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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

National Mentorship Month: Tomahawk Kinship Continues Mission in 29th Year

Published on 01/13/2026 under News A new home has only strengthened the mission of the Tomahawk Kinship program as they approach 30 years as an organization. January is National Mentorship Month, and Tomahawk Kinship continues to be a staple of the Tomahawk Community. Director Patti Hilgendorf and Board President Cheryl Brickner recently stopped by the WJJQ studios to discuss the program, while also inviting the community to an open house coming up next week. The first Kinship pairing happened all the way back in 1997. They currently have 44 active matches, however Hilgendorf notes they have 28 Kinskids on their waiting list. Their New Year's resolution is to get 12 new mentors by March. Beyond the traditional mentorship pairings, Kinship also provides other outreach which Hilgendorf says has grown by leaps and bounds. This includes after-school tutoring and KinsClub. In fact, Hilgendorf noted that on some nights, they've outgrown their transport van and utilize a school bus to get kids to their building. They're also looking to revitalize their lunch buddy program in the New Year. Of course the big news for Tomahawk Kinship in 2025 was their move into the former Bradley Bank building on Main Street. Now that they've settled into the new space, they're inviting the community to check out their new space. Hilgendorf announced a Grand Opening/Open House coming up on Monday January 19. We'll have a bit more on the new building and the event in the coming days.

Published on 01/13/2026 under News Icy roads have led to delayed starts for several schools in the Northwoods including Tomahawk. The district made the decision to begin on a two hour delay. A wintery mix of precipitation, along with temperatures hovering right around the freezing mark led to some black ice and slippery roads Tuesday morning. This impacted secondary roads in particular. Most school delays were along the Highway 8 corridor including Rhinelander, Elcho, and Crandon. By mid-morning, road crews were out, and temperatures rose resulting in improved road conditions.

Published on 01/13/2026 under News As boats that produce enhanced wakes become more popular, more communities are having discussions about regulating their use, though there are some challenges. The City of Tomahawk Park and Rec Committee has had preliminary discussions on the topic related to Lake Mohawksin, and it's back on the agenda for their meeting this evening. Often referred to as wakeboats, they typically have ballasts that create a larger wake, particularly when operating slowly, for the purpose of surfing on the trailing wake. Generally, those seeking regulations cite the environmental impacts to the lake bed and shoreline. The Tomahawk Park and Rec Committee was in communication with Attorney Jenna Rousseau. Her response was included in this evening's meeting packet. She highlighted some of the criteria the city would have to follow if pursuing an ordinance. Among the challenges she highlighted was a lack of uniformity around the state, some pending legal challenges in other communities that have enacted ordinances, as well as the city's enforcement capabilities. Rousseau closed by writing, "The City may wish to refrain from considering an ordinance until the legislature or courts have an opportunity to weigh-in."

Published on 01/13/2026 under News Awards season is right around the corner, and that includes some recognition for outdoor enthusiasts in the state of Wisconsin. The DNR is currently accepting nominations for several awards the agency hands out each year. The Wisconsin Ethical Hunter Award is presented to a hunter who showed outstanding character in the field. This particular award is for a singular action rather than life-time achievement. Examples of past winners include helping track a harvest, returning lost gear, or advising non-hunters about an ongoing hunting season on public property. While most nominations come from the gun/deer season, nominees can represent any hunting season over the past year. The deadline for nominations is at the end of January. Meanwhile, the nomination period is also open for the Invasive Species Action Awards. These are presented to individuals, groups, and professionals that have made significant contributions to preventing, controlling or eradicating invasive species in the state of Wisconsin. This deadline for these nominations is Feb 16. The DNR has additional information on both award nominations on their website.

Published on 01/12/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's hockey squad would lose their third out of their last four games Saturday afternoon, losing to Superior, 7-1. The Hatchets were shut out until the 4:17 mark of the third period, suffering their worst loss of the season. Tomahawk's lone goal came on a power play from Jake Albert in the third. The Hatchets were outshot 30-18, including allowing 19 shots in the second period alone. Three of Superior's seven goals came on the power play. The loss drops Tomahawk to 9-3 on the season. The Hatchets begin a four-game week Monday night at SARA Park against Antigo. Puck drop is at 7:00.

Published on 01/12/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's boys' swim squad traveled to Ashwaubenon for the Jaguar Invite Saturday and finished 12th as a team. Despite the low finish, the Hatchets made tremendous improvement in the meet, setting 15 personal records. The highlight of the meet was Bruce Peetz, who finished fifth in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:14.11. Peetz's time was just one second off of the school record. The Hatchets finished ahead of Notre Dame, Neenah, and Oshkosh North. Tomahawk is back in the pool Tuesday night against Lakeland. Events begin at 5:30.

Published on 01/12/2026 under News January is Radon Awareness Month, and local health departments are encouraging residents check their home levels every few years. Radon is a colorless and odorless gas found naturally in soil and rock. It can enter homes through cracks in the foundation or gaps around pipes. The Lincoln County Health Department says radon is actually the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. It occurs in as many as 1 in 10 Wisconsin homes. There are areas of the state that are more susceptible including a pocket in North Central Wisconsin. Lincoln County environmental health specialist Michael Mandli noted "Winter is the ideal time to test your home for radon." He notes, "Homes are sealed tight during winter, allowing radon to accumulate more easily." This allows for more accurate testing. A basic test can be purchased for around $15 at most home improvement stores. Both the state and local health departments have additional information including further testing and mitigation solutions if the readings come back elevated.

Published on 01/12/2026 under News Students from around North Central Wisconsin competed in chess while also supporting a good cause. Edgar hosted an annual chess tournament dubbed 'Checkmate to Homelessness.' In addition to the games on the chess board, the students raised awareness and support for homelessness in the community. The competitors even collected monetary donations and items of need that will be donated to local shelters. Sara Sternberg, Marathon Chess Coach, said, "The turnout was fantastic, and it's exciting to see middle and high school students connecting and cheering each other on." She added, "Students from different schools are meeting, building camaraderie, and demonstrating great sportsmanship." The tournament was held in collaboration with the Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation and featured students from ten schools around Northern Wisconsin and the Fox Valley.

Published on 01/12/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's girls basketball squad's winning streak would stop at five Friday night as they would lose at home to Great Northern Conference foe Lakeland, 55-45. After going into halftime tied at 18, the Hatchets would allow a 16-0 run to begin the second half. Tomahawk also struggled defensively after Freya Alberg fouled out with eight minutes remaining. Lizzy Arnott led the way in scoring for the Hatchets, putting in a career-high 15 points. The loss drops Tomahawk to 7-3 on the season and 3-2 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back in action Monday night for a non-conference showdown against Northland Lutheran.

Published on 01/12/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's boys basketball squad would start 2026 with a sour defeat at the hands of Lakeland in Minocqua, losing 65-18. The loss drops Tomahawk to 2-8 on the season and 0-4 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the court Tuesday for another Great Northern Conference showdown at home against Mosinee.

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