The Wisconsin prep football pairings were finally announced Monday night for Divisions 3-7 after days of delay.
The playoff pairings for all divisions were withheld until Monday, and Divisions 1 and 2 have still not been announced, pending litigation involving the Milwaukee Messmer/Shorewood co-op program, a possible postseason qualifier from southest Wisconsin.
The Messmer and Shorewood schools filed a preliminary injunction Friday in an attempt to gain postseason eligibility. But a hearing was not available until Monday at 1:30 p.m. and was not settled until Tuesday afternoon when a Milwaukee judge ruled that the Milwaukee Messmer/Shorewood prep football co-op is eligible for the WIAA playoffs, against the wishes itssantioning body.
The Messmer/Shorewood football co-op voluntarily withdrew from the Woodland Conference for football following the 2007 season and became an independent. According to WIAA rules, a team that withdraws is ineligible for the playoffs for a period of four years.
However, the co-op program argued that it no longer falls under that stipulation since it joined the Midwest Classic Conference as a full member in 2011. The judge agreed.
An attorney for the WIAA indicated that brackets for the top two divisions, which had been withheld pending a ruling, will be released soon, perhaps within the hour.
As for the 16 teams in our coverage are that qualified for the playoffs, game times and dates can now be set later this afternoon. Here is a list of first-round match-ups for brackets with area teams.
DIVISION 4
Group C
Kettle Morraine Lutheran (5-4) at No. 1 Racine St. Catherine’s (8-1), Sat., 1 p.m.
Platteville (8-1) at No. 4 Brodhead/Juda (7-2), Sat., 7 p.m.
Winnebago-Lutheran (5-4) at No. 3 Lakeside Lutheran (8-1), Fri., 7 p.m.
River Valley (5-4) at No. 2 Marshall (9-0), Sat., 3 p.m.
DIVISION 5
Group C
Osseo-Fairchild (6-3) at No. 1 Necedah (9-0), Sat., 4 p.m.
Mondovi (4-5) at No. 4 Cuba City (8-1), Fri., 7 p.m.
Whitehall (8-1) vs. No. 3 Westby (7-2) at Viroqua, Sat., 4:30 p.m.
Arcadia (5-4) at No. 2 Lancaster (9-0), Fri., 7 p.m.
Group D
Cambridge (7-2) at No. 1 Darlington (7-2), Sat., 3 p.m.
Oostburg (7-2) at No. 4 Waterloo (5-4), Fri., 7 p.m.
Brookfield Academy (3-5) at No. 3 Kenosha St. Joe’s (7-2)
Lomira (5-4) at No. 2 Cedar Grove-Belgium (9-0), Fri., 7 p.m.
DIVISION 6
Group C
Melrose-Mindoro (4-5) at No. 1 Edgar (9-0), Fri., 7 p.m.
Pecatonica/Argyle (4-5) at No. 4 Kickapoo/La Farge (5-4), Fri., 7 p.m.
Southwestern (5-4) at No. 3 Bangor (7-2), Sat., 1 p.m.
Iowa-Grant (7-2) at No. 2 Blair Taylor (9-0), Sat., 7 p.m.
DIVISION 7
Group C
Ithaca (5-4) at No. 1 Highland (7-2), Fri., 7 p.m.
Belmont (5-4) at No. 4 Weston (5-4), Sat., 7 p.m.
Cassville (4-5) at No. 3 Seneca (7-2), Fri., 7 p.m.
Hillsboro (7-2) at No. 2 Potosi (8-1), Sat., 4 p.m.
Group D
Catholic Central (5-4) at No. 1 Randolph (7-2), Sat., 1 p.m.
Black Hawk (7-2) vs. No. 4 Rio (7-2) at Portage, Sat., 4 p.m.
Fall River (5-4) vs. No. 3 Lake Country Lutheran (6-3) at Kettle Morraine, Sat., 2 p.m.
Johnson Creek (6-3) vs. No. 2 Living Word Lutheran (8-1) at Slinger, Fri., 7 p.m.
