Sports Sidelines - Vilas County News-Review
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  • Wisconsin Windigo add defense, experience with NAHL draft picks

    The Wisconsin Windigo, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), completed their first NAHL Entry Draft recently as head coach Blake Hietala and assistant Casey Kirley executed the draft with the help of their scouting staff.

    Due to
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  • WIAA crowns State champions in golf

    Three teams and three individuals were crowned champions at the 2022 State Boys Golf Championships at Blackwolf Run last week.

    Eau Claire Memorial captured the Division 1 team championship. The Old Abes scored a four-player total of 608 for the two-day tournament. Last year’s champion, Kettle Moraine finished second with a score of
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  • State Track will stay at Veterans Complex

    Following another outstanding Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Track & Field State Championships in La Crosse, it’s great to see that the association and UW-La Crosse have agreed to five-year contracts to host the event through 2026. 

    “On behalf of
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  • Wisconsin Windigo trade for defense

    It didn’t take long for the first off-season move to transpire for the newly-relocated Wisconsin Windigo hockey team.

    The North American Hockey League (NAHL) franchise, who will open play at the Eagle River Dome this fall under a three-year contract with the Eagle River Recreation Association, sent
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  • Shooting woes hurt Bucks in playoffs

    In efforts to defend their first NBA championship in over 50 years, the Milwaukee Bucks fell short Sunday.

    The absence of forward Khris Middleton hung a black cloud over the team throughout their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics.

    After
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  • Hietala to lead Wisconsin Windigo

    The Copper Island Hockey Club (CHIC) have announced that Blake Hietala will be the recently names Wisconsin Windigo’s first head coach effective May 1.

    The ownership group recently purchased
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  • Packers draft adds defensive depth

    The Green Bay Packers got a mixed grade from NFL pundits following what many feel though was an above-average draft for the storied franchise.

    After Green Bay on Thursday night passed up wide receiver Christian Watson with its two first-round picks, it eventually traded up to get Watson the next night. In the process, many say they
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  • Bucks look poised as playoffs begin

    The Milwaukee Bucks won their 2022 playoff opener Sunday afternoon inside Fiserv Forum winning 16 of their last 17 games over the Chicago Bulls in the process.

    Though it seems like a rather lackluster season so far for the defending champions, they
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  • Sportsmanship awards announced by WIAA

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association announced recipients of the team sportsmanship awards for the 2022 winter State Tournaments.

    Winneconne was recognized in team wrestling, Highland in girls basketball, Brillion in boys basketball, Middleton co-op in girls hockey and Franklin-Muskego in gymnastics. Boys
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  • Opening Day 2022 happens Thursday

    The rubber hits the road this week as my beloved Milwaukee Brewers begin their trek to what I predict will be a 2022 World Series title.

    If you haven’t taken your bratwurst out of the freezer, or put a six-pack on ice for the special occasion here is your reminder. Thursday will be here before you know it. Game time is set for
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  • Consider volunteering for area youth sports

    There is nothing stronger and more true than the heart of a volunteer.

    And volunteers are what is needed as thousands of youth across the North Woods will take part in a summer activity in 2022.

    While winter weather seemingly has grabbed ahold of us again for a few weeks, parents right now are
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  • WIAA must address private school mess

    The WIAA is under fire again this week following another display of dominance at the boys and girls State Basketball Tournaments these past two weeks by a number of private schools pulling from metropolitan populations.

    Open enrollment continues to allow for students to
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  • Brewers have room to improve in 2022

    There will be baseball for Major League fans following last week’s agreement between the league’s front office and the player’s union who reached a new collective bargaining deal.

    The announcement set the preseason and spring training into full swing for all 30 Major League organizations. That includes
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  • Girls hoops tourney back in Green Bay

    After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 46th WIAA Girls Basketball State Tournament will return to the Resch Center in Green Bay this Thursday through Saturday, March 10-12.

    The single elimination tournament features
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  • Lakeland to represent GNC at State Hockey

    The Lakeland T-Birds boys hockey team will make their second-consecutive trip to the WIAA Boys Hockey State Tournament this week as play at the Alliant Energy Center begins Thursday, March. 3.

    Champions of the Great Northern Conference (GNC), the
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  • Fans lose as MLB, players union feud

    Major League Baseball (MLB) is in its first work stoppage in nearly 30 years and as the negotiations between owners, the league and their players union go over 80 days now it means there is a likelihood fans will see a delay in the start of the 2022 season.

    All this of course is because MLB says
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  • Area teams, athletes approach postseason

    The WIAA tournament season will get underway this week for a number of Wisconsin high school athletes, including local prep teams here in the North Woods.

    The Northland Pines Eagles will have
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  • USA Pond Hockey returns to the lake

    Two things to get off my chest and serve as a precursor to this mainly informative column.

    First. I am still learning a lot about the game of hockey.

    Second. It
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  • Marshfield’s Stenavich promoted by Packers

    It was reported Monday the Green Bay Packers were promoting current offensive line coach Adam Stenavich to offensive coordinator.

    Born in Marshfield, Stenavich earned first-team All-State honors as a senior at Marshfield High School before earning a scholarship to Michigan. He started 39 of his 42 career games for the Wolverines and
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  • Conference needs to adjust sports calendar

    The Great Northern Conference (GNC) needs to make an adjustment to the way it schedules boys and girls athletics.

    Specifically, basketball.

    Growing up in a close-knit community where it was a fun experience to
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  • Wrestling may return to prominence again

    The Three Lakes wrestling program is growing, and with the growth also continues to gain strength through not only numbers, but in results.

    With the recent bolstering of the lineup that came with adding the Laona-Wabeno school district to the high school program athletes in almost every weight class have been able to see better competition in the practice room day-in and day-out, which has translated to
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  • Packers enter playoffs as Super Bowl favorite

    The Green Bay Packers will rest, relax, recoup and get ready for what should be a run to the Super Bowl following the completion of the regular season this past weekend.

    Although a loss to
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  • Action begins at WCDC, welcome Derby racers

    Eagle River will again become the center of World snowmobile racing this week with the running of the 21st annual Vintage Championship. Following that of course will be the 59th annual World Championship Snowmobile Derby, still considered by many in the sport as the Super Bowl of snowmobile racing.

    Events at
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  • Prep athletes keep busy over holidays

    Area high school athletes, though taking a break from classroom activities, will keep busy across their holiday break traveling to and from sporting events over the next few days.

    Between holiday tournaments and
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  • ERRA, Cyclones partner for great event at Dome

    Area hockey fans lucky enough to have taken in the Eagle River Junior Hockey Classic this past Friday night got a treat.

    In an unconventional way, it was more than just another hockey game at the Dome. Fans, family and friends of former Pines hockey player and high school graduate Gunnar Schiffmann were able to see the
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  • Sterne, Stephenson win opener, sets stage for 59th Derby

    Gunnar Sterne will come to Eagle River in a few weeks, and with him bring the label ‘best driver to never win the World Championship.’

    Sterne, driver of the No. 220 Ski-Doo Pro-Champ and Formula III snowmobile race sled gave many a reason to believe he’ll again be one of the top picks to challenge for the World Championship title. This after winning
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  • It’s been 36 years of covering sports

    When I moved to Eagle River in the spring of 1985 to be an assistant editor at the Vilas County News-Review, little did I know that 36 years later I would be retiring from the same company.

    After a couple phone and in-person interviews, News-Review Editor Kurt Krueger hired me as an assistant editor to
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  • It’s a new season for area teams, fans

    The changing of the season from fall to winter also means a new season for high school sports, with hockey, basketball and wrestling getting underway for players and coaches.

    There were some exciting sports stories during the fall, including
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  • Champion named in 8-player football

    While seven teams won titles at the 2021 State Football Championships at Camp Randall Stadium last Thursday and Friday, a champion was also crowned in the 8-man football program.

    Newman Catholic (12-0) scored 35 points in the second quarter and
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  • Packers announce sixth stock offering

    Did you ever dream of becoming an owner of the Green Bay Packers — the only publicly-owned franchise in the NFL.

    Rather than being the property of an individual, partnership or corporate entity, the Packers are held as of 2021 by 361,300 stockholders. No one is allowed to hold more than
    read the full story

  • WIAA panel to work on competitive balance

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control has identified 20 individuals to serve on the Competitive Balance Ad Hoc Committee concerning public and private school athletic programs, including Crivitz Superintendent Patrick Mans and Niagara Superintendent Nathan Burklund in
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  • Boys soccer teams ready for State tourney

    The 40th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Boys Soccer State Tournament will take place this Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 4-6, at Kohler Engines Stadium at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

    Admission is 
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  • Packers to induct Harris, Jennings

    The Green Bay Packers are off to a great start in 2021, taking a 6-1 record into a big game at undefeated Arizona this Thursday.

    But the Packers also have some other big news. The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame announced it will induct former Packers Tim Harris and Greg Jennings at the 51st Hall of Fame Induction Banquet next
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  • Fall sports teams ready for playoffs

    High school teams participating in fall sports are gearing up for the tournament season, with volleyball, boys soccer and football playoffs all starting this week.

    In girls volleyball, Three Lakes received
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  • Activities month honors athletes, coaches, officials

    The annual celebration of National High School Activities Month is underway for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) and the 50 other state high school associations that are members of the National Federation of State High School Associations  (NFHS).

    High school students — more than 12 million — in all 50 states are
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  • Three Eagle Trail ready for runners

    Get ready to run folks. The eighth annual Three Eagle Half Marathon and 5K run will be held this Saturday, Oct. 9, on the Three Eagle Trail between Eagle River and Three Lakes.
    The point-to-point run on the crushed limestone trail will begin at
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  • ‘IF YOU BUILD IT, HE WILL COME’

    ‘IF YOU BUILD IT, HE WILL COME’

    “If you build it, he...
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  • Time to lace ’em up at Noontime Hockey

    It’s time to lace them up at the Eagle River Sports Arena as the 18th annual Noontime Hockey League kicked off for another season, according to Michael Eder, the coordinator of Noontime Hockey.
    “We started Noontime Hockey nearly two decades ago and
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  • Snomo Hall of Fame to induct 2021 class

    The International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (ISHOF), located at the World Snowmobile Headquarters in Eagle River, will host the 2021 induction ceremony this Saturday, Sept. 18, at Eagle Waters Resort in Eagle River.
    A variety of snowmobile enthusiasts will be inducted this year, ranging from
    read the full story

  • Sportsmanship vital to high school sports

    With the onset of another high school sports season, it’s important for players, coaches and fans to remember that sportsmanship is a key part of any athletic competition. 
    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), in partnership with
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  • Badgers to kick off ’21 season with fans

    There is excitement in the air for football fans as they will get a heavy dose of college football this Saturday, Sept. 4. Many conferences across the country will start league matchups Labor Day weekend.
    The University of Wisconsin (UW) will open its season Sept. 4, as the matchup with Penn State will be the first time in 40 years that Wisconsin is opening the season with a home game against a Big
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  • Decker back on track at ‘The Glen’ Sept. 9-12

    Eagle River native Natalie Decker will be back on the track with Ave Motorsports at “The Glen” in New York in the Trans Am Series.

    Decker will make her debut at Watkins Glen International in Schuyler County, N.Y., in the WiscLift Audi R8, driving with Ave Motorsports in the Trans Am Championship Round 9 presented by
    read the full story

  • Doyle to be inducted into Hockey Hall here

    The board of directors of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame has selected four candidates for induction into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in September, including Dr. Tom Doyle of Eagle River.

    The other inductees are
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  • Popular sportscasters set to battle Alzheimer’s

    Popular sportscasters set to battle Alzheimer’s

    For years, Wisconsin football, basketball and hockey fans have listened to Matt Lepay and Paul Braun on the radio and TV, giving play-by-play of Badger sports.
    Now, the
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  • Packers preparing for 2021 season

    Football fans know the NFL season is getting close when the Green Bay Packers hosts its annual Packers Family Night, presented by Bellin Health. This year’s festive event is set for this Saturday, Aug. 7.

    Now in its 20th year, Family Night will serve as the introduction of the 2021 Green Bay Packers —in-person to
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  • Northwoods Share sets golf fundraiser

    Area golfers looking for a fun golf outing in support of a local service organization might want to try the sixth annual Northwoods Share (NWS) golf fund­raiser set for Sunday, Aug. 15, at Eagle River Golf Course. 

    Northwoods Share is a nonprofit service organization committed to
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  • New rule: pitchers must take a sign

    There is a slight change in store for high school baseball pitchers starting next season.
    High school baseball pitchers who do not receive signals from the catcher must now simulate taking a sign with one foot on the pitcher’s plate before
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  • Girls hockey trailblazer reaches national hall

    Wisconsin native Karyn Bye Dietz was one of 12 individuals inducted into the 2020 National Federation of State High School Associations’ Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony held in Orlando, Fla., last week.
    Bye Dietz was
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  • WIAA board makes change due to COVID

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control acted on additional accommodations for transfer students in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and followed  coaches’ committee recommendations impacting hockey and wrestling at its June meeting.

    Many students experienced challenges with
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  • Jean Kaczkowski to be inducted into athletic Hall

    The Eagle River-Northland Pines High School ­Athletic Hall of Fame Committee announced it is scheduled to induct one standout athlete, along with the 2020 class of hall of famers, at an induction ceremony set for Friday, Aug. 20.
    The 2021 inductee will be
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  • Fans getting ready for ’21 training camp

    Believe it or not, football season is just around the corner. The Green Bay Packers are planning a series of Back to Football events for fans to kick off the Packers’ 2021 training camp.

    While the schedule for Packers training camp is
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  • Badgers will battle Fighting Irish in ’26

    As a longtime fan of Wisconsin Badgers football, it was good to see the University of Notre Dame and University of Wisconsin have agreed to reschedule their neutral-site matchup at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to Sept. 5, 2026.
    The Irish and Badgers were originally scheduled to play
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