When my kids were little, I always got schmaltzy just before school started. Summers on the farm were busy, yet the freedom we had without the boundaries of school commitments was liberating.

Sept. 14 Pulaski 5, Menasha 0 The Red Raiders stayed unbeaten on the year with a 5-0win over the Bluejays of Menasha. Pulaski took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a tight contest in the first 40 minutes. The Red Raiders then opened the second half with three goals in a five-minute stretch to build a comfortable lead that they would not surrender. Maddox McKeefry and Nolan Pratt each had two goals on the night for Pulaski (7-0-2).

Sept. 12 Pulaski 2, Fox Valley Lutheran 0 The Fox Valley Lutheran Foxes fell to the Pulaski Red Raiders 2-0. Pulaski got both goals in the first half. The first goal came courtesy of Maddox McKeefry unassisted in the seventh minute.

Sept. 12 Pulaski 35, Green Bay Southwest 14 A pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns sealed the 35-14 win for Pulaski in Fox River Classic Conference-North action. Pulaski improved to 1-1 in league play and 2-2 overall; Green Bay Southwest remains winless on the season. Neither team scored in the first quarter, and the first half ended in a 7-7 tie. The Red Raiders scored on a Brock Weideman 14-yard run.

U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde stopped in Shawano for a community listening session and a visit to J.R. Machine to see what the company does in terms of space travel and other endeavors. During the listening session at Shawano City Hall, Hovde told more than 30 business owners and retirees about how he wants to help the people break free from the “feckless, stupid leadership” that includes President Joe Biden and Sen.

Sept. 14 Kaukauna Invite Rachael Carroll and Jaelyn Hietpas each went undefeated for Shawano at No. 1 and No. 4 singles at the Kaukauna Invite. The Hawks battled the weather as well as three very good teams for Menasha, Kaukauna and Plymouth. Menasha 4, Shawano 3 Carroll cleaned house 6-0, 6-0, and Hietpas was nearly identical in 6-1, 6-0 wins. Hadley Rettke won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2, while Laney Rich lost 6-1, 6-0 at No.

Sept. 12 Wittenberg-Birnamwood 107, Seymour 63 Wittenberg-Birnamwood won all but two events as they defeated Seymour in a dual meet. Action began with Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Brooklyn Beran, Reese Dickman, Kelsie Davis and Olivia Bessette winning the 200-yard medley relay in 2:00.18. Teammates Addie Schmid, Chloe Hanson, Andrew Powell and Ava Filtz placed fourth in 2:31.57. In the 200-yard freestyle, it was Beran winning in 2:12.18.

Sept. 12 Xavier 7, Shawano 0 Xavier made fast work of Shawano in its 7-0 shutout. Ireland Setterman was shut out 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Rachael Carroll lost 6-1, 6-1; Hadley Rettke lost 6-0, 6-1; and Laney Rich was defeated 6-1, 6-0. The doubles teams didn’t fare any better. Olivia Dobratz and Claire Weiland were blanked 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles, as were Ava Hoffman and Amelia Belter at No. 3.

Sept. 9 New London 4, Shawano 3 Shawano’s tennis team lost a closely contested match to New London at home. The Hawks fought back to force three tiebreakers but fell short in the end, losing 4-3. Winning for the Hawks were Rachel Carroll at No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-0; Jaelyn Hietpas at No. 3 singles 6-0, 6-1; and Ava Hoffman at No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-1. In one of the tiebreakers, No. 1 singles player Ireland Setterman lost 6-4, 0-6, 7-10. The No.