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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

Housing Development Agreement Approved in Tomahawk; Aims for 72 New Units

Published on 06/03/2026 under News A major housing development is moving forward in Tomahawk. At their meeting Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved a development agreement with S.C. Swiderski for a new 72-unit apartment complex on the city's east side. The project, located off of Comfort Drive, has been years in the making. Community Development Authority Chairman Roger Schlegel told council members the CDA has spent the last five years working through site challenges, including wetlands and the need for significant fill, to bring the project to fruition. Schlegel noted that rising construction costs and interest rates have made public incentives increasingly important in getting new housing projects like this built. Under the agreement, the CDA will transfer the property to the developer, who must begin construction by September and complete the project by 2028. The development is expected to have a minimum assessed value of $9.5 million. The developer will also be eligible for a $400,000 tax increment financing grant, but only after the city is reimbursed for its land acquisition costs through new tax revenue generated by the project. Construction is expected to begin this fall and take approximately 18 months to complete, adding 72 much-needed apartment units to Tomahawk's housing inventory. Mosinee-based SC Swiderski lists housing and apartment holdings in more than 30 communities around the state including Athens, Eagle River, Merrill, Medford, and Wausau.

Published on 06/03/2026 under News The Tomahawk City Council has taken the first step toward restricting artificial wake enhancement on Lake Mohawksin. Council members on Tuesday introduced a proposed ordinance that would prohibit the use of ballast tanks, ballast bags, and wake-shaping fins designed to create larger boat wakes. Supporters say the measure is intended to reduce shoreline erosion, protect private property, and limit the spread of invasive species. The proposal was recommended by the city's Parks and Recreation Committee and supported by the Friends of Lake Mohawksin. Traditional boating activities, including water skiing, tubing, and standard wakeboarding, would still be allowed. An exemption is also included for the Kwahamot Water Ski Club. Police Chief Al Elvins raised concerns about enforcement and noted that similar regulations adopted elsewhere in Wisconsin are currently facing legal challenges. This is just the beginning of the process. Before the ordinance can officially take effect, it must be reviewed by the DNR, face a public hearing, receive final council approval, and be matched by an identical ordinance from the Town of Bradley.

Published on 06/03/2026 under News Today is Heat Awareness Day in Wisconsin, and safety officials are urging residents to prepare before summer temperatures spike. According to preliminary data from the State Department of Health Services, Wisconsin saw ten heat-related deaths and over one thousand emergency room visits last year. State emergency management and health officials say heat-related illness and death is preventable. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle says, "Extreme heat is something people should prepare for before hotter temperatures arrive...Now is the time to have a plan" To beat the heat this summer, ReadyWisconsin recommends staying in air-conditioned buildings during the hottest parts of the day, wearing loose clothing, and drinking plenty of water before you feel thirsty. They also issue a stark warning about vehicles: on an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can jump 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle. Pay attention to heat advisories, watches, and warnings. Be sure to check on vulnerable populations including children, older adults and outdoor workers when it gets hot, and look out for warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, including confusion, nausea, or a rapid heartbeat.

Published on 06/03/2026 under News A Price County man has drowned in what appears to be a tragic accident on an area lake. According to the Price County Sheriff's Office, emergency responders were called to Lac Sault Dore in the Town of Elk following reports of an unresponsive man in the water near a pontoon boat. The man's body was recovered and brought back to shore, where he was pronounced dead. Based on a preliminary investigation, it appears the man was filling the fuel tank on the pontoon when his leg became trapped in the boat ladder. He was unable to free himself from underwater. The victim has been identified as Stanley Gruszka of Phillips. The incident remains under investigation. This marks the fourth boat or water-related death in the Northwoods over the past three weeks.

Published on 06/03/2026 under News It was another busy day for local fire departments, as crews battled several wildfires across the region on Tuesday. While the Northwoods is finally starting to green up, an extremely dry month of May has kept fire conditions elevated. According to the Department of Natural Resources, crews responded to five wildfires on Tuesday alone, which burned just under five acres. Four of those fires occurred right here in our listening area in the Town of Bradley, Woodruff, Lac du Flambeau, and Land O' Lakes. Officials say standard debris burning was the usual culprit, causing three of those four area fires. The fourth was sparked by fireworks. Much of Wisconsin was listed under moderate or high fire danger on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the U.S. Drought Monitor reports that "abnormally dry" conditions are expanding, now covering forty percent of the state.

Published on 06/03/2026 under News Travelers and art lovers have a new reason to stop by the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport this summer. A new exhibition titled "A Passion for Nature" is now on display in the main terminal, featuring more than 14 original works by Lakewood artist Joan White. Presented through a partnership with ArtStart Rhinelander, the display showcases White's unique technique of painting transparent oil washes directly onto burl wood, blending wildlife into the natural grain of the wood. You don't need a boarding pass to view the gallery. The airport terminal is open to the general public, and parking is free for up to four hours. "A Passion for Nature" will remain on display at the airport from now through August 8th.

Published on 06/02/2026 under News While the growing season is just getting underway, it is already time for the return of the Tomahawk Main Street Farmers Market. Over the years, the popularity of farmers markets has exploded. They offer consumers a chance to purchase locally sourced food directly from the growers, often featuring unique heirloom varieties and cultivars of popular produce that aren't available at traditional grocery stores. Ahead of Tuesday's opener, we spoke with Jennifer Turkiewicz of Tomahawk Main Street, which partners with many downtown businesses for the event. While the opener always arrives quickly, she says they're ready to go. While it is still too early in the season for crops like tomatoes, squash, and corn, she noted that early-season produce like onions, asparagus, and rhubarb are already being harvested and sold. In addition to produce, vendors will offer proteins, baked goods, honey, and maple syrup. Turkiewicz added that some vendors will even sell homemade products like soaps. The market is back at its usual location on North 3rd Street, just off Wisconsin Avenue, that's Main Street in Tomahawk. Turkiewicz explained that the midday time slot allows farmers to harvest their crops fresh that morning, while also accommodating the market's popular non-profit lunch stand. Week one will feature a brat lunch supporting the local VFW. The Main Street Farmers Market will run every Tuesday from 11am to 3pm through the end of the growing season.

Published on 06/02/2026 under News A new generation of peregrine falcons at Wisconsin Public Service's Weston Power Plant is helping researchers break new ground in bird tracking technology. Four peregrine falcon chicks were banded and named Monday, which included the addition of tiny BlūMorpho tracking tags. The lightweight transmitters, small enough to be attached to a butterfly, will use smartphone networks to provide real-time location data as the young falcons leave the nest and begin exploring on their own. The new technology is expected to give wildlife experts unprecedented insight into where young peregrine falcons travel during their first year of life before eventually establishing nesting territories of their own. In previous years, the chicks had bands which required visual reports to track. The four chicks were also assigned their new names, as we previously covered, this year's names were inspired by local news personalities. The birds are back in their nesting boxes for the time, and people can continue to follow along on the webcams until the leave the nest for good in the coming weeks. Peregrine falcons nearly disappeared from Wisconsin decades ago, but nesting programs supported by WPS and We Energies have helped the species recover. Since the early 1990s, the companies have banded and named 465 peregrine falcons, accounting for about 20 percent of all peregrine falcons born in Wisconsin.

Published on 06/02/2026 under News A vehicle pursuit on a Lincoln County highway last week approached speeds nearly double the posted speed limit. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, the incident happened Thursday near Tomahawk when a patrol deputy spotted a vehicle traveling south on Highway 51. The driver, identified by the Sheriff's Office as Nicholas Langston of Wausau, was known to have an active warrant. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, they said Langston fled, reaching speeds of up to 130 miles per hour. The deputy pursued for several miles before calling off the chase due to safety concerns. A short time later, investigators received a tip that Langston was at a Tomahawk bar. Deputies located him there and took him into custody on more than a dozen charges, including second-degree recklessly endangering safety and fleeing an officer in a vehicle. Langston is currently being held on a $10,000 bond. His adjourned initial appearance is scheduled for June 15.

Published on 06/02/2026 under News The Tomahawk Lions Club is well known for its annual Powwow Days celebrations, and ahead of this year's Fourth of July festivities, the group has brought back its community-wide scavenger hunt. The treasure hunt debuted in 2024 as a way to build excitement for the holiday weekend. This year, hunters are searching for official Tomahawk Lions Club pins, which feature a fitting design for the city: a hatchet with the Lions logo stamped on the blade. There are 10 pins hidden in all. The Lions teased that they could be tucked away in local parks, businesses, and other creative spots around town, though they noted that all pins will be visible. Those lucky enough to track a pin down will win a cash prize. The club also hopes to gather all the winners during the Powwow Days festivities for a group photo in front of the classic Lions truck. The contest kicked off over the weekend and will continue until all 10 pins have been located. For clues and additional information, updates are available on the Tomahawk Lions Club Facebook page.

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