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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 Spring Sports Recap 5/8/26

Published on 05/08/2026 under Sports Hatchet Baseball Mercy-Ruled For Second Straight Game Tomahawk's baseball team were the first victims of the Lakeland Thunderbirds in Minocqua Friday night, losing, 14-1. The Hatchets tied a season-high with six errors committed in the field, resulting in eight unearned runs. The lone run scored by Tomahawk was a solo home run from Sophomore Cash Olsen in the third inning. The pitching combination of Olsen, Wally Horabik, and Hunter Hilgendorf allowed eight runs in the fourth inning. The loss drops Tomahawk to 5-8 on the season and 4-6 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the diamond Monday afternoon for another GNC showdown with Medford. Alex Koch and Keith Hanse will have the broadcast on Sports Talk 810 AM/97.7 FM WJJQ. The Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show gets underway at 4:35 and First Pitch is at 5:00. Tomahawk Golf Stays at 5th in GNC Meet at Eagle River Up at the Eagle River Golf Course, the Hatchet golfers would place fifth again in their Great Northern Conference meet Friday afternoon. Tomahawk would finish with a score of 346, six strokes behind fourth-place Merrill. The top golfer for the Hatchets was sophomore Jaxon Kaiser, who finished with an 83. Oliver Childers would finish one stroke behind Kaiser. The Hatchets have their next Great Northern Conference Meet Monday at Black River Golf Course in Medford. Tee-off is at 3:00. Elise Gibeault Dominates, Hatchet Runners Finish in Top Four At the Otto Bacher Invite in Merrill Friday night, the Hatchet track and field athletes came away with top-four team finishes. Tomahawk's girls placed second overall, placing behind only Great Northern Conference foe Rhinelander. The meet was dominated Junior runner Elise Gibeault. The Hatchet athlete placed first in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dashes. She also placed first in the high jump. Gibeault's 400 time of 58.36 seconds set a meet record. Also placing first in the meet was the 4x200 meter relay squad of Siennah Calkins, Alicia Voermans, Lauren Reibe, and Aliyah Nelson. As for the Hatchet boys, they would place fourth in the invite, behind Rhinelander, Lakeland, and Wausau East. Tomahawk's boys had two third-place finishes in the invite. Connor Zorn placed third in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.73 seconds. Mason Reibe placed third in the pole vault with a leap of 11 feet. The next meet for Tomahawk is their home meet at Hatchet Field Tuesday. Alex Koch will be in the press box with the Fehrman Orthodontics Premeet Show at 3:55 and opening events will begin at 4:15 on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News A Mother's Day weekend tradition in Tomahawk returns for an 11th year as the Tomahawk Main Street Wine Walk will brings hundreds of visitors downtown this evening. For a few hours, more than two dozen shops in downtown Tomahawk will turn into temporary wineries offering lucky ticket holders samples of merlots, pinots and muscattos while enjoying a festive atmosphere. This year's event features 30 stops and a selection of carefully curated wine selections, along with gift bags generously filled by local businesses. Tomahawk Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz says the Wine Walk has become a yearly tradition for many groups of mothers, daughters, grandmothers and friends who celebrate together each spring. While Tomahawk Main Street has toyed with the idea of a theme, she noted that some of the groups come up with their own dress up theme. In addition to the wine tastings, downtown visitors can enjoy live music, extended shopping hours and evening entertainment at several locations including an open mic night at Sideways. Turkiewicz says the event continues to benefit downtown businesses by bringing new customers through their doors and showcasing everything the downtown district has to offer. She added that even people without tickets are encouraged to come downtown Friday night to enjoy the atmosphere, music and shopping opportunities. While the event typically sells out, I spoke to Turkiewicz this morning, she had a couple of tickets available that were returned. Those interested can contact Tomahawk Main Street when they open a bit later this morning.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News The largest single-day food drive in the country is taking place this weekend, and local postal carriers are looking forward to the extra work that comes with it. It's time once again for Stamp Out Hunger, a collection put on by the Association of Letter Carriers in cooperation with the US Postal Service. The national collection launched back in 1991. We were recently joined by Tomahawk Postmaster Chris Thompson to talk about the effort. Local donations go to restock the Tomahawk and Nokomis Food Pantries, and Thompson says over years the Tomahawk community often out-collects larger cities. Last year, the local carriers collected more than 1,000 pounds of food items, along with some additional cash donations. Thompson says, "Carriers are very familiar with their community, they see it everyday, and we just want to make a difference." Participation is quite simple, place a bag with non-expired and non-perishable food in or on your mailbox in time for your regular Saturday delivery. From there, the carriers will do the rest of the work bringing the food back to the post office where they'll sort through the donations and deliver to the local food pantries.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News The Raise Your Voice Club in the Tomahawk School District hasn't been around for long, but they're already making a difference on campus and in the community. For those unfamiliar, Raise Your Voice is a student organization that focuses on mental health. This past weekend, the Tomahawk chapter teamed up with local partners to host their second annual color run. Dozens of students and community members completed the course set up on the Tomahawk school campus, which included color stations that rained down brightly colored powders on the participants. And while the color run was all about fun, they were also there to promote mental health with information, resources and family-friendly summer activities. Chapters of Raise Your Voice have been springing up at schools around the Northwoods. They often partner with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), local health departments and area health care providers.. In addition to local health departments, the group also works with partners like Aspirus Health and NAMI. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News A massive meadowlark and a jiggly junco are among feathered friends competing in a statewide contest to celebrate healthy birds and migration. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and Save Our Songbirds are bringing back their Fat Bird Week for a third year. The Foundation notes 'a fat bird is a healthy bird' and the contest 'celebrates and spotlights the amazing journey our migratory birds make to get back to Wisconsin.' The group notes that some species of bird will actually double their weight ahead of migration. And for year-round Wisconsin birds, the extra heft can keep them warm in the chilly winter. While many people call birds "fat," they are often referring to is the fluffiness of the feathers. While the contest is all in good fun, it also serves as inspiration to create a more bird-friendly back yard by focusing on native plants to provide nutritious meals for birds. Eight fat bird photos were selected to face off in the bracket style tournament which will be decided by fan vote. The voting will take place over the next week, and we'll include a link in the online version of the story.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News Yesterday we talked about avoiding vehicle deer collisions. Wildlife experts are also encouraging people avoid newborn fawns as well. As part of their ongoing Keep Wildlife Wild campaign, DNR officials are focusing specifically on fawns. If you encounter a fawn while outdoors, the DNR urges you not to touch it or intervene in any way as there's a good chance it's right where it's supposed to be, and its mother isn't far away. Jenna Fastner is a DNR captive wildlife health specialist. She says, "Young fawns are often left alone for most of the day to keep them safe." Fastner says their spotted coats and minimal scent are their best defenses. While fawns can walk from birth, it takes them a few weeks to become fast enough to keep up with their mothers and avoid predators. "By the Fourth of July, most fawns are on the move alongside or near their mothers." If you come across a fawn, it's best to leave it alone. While it may be tempting to bring others to see the fawn, the mother won't return while people are around. Don't feed a wild fawn. If you're truly concerned, contact a wildlife rehabilitiator for guidance.

Published on 05/07/2026 under Sports It was a bittersweet final Great Northern Conference home game for the Hatchet Seniors at Hatchet Field Thursday afternoon as they would fall to the Lakeland T-Birds, 3-2. Tomahawk jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Aubrey Seubert in the first inning. The Hatchets held the lead until the top of the fourth inning when Lakeland's Addison Trapp hit a single, then had two runners score on an error by Averi Petta. The Hatchets would tie it in the bottom of the fourth on a run-scoring base hit from Autumn Merrigan. However, Tomahawk would surrender the lead in the top of the sixth when Britta Kemnitz singled in the go-ahead run. Lakeland pitchers would retire the final 11 batters of the game to seal the win. The Hatchets would muster just two runs on three hits, while committing four errors. Tomahawk drops to 8-9 on the season and 5-7 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the diamond Saturday when they travel to Gilman for an invite. Tomahawk's first game will be against Marathon at 10:00 AM. Game Two will be against Mondovi at 2:00 PM.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News With new fawns and extended daylight, deer activity is picking up. That means drivers need to be on the lookout. While vehicle/deer crashes are typically highest in fall, those numbers also spike in the months of May and June. According to the Department of Transportation, drivers reported nearly 18,000 collisions with deer last year. That resulted in more than 700 injuries and 6 deaths. Recent averages in both Lincoln and Oneida County show more than 200 vehicle/deer collisions annually. Numbers are even higher in Southern Wisconsin; Waukesha County topped the state with more than 1,000 vehicle/deer collisions. Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says, "Motorists should be alert and prepared to respond at all times." He notes, "Deer are unpredictable, often changing directions and freezing as they cross the road." The DoT provided a few additional reminders. • Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. • If you see one crossing, anticipate more may follow. • If the collision is unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane. Avoid swerving, which can lead to a more serious crash. • If you strike a deer, pull over to the side of the road and call law enforcement. • And as always, slowdown, eliminate distractions and wear your seatbelt.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News As Northwoods residents head outside for spring cleanup and garden preparations, health experts are reminding people to take steps to avoid common neck and back injuries. According to Aspirus Health, tasks like lifting branches, digging, and repetitive bending can put extra strain on the spine, especially after a less active winter season. Preparation and proper technique can help avoid a trip to the hospital. Dr. Sean MacKenzie says light stretching and simple posture adjustments can make a big difference. Keeping the spine aligned, lifting with the legs, and working from a seated or kneeling position when tasks require bending forward all help. It's also a good idea to listen to your body. MacKenzie notes that many injuries occur when people push through discomfort or rush through tasks. He emphasizes that pain during activity is a signal to pause, rest, or adjust technique. And long-term, Mackenzie says building core strength through simple exercises like planks and leg lifts can help reduce the risk of injury.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News While it was a bit chilly, it was at least sunny, allowing area students to show off their renewable energy skills. Wisconsin Public Service held their 30th annual Solar Olympics on the UW-Oshkosh campus. Nearly 150 students participated from thirteen high schools within the WPS footprint. Northern Wisconsin was represented by Three Lakes, Elcho, Marathon, and Wausau West High Schools. WPS created the Solar Olympics in 1997 for districts participating in the Solarwise for Schools program, which provides renewable energy lesson plans, projects, and teacher training. The friendly competition, hosted each spring, allows these students to showcase their knowledge of solar energy through team and individual competitions. This year's Solar Olympics had 13 events like solar water heater; solar art; and solar jeopardy. According to WPS, Valders High School won this year's competition, claiming gold for a second consecutive year.-Photos provided by Wisconsin Public Service

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