THAT'S A RINGER! The 101st Wisconsin State Horseshoe Tournament is swiftly approaching, slated for Sept. 2-3.

Carson Park is the place to be this Labor Day weekend, and we’re not talkin’ baseball. Witness more than 100 of Wisconsin’s best horseshoe pitchers go head to head at the 101st Wisconsin State Horseshoe Tournament on Sept. 2-3. 

The Eau Claire Horseshoe Club is proud to host the upcoming tournament, which will be free to spectators and also include its first-ever arts and crafts fair adjacent to the courts.

“It means we can host our statewide horseshoe family at the courts we have grown to love to pitch on every Tuesday night in the summer,” Paul Wiese, President of the Eau Claire Horseshoe Club, said.  “It would be selfish of us if we were the only ones in the state that get to experience the serenity of pitching at our wonderfully wooded location.”

The Cadet Championship, Jr Girls Championship, and Jr Boys Championship will all begin at 9am on Sunday, Sept. 3. The Elder’s Championship, Men’s Championship, and Women’s Championship will begin at 2pm on Sept. 3. The Hall of Fame and Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday following the morning session.

Two-time World Champion Sarah Chaffee of Chippewa Falls.

Penny Steinke is a four-time state champ from Waukesha, defending her title against two-time World Champion Sarah Chaffee of Chippewa Falls. Steinke is entering with a 77.01 ringer percentage while Chaffee enters with an 82.46 percentage. Also in the mix is six-time state champ Aleena Lepak from Edgar and prior state champ Tammy Newkirk from Beloit. 

John Nawrot of Grand Marsh is the two-time reigning state champ of the Men’s Class, going up against prior state champs Jim Larson of Sun Prairie and Lonny Trangsrud of Eau Claire. 

Jim Bilderback from Birchwood is the five-time defending champ of the Elder’s Class with a ringer percentage of 69.28%. 

Bradley Benzing from Eagle River will be defending his title in the Boy’s Class. 

Lilyan Kildahl from Stratford will defend her title against Sequoia Wiese of Augusta. 

Conner Kildahl from Stratford is the defending boys champ for the Cadet Class while sister Jazmyn Kildahl is the defending cadet girls champion. 

View the complete tournament schedule here. Visit the Wisconsin Horseshoe Pitchers Association website to learn more.