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Hatchets Sports Recap - Thursday Published on 09/24/2021 under Sports

VOLLEYBALL

The Tomahawk Varsity Volleyball team hosted a quad on Thursday night and the Hatchets played really well all night long.

The Hatchets first swept Newman 25-11 and 25-16. Mackenzie Scholz, Emerson Lange, Claire Albert and Alyssa Zehner each contributed an ace to the match. Meghan Scholz led the team with 6 blocks and 8 kills, followed by Alyssa Zehner and Claire Albert each with 6. Claire Albert led the team with 8 digs. Mackenzie Scholz finished the match with 18 assists.

Next they swept Prentice 25-23 and 25-14. Claire Albert and Alyssa Zehner each led the team with 2 aces. Alyssa Zehner led the team with 10 kills and 12 digs. Meghan Scholz led the team with 2 blocks. Mackenzie Scholz finished the match with 20 assists.

In the final match, they swept GNC rival Lakeland 25-20 and 25-17. Emerson Lange, Samantha Gebauer and Alyssa Zehner each contributed an ace to the match. Meghan Scholz led the team in blocks with 2 and led in kills with 12, followed by Alyssa Zehner with 7. Samantha Gebauer led the team with 10 digs and Mackenzie Scholz finished the match with 23 assists.

The Hatchets finished the night 3-0 in matches and 6-0 in games.

CROSS COUNTRY

Tomahawk traveled to Big Stone Golf Course on Thursday for the annual Three Lakes Blue Jay Invitational. With solid "pack-style" running the Hatchets were dominant bringing home two team trophies in the ten team event. In the first high school race of the day, a group consisting of Arden Ziert, Owen Dickrell, Brett Borchardt, Presley Gutbrod, and Sam Zastrow worked as a "pack" coming thru both the first and second mile, separated by no more than two seconds. They gave Rhinelander a solid run for the title, placing all five scorers in front of the Hodags #4

runner, however it was not enough to offset the Hodags low total of 35 pts. Owen (7th-18:53), Brett Borchardt (8th-19:00), Arden (9th-19:01), and Presley (10th-19:02) were all medalists and freshman Sam Zastrow placed 13th in 19:10. That scoring split of 17 seconds was their best effort to date.

Top 3 Boys team scores - Rhinelander 35, Tomahawk 47, Marathon 56

The varsity girls followed and gave the Hatchets their first outright championship of the day with a season low 23 pts in route to the title. Like their counterparts, the girls placed four in the top ten earning medalist honors, led by sophomore Rachael Reilly's first individual 5K championship of 2021 as she covered the course in a seasonal best time of 20:59, surging past a Three Lakes runner in the last 1000 meters to claim the crown. The other Hatchet medalists were seniors: Macey Mann (4th-21:35), Emily Lacina (5th-21:36) and Geena Wanta (9th-22:16 PR).

Top 3 Girls team scores - Tomahawk 23, Marathon 53, Rhinelander 66

MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

On Thursday afternoon, the MS Cross Country team traveled to Three Lakes for the Three Lakes Invitational. Overall the boys finished 5th and the girls finished 2nd.

Individually, Jeremiah Johnson led the boys with a 6th place finish, followed by Masen Towle in 21st, Ryan Montag 25th, Joe Zastrow 27th, Dane DeKiep 29th, Teddy Frederickson 30th, Gerard Gorell 35th, and Eli Albrent in 37th.

The girls were led by Elise Gibeault in 5th place, Joa Reilly in 9th, Anita Ziert in 13th, Faith Derleth in 14th, Elli Micke in 18th, Abi Micke in 19th, Lydia Shaney in 20th, Norah Mann in 30th, Summer Gaedtke in 34th, Kinsley Lange 37th, Sophia Lacina 39th, Freya Alberg 43rd, Jennie Frederickson 53rd.

In Other News

Tomahawk Main Street Earns Gold Tier Status from Wisconsin Main Street

Published on 08/10/2026 under News Tomahawk Main Street is being recognized for their ongoing organizational efforts. The local downtown organization has earned Gold Tier status in the latest accreditation from the Wisconsin Main Street Program. It's the second consecutive year Tomahawk has received the distinction. Gold Tier recognizes Main Street organizations that go above and beyond standards for downtown revitalization, community engagement and organizational performance. Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz says the recognition is a testament to the work of the organization's board, volunteers, donors, sponsors and downtown business members. That includes going above and beyond the outlined requirements. She says one example is board participation. State guidelines require at least 75 percent of board members to take part in Main Street training, but all of Tomahawk's board members completed coursework this past year. She also highlighted efforts such the honor banners, downtown flower baskets, and community events. Beyond the recognition, Turkiewicz says the Gold Tier designation also provides access to additional resources and professional assistance for the organization. She points to state-supported help with Tomahawk's downtown rebranding and landscape architecture work for the planned five-block streetscape project. Those resources can save the community tens of thousands of dollars while helping move downtown projects forward. Tomahawk is one of just 13 communities statewide to earn Gold Tier status this year.

Published on 08/10/2026 under News Drivers in the town of Harrison will need to plan for a detour starting this week as work begins on a bridge replacement project. Lincoln County Highway Commissioner Jason Lemmer announced that County Highway D will be closed between Wagonmaker Lane and Mail Route Road for a culvert and bridge replacement over Big Pine Creek. The closure is scheduled to begin Monday, August 10th at 7:00 a.m. and is expected to conclude on Thursday, August 20th. There is an election exception...crews will have County D open Tuesday to accommodate voters for the Wisconsin Primary. Following election day, the road will close again through August 20th so crews can complete the replacement project. Motorists who regularly travel through the township of Harrison are encouraged to seek alternate routes and allow extra travel time during the construction period.

Published on 08/10/2026 under News In the wake of last month's severe storms, Governor Tony Evers has officially declared a period of economic disruption for four Wisconsin counties to protect residents recovering from extensive weather damage. The declaration applies to Outagamie, Winnebago, Forest, and Vilas counties. While the hardest-hit areas included the Fox Valley—where a powerful EF3 tornado tore through Appleton, Neenah/Menasha, the severe storm path stretched much farther north impacting Forest and Vilas counties which were also included in the declaration. Under Governor Evers' executive order, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is now directed to strictly enforce anti-price-gouging measures. The rules prohibit merchants from inflating prices on daily necessities, repair materials, and emergency lodging. The Governor says, "These protections are essential to ensure that families and business owners rebuilding their lives aren't taken advantage of during an already difficult time." The emergency protections are effective immediately across all four impacted counties, and are set to expire in 45 days.

Published on 08/10/2026 under News As students head back to school this fall, a new state report highlights the strong impact local technical colleges continue to have on both graduates and employers. According to the Wisconsin Technical College System, employers overwhelmingly praise the quality of technical college training, with the vast majority indicating they are eager to hire WTCS graduates and rely on these institutions to support their business success. The statewide system includes 16 technical colleges, featuring Nicolet College in Rhinelander and Wausau-based Northcentral Technical College, which has several campuses in the region. The latest graduate outcomes report found 92 percent of graduates seeking employment did so within six months of graduation. And 97 percent of employers are satisfied with the education of their technical college graduates WTCS officials say these strong results stem from close partnerships between technical colleges and local industry leaders, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, and the skilled trades. Importantly for local communities, many graduates choose to stay and work nearby, serving as a reliable talent pipeline to help meet ongoing workforce needs.

Published on 08/10/2026 under News Rhinelander High School graduates from across the decades filled downtown Rhinelander Saturday for the school's annual all-class reunion. While most class reunions bring together graduates from a single year, the Rhinelander event welcomes all former Hodags. Hosted by the Hodag Schools Foundation, the reunion brings alumni together downtown for an afternoon and evening of food, conversation and festivities. Portions of the downtown streets were blocked off for tents and activities as green-clad graduates gathered to catch up with old classmates and make new connections with fellow Rhinelander High School alumni. Organizers say the event is about more than reconnecting with people from the past it's also a chance to meet others who share the common bond of being a Rhinelander High School graduate. This year marked the 12th annual all-class reunion, with sunny summer weather helping draw alumni out to celebrate their shared Hodag heritage.

Published on 08/10/2026 under News Kids in Lincoln County have a chance to learn the basics of fishing at a special hands-on event coming up this evening in Merrill. Council Grounds State Park is hosting a Kids Learn to Fish Program from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. today. The class is part of the Wisconsin DNR's statewide "OutWiGo" initiative, which promotes outdoor recreation across state properties. Designed specifically for children ages 6 to 10, the workshop will walk young anglers through the fundamentals of shore fishing. Participants don't need to bring their own tackle, fishing gear will be provided on-site through equipment from the park and the T.B. Scott Free Library's "Library of Things." Experienced anglers from the Friends of Council Grounds State Park will also be on hand to assist and offer tips for beginners. The class itself is free to attend, though a standard vehicle park sticker is required for entry.

Published on 08/07/2026 under News A Tomahawk manufacturer is permanently closing its doors, resulting in the loss of more than 75 local jobs. According to a notice filed with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Samuel Pressure Vessel Group will permanently close its facility in Tomahawk. The closure process began this week, and all employees are expected to be laid off by the end of the year. The company says all 76 affected workers have been notified that their job losses are permanent. Wisconsin's Dislocated Worker Program is expected to step in to assist affected staff with job placement, career counseling, and retraining resources. According to the filing, the entire Tomahawk operation will shut down. Samuel Pressure Vessel Group specializes in fabricating metal containers and pressure vessels for industrial and commercial use. According to the company's website, they operate four other facilities across North America, including one in Marinette, Wisconsin.

Published on 08/07/2026 under News Volunteers are set to make another lasting addition to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, right here in Lincoln County this week. Nearly 100 volunteers with the Ice Age Trail Alliance are spending the weekend building almost one mile of new trail west of the Underdown Segment. The project will eliminate nearly a half-mile of road walking between the Underdown and Grandfather Falls segments, creating a safer, more continuous hiking experience. In addition to constructing the new path, crews will build two boardwalks across wet areas, establish a dispersed camping area for long-distance hikers, and complete routine trail maintenance. Senior Director of Field Operations Kevin Thusius says the project not only adds another mile of trail, but also opens up more public land for recreation while utilizing a pedestrian underpass beneath U.S. Highway 51—one intentionally built with future trail users in mind. Work got underway on Thursday. The three-day event marks the halfway point of the Ice Age Trail Alliance's 2026 trail-building season, following previous volunteer-led efforts in Langlade counties earlier this summer. Organizers say anyone interested in helping is welcome to stop by the worksite. No prior experience is necessary, and on-site training is provided.

Published on 08/07/2026 under News Volunteers across the Northwoods will join teams statewide this weekend to monitor local waterways for aquatic invasive species (AIS). Saturday marks the return of the 13th annual AIS Snapshot Day, a citizen-science event focused on locating and identifying invasive plants and animals in Wisconsin's lakes and rivers. Early detection allows conservation leaders to address invasive species outbreaks before they spread. Once verified, new sightings are cataloged to guide removal efforts and shape regional conservation plans. Maureen Ferry, AIS Monitoring Coordinator, says events like Snapshot Day offer a fun and simple way for community members to get involved. She notes that the event targets sites with suspected but unverified invasive species, increasing the chances of finding and managing new infestations early. Twenty host locations are set up across the state, including several in the Northwoods. Lincoln County is participating for its fifth year, with volunteers meeting at Wayside Park north of Tomahawk. Other nearby host sites include Lake Tomahawk, Manitowish Waters, and Crandon. Volunteers can still sign up. Coordinators ask participants to register in advance so site leaders can plan assignments.

Published on 08/07/2026 under News Local farmers markets continue to give Northwoods residents and visitors alike a chance to enjoy food straight from farm to table. This week is officially recognized as National Farmers Market Week. Over the years, the popularity of farmers markets has exploded. They offer consumers a chance to purchase locally sourced food directly from growers, often featuring unique heirloom varieties and cultivars of produce that aren't available at traditional grocery stores. Here in Tomahawk, vendors set up on 3rd Street off Main Street every Tuesday, giving shoppers an opportunity to connect directly with local growers, while a separate farm and flea market takes place on Saturday mornings. Most neighboring communities across the Northwoods offer their own weekly market opportunities as well. These markets aren't just about delicious food—they're also playing a major role in community health. Organizations like Aspirus and the ADRC now provide produce prescriptions and vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables, using food as medicine while keeping dollars right here in the local economy. With the growing season in full swing and late-summer harvests right around the corner, officials note it's a great time to check out your local farmer's market.

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