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Waunakee cocurricular report: winter sports successes and planning for likely WIAA NIL rules
Summary
District cocurricular staff reported winter-season accomplishments — including conference and sectional honors, state qualifiers and high team GPAs — and outlined preparations for likely Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules that could take effect in mid-May, stressing education for families and possible eligibility risks.
Nick Conrad presented the Waunakee Community School District cocurricular report at the committee meeting, highlighting winter-season competitive and academic achievements and outlining preparations for likely new Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules from the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Conrad said the district recorded multiple conference honors and state qualifiers and emphasized preparations for new WIAA rules that he said could take effect in mid-May. “I love starting all these meetings with all these celebrations,” Conrad said, listing team and individual accomplishments.
The report summarized competitive highlights: girls basketball player Tessa Bridal was named Badger Large Player of the Year; Marcus Richter (girls basketball) and Chase Drake (boys hockey) were named Badger Conference coaches of the year, with Drake also winning a sectional coaches award. Boys swim posted the top team GPA at 3.87 and the boys 200-yard medley relay qualified for state. Boys hockey repeated as regional champions and reached the sectional final. In wrestling, the district had two girls qualify for the first girls state individual tournament (named in the report as Kit and Ellie) and four boys qualified for individual state competition.
Conrad outlined the district’s approach to potential WIAA NIL rules. He said WIAA-proposed language would allow NIL activity outside school-associated programs and that district and family education will be needed if the WIAA rule passes. Conrad warned of eligibility risks if rules are violated and enforcement is retroactive: a violation could lead to a forfeit even months earlier if a student proved ineligible, he said. He described likely restrictions that would apply to school-affiliated marks and activities: students would not be allowed to wear district logos or colors as part of NIL promotional activity tied to school programs.
Conrad said the WIAA is offering educational resources and that outside vendors are already preparing materials the district could use to advise families. He recommended the district schedule optional family education sessions over the summer and noted the timing problem if a WIAA rule becomes effective in mid-May: "If this does pass, though, it would go in effect at mid May… so you were gonna be in the middle of the spring sports season," Conrad said.
The presentation also included operational updates: Matt Rheinfeld has begun work as the district’s middle school athletic coordinator and will gradually take on middle-school athletic coordination; the district will pilot accepting campus card (cat card) payments for concessions in select events with GoFan integration and plans a wider roll-out next school year; and the district continues to monitor coach vacancies (girls tennis was listed as an open position to be posted and brought to the board for approval).
Next steps noted in the meeting: schedule family informational sessions should WIAA rules pass, coordinate with local clubs and the Chamber of Commerce to inform community donors about NIL implications, and pilot card-based concession sales at low-risk events before broader implementation.
The district’s cocurricular staff will return with implementation details and recommended family-facing communications if WIAA rules are adopted.
