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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 Golf Team Hosts Triangular - Finish Second

Published on 04/17/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's golf squad came in second in their first triangular of the season at Inshalla Country Club Thursday. The Hatchets finished with a score of 211, six strokes behind Three Lakes and 53 ahead of Mellen. Junior Oliver Childers won the triangular individually with a score of 35. Jaxon Kaiser placed second on the Hatchets and fourth overall with a 42. Tomahawk heads on the road for the first time today when they travel down to Reedsburg for an invite. Tee-off is at 9:00 AM.

Published on 04/17/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's baseball squad would suffer their second straight loss, losing at Medford Thursday night, 5-3. Cash Olsen took the loss on the mound, allowing four runs in five innings of work. Olsen also went two for three with two RBI. Colin Black, Wally Horabik, and Jonah Dickens each came away with a hit. The loss drops Tomahawk to 2-3 on the season and 2-1 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back at TK Field for another GNC Showdown, this time with Rhinelander. Tune in for the broadcast on Sports Talk 810 AM/97.7 FM WJJQ. The Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show will begin at 4:35 and first pitch is at 5:00. Alex Koch will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 04/17/2026 under Sports The Hatchet softball squad would suffer their second Great Northern Conference defeat of the season Thursday at Hatchet Field, losing to the Medford Raiders, 6-0. Tomahawk would muster just two hits against Medford pitcher Rylee Hraby, while striking out ten times. Camryn Kraklow would take the loss, allowing six runs on ten hits. The loss drops Tomahawk to 2-2 on the season and in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets have their first non-conference game of the season today against Wittenberg-Birnamwood. First pitch is at 5:00.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News It's Severe Weather Awareness Week, which typically culminates with mock tornado drills on Thursday afternoon and evening. However with the recent severe weather in Wisconsin this week, the drills have been canceled. We, at WJJQ, typically take part in the yearly drill which includes watches and warnings. According to Ready Wisconsin, the decision to cancel this year's drill comes as emergency management, local agencies, and people are actively responding and recovering from the impacts of these recent storms. They said proceeding with the scheduled drills would place additional strain on already stretched resources as many communities continue to deal with storm impacts. Families are still encouraged to go over tornado safety including locations and plans.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News While tornado safety is the main focus of Severe Weather Awareness Week, Wisconsinites will likely encounter other weather-related occurrences like flooding. Many areas of the state are dealing with flooding this week after several rounds of storms. Flooding is one of the most common natural disasters in Wisconsin, causing millions of dollars in property damage each year. Beyond the expense, flood waters can be more dangerous than they seem. Officials note that you should never attempt to walk or drive through a flooded roadway using the phrase "Turn around, Don't Drown!" Just six inches of flowing water can knock over an adult, and a small vehicle can be swept away by 12 inches of moving water. Floodwaters can also damage or wash away the road, often hidden below the surface. The waters may also contain contaminants and hazards. At home, store important records and other water prone items in a waterproof container in upper levels rather than the basement. If your home experiences flooding, your local health department can provide proper cleaning and disinfection guidelines and other resources. While you can't stop rising waters, Ready Wisconsin shared some home tips that can help. That includes cleaning your gutters regularly, direct downspouts away from your home, and improve the grading and landscaping to keep water from flowing away from your home.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News A Rhinelander educator is being honored for helping students branch out beyond the classroom. School Forest Manager Mike Cheslock has received a Wisconsin School Forest Award from the LEAF Program for his work at the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom, the district's primary school forest. Cheslock was recognized for his leadership and vision in expanding the program across grade levels and subject areas, giving students hands-on learning experiences in forestry, conservation, and ecology. Under his direction, the outdoor classroom has become a key part of the district's curriculum, supporting science education while promoting environmental stewardship and real-world skills. Rhinelander Superintendent Eric Burke says, "Mike's leadership of our school forest and the CAVOC learning center is truly exceptional. He has created opportunities for authentic, hands-on learning that simply cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom, and our entire district is better because of his vision and dedication." He was recognized at a statewide environmental education conference earlier this month. The district also plans to have a local award presentation at CAVOC later this month.-Photo provided by the Rhinelander School District

Published on 04/16/2026 under News Giving back in Rhinelander just got a little easier and a lot more convenient. The Personal Essentials Pantry at First United Methodist Church is teaming up with Trig's Rhinelander store to launch a new "grab-and-go" donation program. The effort is part of a Leadership Oneida County project. They held a kick-off event this week. Shoppers can now purchase prepackaged donation bags filled with items like hygiene items, cleaners, and other household products, set aside for the pantry. Organizers say the effort helps provide essentials that aren't typically covered by assistance programs, while making it simple for the community to support families in need. The volunteer-run pantry relies entirely on donations and says initiatives like this help ensure neighbors have access to everyday necessities for health and dignity. The Personal Essentials Pantry has two distribution days each month.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News A couple of Northwoods students showed off their professional skills in a statewide competition, and were recognized for their efforts. Earlier this month, more than 1,700 students were in Madison for the 53rd edition of Skills USA. This included middle school, high school, and technical college students. The participants qualified through regional competitions for one of 65 events based on career-ready skills. They were judged by experts and professionals in the respective fields. Among the local medalists were the Tomahawk High School Commercial sUAS Drones (Team) of Brock Fischer and Bodie Olsen who were runners-up. And Rhinelander's Brookelynn Martin also earned a silver medal in the high school cosmetology competition. And there was one gold medal returning to the Northwoods: Lola Beach of Rhinelander High School topped the Baking & Pastry Arts competition. Gold winners are eligible to compete in the National SkillsUSA Championships which will be held in Atlanta the first week of June.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News Whether you're a regular Johnny Appleseed, or you're struggling with your red delicious; there's an opportunity to learn more about home apple trees in the Northwoods this weekend. Just one week after hosting a maple syrup demonstration, the Kemp Natural Resources Station is inviting the public to its "Apple School" this Saturday. The free workshop runs from 9 to 2 and will cover everything from choosing the right apple varieties for the region to pruning, pest control, and long-term tree care. It's led by horticulture experts from University of Wisconsin–Madison and its agricultural research programs. Organizers say the event is perfect for anyone thinking about starting an orchard, or figuring out why their apple trees aren't producing. While the workshop is free, they do ask that people register online.

Published on 04/15/2026 under News It's Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week, and part of the outreach is on preparedness. Local emergency management officials are encouraging every resident to take time to identify a safe and secure location to go when a tornado strikes, whether in your home, work, or school. The goal is to stay away from windows, doors, or outside walls. For most homes, a basement or cellar is best. If that isn't possible, select a small interior room on the ground or lowest level of your home/building. If you're outside when severe weather arrives, you're safest heading indoors. If that's not possible locate a low-lying, flat location and take cover there. Use your arms to protect your head and neck. It's also a good idea to go over these tips with your family. Once a location is identified, people are encouraged to share a #safeplaceselfie on social media. Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes each year. Last year, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed 39 tornadoes in the state.

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