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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

Hatchet Girls Basketball Team Sweeps Merrill

Published on 02/09/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's girls' basketball squad notched their second straight win in as many days Friday night at the Hatchet House, completing the sweep of the Merrill Blue Jays, 44-32. The Hatchets rode the back of Senior Center Freya Alberg to get their 12th win of the season. Alberg led all scorers with a season-high 25 points. The win moves Tomahawk to 12-9 on the season and 6-5 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back in action Tuesday for the second half of a girls-boys doubleheader against Rhinelander.

Published on 02/09/2026 under Sports The Hatchet female wrestlers would place third at the first-ever Great Northern Conference Girls Wrestling Meet in Medford Friday night. Tomahawk would have three first-place finishers in the invite. Tomahawk's first-place finishers would come from Kylie Peissig at 144 pounds, Kami Gabrich at 185 pounds, and Abby Doleshal at heavyweight. The Hatchets also had four more wrestlers place in the top three and earn All-Conference honors. The only two teams that placed ahead of Tomahawk were Merrill and Wausau West. The WIAA Girls Regional Meet is Friday from Merrill High School. The opening round will begin at 4:00 pm. Join Alex and Tony for coverage with the Fehrman Orthodontics Pre-meet show at 3:40 pm on Northwoods 92-5, WJJQ.

Published on 02/09/2026 under Sports The Hatchet boys' basketball squad was trounced in a Great Northern Conference match-up with Merrill Friday night, losing 82-23. The loss drops Tomahawk to 2-16 on the season and 0-10 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back in action Monday night for a non-conference showdown with Northland Lutheran in Kronenwetter. Tip-off is at 7:00.

Published on 02/09/2026 under Sports The Hatchet male swimmers would finish third in the GNC Meet at the Thunderbird Pool in Minocqua Friday night. Tomahawk would finish behind Shawano/Seymour and Rhinelander in the meet. Bruce Peetz was the top Hatchet finisher across two different events. Peetz would place second in the 50 and 100 yard freestyles. GNC Boys Swimming Standings This concludes the Hatchet Swim Regular Season. The WIAA Division 2 Boys Swim Sectionals are in Rice Lake next Saturday.

Published on 02/09/2026 under News There are a lot of hodags in and around the Rhinelander community. A new art project in the works will capture the mythical beast in a unique medium. Wisconsin artist Don Gaber, known for his distinctive reclaimed-metal sculptures, has been commissioned to create what will be known as the Iron Hodag. Gaber's work incorporates discarded, donated, scavenged, and vintage materials, transforming them into large-scale artworks that reflect the history and character of the communities where they are created. True to that approach, the Iron Hodag will be built using materials sourced from the Rhinelander area. Gaber aims to weave local heritage directly into the sculpture by incorporating items such as paper mill artifacts, lumberjack memorabilia, vintage license plates, old metal advertising, machinery parts, and former business or tourism signage. He's already got an approximately 8 foot long metal skeleton, and now they're seeking the community to contribute reclaimed metal materials celebrating Rhinelander's history and creative spirit. Former Rhinelander residents Ron and Elise Gaber have commissioned the creation of this public art piece. While they now call Missouri home, they regularly return to the Northwoods, while also incorporating the hodag legend and culture into their life in Missouri. They noted, "Once a Hodag, always a Hodag." For those who have reclaimed materials that may be of use for this project, we'll include a link with contact information for consideration. David Gaber: gaberssuperiorview@gmail.com Janet Jamison: jamisjan@rhinelander.k12.wi.us They hope to unveil the completed sculpture this summer. Example of Don Gaber iron art work

Published on 02/09/2026 under News A pair of Tomahawk students recently took a trip to the state capitol as part of a student organization. Tomahawk seniors Emma Hoff and Siennah Calkins from Tomahawk Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America participated in the Wisconsin FCCLA Capitol Leadership Conference in Madison. The event brought together youth leaders from across the state for hands-on training in communication, civic engagement, and leadership development. During their visit, the duo had an opportunity to speak with Governor Tony Evers, along with the staff from the offices of Senator Mary Felzkowski, Senator Rob Hutton, and Representative Calvin Callahan. During the Wisconsin FCCLA Capitol Leadership Conference, students gained experience in: Professional Communication & Leadership, Message Development Skills, and Civic Engagement & Relationship Building. Hoff said, "This experience and the knowledge that I gained from the conference helped me strengthen my leadership skills and make new connections. The conference made me feel more confident when speaking with adults and sharing why FCCLA matters in my life. I learned that student leaders can make a real difference when we share our stories." They plan to bring their new skills back to Tomahawk, continuing their community involvement and promoting FCCLA through upcoming competitions, Tomahawk Showcase Night, and the High School FCCLA Blood Drive.

Published on 02/09/2026 under News A Minocqua man convicted on federal charges connected to an investment scheme will serve more than six years in prison. Back in November, Cory Kromray pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Investigators said that Kromray used social media to entice investors by falsely portraying himself as a successful trader in stocks, crypto and foreign currency markets. This included posting pictures of lavish vacations, luxury items, and exotic sports cars. Instead of investing money as promised, they said Kromray often used investor money to pay his personal expenses. He also provided some investors with false information about the success of their investments. At the sentencing hearing, Judge William Conley stated that Kromray's investment fraud scheme was "the worst kind of fraud that can be committed," because he took money from his close friends and lied to them about investing it. He ordered Kromray serve 6 years and 8 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay more than $828,000 in restitution.

Published on 02/09/2026 under News The Olympics are in full swing, offering a variety of sports including hockey, skiing, and snowboarding. For those inspired to get out and try there own gold-medal skills, it's important to be mindful of head injuries when participating in winter sports. Staff at Aspirus are reminding participants to take concussions seriously. A sport-appropriate helmet is a great start, but it's also important to understand the risks, recognize symptoms, and know what to do when a concussion is suspected. Dr. Joseph Benert is a sports medicine physician at Aspirus. He explained, "When an impact or jolt causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth inside the skull, that's considered a concussion." Dr. Benert offered a few quick tips when it comes to concussions. If you hit your head, take a timeout. He notes that symptoms don't always appear right away, and that can make it hard to know whether a concussion occurred or how serious it might be. Benert also notes that symptoms can be subtle. This may include: headaches, dizziness, confusion, slowed thinking, and vision issues Recovery takes time, and it's also important to communicate with others throughout. Benert says, "Winter sports can be a fun and active way to enjoy the season, as long as safety is a priority. Taking the right precautions doesn't take away the fun."

Published on 02/09/2026 under News The DNR is bringing back a program that provides local libraries with day passes for entrance to state park properties. The Check Out Wisconsin State Parks program launched in 2022 with around two dozen libraries. It has since grown to more than 200 locations including the Tomahawk Public Library and the TB Scott Free Library in Merrill. With the initiative entering a firth year, the DNR continues to expand the scope. Not only can library cardholders check out a day pass, they may also receive an informational kit featuring state park system materials and maps, stickers, and other activities. Missy VanLanduyt, DNR recreation partnerships section supervisor, "There's always something new to discover when you explore Wisconsin's state parks," said. "We offer events, programs, guided hikes, skill-building opportunities and gear-loaner programs to help you make the most of your visit." Library Patrons can contact their local library to inquire about these passes, or encourage their library to join the program.

Published on 02/09/2026 under News The popularity of utility terrain vehicles or UTV's has exploded here in the Northwoods. As the machines evolve, so too must the rules. A new law, authored by state senator Mary Felzkowski reflects some changes to these machines. Wisconsin Act 83 raises the weight limit for a vehicle to be considered a UTV without fluids to 3,500 pounds. UTVs have been increasing in weight as manufacturers added additional technological and safety innovations. Felzkowski said, "As UTVs continue to be a driving force in Wisconsin's tourism industry, it's important that government does not hinder this growth and inadvertently divert tourism dollars to other states. After the bipartisan bill was signed into law, Felzkowski added, "This is a commonsense change, and I'm glad that all parties involved recognized the need for the legislation."

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