Iola-Scandinavia’s Jensen Rice standout looks to add more accolades to standout career

Wrapping up a superb athletic career for the Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds on both the gridiron and the track, Jensen Rice can lay claim to having done practically everything an athlete could do for their school. Jensen won two individual state championships in the 2024 WIAA state championships along with being a key member of the Thunderbirds team state championship that season, and is in search of another state title in 2026. Jensen has also been a standout on the football field, as he was named player of the year in the Central Wisconsin Conference-small, after leading Iola to a conference title.

Jensen amassed 1,935 yards and 25 touchdowns passing, along with 2,671 yards and 36 touchdowns rushing on offense as well as scoring on two kick returns in his career.

Rice was a two-time all-conference quarterback and two-time all-conference defensive back.

The exploits in track and field were just as impressive, as a freshman he was sixth at state in the 100 meter dash, and fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, and came back as a sophomore to win both the division 3 100-meter dash with a time of 11.94 and the 110-meter hurdle with a time of 14.60.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit will compete collegiately in football in the fall and track and field next spring, which he has gotten used to during his time in school as he started football in third grade and track in middle school.

Jensen feels that athletics is ingrained in him and that’s what allows him to keep playing with a passion, “It is embedded into my personality, and I don’t really know who I’d be without it, I love everything about it. “

As one of the fastest athletes in the state, Jensen knows that he is gifted with speed and athleticism that helped in his high school career.

Going to state for track and field the first time as a freshman is Jensen’s favorite memory this season, as he sees his maturity throughout his time at Iola-Scandinavia,” I have grown a lot as a person in the last few years as well as an athlete.