Baier said of Laramy. “You home third, Luke Newton was athletics was second to He served in the U.S. Air said. “It let the kids know what could call Denny and he was ninth, Jake Siegenthaler finished Dnone. Force before returning home he was trying to accomplish there and he was always putting 13th and Max Hauser was 18th to Whether he was playing, and settling down with his wife and taught them something smiles on people’s faces with all round out the scoring runners for coaching, officiating, ad- Lola and children Kyle, Dena about the game as well. He had of his witty jokes and his posi- the Macks who finished with 44 ministrating and Darcy. a great way as a referee with tive attitude.” points. or cheering, Laramy coached football, handling parents and coaches McDonell boys basketball Laramy could girls basketball and softball and also kids.” coach Adam Schilling was first Five Years Ago (2015)‌ find a way to im- at Chi-Hi, Cadott and in the Many times Laramy could introduced to Laramy when Aug. 29: The Chi-Hi volley- press, teach and Chippewa Falls Catholic School be found officiating on the di- the Eau Claire Regis graduate ball team finished in the silver inspire. system and would later be a amond, gridiron or court with Schilling was coaching the pool at the Menomonie Sprawl The Chi-Hi teacher in the system. his longtime referee partner Ramblers freshman boys bas- tournament. The Cardinals beat BRAD N ON graduate and Longtime McDonell teacher George Gannon, who was also ketball team with Laramy refer- Washburn and Cameron before BERG longtime coach and coach Steve Roesler met one of his closest friends. He eeing many of those contests. falling to Grantsburg on the final and official died Laramy in the 1970s on the was a valuable member of the He got to know Laramy day of the tourney. Cheyanne Wednesday after football field where Laramy of- athletic community in many more when Schilling joined Pitzer had 27 digs and was named a long battle with cancer. ficiated Roesler’s junior varsity ways, including as assistant Don Cooper’s McDonell girls Laramy was an all-state and freshman football games athletic director where he was Please see LOOKING BACK, Page B2 quarterback at Chi-Hi and and quickly noticed his knowl- a key cog in helping sporting Please see BERG, Page B2 MLB League celebrates Robinson teams joined other sports like Jackie Robinson Day is usually Legend broke color the NBA, WNBA and MLS in on April 15, but the celebration barrier in 1947 protesting social injustice. was moved to Aug. 28 this season For Twins manager Rocco to accommodate the COVID-19- DAVID BRANDT Baldelli, it’s a well-timed honor. altered schedule, which started AP Sports Writer‌ “I did find it almost crazy and in late July. The date was chosen PHOENIX — Major League kind of great, after everything because it is the anniversary of Baseball observed a Jackie Rob- that went down yesterday in the March on Washington in inson Day like no other Friday, baseball and in sports and with 1963 and also the day in 1945 with teams celebrating a man our organization as well, that we when Dodgers GM Branch Rickey who broke the sport’s color bar- come right back here today and met with Robinson to discuss rier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in wear No. 42 and we go out there breaking the color barrier. 1947 while the racial reckoning and celebrate Jackie Robinson Yankees manager Aaron Boone ASSOCIATED PRESS‌ continued. and everything that he’s done broke down in tears during a This is an April 18, 1948, portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Jackie Ten baseball games were post- for our game, and really, for the Robinson. It’s Jackie Robinson Day across the big leagues on Friday as poned over two days as some nation,” Baldelli said. Please see ROBINSON, Page B2 baseball honors the man who broke the sport’s color barrier in 1947. 00 1 Change V -X ie F w e D r P w Click to buy NOW! w m o w c| WEEKEND, AUGUST 29-30, 2020 THE CHIPPEWA HERALD .d B2k. SPORTS ocu-trac BRIEFLY “(It was a) good, inspiring December 2016. my big toe and if there is no Berg letter and it told the kids it Baier added he hoped tag on it, it’s a good day,” COLLEGE FOOTBALL‌ From B1 wasn’t all about them and the school could find a way Laramy said at the time. they’re playing for a lot of to honor Laramy the same “This has really been my Source: Big Ten working basketball staff in the mid- people that care about them way it did for Hebert as the whole life. I call this school a 2010s. Laramy would give in the whole community,” school named the scorer’s home away from home.