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WIAA Board Approves Basketball Shot Clock, Two Divisions in Boys Hockey Published on 06/23/2017 under Sports

STEVENS POINT, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control reviewed and approved a number of committee recommendations impacting winter sports, gave initial review and consideration of a newly conceived divisional placement plan for basketball, and engaged in robust membership-related discussions at its June meeting today.

Following a lengthy discussion, the Board voted to implement the use of a 35-second shot clock in basketball for varsity games only to begin with the 2019-20 season.

In other basketball-related action, coaches qualifying for the Sate Tournament will determine the seeds for the four qualifying teams in each of the five divisions with a Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association representative breaking any ties that may occur beginning in 2017-18.

Three other basketball recommendations received approval from the Board. If schools choose to play only one half of a junior varsity game and a full varsity game, players will be allowed to play in only two halves. Also approved was extending the coaching box to 28 feet from 14 feet for all levels. In addition, the number of players per team allowed to dress during the Tournament Series will increase to 18 while maintaining the maximum party limit of 22.

The Board also voted to convene the basketball coaches advisory committee following the 2017 Area Meetings to discuss the merits of a newly created basketball tournament placement model. Details of the plan will be shared and discussed at the Area Meetings and at each level of the committee process to be presented to the Board at its Jan. 31, 2018 meeting. General details of the plan is provided below.

The Board supported an amended recommendation for a two-year experiment on sponsoring two divisions in boys hockey beginning with the 2020 State Tournament. The tournament format will feature four teams in Division 1 and four in Division 2 with the smallest 32 programs by enrollment assigned to Division 2.

Another action item in hockey was the approval of the procedure for seeding the State Tournament. The WIAA will conduct a conference call with coaches of qualifying teams to determine the top four seeds, and the remaining four teams will be randomly drawn as opponents of the seeded teams in the brackets. The guidelines for seeding will replicate those for the regional and sectional levels.

Beginning next season, the State Tournament in team wrestling will also be seeded by coaches of qualifying teams. The process will replicate the procedure approved in boys hockey. Another wrestling recommendation approved for 2017-18 increases the total number of medals awarded to 28 at the State Team Tournament, which equals the number of eligible athletes. In other wrestling-related discussions, the Board was informed of a change in the Feb. 1, one-pound growth allowance to take effect on the date of the first regional competition.

The lone gymnastics coaches' recommendation received approval. It requires the final average score of a routine to be posted during meets throughout the season.

The Board also ratified spring cooperative programs for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, general fund financial statements and payments and a spending resolution during development of the 2017-18 operational budget.

Among the additional discussions were a review of the 2017 spring State Tournaments, updates on Assembly Bill 260/Senate Bill 232, the 2017 New Athletic Director Workshop, possible 2017 Area Meeting topics, and potential Constitution items for the 2018 Annual Meeting.

The Board also received liaison reports from John Ashley of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and Peggy Seegers-Braun of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.

The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 511 senior high schools and 41 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 27 championship tournament series. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.

In Other News

No Eagle River Ice Castle in 2026 due to Ice Conditions

Published on 01/06/2026 under News Poor conditions mean the Eagle River Ice Castle will have to wait another year. Each year, the Eagle River Fire Department and their team of volunteers build the giant ice structure out of ice blocks taken from Silver Lake. They typically need 14 inches of ice for the build, however they only 10.5-11 inches. This led to their decision Monday to cancel the Ice Castle for 2026. They noted, that rain and snow last weekend was a set back. While they were eventually able to clear off the ice, able, it left behind a rough, uneven and brittle layer on top. Coupled with a warm-up in the forecast this week, they don't anticipate ice conditions will improve enough to produce the approximately 2,500 ice blocks to build. The Eagle River Ice Castle is a tradition that dates back to the 1930's, and has received widespread interest in the age of social media selfies and pictures. The build, however, has been sporadic recently. Last winter was just the second time in the past eight years that they've been able to build.

Published on 01/06/2026 under News A home in the town of Pine River was destroyed in a fire Monday morning. According to the Pine River Fire Department, responders were initially called to the home on Oak Ridge Avenue in the 5am hour. The homeowner reported smoke in the kitchen. Upon arrival, a deputy and firefighters weren't able to find smoke or flames. They cleared the scene after searching the home and a scan with their thermal imaging camera. A few hours later, at around 9:15am, the homeowner called 911 again after observing flames. Crews returned, and a mutual aid call was made for neighboring agencies. They worked to contain the fire, but it spread quickly through the attic. In addition to neighboring fire departments, the Lincoln County Highway Department brought in their clam truck in order to expose hidden fire pockets in the roof. Chief Lofink offered thanks to their partners during the response. Despite their efforts, the home was declared a total loss. All occupants and pets were able to evacuate. The Salvation Army is assisting the family. The report did not immediately identify a cause of fire. -Photo provided by Pine River Fire Department

Published on 01/06/2026 under News A Mosinee man was arrested following an investigation into a vehicle crash and burglary in Lincoln County. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, deputies were called to County T in the Town of Somo for a vehicle in the ditch. The reporting party also indicated the occupant of the vehicle had broken into a building on his property. Deputies made contact with the 60 year old suspect, who initially denied the break-in. Deputies, however, located fresh foot prints in the snow which led the building where they found signs of forced entry. The deputy also located items allegedly taken from the building laying around the suspect's vehicle. As a result the man was taken into custody for burglary, criminal damage to property, bail jumping, and resisting/obstructing and officer.

Published on 01/06/2026 under News While incidents of blastomycosis are typically in the warmer months, the illness will be a topic of conversation this evening. Blastomycosis or 'blasto' is caused by a fungus that naturally occurs in areas with moist soil and decaying wood and leaves. Past data has shown Lincoln County has a higher than average rate of infection. Coming up this evening in Merrill, Emma Jaeger and John Snyder from the Medical College of Wisconsin, will host a presentation on Blastomycosis. It's part of the "Physician in the Community" project to educate health care providers and the community on Blasto specific to the region. According to the announcement, they plan to discuss key signs and symptoms, local data, geographical impact, and ways to improve outcomes in the community. They'll also have an opportunity for questions and people to share personal experiences following the presentation. The TB Scott Free Library in Merrill will be hosting the conversation at 6pm this evening.

Published on 01/06/2026 under News Most snowmobile trails in Lincoln County are now open. On Monday, the Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks Department announced trails in Zone 4 are now open, joining zones 1,2,and 3 which had previously opened. In the announcement, the department also highlighted the work of local snowmobile clubs, noting they have dedicated significant time and effort to brushing, signing, and grooming the trails. They added, "We encourage riders to thank these volunteers, consider joining a club, and support these organizations through active participation. Without the ongoing work of these clubs, our trail network would not be possible."

Published on 01/06/2026 under News The Lincoln County Humane Society has received an influx of cats and kittens over the weekend. According to their latest update, they had taken in 34 new cats and kittens from a household over the weekend, and they anticipate several more over the next few days. Fortunately they noted, the new felines are healthy and adjusting well. In anticipation, they put out a call over the weekend for help from the community with donations of cat litter and kitten chow and were grateful to everyone who contributed. Every challenge we face at LCHS is easier because of the incredible people that care so much about the animals. To help alleviate the crowding, they will be having some adoption specials for cats that had already been at the Humane Society and also encouraged those considering fostering to reach out. Their final request is to remind everyone, if you see something that doesn't seem "quite right," always report it.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News A quick dip in the icy waters of Lake Mohawksin Saturday was well worth it for dozens of people who raised tens of thousands of dollars to support local organizations. This weekend marked the return of the annual Tomahawk STAR Foundation STAR Splash. On Saturday afternoon, organizers cut a hole into the ice on Lake Mohawksin outside of Castaways hosting the event. Local individuals and groups collected pledges in exchange for a jumping into those icy waters. Half of the pledges are committed to a local non-profit of the jumper's choosing, while the other half goes to the STAR Foundation, which eventually returns it back into the community as well, through grants. Continuing a good week for snowmobilers after local trails opening, it was Nancy Swan, on behalf of the Knight Owls snowmobile club who was the top fundraiser to claim the bonus. Her solo leap raised more than $7,000. The Tomahawk High School Hockey team was among the other groups taking a dip. Prior to this year, they had been the top fundraiser for three consecutive years, raising more than $30,000 over the past four years. And after dealing with temperatures in the single digits last year, it was a bit warmer Saturday, relatively speaking. And while the Splashers were only in the water for less than a minute, their moment of bravery will have a lasting impact on their respective organizations. We'll share additional results as numbers are finalized.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News The Tomahawk Community has many great, locally-owned businesses. And the Tomahawk Chamber is looking to identify the best of the best. This past week, the Tomahawk Chamber put out a call for nominations for the 'Small Business of the Year' Award. According to the announcement, their goal is to celebrate locally-owned businesses that demonstrate excellence, growth, and a commitment to our community. They said, "Whether it's your favorite shop, restaurant, service provider, or a business that quietly makes a big impact—let's shine a spotlight on the businesses that make our community thrive." They'll accept nominations through the end of the week. The winner will be recognized at the annual Chamber Appreciation dinner coming up at the end of January. More information is available on the Chamber Facebook page including a link to the nomination form.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News It won't be long before peregrine falcons return to their nests around the state for breeding season. That includes the Wisconsin Public Service and We Energies Power Plants, which have played a key role in the bird's recovery over the years. Before the new arrivals, the utilities took a look back, publishing their 2025 nesting report prepared by peregrine falcon manager Greg Septon. Since the program began in 1992, there have been 443 peregrine falcon chicks hatched at the WPS and We Energy facilities in Wisconsin. This past year there were four active nesting sites which hatched a dozen new chicks. Their names were all inspired by past peregrine falcons. The northern-most, the Weston Power Plant near Wausau produced three chicks, along with an unhatched egg. This nest has been active since 2006 with 48 young birds, a little more than two per year. The chicks are banded before leaving the nest, though sightings in the wild are rare. Septon wrote that most peregrines end up nesting within 200 miles of where they were hatched. But the power plant peregrines have spread their wings, with band birds identified nesting in Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana. Among the challenges Septon highlighted was the highly pathogenic avian influenza which is the likely cause of death for both of the nesting pair in Port Washington. For those eager to watch the falcons on the nesting webcams, the eggs are typically laid in mid-March. That entire report is available on the WPS and WE Energies Websites.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News Food insecurity has been on the rise. In Rhinelander, two high school student organizations teamed up to give back to their local food pantry. On Friday afternoon, members of the Rhinelander High School Key Club and National Honor Society paid a visit to the Rhineland Food Pantry where they were able to present a check for $3,000, along with more than 600 pounds of non-perishable food donations. This continues an effort last month where the students generated enough food donations to support 29 families over the Holiday break. Lexi Radtke, RHS Key Club Advisor, added, "I am incredibly proud of our students for their initiative and follow-through. They identified a need in our community and took meaningful action to make a real difference for families. Their compassion, leadership, and commitment to service are truly inspiring." While the two clubs led the way by organizing various fundraisers and collection efforts, it was a district-wide effort. The contributions from RHS students will directly support Food Pantry's Hodag Monster Meals Program which helps ensure families have access to nutritious food.

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