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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

Volunteer Firefighter Recognition Day

Published on 08/19/2026 under News Statistics show that volunteers make up approximately 65% of all firefighters in the United States, with 82% of fire departments utilizing volunteers in some capacity. In rural regions like Northern Wisconsin, that ratio is even higher, making Tuesday a fitting time to honor these dedicated individuals. August 18 marks Volunteer Firefighter Recognition Day. Volunteer departments face unique challenges, particularly when it comes to recruitment and securing limited budgets for essential equipment. To support these first responders, the National Volunteer Fire Council offers several assistance programs. Its "Make Me A Firefighter" campaign actively helps volunteer and combination fire and EMS departments recruit new members, recently launching a dedicated portal to streamline the recruitment process. The organization also facilitates grants to help local departments purchase vital equipment, including protective safety gear, rescue tools, and communication devices.

Published on 08/19/2026 under News From a foggy dock to vibrant wild fungi, the Friends of Council Grounds State Park received a wide array of stunning submissions for their annual photo contest. Now, the public has the chance to help select the winners. Hosted every summer by the park's Friends Group, this year's contest invited parkgoers to submit photos taken at Council Grounds over the past two years. Entrants submitted a creative mix of images featuring outdoor recreation, scenic landscapes, local wildlife, and native plants. Organizers have narrowed down the entries to three top finalists in each category, and community members can now vote for their favorites.To cast your vote, visit the official Friends of Council Grounds Facebook page before the end of the month. Each category has its own separate post. Simply "like" your favorite photo to submit a vote, keeping in mind that only one vote per category is allowed.

Published on 08/19/2026 under News Bird migration is already underway for several species, including the chimney swift. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group are asking volunteers across the state to count these unique birds as they pass through Wisconsin on their journey to South America. According to the DNR, chimney swifts become highly communal during migration, gathering by the hundreds or even thousands in the evening to roost inside old brick chimneys. These massive flocks are typically seen in northern Wisconsin by mid-August. Chimney swifts have teardrop-shaped bodies and boomerang-shaped wings While chimney swift populations have unfortunately been declining, monitoring numbers and mapping roosting locations play a vital role in protecting the species. To support these efforts, the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group launched a mapping and tracking tool for volunteers interested in monitoring active roosts and nest sites. "Anyone out birding or counting swifts at a roost site can use the tool," said Rich Staffen, a DNR conservation biologist and co-chair of the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group. "It also allows folks to add information on summer chimney swift nesting sites." Tips for Volunteer Counters: Locate Potential Sites: Look for tall, uncapped brick chimneys. Watch for swifts swooping and circling overhead in the evening to determine if they are using the chimney to roost.Time the Survey: Begin counting approximately 20 minutes before sunset and continue until 10 minutes after the final swift enters the chimney.Record the Count: Count or estimate the birds as they swoop inside to enter your findings into the tracking tool.

Published on 08/19/2026 under News A tragic incident in western Taylor County Monday afternoon, when a young child died after being struck by a vehicle while checking the mail. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened around 3:05 p.m. near County Highway H and Polley Lane in the Town of Aurora. According to the preliminary investigation, the 8 year old crossed the Highway to check the mailbox. In attempting to cross back, they stepped into the path of a northbound vehicle. The child was struck by the vehicle, and later died from injuries sustained in the crash. The crash remains under investigation with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Published on 08/18/2026 under News An 82-year-old Tomahawk woman has died following a two-vehicle crash involving a UTV and an SUV on Monday evening in Lincoln County. Emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Highway 8 and County Road CC in the Town of Wilson at approximately 6:07 p.m. on August 17 after receiving a 911 call reporting a collision with multiple injuries. According to preliminary findings from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, the UTV was attempting to cross Highway 8 when it was struck by a westbound SUV. The driver of the UTV was transported by ambulance to the hospital, and later died from her injuries. Her name is being withheld pending family notification. A 79-year-old passenger on the UTV was also taken to the hospital by ambulance with injuries and is expected to recover. The driver of the SUV, a 40-year-old woman, sustained injuries in the crash and was transported to the hospital via private vehicle. She is also expected to recover. The crash remains under active investigation.

Published on 08/18/2026 under News The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help following a serious hit-and-run crash early Sunday morning in the Town of Merrill. At approximately 2:00 a.m., deputies responded to the area of County Highway K and Lake Pesobic Road after a man was found lying in the roadway with a head injury. The victim had little memory of the incident and was unable to provide a description of the vehicle. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Investigators determined the man was walking along the west side of County Highway K when he was struck by a southbound vehicle. Based on evidence recovered at the scene, deputies believe the suspect vehicle may be a truck with damage to its passenger-side mirror. The Sheriff's Office noted a couple of additional details from the investigation. A nearby Flock automated license plate camera was non-operational at the time due to previous vandalism. Additionally, while deputies located a second person along the roadside, that individual was determined to be an intoxicated pedestrian unrelated to the crash. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has information about the vehicle, or was driving through the area between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. Sunday is asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

Published on 08/18/2026 under News State Highway 17 will remain closed as transportation officials prepare to launch a pavement replacement project earlier than originally scheduled. According to Lincoln County Highway Commissioner Jason Lemmer, the road's rapid deterioration prompted the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to move the timeline forward. Keeping the highway closed now was determined to be the most cost-effective decision given the road conditions. Crews previously completed work to replace the Barnes Creek Bridge along the route earlier this summer. According to Lemmer, a new detour route will be posted shortly, while the official construction start date has not yet been announced. Highway 17 remains completely closed to traffic. The local highway department will continue to provide updates as construction schedules are finalized, and we'll of course share that information. The newly announced pavement project will extend into next year.

Published on 08/18/2026 under News With the new school year quickly approaching, a new list of unusual mascots has been released—and the Rhinelander Hodag is once again in the spotlight. Selected from more than 24,000 high schools nationwide, the Rhinelander Hodags landed at No. 7 on a new list of the Top 50 Most Interesting U.S. High School Nicknames. The rankings were compiled by high school nickname expert David Winder, author of Where Are the Fighting Giraffes: A Guide to the Ordinary, Odd and Outrageous Nicknames of U.S. High Schools. Winder says he created the list to celebrate the local stories behind unique team names, noting that "the best ones make people ask a question, tell a story, or immediately picture the place they represent." This is familiar territory for the Hodag, which regularly finds itself near the top of national lists celebrating unique, legendary, and downright strange mascots. The Hodags finished ahead of several other unusual contenders, including the Fluvanna County Flying Flucos, the Maryville Spoofhounds, the Yuma Criminals, the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms, and the Mount Clemens Battling Bathers.

Published on 08/18/2026 under News A speeding motorcyclist received an unexpected educational lesson on proper firearm protocol during a recent traffic stop. The incident began last week when a deputy clocked a motorcycle traveling 91 mph in a 55 mph zone near the intersection of County Highways Q and K in the Town of Scott. According to the Sheriff's Office, after coming to a stop, the driver reached down and removed a handgun from his holster. The deputy immediately ordered the man to drop the weapon, and he complied without further incident. When questioned about his actions, the driver explained he had previously been advised to disarm himself if he was ever pulled over by law enforcement. The deputy took the opportunity to explain proper protocol for legal firearm owners during a traffic stop to ensure safety for both the driver and the officer. The Sheriff's Office emphasizes that drivers should never reach for a firearm during a stop. Instead, drivers are advised to keep their hands clearly visible, immediately notify the officer of the weapon's location, and wait for further instructions. The driver was ultimately issued citations for speeding and other traffic violations.

Published on 08/18/2026 under News Extremely dry conditions helped fuel a field fire near Eagle River Monday evening. The Eagle River Area Fire Department was called out around 5 p.m. after a combine sparked a fire in dry, cut hay. The fire spread quickly through the field. The department worked alongside the Eagle River DNR Wildland Firefighting Crew and farm workers. Crews were able to get the flames under control. A department drone equipped with thermal imaging was also used to help locate any remaining hotspots from above.

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