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Hatchets Sports Recap - Weekend Published on 10/25/2021 under Sports

FOOTBALL

The Tomahawk Hatchets Football season came to an end on Friday night with a 54-12 loss to Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the first round of the WIAA Tournament.

The Chargers used more than 580 yards of offense to propel themselves to the blowout win.

The Tomahawk Hatchets finish the season with a 4-7 record. They made their first postseason appearance since 2015.

STATS:

RB Logan Bishop - 7 Carries, 42 Yards

WR Jake Kaminski - 3 Catches, 42 Yards, 1 TD

DB Addison Peissig - 1 INT

CROSS COUNTRY

On Saturday, Tomahawk traveled to Colby High School, the site of WIAA Division 2 Sectional Cross- Country Meet. Ideal conditions greeted the 16 teams as they competed to earn the right to advance to Wisconsin Rapids next weekend for the State Championships.

In the opening event of the day, the Tomahawk boys had one of their best scoring split efforts of the year as they placed 5th overall with 156 points. For the Hatchets, they were led by sophomore Owen Dickrell with his 23rd place finish in a time of 18:17. Sophomore Presley Gutbrod, freshman Sam Zastrow and senior Arden Ziert all crossed together in 18:30 (placing 32,33, and 34 respectively), with a PR for Zastrow.

In the final event of the sectional, sophomore Rachael Reilly led her team and punched her individual ticket to the State Meet in Rapids next weekend with her 7th place overall finish in a seasonal best time of 20:21 for the 5K distance.

Her teammates put together a valiant effort, but couldn't overcome state-ranked teams from Medford and West Salem. Placing for the Hatchets was senior Macey Mann (15th-20:28 SB), freshman Alli Palmer (18th-21:12 PR), seniors Kate Reilly (35th-21:56), Ava Dragosh (40th-22:19 PR) and Emily Lacina (44th-22:22). Junior Serena Reinke had her 2nd fastest time of the year as she placed 46th in 22:35. There were 86 finishers in the girl's race.

With Rachael Reilly's individual Tomahawk continued their rich tradition in being represented at the state meet for the 27th time in the last 30 years (28 qualifying teams and 16 individual qualifiers).

The boys finished their season with a W-94 L-25 (Pct. 790) record and the girls concluded with a W-107 L-8 (Pct. 930).

In Other News

Community Support Key to Tomahawk Lions Powwow Days Fundraising

Published on 06/08/2026 under News Tomahawk's signature Fourth of July celebration is less than a month away, and preparations for Powwow Days are entering the home stretch. As in years past, the Tomahawk Lions Club is counting on strong community support to make the event a success. Leading the fundraising charge is longtime Lion Kevin Wickstrom, who has spent the past several weeks making his annual rounds to local businesses. He recently stopped by the WJJQ studios to share an update on this year's efforts. Putting on the annual celebration is no small undertaking. Wickstrom noted that costs have climbed to approximately $25,000, driven largely by the rising price of fireworks. While the Lions Club's fundraising events and efforts offset some of these expenses, donations from local businesses and individuals remain essential. By the time Independence Day arrives, Wickstrom estimates he will have visited roughly 230 donors and logged hundreds of miles. Despite current economic challenges, he says community support has remained remarkably strong. In fact, he noted that some businesses have been even more generous this year. He joked, "A lot of people are expecting me when I walk through the door and already have a check ready." Powwow Days features a full slate of activities, including running races, a parade, a water ski show, and the traditional fireworks display. Because July 4th falls on a Saturday this year, organizers expect the holiday weekend to draw even larger crowds than usual to the Tomahawk area. As the countdown continues, Wickstrom emphasized that the community's willingness to step up remains one of Tomahawk's greatest strengths. He says, "I just appreciate all the businesses and individuals that donate to the cause. The support is tremendous." How to Donate: For those who have not yet been contacted but would like to contribute to Powwow Days, Wickstrom encourages them to reach out directly by calling or texting him at 715-437-0548.

Published on 06/08/2026 under News The shores of Lake Mohawksin were filled with kids, veterans, and plenty of smiles this past weekend. Saturday marked the revival of the Youth Fishing Contest, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Tomahawk VFW, American Legion, and Auxiliary. The event returned after a hiatus of several years with a dual mission: to spark children's interest in outdoor recreation and to build strong relationships between local youth and veterans. Organizers reported that 25 youngsters registered for the tournament, catching and releasing a total of 77 fish. Volunteers, mostly local veterans, spent the day measuring catches, untangling lines, and keeping the action moving smoothly. Top catches of the day included a 10 inch perch landed by Delaney Lampe.Winning Entries: Age 0-5: 1st Geri Glenzer 6 1/2 " perch Age 6-9 1st Delaney Lampe 10" perch Age 10-12 1st Brianna Butalla 7" perchThanks to generous community support, no one left empty-handed; every participant received a goodie bag loaded with fishing gear. Organizers called the revival a success and plan to make the Youth Fishing Classic an annual tradition, with hopes of welcoming even more young anglers to the waterfront next summer.

Published on 06/08/2026 under News Music lovers will have a new place to gather this summer as the Rhinelander Area Community Band relocates its long-standing concert series to Hodag Park. The band will kick off the first of eight Tuesday night performances tomorrow evening at the Hodag Park Pavilion. According to band representative Mary Grieco, the move from the RiverWalk band shell was made to better accommodate the band's growing membership and increasing audience attendance. The Rhinelander Area Community Band has been entertaining Northwoods audiences for more than four decades. Organizers hope the new venue will provide a comfortable, spacious setting for fans to enjoy free outdoor entertainment throughout the season. As always, this year's setlist features a variety of music for all ages, ranging from familiar pop tunes to patriotic favorites tied into the America 250 celebrations. The band is scheduled for June 9, June 23, and June 30; July 7 and 21; and August 4 and 18. On Tuesday nights when the community band is not scheduled, the Pavilion will host other live musical performances to keep the summer series going. Music begins at 6:30 p.m.

Published on 06/08/2026 under News Communication is key in a hospital setting, and those seeking medical care in the Northwoods are in some good hands. Three Aspirus facilities, at Aspirus Medford, Aspirus Rhinelander, and Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, have earned a perfect five-star rating for nurse communication. The recognition comes from the latest CMS data and lands these hospitals on Becker's Healthcare's 2025 Excellence List. The rankings are based entirely on patient feedback, measuring how well nurses listen, how clearly they explain treatments, and the respect they show every person in their care. Aspirus leadership says this honor reflects the deep trust their nursing teams build with families every day. According to the announcement, only 44 hospitals across Wisconsin earned the five-star distinction this year.

Published on 06/08/2026 under News Outdoor enthusiasts and local residents gathered in Athens to celebrate National Trails Day and Wisconsin Bike Week with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Wisconsin Gravel trailheads. The trail celebration marked a major milestone for the Wisconsin Gravel initiative, a regional project designed to boost tourism, support rural economies, and highlight the region's premier gravel riding routes. Tim White, executive director of Visit Wausau, says, "This is exactly the kind of collaboration that helps small communities thrive." He highlighted the economic and tourism opportunities that outdoor recreation brings to the region. Following the formal ribbon cutting, riders hit the trails on one of two options, a shorter, family friendly route and a longer Athens "Gravelventure" ride. The longer route treated cyclists to scenic rural roads, a stop at the famous 45x90 Geographical Marker. Steven Brewster of Athens Area Trails says, "The trailheads, local businesses, community groups and volunteers all play a role in making this a destination people want to experience." Prior to the biking festivities, the participants were well-fed as the day kicked off with the annual Athens FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast.

Published on 06/08/2026 under News Wisconsin utility customers could soon see higher energy bills under a new rate request filed by Wisconsin Public Service. The proposal announced last month, is now before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, would raise the typical residential electric bill by about 11 dollars per month in 2027, followed by another 5 dollar increase in 2028. Natural gas customers would see an estimated 7 dollar monthly increase in 2027, with no additional base rate hike the following year. Even with the proposed increases, WPS says customer bills would remain below the national average. WPS officials say the increases are tied to ongoing investments in the state's energy grid, including new solar, wind, and battery storage projects, as well as efforts to improve reliability. That includes trimming thousands of miles of power lines, removing hazardous trees, and installing underground cables to reduce outages. The company says the plan also includes more than 132 million dollars in savings for customers through federal tax credits and shared earnings. Regulators will review the proposal in the coming months before making a final decision.

Published on 06/06/2026 under Sports In the WIAA Division 2 State Track & Field Meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this weekend. Elise Gibeault and Ellie Micke competed in three separate events. Gibeault's top finish came in the 400 meter dash, placing third with a time of 56.7 seconds. Gibeault would finish 2.26 seconds behind state champion Harper Sheehan of Hayward. In her final event, the Hatchet Junior would set a brand new school record in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.38 seconds, a full second behind Sheehan. As for Micke, her season would end in the High Jump Preliminaries. Micke would finish tied for 12th with Martin Luther's Dynasty Fancher. This concludes the Tomahawk Track & Field Season.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News A long-standing youth fishing event is set to return to Tomahawk this weekend with a meaningful new twist. For decades, the Kids Fishing Contest was a summer staple at Veterans Memorial Park, giving local youngsters the chance to cast a line into Lake Mohawksin for some friendly competition. The event came to an end a few years ago when the Tomahawk Fishing Unlimited group disbanded. Now, as part of their growing community outreach, local veterans' groups, including the VFW, American Legion, and Auxiliary have decided to dust off the fishing rods and bring the tradition back. Organizers hope the return of the Youth Fishing Classic will spark an interest in outdoor recreation like fishing, while also building strong relationships between local youth and veterans. Moving forward, the event also plans to honor a local veteran each year. The inaugural honoree perfectly embodies both fishing and service to the country: this weekend's contest will be held in memory of Chuck Grigg, a veteran and the long-time owner of Chuck's Sport Shop, who passed away earlier this year. The Youth Fishing event takes place this Saturday and will feature multiple age groups and fish categories. Free registration begins at 9:00 AM, and fishing kicks off at 10:00 AM near the fishing pier at Veterans Memorial Park. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles; organizers will supply the worms, as well as some goodie bags for the first 100 kids to register.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News People will be able to fish, hike, and explore Wisconsin this weekend without pulling out their wallets. The DNR is officially kicking off the unofficial start of summer by bringing back its popular "Free Fun Weekend" this Saturday and Sunday. The annual event waives most state park fees, trail passes, and fishing licenses encouraging residents and visitors alike to check out the state's natural, outdoor playground. Steve Schmelzer, DNR Bureau Director of Parks and Recreation says, "If you've never checked out a Wisconsin state park before, Free Fun Weekend is the perfect opportunity to come visit for the first time." Finding a spot to explore won't be difficult. Wisconsin boasts 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, thousands of miles of rushing rivers, and roughly 15,000 lakes. For those looking to cast a line, fishing licenses are completely waived for the weekend. However, the DNR reminds anglers that all other traditional regulations apply. This includes bag limits, species seasons, and size restrictions. To help newcomers get started, several state properties will host hands-on fishing clinics throughout the weekend. No matter how you choose to spend the weekend, officials urge everyone to prioritize safety, respect fellow outdoor enthusiasts, and help keep the state's public lands clean.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News Governor Evers has never been shy about his love for ice cream, and on Thursday afternoon, he enjoyed a sweet treat at an iconic local spot. As part of his tour celebrating June Dairy Month, Governor Evers visited the Windmill Ice Cream Shop in Nokomis. This was his second stop of the day, following an earlier visit to a dairy farm in Osseo. During the visit, the Governor touted the strong partnerships between the state and local dairy producers. The Berg family, who owns the shop, also shared on social media that their matriarch, Pat Berg, shared connected with the Governor over their shared past careers as educators. According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin is home to approximately 1.3 million dairy cows and more than 5,000 dairy farms. Beyond milk, Wisconsin is a national leader in dairy products like cheese, butter, yogurt, and, of course, ice cream, including the many selections featured at the Windmill. As for his flavor pick, the Governor opted for a double scoop of New York Cherry and Sea Salt Caramel Nut, which he enjoyed on the Bearskin State Trail trestle overlooking Lake Nokomis.

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