We're just a couple of days away from setting the field for the WIAA state boys soccer tournament, which will be held Oct. 29 to 31, at the Uihlein Soccer Complex near 74th St. and Good Hope Rd..

Wisconsin teams and players enjoy a lofty regional and national reputation, for many reasons. One is the solid play of spring and summer club teams in national competition; another is the success state preps have had in college.

And the state's greatest wealth of talent, by far, rests in the Milwaukee area. When ESPN.com's season preview listed the top five teams in Wisconsin, each was from the area - Milwaukee Marquette, Arrowhead, Brookfield East, Brookfield Central and Whitefish Bay.

Since joining the WIAA in 2000, Marquette has won six Division 1 championships, including a 5-0 victory over Muskego in the final last year. Area teams have won the Division 1 title 19 times since the first state tournament was held in 1982.

In the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association's state rankings of Oct. 12, Marquette (13-4-2 overall as of Oct. 12) was first in Division 1, followed by Brookfield East (15-2-2), Muskego (19-1-1), Arrowhead (15-2-3), Brookfield Central (10-4-2) and Kenosha Tremper (18-1-3). Kettle Moraine (14-5-1) was ranked 10th and Hartford (20-2) and Menomonee Falls (14-7-3) received votes.

Catholic Memorial (13-4-2) was ranked first in Division 2, followed by Port Washington (13-6-3) in fourth, New Berlin West (14-7-1) in fifth. Kettle Moraine Lutheran (17-2) was ranked second in Division 3, followed by Racine St. Catherine's (12-5), Racine Prairie (12-4-1) and University School (14-3-1).

Each of the players on ESPN's list of the state's top eight players comes from the area.

The University of Wisconsin has commitments from Brookfield East forward Luke Goodnetter (yep, that's his name), and Arrowhead goalkeeper Max Ventsch. Whitefish Bay midfielder Charlie Hoover is headed for Marquette, Homestead forward Gabe Genovesi will play at Akron, and Marquette High has two recruits in forward Mike Roettgers (St. Louis) and midfielder Jack McDermott (Xavier).

All of their teams are still alive in the post-season, though that won't be the case after Thursday night, when Brookfield Central plays a 7 p.m. sectional semifinal at Brookfield East. The winner advances to a 2 p.m. Saturday sectional final against either Arrowhead or Menomonee Falls, who meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Arrowhead.

Also Thursday, Whitefish Bay plays host to South Milwaukee at 7 p.m. and Oak Creek takes on Marquette at Quad Park (38th and St. Paul) at 7 p.m. The winners meet at Whitefish Bay at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Other area teams still alive in Division 1 sectionals are Muskego, Waukesha West, Kettle Moraine, Hartford, Kenosha Bradford and Kenosha Tremper. Still kicking in Division 2 are Catholic Memorial, New Berlin West, Port Washington and Grafton. Area Division 3 survivors are University School of Milwaukee, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Racine St. Catherine's and Shoreland Lutheran of Somers.

ON THE RUN
Also this weekend, every prep cross country runner in Wisconsin will compete in sectional races, aiming to qualify for the state meet at The Ridges Golf Course outside Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, Oct. 31.

In the boys meet last year, Catholic Memorial took second in Division 2 and Port Washington's Mark Allen was the individual champion (15 minutes 55 seconds for 5,000 meters). Whitefish Bay won the Division 1 team championship last year, and area runners swept all three divisional titles: Arrowhead's Gabby Levac in Division 1 (14:42 for 4,000 meters), Morgan Sickels of Catholic Memorial in D2 (14:28) and Molly Seidel of University Lake School in Hartland in D3 (14:37).

This fall, most sectionals are scheduled for Saturday, though Wisconsin Lutheran's Division 2 race will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at McCarty Park. Area sectionals on the Saturday slate:

Division 1: At Arrowhead, 11 a.m.; at Brookfield Central, 11 a.m., at UW-Parkside (hosted by Racine Horlick), 10 a.m., and at McCarty Park (hosted by Whitnall), 10 a.m. Division 2: At Pewaukee, 9:30 a.m. Division 3: At UW-Parkside (hosted by Racine Prairie), 1 p.m.

In the latest Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association boys state rankings Marquette was second in Division 1, with Brookfield Central fourth, Arrowhead fifth and Germantown ninth. Shorewood was first, Wisconsin Lutheran third, Port Washington fifth and Pewaukee 10th in Division 2, and Racine Prairie was tied for fourth in Division 3.

In the girls state rankings, Whitefish Bay was first in Division 1, followed by Homestead in second, Waukesha West in third, Arrowhead in fourth and Kenosha Tremper in seventh. In Division 2, Pewaukee was second, Wisconsin Lutheran third, Shorewood fifth, Catholic Memorial sixth and Port Washington seventh.

For sectional assignments and results as they are reported to the WIAA, visit this link.

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