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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

Hatchet Girls Wrestling Sending Eight on to Sectionals

Published on 02/14/2026 under Sports In the WIAA Girls Wrestling Regional Meet in Merrill Friday night, the Hatchets had a strong showing as they would send eight girls to the Sectional round. Tomahawk had three regional champions in the meet, who were Kylie Peissig at 107 pounds, Aubrey Tollefson at 114 pounds, and Kami Gabrich at 185 pounds. Other sectional qualifiers were Victoria Towle at 100 pounds, Lillian Taves at 126 pounds, Kaylee Roberts at 145 pounds, Elena Cerkes at 152 pounds, and Abigail Doleshal at 235 pounds. Towle, Taves, and Cerkes all won their wrestlebacks to cap off the night. The WIAA Girls Wrestling Sectional Meet is next Friday at DC Everest. Events begin at 5:00.

Published on 02/14/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's girls basketball squad would suffer one of their worst losses of the season to Lakeland in Minocqua Friday night, losing 62-33. The Hatchets were unable to stop Ava Evenhouse and the Thunderbird offense from putting up 38 points in the first half. Freya Alberg led the way in scoring for the Hatchets with 16 points. The loss drops Tomahawk to 12-11 on the season and 5-6 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets will wrap up their season next Friday with Senior Night against Mosinee. Tip is at 6:00.

Published on 02/14/2026 under Sports The Hatchet boys' basketball squad's offensive woes would continue Friday, losing to Lakeland at home, 77-36. The loss drops Tomahawk's record to 2-19 on the season and 0-11 in Great Northern Conference play. The loss by the Hatchets is also their 13th straight. Tomahawk is back on the court Tuesday in Antigo. Tip is at 5:45 PM.

Published on 02/13/2026 under News The Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation is looking to bring together local business owners. And the organization is launching a new free monthly meet-up known as LinC & Learn Business Connections series. According to Executive Director Sara Guild, the LinC & Learn is designed to bring together small-to-medium size business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and local business leaders for practical learning, peer-to-peer problem solving, and meaningful networking in a welcoming, informal environment. The first opportunity is coming up next Thursday at Johnson's of Merrill. Then in March, they'll head north to Tomahawk at the Buedingen Center at PCA. That also leads up to the annual Lincoln County Economic Summit which will take place in April. And while the LinC & Learn is free, Guild encouraged registration so they know how many people will be attending. Those interested can visit the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation website.

Published on 02/13/2026 under News We have updates on a pair of snowmobile crashes in the Northwoods over the weekend including a fatal accident in Langlade County. One person died several days after a snowmobile crash near Antigo. According to the DNR, that initial crash happened on Saturday. The operator, a 59 year old man, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Officials say he died on Monday. His name was not immediately released. Based on the preliminary investigation, the operator was traveling on a public trail when he failed to negotiate a curve resulting in a rollover. This is the 10th fatal snowmobile crash in Wisconsin this year, and the twelfth this riding season.

Published on 02/13/2026 under News Meanwhile up in Vilas County, a snowmobile crash earlier this week required an air medical transport. According to the Eagle River Fire Department that call came in on Tuesday evening at just after 8pm. Crews were dispatched to Trail 7 in the Town of Cloverland, west of Eagle River. Responders used their UTV to reach the victim on the trail. Due to the nature and severity of the injuries, a medical evacuation helicopter was requested. They temporarily closed Highway 70 for around 15 minutes to allow the helicopter to land. The patient was transported to Wausau for further treatment. No update on their condition was provided. No other information on the crash was provided.

Published on 02/13/2026 under News While love may be in the air for Valentine's, a local energy provider is reminding people to keep holiday balloons out of the skies. With heart-shaped Mylar balloons a go-to Valentine's gift, Wisconsin Public Service offered their annual word of caution. That's because a released balloon could leave thousands in the dark. They explained via news release when a Mylar balloons comes into contact with power lines, it acts as a conductor, and may create a short circuit. Last year, balloons caused more than 500 outages across the WPS footprint. In addition to power outages, a short circuit can also be dangerous if the power line falls to the ground. If you're planning on gifting a balloon for Valentine's, or any special occasion, make sure it is tied securely to a weight. If you received a balloon, electric companies are asking you properly deflate and dispose it rather than letting them go outdoors.

Published on 02/13/2026 under News During American Heart Month, Aspirus is helping patients better understand how common heart medications protect long term health, even when symptoms are not present. Conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol often go unnoticed because they typically do not cause immediate symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, many without knowing it. That silent risk is why regular monitoring coupled with medications play such an important role in prevention. Aspirus Pharmacy resident Tyler Thao says, "People can feel perfectly fine and still have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. You would not necessarily know unless you get it checked. You may feel fine, but inside, you may not be." Medications for blood pressure and cholesterol help lower that hidden risk by reducing strain on the heart and blood vessels over time. Because these medications are often taken long term, pharmacists play an important role in helping patients understand why they are prescribed, how to take them safely, and what to watch for along the way. Thao says, "Taking medications as prescribed and checking in with your doctor can truly save a life."

Published on 02/13/2026 under News Love is in the air, and so too are the birds... Bird-lovers can join in a global citizen-science effort. Today marks the start of the four-day, Great Backyard Bird Count. This is the 29th year for the survey, a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. By participating in your own backyard here in the Northwoods, you can join the more than 800,000 people who participated last year in nearly every country on the planet. Ben Haywood, Audubon's director of community science says. "The more the merrier as we celebrate the joy of birds all over the world and join the global effort to protect them and the places they need." Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring—whether individual species are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats. To take part, each participant counts birds for 15 minutes or more and uses the Merlin Bird ID app or eBird app to enter the birds identified birds by sight or sound at birdcount.org. That can be your backyard, or a park, a wilderness area, apartment balcony, or neighborhood street. First time participants are encouraged the GBBC website. The survey runs through Monday.

Published on 02/13/2026 under News Last fall, the Major League Fishing Tour made a stop in the Northwoods. Now a new TV audience will get a chance to check out fishing in the area. Back in September, Minocqua hosted the second stop on the Major League Fishing-Fishing Clash Team Series tour. Over the course of a week, twenty four anglers, in twelve teams of two, fished local lakes and rivers. It was seen as a great success for the region as an immediate economic driver, but also highlighted the area as a fishing destination for those following along online. At the time, organizers promised that produced episodes of the tournament would be aired on TV. That begins this weekend. MLF partners with the Outdoor Channel to air that tournament coverage over the course of six weekly episodes. The first will air on Saturday, February 14 at 1pm. Airings will continue on the Outdoor Channel each Saturday through March 21. Check your provider for which channel. Episodes will also be available on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app after.

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