Sixteen high school football teams from the Appleton area are currently vying for playoff spots, as confirmed by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) playoff matrix. The WIAA is set to unveil the official playoff pairings during a live broadcast on Saturday, October 18.
In the latest update of the playoff rankings, movement was noted in Division 4 where Little Chute has surged to fifth place, effectively overtaking Winneconne, which is now in seventh. Neenah is currently leading the charge in Division 1, sitting in third place with a strong record that would likely secure them a No. 1 seed.
The playoff format recognizes eight divisions within the 11-player football structure, with 32 teams competing in each division, totaling 224 teams. The ranking system assigns points based on wins, with victories over higher-division teams yielding additional points classified as Tier 1.
Along with the focus on football, significant developments have occurred in other sports. Kyle Dunphy has been appointed as the new head coach for Kaukauna’s softball team, taking over for the retired Tim Roehrig, who left after an illustrious 27-year tenure that included six WIAA Division 1 state titles.
Notable individual achievements include Seymour’s Morgan Lewis, who finished eighth at the WIAA Division 2 state girls’ golf tournament. Meanwhile, Xavier’s Sydney Neilitz reached a career milestone, surpassing 1,500 assists in volleyball.
As the football season progresses into Week 9, several local teams remain on the playoff bubble. Appleton East, Appleton West, Waupaca, Xavier, Manawa, and Shiocton are all positioned just outside the top 32, highlighting a competitive landscape as teams gear up for the playoffs.
The WIAA’s football pairing announcement will be broadcast live at 10 a.m. on various local stations and will also be available online. The full brackets and first-round matchups will be posted on the WIAA website shortly thereafter.
Overall, the developments in both football and other sports illuminate the talent and competitive spirit present within the Appleton area, setting the stage for an exciting postseason.