DCE, Columbus Catholic earn top seeds
WAUSAU - The D.C. Everest and Columbus Catholic boys soccer teams both received No. 1 seeds for the WIAA postseason tournament, which begins this week.
Everest, the Wisconsin Valley Conference champions, received a top seed in Division 1. Columbus Catholic, which won the Mid-State Conference title, earned a No. 1 seed in Division 4.
The playoffs begin Tuesday with a handful of regional quarterfinal games in Divisions 3 and 4. Both Divisions 1 and 2 begin play Thursday.
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It's the second straight year that Columbus Catholic has received a No. 1 seed. The Dons reached the sectional semifinals last year.
It's the highest seeding for Everest in the past decade. The Evergreens were seeded second in 2008 and fell in the regional finals. Everest was seeded third last year and lost in the regional finals as well.
The state tournament will be held Nov. 3-5 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Here is a closer look at where local programs are seeded.
DIVISION 1
The Evergreens, an honorable mention selection in Division 1 in the final state poll of the season, is a top seed in Sectional 1. Everest host No. 8 Eau Claire North in a regional semifinal Thursday.
Stevens Point Area Senior High finished second in the WVC and earned a No. 3 seed in the same sectional. The Panthers, who also were an honorable mention pick in the state poll, host No. 6 Wausau West in a playoff opener..
The Evergreens handed SPASH its only loss of the regular season.
Sixth-seeded Wisconsin Rapids travels to No. 3 Bay Port in the other half of the sectional bracket.
DIVISION 2
Marshfield is seeded second in Sectional 1 and hosts No. 7 Rhinelander in a regional semifinal.
Wausau East received a No. 4 seed in the same sectional and hosts No. 5 Hortonville.
Eighth-seeded Merrill travels to No. 1 Ashwaubenon.
DIVISION 3
Mosinee is seeded third in Sectional 1 and opens against No. 6 Wautoma/Faith Christian/Wild Rose. Medford earned a sixth seed and travels to No. 3 Baldwin-Woodville in a regional semifinal.
Eighth-seeded Amherst/Iola-Scandinavia/Rosholt hosts No. 9 Antigo in a regional quarterfinal Tuesday. The winner advances to face top-seeded Waupaca on Thursday.
Adams-Friendship is seeded 15th in Sectional 3 and faces No. 2 McFarland in a regional semifinal.
DIVISION 4
Columbus Catholic is the top seed in Sectional 1 and hosts the winner of Tuesday's matchup between No. 8 Nekoosa and No. 9 Tri-County in a regional semifinal Thursday.
Ninth-seeded Newman Catholic plays eight-seeded Phelps in a regional quarterfinal with the winner moving on to Thursday's matchup with No. 1 Barron.
Pacelli is seeded fifth in the sectional and plays No. 4 Aquinas in a regional semifinal.
Wisconsin Valley Lutheran and Northland Lutheran are seeded sixth and seventh in the sectional, respectively.
WVL travels to No. 3 Arcadia while Northland Lutheran opens at No. 2 Coulee Christian.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11