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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

Tomahawk, Merrill Schools Make Friday Cancellation Decisions Early

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Schools in Lincoln County will closed on Friday, and the extreme cold is to blame. With dangerously cold temperatures in the forecast overnight Thursday and throughout the day Friday, both the Tomahawk and Merrill School Districts made an early decision to close their campuses for Friday. By making the call early, it allows parents or caretakers to make alternative arrangements ahead of time rather than waiting until the morning of school. When it comes to cold, school officials have to consider a number of factors including the transportation of students, both waiting for buses and time spent on the bus. Most Northwoods districts build a few extra days into the school calendar in anticipation of some weather-related cancellations during the school year. We expect the cancellations list to grow as Friday approaches. It's also a good idea to check ahead for any activities, events, and appointments on Friday for potential closures and cancellations. Stay tuned to WJJQ for updates.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News People across the region will be spending the day Thursday preparing for the impending stretch of dangerous cold in the forecast. A local bird rescue is reminding people to fill up their feeders. The folks over at the Raptor Education Group offered a few tips to help our feathered friends find some food over the next few days. They note that it is important to feed birds easily digestible food, typically found in a good wild bird seed mixture. REGI specifically highlighted black sunflower seeds and safflower seeds which are a good source of nutrients and fat, essential in below-zero weather. And for birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches suet is an excellent option. They added that you may want to consider bringing suet inside overnight to keep it softer and readily available to the birds. As for foods to avoid, while common, they advise against corn. Low in nutrients, they note that corn is nearly impossible for birds to digest in cold temperatures. And keep an eye out for birds that appear injured. If you one, they recommend using a towel to place it in a cardboard box and bringing it inside. Then contact REGI or a nearby animal rescue for further steps.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Lawmakers in Madison are working to find common ground on PFAS investments which could be good news for communities around the state including here in the Northwoods. On Wednesday, Governor Evers expressed optimism on a deal to release $125 million in PFAS funding that was actually approved in the previous 2023-25 budget. In laying out his 2026 legislative agenda, Gov. Evers cited PFAS legislation as an opportunity for bipartisan work and compromise. Approximately $80 million would allocated to a Community grant program to assist local governments in combating and remediating PFAS contamination. Here in Tomahawk, the city has been taking steps to build a PFAs treatment plant, but that facility carries a price tag of approximately $6.2 million. City leaders have been reviewing options to help pay for the project in what is expected to be an increasingly competitive process to secure funding in the coming years through grants or low-interest loans.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Coming off of the DNR's free weekend, Lincoln County will be offering a similar opportunity to enjoy a hidden gem at no cost in early February. Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks announced that they will be bringing back their Free Trail Pass Weekend for the Underdown Recreation Area. It is currently scheduled for the weekend of February 7 and 8. This will include opportunities to check out the park's cross-country ski, fat-tire bike, and snowshoe trails without the typically required pass, saving users $25. (Winter passes are $25; year-long passes are $35) After a couple of mild winters, the silent sports have been enjoying a snow-filled start to winter. Underdown features more than 20 miles of groomed ski trails, along with cleared snowshoe and bike paths. We'll offer up a reminder as that date draws closer.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Northcentral Technical College (NTC) has been named as one of the top training colleges in North America. NTC is one of only 11 colleges to receive this recognition from the Learning Resources Network. According to the announcement, the award honors the work of NTC's Workforce Training + Professional Development team including their collaboration with local employers. NTC's Workforce Training and Professional Development team designs and delivers customized training for businesses across the region. Programs are offered onsite at employer locations or at NTC campuses in Wausau, Antigo, Wittenberg, Phillips, Medford and Spencer. Dr. Brad Gast, Dean of Workforce Training and Professional Development at NTC called it an honor to be recognized. He says, "Each year, we have the privilege to serve more than 900 businesses and over 10,000 professionals. We are committed to delivering high quality, responsive solutions that help organizations strengthen performance, adapt to change, and remain competitive in a global economy." This marks the third time in six years that NTC has received this honor.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Business leaders and other stakeholders from the Tomahawk area recently got together for a wide-ranging discussion this past week. The Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a roundtable conversation covering pressing economic and workforce issues impacting local businesses and the broader community. In addition to locals, the discussions were moderated by Kurt Bauer, president of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Tomahawk Chamber Director Charis Lau said, "This roundtable created an important space for employers to openly share challenges and solutions." Among the topics they covered are business costs and tariffs; workforce demographics, attraction and retention; and even housing and childcare. Lau said, "This groups' discussion brought a lot of insight to better understand what is impacting our businesses today. From here we can work collectively to strengthen our workforce and community for the future." They plan to use insights from these discussions to help inform future planning efforts, advocacy priorities, and initiatives aimed at supporting economic growth, workforce development, and community sustainability in the Tomahawk area. They also hope to have continued conversations to ensure local voices are heard and to help position the region for long-term success.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Over the past several years, Lincoln County has invested into protecting it's water resources. Some of these projects are being funded through grants and contributions from local stakeholders. At their meeting Tuesday, the Lincoln County Board accepted another donation to continue an ongoing stream crossing assessment. To fund this work, the county has been utilizing DNR Surface Water Planning Grants which do require a 33% match. As outlined in a resolution approved by the board Tuesday, Wisconsin Valley Improvement pledged $1,500. Coupled with a previous donation from Trouts Unlimited and in house work, the match of this grant is being filled with no additional tax levy. We told you about this stream crossing project last month. Lincoln County Land Services initiated a multi-phase project assessing the more than 600 culvert stream crossings at public roadways within the county. The goal is to evaluate the condition, sizing, and placement of the culverts to determine whether maintenance or replacement is needed. Phase 1 completed this spring and summer covered approximately a third of the culverts.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News A man involved in a snowmobile crash in Oneida County earlier this month has now died. The crash happened back on January 3 in Minocqua. According to the DNR, the operator was attempting to cross a state highway when he was struck by a vehicle. The 76 year old was brought to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. According to an update, the man died from his injuries over the weekend weekend. The man's name was not immediately released. The crash remains under investigation. This is the sixth fatal snowmobile crash in Wisconsin this riding season; the fourth this month.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News January is National Blood Donor Month, and the Community Blood Center is encouraging donors to tell their story. Earlier this month, the CBC introduced their "I donate because…" initiative, celebrating community members giving blood and platelets. The campaign is simple...cards can be picked up at donation sites or printed off at home. The cards have printed: "I donate because..." with space where individuals can write what motivates them. Completed cards will be displayed by the CBC and selfies of the donor holding the card can be shared on social media. They note that every donor has a unique reason for giving, so they encourage donors to share their stories to help inspire the next generation of lifesavers and remind others why blood donation is so meaningful.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Local snowmobile clubs regularly urge the importance for riders to stay on the marked trails. The DNR is joining in on that messaging. This past week, the DNR put out a reminder for snowmobile riders to operate only on marked trails, routes or other areas with permission and to stay off closed trails. They note that Wisconsin snowmobile clubs work hard all year to secure one of the best riding experiences in this country, and that is thanks to the large network of snowmobile trails. In fact, Wisconsin has more than 25,000 miles of groomed trails to ride. The DNR shared a number of concerns when straying off trails including rider safety, damage to private lands, and the operation on closed trails is illegal. Lt. Jake Holsclaw, DNR off-highway vehicle administrator, "Wisconsin has thousands of miles of well-maintained trails that are managed by dedicated club members. Please respect their lands, and ride safe and sober."

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