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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

Tick Season Upon Us; Lincoln County Health Encourages Tick Checks and Prevention

Published on 05/13/2026 under News While small in size, a tick can have a big impact on our health. Local healthcare providers are reminding people about the importance of tick checks and prevention. The Lincoln County Health Department is urging people to take precautions against tick bites as warmer weather increases outdoor activity and, in turn, tick exposure. Ticks are typically most active from May through November, and exposure can happen during everyday activities including gardening, hiking, camping and even spending time in the yard. Lincoln County Public Health Educator Lexi Buntrock says emergency department visits for tick bites have been on the rise. She said simple prevention steps and regular tick checks can greatly reduce the risk of tick-borne illnesses. That includes dressing the part. Consider long sleeves and pants, even tucking them into socks. And lighter colors make ticks easier to spot. A repellent will help deter ticks. When you get home toss the clothes in a hot dryer cycle to eliminate any hidden ticks. Once home, it's also time for a tick check. The Health Department notes that deer ticks can be extremely small, sometimes no larger than a poppy seed. They especially like to hide warm, moist, and hidden areas behind the knees, under arms, groin, ears and scalp. Don't forget a check for pets, and have a conversation with your veterinarian about tick prevention treatments. If you find a tick, consider submitting it to the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute's Tick Inventory project. The Health Department has a supply of the collection kits at their Merrill office.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News It won't be long before home gardeners are putting those plants in the ground, one local effort is encouraging residents to grow a little extra for those in need. Lakeland Pantry is launching its second annual "Grow A Row" initiative, inviting community members to plant an additional row of vegetables in their gardens and donate the harvest to help families facing food insecurity. Organizers say the program had a strong impact in its first year, with more than 2,300 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables donated by local gardeners and community groups. Those contributions helped provide nutritious, homegrown food to dozens of area families throughout the summer. Participating is simple, gardeners are asked to plant an extra row, then bring surplus produce to Lakeland Pantry during designated hours or to partner drop-off locations. Organizers say the effort is rooted in a "neighbors helping neighbors" philosophy, with every donated item, from tomatoes to herbs, helping expand access to healthy food in the community. If you're not in the Lakeland area, reach out to your local pantry to see if they accept similar produce donations.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News The Tomahawk Police Department now has a new tool to help reunite lost pets with their owners. The department recently received a free pet microchip scanner from Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to reconnecting missing dogs with their families. The organization also helps publicize lost and found pets through its Facebook page, which has more than 115,000 followers statewide. The scanner will be used when stray dogs are brought to the Tomahawk Police Department's temporary 'puppy pound'. Pet microchips are small electronic identification implants. When scanned, the chip displays a unique ID number connected to the owner's contact information, helping shelters, veterinarians and law enforcement quickly identify lost animals and return them home.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News Wisconsin Public Service has announced their news-inspired names for the peregrine falcon chicks being hatched at the Weston Power Plant near Wausau. The four chicks are being raised by peregrine falcons Sheldon and an unbanded female. The eggs were laid in early april and began hatching this week, with three eggs and one to go. A record 22,000 votes helped name this year's brood. WPS even extended the contest due to the high interest. The names under consideration were inspired by news anchors in northern Wisconsin and the Fox Valley. Two of the four winners had a wing up, as their anchors spent time in both markets. That includes Feathersoon Lehmann, in honor of Emerson Lehmann currently at WBAY and Jade Egg-schell inspired by WFRV's Jade Henschel. Kyle Prey-zorksi is the namesake of Kyle Pozorski of WAOW. And lastly Matt Tweet from Matt Z on WTAQ. People can follow along on nesting cams. In addition to these WPS birds, WE Energies has three nest boxes. As of Tuesday there were 9 hatched and 4 eggs remaining.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News The Tomahawk School District will be using some additional dollars to improve reading skills at the elementary level. At their meeting Tuesday, the Tomahawk School Board approved a pair of agenda items to utilize the outside funding to invest in two new reading related positions. The first is an AmeriCorps Reading Corps grant to hire an interventionist. This hire would provide direct one on one reading support with students. The second was a two year reimbursement from the Department of Public Instruction or DPI for an early literacy coach. This individual would work with teachers, specifically in K-3. Following the brief presentations, the board approved each unanimously. It was an otherwise routine meeting for the board which included approval of the graduation list and a report from the school resource officer.

Published on 05/12/2026 under Sports At the Hatchet High School Track & Field Meet, it was a great performance from both the Hatchet Boys and Girls Tuesday night. The Girls would finish third overall, their second consecutive top-three finish. Tomahawk would finish behind Stratford and Rhinelander. The highlight of the night was Hatchet Sophomore Elise Gibeault breaking two different school records. Gibeault would break the record for the 200 meter dash for the fourth time this season with a time of 25.76 seconds. Then, she would break the 400 meter school record with a time of 58.63 seconds. In addition, Ellie Micke would place second in the high jump with a leap of 4'10". Lydia Shaney would place second in the 3200 meter run with a time of 13:45. Tomahawk's boys would place eighth overall in the invite, placing 2.5 points behind Lakeland. The winner of the Meet for the Boys was Edgar, edging out Stratford. The top finisher for the boys was Senior Beau Stromberg, placing second in the High Jump with a leap of 5'10". Stromberg also placed fifth overall in the Triple Jump with a leap of 38'8". Senior Michael Samundsen placed fourth in the shot put with a toss of 42'3". The next meet for Tomahawk is Saturday morning up in Minocqua, which is a throwers invite. Events will begin at 10:00.

Published on 05/12/2026 under Sports The Hatchet softball squad was shut out for the second time this year by the Medford Raiders, this time at Raider Field, Tuesday, losing, 9-0. The loss by Tomahawk is their fourth in their last five games, with their lone win coming Saturday against Mondovi. Across the two games against Medford, the Hatchets were outscored 15-0. Tomahawk would muster only two hits on the day, coming from Averi Petta and Autumn Merrigan. Also, the Hatchets' fielding woes would continue as they would commit five errors, resulting in five unearned runs. The loss drops Tomahawk to 9-11 on the season and 5-8 on the season. The Hatchets will have their final Great Northern Conference game of the season Thursday in Merrill against the Blue Jays. First pitch is at 5:00.

Published on 05/12/2026 under News Somo Avenue in Tomahawk is one of the roughest stretches of road in the city. In the coming days that will change... for a few blocks at least. Last month, the Tomahawk Board of Public Works approved a project with Lincoln County to remove the top layer of asphalt and apply an overlay on Somo Avenue between the 4-way stop and Tomahawk Avenue. A previous overlay began to peel, leaving behind large potholes that are difficult to fill and maintain. Those repairs are scheduled for this week. As a result, that four block stretch will be temporarily closed today through Thursday. Those looking to access businesses along that stretch should utilize either side streets or the adjacent alley. This project is intended as a temporary measure for that four-block segment. The State of Wisconsin has tentatively scheduled a full reconstruction of Somo Avenue, which doubles as State Rd. 86, for the year 2030. While the closure is scheduled through Thursday; the work, as always dependent on weather and construction progress.

Published on 05/12/2026 under News Nearly a year after a life-threatening ATV crash in rural Lincoln County, a Merrill first responder and the man he helped save were reunited during an emotional ceremony. At the first-ever Trauma Survivor's Day ceremony Friday at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, paramedic Dylan Schielke received the hospital's inaugural Golden Hour Award for his actions during a response last summer. Following an ATV crash last July, Brian Brendemuehl suffered critical injuries in that crash near his Pine River home. Schielke, the lead paramedic on the call, was credited with stabilizing the patient before transport to an Aspirus MedEvac helicopter. Aspirus MedEvac flight paramedic Michelle Micke nominated Schielke for the honor, praising his quick thinking, accurate assessment, and professionalism during the emergency response. Micke said she believes Schielke's actions were instrumental in saving Brendemuehl's life and helping preserve his neurological recovery. The award recognizes exemplary emergency medical care during high-acuity, time-sensitive trauma situations. Schielke said he was surprised to learn he won the award. He believed he was simply attending a ceremony to reconnect with Brendemuehl. The Merrill Fire Department thanked Aspirus Wausau Hospital for hosting the ceremony and recognized Schielke for reflecting the department's core values and the work of the Lincoln County–Merrill Ambulance Service.

Published on 05/12/2026 under News A belated Mother's Day gift for a camera friendly peregrine falcon. According to Wisconsin Public Service, the first falcon chick has emerged at the WPS Weston Power Plant nest box near Wausau. Proud parents Sheldon and an unbanded female welcomed the fluffy new addition Monday afternoon. The new chick will soon have siblings. As of yesterday's update, a second egg was starting to hatch with two more remaining. The birds will share themed names, voted on by fans. This year's selections are inspired by local news personalities. According to the announcement, across the four nesting boxes at WPS and WE Energies facilities, there are seven chicks and six eggs as of Monday afternoon. People can continue to watch the young peregrine falcons hatch and grow via the nest box webcams.

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