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Hatchets Sports Recap - Thursday Published on 10/01/2021 under Sports

VOLLEYBALL

The Tomahawk Varsity Volleyball team won their seventh consecutive match on Thursday night by sweeping Rhinelander 25-8, 25-21, 21-16.

UNOFFICIAL STATS:
Meghan Scholz - 12 Kills, 2 Blocks, 1 Ace

Alyssa Zehner - 12 Kills, 1 Block

Claire Albert - 7 Kills, 1 Ace

Emerson Lange - 3 Aces

Macy Jankiewicz - 3 Kills

Mackenzie Scholz - 35 Assists, 2 Kills, 2 Aces

The JV2 team also swept Rhinelander 25-8, 25-11, 25-15.

STATS:

Kaylynn Sandry -13 Aces and 8 kills.
Ella Uelmen - 8 Aces 4 kills.
Bella Marino - 5 Aces.

The JV team also swept Rhinelander on Thursday night.

CROSS COUNTRY

Tomahawk made the trip to Erbach Park in Athens and competed in their annual 15-team Cross-Country Invitational on Thursday afternoon. Both teams brought home team championships this homecoming week. The girls finished 10 points ahead of Colby, while the boys came out on top of a closely contested event scoring 85 pts, ahead of host Athens (87), and state-ranked Auburndale (90).

In the first high school race, the boys packed up early and despite having no finishers in the top ten, were able to hold four of their five scorers in the top 20. Finishing as medalists were Arden Ziert (11th - 18:40-SB), Owen Dickrell (13th- 18:46). Teammates Presley Gutbrod (17th - 19:02), Sam Zastrow (20th- 19:11) and Brett Borchardt (29th-19:44) rounded out the scoring for the Hatchets.

The lady hatchets completed the Hatchet sweep and were led by the top finishers Rachael Reilly (4th-21:15) and Macey Mann (5th-21:22-SB). Joining those two on the podium as medalists were Kate Reilly (10th-21:47) and Emily Lacina (13th-22:15). Teammates Geena Wanta (18th-22:35), Serena Reinke (20th-22:46-SB) and Ava Dragosh (25th-23:09) were instrumental in the Hatchet victory inflating opponents scores as they finished ahead of opponents scoring runners.

Next meet for Tomahawk is the Hatchet Invitational next Saturday at Edgewater. Racing gets underway at 10:00 a.m.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Tomahawk Girls Swimming fell to Medford on Thursday night 108-60.

Tomahawk 1st Place Finishers:

200 Yard Freestyle - Paige Dekiep

50 Yard Freestyle - Joanna Phillips

100 Yard Butterfly - Paige Dekiep

400 Yard Freestyle Relay - Joanna Phillips, Maddie List, Brynnen Stefan, and Paige Dekiep

Also, Brynnen Stefan (junior) had a personal best in every event on Thursday night.

NEXT: The Hatchets travel to Ladysmith on Thursday.

In Other News

Service Errors Plague Tomahawk Volleyball in Sweep at Antigo

Published on 09/22/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's volleyball squad would showcase their scrappy selves, but came up short in a sweep to Antigo, 26-24, 28-26, 25-13. The Hatchets would go back and forth on points in sets one and two, but came up short both times. In set three, Antigo turned on the hard-hitting serves and would come away with timely kills and aces to put the match in their grasp. Lexi Palmer finished with a game-high 17 assists. Lauren Reibe finished with eight kills and four aces. The loss drops Tomahawk to 4-15 on the season and 0-4 in GNC Play. The Hatchets are back on the court Thursday for two more matches at the Hatchet House. Tomahawk will square off with Newman Catholic and Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Matches begin at 5:00.

Published on 09/22/2026 under News For many Lincoln County residents, the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) provides invaluable support, from nutritional assistance to navigating complex senior care options. As the local population continues to age, these services are becoming more essential than ever. Unlike most county-based ADRC offices, the ADRC of Central Wisconsin operates as a regional partnership serving Lincoln, Langlade, Marathon, and Wood Counties. During last week's meeting, the Lincoln County Board received an annual update from Executive Director Michael Rhea detailing the organization's regional impact. The ADRC's most visible initiative remains its nutrition program. Between home-delivered Meals on Wheels and congregational dining sites, the organization serves hundreds of meals in Lincoln County each week—and provided more than 170,000 meals across its four-county service area over the past year. Maintaining that reach has come with financial hurdles. Rhea noted that the ADRC continues to navigate rising food costs while operating on a relatively flat budget. These economic pressures have led to operational adjustments, including a reduction in the total number of meals delivered. To help offset budget deficits, the organization established a fund with the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin to encourage private donations. Volunteer support remains critical to keeping costs down. Approximately 384 volunteers contributed more than 26,000 hours of service over the past year—a contribution valued at roughly $855,000. Beyond nutrition, the "Resource" aspect of the ADRC remains a vital lifeline. Staff members help residents navigate public benefits, healthcare coverage, transportation assistance, and home care options. Ultimately, these efforts share a single focus: helping local seniors "age in place" and remain safely in their own homes for as long as possible.

Published on 09/22/2026 under News The School District of Rhinelander recently celebrated a major community investment in its students and the region's future workforce. On Monday afternoon, community members, district staff, and local leaders gathered for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of a major capital improvement project. The highlights include a cutting-edge technical education area outfitted with new fabrication, welding, woodworking, and machining labs. District leaders say these state-of-the-art upgrades are designed to provide students with hands-on training to jump-start careers with local manufacturers and trade employers. "When our students walk into these spaces, we want them to see possibility," said Superintendent Eric Burke. "We want them to know that our community believes in them and is willing to invest in their success." The enhancements at Rhinelander High School are part of a broader $26 million capital improvement project approved by voters in April 2024, which includes investments at both the high school and James Williams Middle School. Following the ceremony, attendees toured the new facilities to see the community's investment in action firsthand.

Published on 09/22/2026 under News The Lincoln County Health Department is inviting new parents, grandparents, and caregivers to mark their calendars for its upcoming Community Baby Shower. Now in its fourth year, the free outreach event next month serves as a one-stop shop for local families looking for resources, support, and essential guidance on topics like safe sleep practices, car seat safety, and regional childcare options. The event features a variety of informational booths and community partner organizations, with new vendors joining each year to expand services for parent and child well-being. After holding its spring event in Tomahawk, the health department is bringing the shower back to Merrill at a new venue: the Merrill Enrichment and Expo Center. Local agencies, organizations, and groups interested in hosting a vendor booth still have a brief window to get involved. Event organizer Allie Renzelmann noted that a few spots remain open, with a registration deadline of Wednesday, September 23. Additional details and reminders will be released as the October 7 event approaches.

Published on 09/22/2026 under News A motorcycle operator was injured after a collision with a deer over Fall Ride weekend. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, responders were sent to County D in the Town of Harrison on Friday for a reported motorcycle vs deer crash with injuries. Deputies located a 57 year old man from Hurlbert Michigan, who reported the deer walked onto the road in front of his motorcycle and he was unable to avoid the collision. The man was treated for rib and leg injuries.

Published on 09/22/2026 under News Today marks the official start of autumn, but health professionals at Aspirus are using the season to shed light on a different kind of fall, the kind that impacts older adults. The warning comes during Fall Prevention Awareness Week. Physical therapists say a fall rarely comes completely out of nowhere. In fact, one of the earliest warning signs is simply a growing fear of losing your balance, which often leads people to slow down and skip out on everyday activities. "When people get the indication that their balance isn't very good, they tend to not want to move as much," said Aspirus Health physical therapist Jessica Brandt. "It creates a cycle where people limit what they do and where they go." Brandt emphasizes that physical decline doesn't have to be a given as we age. While going for walks is great exercise, adding targeted lower-body strength training is key. That is especially true for your ankles, which act as your body's first line of defense when you step on an uneven surface. "I think people have the misconception that getting weak and getting immobile is part of the aging process, and it doesn't have to be," Brandt said. "You can keep yourself moving and combat a lot of those things that make you more susceptible to falls."

Published on 09/22/2026 under News Just a head's up for residents here in the City of Tomahawk. The water department will begin conducting pressure testing on fire hydrants throughout the city this week. The testing may temporarily cause rusty or discolored tap water in affected areas. Waterworks officials advise residents who experience discoloration to run their cold water until it flows clear. The Water Department thanks the community for its patience during this routine maintenance. Locations scheduled for pressure testing include: • Tannery Rd at Tomahawk Iron & Metal • Bridge St at Bronsted Ave • W Mohawk Dr at Industrial Packaging Co. • N 4th St at Erv's Sale & Service • N 4th St at Mohawk Dr • N 4th St at Ace Hardware • N 4th St at Prospect Ave • W Lincoln Ave at N Tomahawk Ave • W Somo Ave at the WisDNR Building • S Tomahawk Ave at Wisconsin Ave • S 4th St at Spirit Ave • 1010 Theiler Dr • Southgate Dr at Brief St • Anna St at McKinley St • Whitetail Dr at the cemetery • Entrance to LP

Published on 09/22/2026 under News Officials have provided some additional information on a motorcycle crash in Oneida County during Fall Ride Weekend. According to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, on Saturday afternoon, responders were called to the intersection of US Highway 51 and County Highway L in the Town of Nokomis, just north of Tomahawk. According to an initial investigation by the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, two motorcycles were entering Highway 51 from County Highway L when they were struck by a southbound pickup truck. Their were two riders on the first motorcycle, a 38 year old man and 37 year old woman, both of Marshfield. Both were transported from the scene with life-threatening injuries. The operator of the pickup truck and the operator of the second involved motorcycle were not injured. The State Patrol is handling the investigation. _____ Two people were injured in Oneida County following a crash involving two motorcycles and a pickup truck during Fall Ride weekend. The collision occurred shortly after 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Highway 51 and County Highway L, just north of Tomahawk. According to a preliminary investigation, the motorcycles were attempting to turn left onto Highway 51 when they collided with an oncoming pickup truck. Both motorcyclists were transported to the hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries; their current conditions have not been released. Traffic on Highway 51 was temporarily detoured while crews cleared the scene.

Published on 09/21/2026 under News A quiet calm has returned to Tomahawk after the community wrapped up another successful Fall Ride weekend. Just as quickly as they arrived last week, thousands of motorcyclists rolled out of town Sunday afternoon. An estimated 30-40,000 visitors travel to the greater Tomahawk area each year for the annual event, proving that more than four decades in, the tradition remains as popular as ever. As festivities wound down on Sunday, local organizers reflected on the weekend. The general consensus was that attendance was down slightly compared to the past few years. Weather likely played a key role, as cool temperatures and periodic rain kept some riders from making the trip or venturing out to explore. Despite the damp weather, organizers noted that those who did attend were as enthusiastic as ever. Marking the event's 45th anniversary, the community rolled out a stacked lineup of entertainment options for guests. While overall headcounts are hard to measure, one event provides an exact metric: the Friday night Thunder Parade. Parade organizer Roxanne Consolver shared that approximately 250 motorcycles participated this year. That's about a third of the turnout seen in recent years. With another milestone year in the books, organizers are taking a brief breather before shifting their focus to year 46. In the coming days, local leaders and committee members will meet to review this year's event and begin planning for next year.

Published on 09/21/2026 under News A motorcyclist was arrested for an eighth-offense OWI in Lincoln County over Fall Ride weekend. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a trooper pulled over a motorcycle shortly after 1:00 p.m. Sunday for speeding on Highway 86, near County Highway T west of Tomahawk. During the traffic stop, the trooper noticed signs of impairment. Following an investigation, authorities determined the driver, 51-year-old Ryan Plisch of Wausau, was operating the motorcycle while under the influence. Plisch was arrested for eighth-offense OWI, along with operating with a revoked driver's license and misdemeanor bail jumping.

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