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Pines youth football celebrates 25 years

The Northland Pines Youth Football and Cheerleading organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019, including a Youth Night at halftime of the Northland Pines football game last Friday night.

The program came to life in June of

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For state sports fans, fall off to great start

For Wisconsin sports fans, the fall is off to a great start with the Badgers football team off to a 2-0 start, the Green Bay Packers had an exciting win Thursday night over the rival Chicago Bears and the Milwaukee Brewers are in the chase for a wild card spot in the postseason playoffs.

For the Badgers, Jonathan Taylor ran for

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Four to be inducted into hockey hall Sept. 7

Bob Normand from Chippewa Falls, Al Deming of Waupun, Terry Klay from Wausau, and Brianna Decker of Dousman, will be inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in a ceremony this Saturday, Sept. 7, in Eagle River.
The Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in

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Northland Pines gets Award of Excellence

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) saluted 27 schools — including Northland Pines — that met the criteria to be named recipients of the Award of Excellence in 2018-’19.
The award recognizes member schools for their

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Decker returning to Road America

After setting her eyes on the course at Road America near Elkhart Lake, Wis., at the age of 10, Natalie Decker of Eagle River fell in love.

She had just recently moved up in classes in her young go-kart racing career and found herself taking laps on the “little” course. However, Decker had her eyes and heart set on something more — the

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Sportsmanship hailed on field and in stands

With the 2019-’20 high school sports season kicking off next week with football, soccer and volleyball games across the state, it’s a good time to think about maintaining sportsmanship on the field and in the stands.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), in partnership with

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Four to be inducted into state hockey hall

The board of directors of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame has selected the 2019 class for induction into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in September.
Bob Normand from

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Fall football season just around corner

With the calendar turning from July to August this week, it means football is just around the corner.

Training camp has started for the Green Bay Packers and will peak this Saturday, Aug. 3, with Family Night, presented by Bellin Health, at

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Pines Hall of Fame induction set Aug. 30

The Eagle River/Northland Pines High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony is just five weeks away, set for Friday, Aug. 30.

The athletes to be inducted are Woody Ahlborn, who graduated from Pines in 1983 and earned 10 letters in football, basketball and track; and 1983 graduate

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Packers to celebrate 100th birthday Aug. 11

Now that we are past the Fourth of July, many sports enthusiasts are looking ahead to the fall football season.

And as the Green Bay Packers’ 100 Seasons draws to a close, fans are invited to join the team for the biggest milestone of all — the team’s 100th birthday on

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WIAA approves 24 basketball games

High school basketball fans in Wisconsin can expect to watch more boys and girls basketball beginning in a couple years.

That’s because the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control voted at its June meeting to increase the maximum number of basketball games permitted in a season from 22 to

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Pines alumni ready to lace ’em up for OAM

The 19th annual Pines OAM Alumni Hockey Tournament will be this Saturday, July 6, at the Eagle River Sports Arena starting at 9 a.m.

The one-day event benefits local youth skaters and helps maintain the Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) and Northland Pines boys and girls hockey teams — continuing the

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Baseball World Series returning to Minocqua

The Little League Baseball World Series atmosphere will be returning to Minocqua in 2019.

The Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the Lakeland Area Baseball Association (LABA), will host the Small Town Baseball World Series for the second consecutive year July 18-21 at the

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Packers preparing for Family Night

With the Milwaukee Brewers playing well so far this season, there hasn’t been a lot of talk about the Green Bay Packers and their upcoming season.

But the Green Bay Packers announced recently that the popular Packers Family Night, presented by Bellin Health, will take place Friday evening, Aug. 2. Now in its 19th year, Family Night will serve as the introduction of the

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Pines Hall to induct two athletes, supporter, State Champion relays

The Eagle River/Northland Pines High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee announced it will induct two standout athletes, a supporter of Northland Pines athletic programs and two State Champion relay teams Friday, Aug. 30.

The athletes to be inducted are

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Golf Spectacular to feature Packers

Teams can still register for the 2019 B. Bruce Krier Angel Golf Spectacular, a fundraising event for the Angel On My Shoulder program, set for this Friday, June 7, at St. Germain Golf Club with three special guests.
The golf tournament will be

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WIAA advances 8-man football plan

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control approved a first consideration of a conference alignment plan for eight-player football — which will include Three Lakes — beginning in 2020 at its May meeting.

The plan places eight-player programs into

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Two golf outings set to help Trees, library

Two fast-approaching golf outings will benefit Trees For Tomorrow and Walter E. Olson Memorial Library, both in Eagle River, and both fundraising events will be held at the Eagle River Golf Course.

Trees For Tomorrow (TFT) will host its 17th annual

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Journeys inspirational to many runners, walkers

The 23rd annual Journeys Marathon, sponsored by the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center last Saturday, featured many inspirational stories of runners of all ages.
Some runners completed their first marathon while others

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Spectators urged to cheer on runners

Spectators are being urged to come out to Riverview Park in Eagle River to cheer on the runners in the 23rd annual Journeys Marathon this Saturday, May 11.
The Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center expects about

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Journeys Marathon nears for runners, fans

With the snow finally melting across the North Woods, it’s time to think about the fast-approaching 23rd annual Journeys Marathon.

The event, set for Saturday, May 11, features a marathon, half-marathon, 13.1-mile power walk and 10K and 5K runs. Now is the perfect time to register for the event with the

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Northland Pines moved to football-only league

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control passed a statewide football-only conference realignment proposal — including Northland Pines — at its April meeting.

The goal was to

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WIAA recognizes good sportsmanship

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) and school officials often stress the importance of sportsmanship at athletic events.
To that end, the WIAA, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance, has chosen the recipients of the team sportsmanship awards for the

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Packers party set in Antigo Saturday

Tickets are still available for the 14th annual Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour set for this week in northern, central and western Wisconsin to visit with fans and thank them in person for their support.

The tour will make stops in

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Pass interference will be reviewable

When you sit down to watch an NFL game on a Sunday afternoon next fall, be prepared to sit a little longer.

The NFL owners voted last week to approve a rule proposal that allows for offensive and defensive pass interference, including non-calls, to be subject to

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Journeys Marathon just six weeks away

While there is still snow across the North Woods, the 23rd annual Journeys Marathon is entering the final stretch to the starting line.

The event, set for Saturday, May 11, features a marathon, half marathon, 13.1-mile power walk and 10K and 5K runs. Now is the perfect time to be training and signing up to participate. Registration brochures are now available at

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Conference realignment good for Pines football

The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) released a revised football-only conference alignment proposal for the 2020 season, including a move that should be good for the Northland Pines Eagles football team.

The WFCA and WIAA released the first consideration of a football-only conference plan for membership review back in

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Boys hoops tourney takes stage this week

The 104th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Boys Basketball State Tournament will take place this Thursday-Saturday, March 14-16, at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
The single-elimination tournament features a

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Girls State Tourney kicks off this Thursday

The 44th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Girls Basketball State Tournament will take place this Thursday through Saturday, March 7-9, at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

The single-elimination tournament features a

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State Hockey Tourney starts this Thursday

The 49th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Boys Hockey State Tournament and the 18th Girls Hockey State Tournament will take place this Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 28-March 2, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
While the field won’t include the

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Packers Tailgate Tour to make stop in Antigo

It’s still the winter sports season, but football fans can get geared up for the 14th annual Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour set for April 9-13.
The tour will travel throughout central, western and northern Wisconsin — including Antigo — to visit with fans and thank them in person for their support.
The tour will make stops in

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‘Save the Dome’ wear helping the cause

Supporters of Eagle River hockey and the historic Dome have launched a project to bring attention to the fundraising campaign to raise about $1.5 million for a new cooling system at the Eagle River Sports Arena.
Organizers launched “Save the Dome” and are selling apparel and decals at events held at the Sports Arena, according to

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Time to start training for 23rd Journeys

With the calendar flipping to February, now is the perfect time to start training for the 23rd annual Journeys Marathon scheduled for Saturday, May 11.
The Journeys Marathon events include a 26.2-mile full marathon, a 13.1-mile half-marathon and power walk, and a 10- and 5-kilometer run/walk.
The Journeys Marathon and half-marathon are USA Track & Field-certified courses, and the full marathon is

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Decker advances in W Series program

Twenty-eight drivers, including Eagle River native Natalie Decker, were given the very good news last weekend that they had been chosen to go through to the next stage of the selection process of W Series, the all-new single-seater racing series for female drivers only.

Decker, 21, was one of just three United States women selected to move on. W Series CEO Catherine Bond Muir said that

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WIAA asks fans to cool it in stands

There was an op-ed piece on the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) website this week concerning sportsmanship at high school sporting events.. It was written by Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, and

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Derby, pond hockey put Eagle River on map

While all eyes are on the 56th annual World Championship Snowmobile Derby this weekend, there's another major sporting event set for Eagle River in February.

The 14th annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championship will be held on

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Pines students attend sportsmanship summit

Six individuals representing Northland Pines High School and the community attended the 2018 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Summit in Stevens Point in December.
More than 725 participants on 122 teams representing 106 member high schools attended the summit. Each school was represented by a team of

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Phelps basketball, Pines boys soccer lead sports stories

There were many exciting local sports stories for high school teams and individual athletes during 2018. The following were some of the highlights of the past year:
1. For the first time since 1986, the Phelps boys basketball team rode into the WIAA postseason with the momentum of a

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WIAA honors teams for top sportsmanship

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Co., has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2018 fall State tournaments. The recipients of the sportsmanship awards are River Ridge in girls volleyball, Stratford in football and McFarland in

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Nominations sought for Pines Hall of Fame

The Eagle River/Northland Pines High School Athletic Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for future inductees, the committee has announced.

The Hall of Fame, established in 2003, recognizes persons who have contributed or excelled in high school, college and/or professional sports and includes athletes, coaches and

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Kresl, UW-Stout set to play at Dome

Area hockey fans, get ready for a entertaining night of hockey at the Eagle River Sports Arena.

Fast-paced NCAA Division III college hockey is coming to the historic Dome as UW-Stout will face Finlandia University of Hancock, Mich., this Saturday, Dec. 15, at

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Packers, Badgers make headlines

There was plenty of football news from the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers over the weekend.
Concerning Green Bay, the Packers fired head coach Mike McCarthy on Sunday, ending his 13-season tenure in charge of the storied

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WIAA makes changes for spring sports regs

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control approved a number of coaches’ recommendations impacting spring season sports regulations, including softball, track and field, and baseball, and passed the 2018-’19 operational budget at its recent meeting.

Two recommendations in softball were approved by the board. The first implements seeding for all divisions once the State tournament field has been

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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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State championship finals set in football

The 43rd annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Football State Championship Finals will be held Thursday and Friday, Nov. 15-16, at Camp Randall Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Ticket prices for the event are

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Sevastopol wins first WIAA 8-man title game

The first Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)-sponsored eight-player State championship is in the books — and a good game it was.
The game featured

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First WIAA title game set for 8-man football

The first Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) eight-player football State championship final will be this Saturday, Nov. 3, in Stanley at 1 p.m.

Luck and Sevastopol are the

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Zwettler to run against state’s best

A runner from Three Lakes will be competing in the 106th running of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Cross-Country Championships and the 45th annual Girls Cross-Country Championships that will take place Saturday, Oct. 27, at

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Realignment dealings a big issue for WIAA

Conference realignment is always a big issue when it comes to high school sports and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA).

Northland Pines and Three Lakes high schools have both been involved in conference realignment discussions over the past several years, especially when it comes to

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Noontime Hockey ready to lace ’em up

It’s time to lace them up at the Eagle River Sports Arena as the 15th annual Noontime Hockey League is ready to begin today, Wednesday, Oct. 10.
While there were a few issues with leaking liquid under the floor when the compressors were turned on this fall, Michael Eder, the coordinator of Noontime Hockey, said

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Milwaukee Brewers have new group of stars

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Monday, earning them the 2018 National League (NL) Central division crown. The Brewers had previously won the Central just once — that back in 2011.

By virtue of having the best record in the NL, the Brewers will now host

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NFL backing bill to take down drones

Drones are a pretty cool gadget for some hobbyists and professional photographers/videographers, but they also could be dangerous.

The NFL’s top security official last week backed bipartisan legislation that would authorize the federal government to track, seize and

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Decker’s driving skills displayed at Spain event

Fifteen female race car drivers in a variety of categories — including Eagle River native Natalie Decker — took part in the first Women Drivers Assessment Program at Circuito de Navarra in northern Spain, on Aug. 28-29.
Decker currently competes full-time in

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For state sports fans, fall off to great start

For Wisconsin sports fans, the fall is off to a great start with the Badgers football team off to a 2-0 start, the Green Bay Packers had an exciting win Sunday night over the rival Chicago Bears and the Milwaukee Brewers are in a pennant race chasing the Chicago Cubs.

For the Badgers Saturday, it was a tale of two

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Hockey hall to induct Schachte, Swenson

Dan Schachte of Verona and Jerry Swenson from McFarland will be inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Eagle River this Saturday, Sept. 8.

Schachte was born in

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Sports participation continues to climb

With the high school sports season underway as another school year starts, it’s not surprising to learn that participation in high school sports continues to rise.

Led by an additional 15,009 participants in girls sports programs, the overall number of participants in high school sports increased

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Triathlon, half-marathon coming to North Woods

Two competitive sporting events for athletes are coming to the North Woods.

The fourth annual Twin Triathlon will be held on and around North Twin Lake in Phelps this Saturday, Aug. 25, and the fifth annual Three Eagle Half-Marathon and 5K run will be held

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Sportsmanship hailed on field and in stands

With the 2018-’19 high school sports season kicking off this week with football games across the state, it’s a good time to think about maintaining sportsmanship on the field and

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Schachte, Swenson headed to hockey hall

Dan Schachte from Verona and Jerry Swenson from McFarland will be inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Eagle River on Saturday, Sept. 8.

The Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in 1975 and is housed in the Eagle River Sports Arena. The hall was established to honor outstanding individuals responsible for the development, growth and success of amateur ice hockey in Wisconsin.

Schachte was born in Madison and played his youth hockey with the Monona Hockey Association. He began his officiating career at the age of 13 with the Dane County Hockey

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Fall football season just around corner

With the calendar turning from July to August this week, it means football is just around the corner.

Training camp has started for the Green Bay Packers and will peak this Saturday, Aug. 4, with Family Night, presented by Bellin Health, at Lambeau Field.

Day activities get underway at 1:30 p.m. in the Lambeau Field Atrium and parking lot. Evening activities get underway in the stadium at 5:30 p.m., followed by on-field football warm-ups at 6:30 and the practice beginning at approximately 7:30.

Tickets are available through

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Hall of Fame induction less than month away

It’s less than a month until the Eagle River/Northland Pines High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee will induct two standout athletes, a coach and several longtime hockey managers to the hall Friday, Aug. 17.
The athletes to be inducted are Kent Gray, who played football at Pines from 1979 through 1981, and 1970 graduate Veryl Krosschell, along with baseball coach Jerry Adamovich. The three will be joined by eight members of the Zyhowski family who were hockey managers at Pines since the 1970s.
Kent William Gray played football at Northland Pines High School his freshman through junior years before transferring to Ashwaubenon High School his senior year. At Northland Pines, he

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Packers to celebrate 100 Seasons at camp

The first few days of training camp are always a festive atmosphere, with excitement in the air as the Green Bay Packers return to the field for another season.

This year, however, fans will have many more opportunities for fun with the Packers Experience, a four-day, free festival in honor of the Packers’ 100 Seasons.

Preparations are now underway for the Packers Experience, presented by American Family Insurance, Bellin Health, Fleet Farm and Old El Paso. The festivities kick off at 9 a.m. on

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WIAA makes changes in hockey, wrestling

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control reviewed and acted on coaches’ committee recommendations impacting winter sports, including hockey and wrestling, at its last meeting.

Four hockey recommendations received approval from the board. In an ongoing trend to seed State tournaments, boys hockey coaches of teams advancing to the tournament quarterfinals will determine the seeds for the eight qualifying boys teams, and the four coaches of the teams advancing to the girls State tournament semifinals will seed the four qualifying girls teams beginning in 2018-’19.

In 2020 when the boys tournament transitions to four teams in two divisions, the boys coaches in each division will

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Pines alumni ready to lace ’em up in OAM

The 18th annual Pines OAM Alumni Hockey Tournament will be this Saturday, July 7, at the Eagle River Sports Arena starting at 9 a.m.
The one-day event benefits local youth skaters and helps maintain the Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) and Northland Pines boys and girls hockey teams — continuing the “Tradition on Ice.”
The tournament is named in memory of Orin A. Mangseth, a former Pines boys hockey coach and longtime supporter of the program. Mangseth led the Eagles to their first boys State Hockey Championship in 1984.
The tournament is played in

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Decker to hit track at Chicagoland race

Natalie Decker of Eagle River will be back on the track this week.

Venturini Motorsports (VMS) has unveiled its version of girl power when the longtime ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards team returns to Chicagoland Speedway this Thursday, June 28, with a trio of female drivers competing in the series’ Scott 150 event.

VMS has entered Decker in the team’s flagship No. 25 N29 Capital Partners – Yamaha Toyota; Leilani Münter in the No. 20 Vegan Strong Toyota; and Toni Breidinger in the No. 55 VMS Toyota. It is the first time in the modern era of stock car racing that one team has entered three female drivers in a single

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Packers training camp just one month away

With the Milwaukee Brewers playing well so far this season, there hasn’t been a lot of talk about the Green Bay Packers and their upcoming season.

But the Green Bay Packers are making plans for 2018 Packers training camp, presented by Bellin Health. As in the past, practices are scheduled to take place at Ray Nitschke Field and Packers Family Night will be at Lambeau Field.

With a theme of “Back to Football,” training camp kicks off with an 11:30 a.m. practice on Thursday, July 26. Green Bay finishes the opening week with an 11:30 a.m. practice on Friday, July 27 and an 11:15 a.m. practice on Saturday, July 28.

The Packers will hold four practices (July 30-31 and Aug. 2-3), all beginning at

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Pines to induct two athletes, coach and eight managers

The Eagle River/Northland Pines High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee announced it will induct two standout athletes, a coach and several longtime hockey managers to the hall Friday, Aug. 17.

The athletes to be inducted are Kent Gray, who played football at Pines from 1979 through 1981, and 1970 graduate Veryl Krosschell, along with baseball coach Jerry Adamovich. The three will be joined by eight members of the Zyhowski family who were hockey managers at Pines since the 1970s.

Kent William Gray played football at Northland Pines High School his freshman through junior years before transferring to Ashwaubenon High School his senior year. At Northland Pines, he

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Runners preparing for two area 5K events

Now that schools are winding down and summer officially kicks off in two weeks, it’s time for runners and walkers to make plans for a couple upcoming 5-kilometer runs — one in St. Germain and the second in Eagle River.
St. Germain will kick off its Independence Day celebration Sunday, July 1, with the 14th annual Freedom 5K Fun Run.
The race begins at 8:30 a.m. with race day registration and check-in from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Proceeds from the race will be used for maintenance and development of St. Germain’s nonmotorized trails, including the paved bike-and-hike trail and the Awassa Trails.
In the first 13 years, the event has raised

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Three Lakes plans first Hall of Fame event

The Three Lakes Coaches Association has announced that the inaugural Three Lakes Athletic Hall of Fame banquet will be held Friday, July 6.

The Three Lakes Hall of Fame is a new effort to honor Three Lakes athletes who have made an impact in the school district as a student athlete, coach or fan, according to school district Athletic Director Charlie Volk.

“We created the Three Lakes Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize excellence in Bluejay athletics,” said Volk.

The 2018 Three Lakes Hall of Fame inductees include: Ken Bigley, Michele (Gensler) Brown, Nick Boehlke, Jerry Koslowski, Gene Step, George Rychlock, Bob Wojtusik and

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Two golf outings set to help Trees, library

Two fast-approaching golf outings will benefit Trees For Tomorrow and Walter E. Olson Memorial Library, both in Eagle River, and both fundraising events will be held at the Eagle River Golf Course.

Trees For Tomorrow (TFT) will host its 16th annual golf-outing fundraiser on Friday, June 1. This event raises funds to support its environmental science educational programs and provide access to these programs for all K-12 students through scholarship funds.

The event will be held at the Eagle River Golf Course and will include an 18-hole two-person scramble, challenge and betting holes, raffle, luncheon, awards ceremony and a chance to win

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Ribbe one of 17 boys named Scholar Athlete

Sixteen senior girls and 17 senior boys, including Elijah Ribbe of Three Lakes, received the prestigious 2018 WIAA Scholar Athlete Award underwritten by Marshfield Clinic.

To determine the 33 award recipients, four boys and four girls were selected — based on both athletic and academic achievement — from each of four WIAA divisions. Ribbe was selected in Division 4. There have been 1,052 individuals that have been recognized as WIAA Scholar Athletes since the program began in 1984.

“These extraordinary student athletes excel in

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Fans urged to cheer runners, attend party

Spectators are being urged to come out to Riverview Park in Eagle River to cheer on the runners in the 22nd annual Journeys Marathon this Saturday, May 12.

The Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center expects about 800 runners from more than a dozen states to register for the Journeys Marathon to be held on the back roads of Vilas County.

Chamber events coordinator Natalie Spiess said a new feature this year will be a postrace party in the park with live music and fun yard-sized games at the finish line for runners, spectators, volunteers and

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Austin Ramesh signs with Arizona Cardinals

While Austin Ramesh didn’t get selected in last weekend’s NFL draft, the former Northland Pines standout and Wisconsin Badger fullback signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent.

Several other teams had discussions with Ramesh over the last few weeks, including the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, but over the weekend he signed with the Cardinals.

“Just happy to get an opportunity with a great franchise and I’m just ready to get to work,” Ramesh told WJFW TV-12 in an interview.

Ramesh, 6-foot-1, 255 pounds, reportedly signed

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Chamber preparing for 22nd Journeys

With Journeys Marathon in Eagle River less than three weeks away, there is still time to register for one of the five events or sign up to be a volunteer.

The Saturday, May 12, event features a marathon, half-marathon, 13.1-mile power walk, and 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer runs. Registration brochures are available at the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center or online at journeysmarathon.org.

Chamber events coordinator Natalie Spiess said volunteers are needed for a variety of activities, including setup and cleanup at Riverview Park, manning water stations, and assisting chamber staff at the park during the event.

With spring finally arriving in the North Woods this week, runners will

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WIAA announces sportsmanship honors

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 1:18 PM

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance, has chosen the recipients of the team Sportsmanship Awards for the 2018 winter State Tournaments.
The winners of the prestigious sportsmanship recognition are Valders in boys basketball, Marshall in girls basketball, D.C. Everest co-op in girls hockey, Hudson in gymnastics and Ellsworth in team wrestling.
Valders displayed outstanding sportsmanship in finishing runner-up in Division 3 at the State Boys Basketball Tournament. After a 63-61 overtime victory over Kettle Moraine Lutheran in the semifinals, the

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Forget the snow, think about golf

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 11:23 AM

While golf courses are a long way from opening across the North Woods due to the prolonged winter weather, it still might be time to think about playing in a golf scramble later this spring.

Golf scrambles generally are a day of fun, yet competitive golf. Anyone can participate and there are a lot of prizes handed out during the day. Most scrambles are for a good cause, and one of those is coming up in early June.

Trees For Tomorrow (TFT) will host its 16th annual golf outing fundraiser on Friday, June 1. This event raises funds to support its environmental science educational programs and

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Journeys Marathon just five weeks away

Tuesday, April 3, 2018 11:24 AM

With the calendar flipping to April over the weekend, it’s time to train and get registered for any of the five Journeys Marathon events in Eagle River.
The Saturday, May 12, event features a marathon, half-marathon, 13.1-mile power walk, and 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer runs. Registration brochures are now available and registrations are being accepted.
While the weather remains nasty outside, runners can still train indoors. The Northland Pines High School field house offers a great venue for running in the mornings as well as certain times during the day. People can check with the school office for hours when the field house is open to the public for running and

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WIAA still battling public/private issue

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 10:56 AM

The competitive equity issue continues to be a tough topic for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), especially when it involves small private schools in urban areas that can attract some of the top athletes from larger cities.

The WIAA Board of Control recently declined to forward a rural/urban proposal that would have forced some small schools in urban and suburban areas to play up a division in boys and girls basketball. They deemed it as discriminatory and having “a lot of holes” and did not advance the plan for a membership vote.

Some say those private schools have a better chance to build powerhouse teams because

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Packers fans ready for 13th tailgate tour

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 11:52 AM

While the NCAA Basketball Tournament is in full swing, the Green Bay Packers, of course, are thinking about football.

The Packers have announced several free agent moves, including the release of fan favorite wide receiver Jordan Nelson. He has since signed a deal with the Oakland Raiders.

The team also has announced plans for the 13th annual Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour set for April 10-14, which will travel throughout southern Wisconsin, eastern Iowa and the Milwaukee area to visit with fans and thank them in person for their support.

Last year’s tour made stops in Rhinelander, Medford, Ashland, Houghton, Mich., and

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Boys to hit hardwood at Kohl Center this week

Tuesday, March 13, 2018 11:01 AM

There’s another big week of high school sports ahead as the 103rd annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Boys Basketball State Tournament will take place this Thursday through Saturday, March 15-17, at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Ticket prices for the tourney are $10 per session (two games in a session) for all seating purchased at the Kohl Center. Ticket windows are available one hour prior to the start of any session. Tickets are available online for $12.
The single-elimination tournament features a five- division format with four teams qualifying in each of the five divisions. This is the first year the State tournament is seeded. The coaches of the qualifying teams in each division determined

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Girls state tourney to include Crandon

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 12:05 PM

It’s March Madness in Wisconsin, with boys and girls basketball tournaments continuing across the state.

While the boys are in Sectional play, the 43rd annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Girls Basketball State Tournament will take place this Thursday through Saturday, March 8-10, at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

Ticket price for the tourney is $10 per session when purchased at the Resch Center. Tickets for the tournament also will be available for purchase online at the Ticket Star website at ticketstaronline.com.

The single-elimination tournament features a

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It’s time to enter, train for Journeys Marathon

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 11:48 AM

With the calendar flipping to March this week and temperatures in the 40s, it’s time to start training for the 22nd annual Journeys Marathon in Eagle River.

The Saturday, May 12 event features a marathon, half-marathon, 13.1-mile power walk, and 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer runs. Registration brochures are now available and registrations are being accepted.

With the mild weather this week, runners can start getting out and training for their run of choice. For those inclement days for running outdoors, the Northland Pines High School field house offers a

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Tournament action heats up this week

Tuesday, February 20, 2018 11:53 AM

When it comes to high school sports, late February and early March is the best time of the year. Area high school sports teams are in postseason playoffs and emotions are high as trips to the State Tournament are on the line.

Boys and girls hockey tournaments continue this week with Sectional action, girls basketball teams began play on Tuesday of this week and boys basketball teams start Regional play next Tuesday, Feb. 27.

The Northland Pines boys hockey team got off to a good start in postseason play last Thursday as the second-seeded Eagles beat sixth-seeded Rhinelander 10-0. The Eagles were scheduled to host

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Some teams admit they have a strategy

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 2:47 PM

The 13th annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships are in the books, with winning teams receiving huge silver cups for first place in 19 divisions.
While some of the nearly 300 teams come to Dollar Lake to skate with old friends and teammates, party and be a part of the great hockey atmosphere, other teams arrive in Eagle River with a goal of winning a championship. Some even have a strategy for playing on the pond.
Team Labatt Blue of Chicago won the 40 plus tier 1 division under the direction of Edgar Cepuripis.
“It’s our 10th year in the tournament and

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Two area athletes headed to Olympics

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 10:48 AM

Excitement is building for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games starting Feb. 9 in South Korea. And this year’s Winter Olympics will have two area connections participating.
Nick Baumgartner of Iron River, Mich., will be competing in the snowboard cross event and Florence native Nita Englund will be participating in the ski jumping.
Baumgartner was selected to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team on Jan. 23 as one of four male snowboard cross competitors who will head to the Olympics. It will be

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Time to register, train for Journeys Marathon

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 11:27 AM

With the calendar flipping to February this week, now is the perfect time to start training for the 22nd annual Journeys Marathon scheduled for Saturday, May 12.

The Journeys Marathon events include a 26.2-mile full marathon, a 13.1-mile half-marathon and power walk, a 10- and 5-kilometer run/walk and a fun run for children 7 years old and younger.

The Journeys Marathon and half-marathon are USA Track & Field-certified courses, and the full marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center sponsors the

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WIAA announces sportsmanship awards

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 11:30 AM

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2017 fall State Championships.

The recipients of the sportsmanship awards are Lodi in football, Benton in girls volleyball and Madison West in boys soccer.

The WIAA/Rural Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school program and community — or communities in the case of cooperative programs — in each of the State team tournaments that demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship. Award winners are determined by the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by

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Derby, pond hockey put Eagle River on map

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 12:05 PM

While all eyes are on the 55th annual Country Cat World Championship Snowmobile Derby this weekend, there’s another major sporting event set for Eagle River in February.

The 13th annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championship will be held on 30 ice rinks located on Dollar Lake just east of Eagle River Feb. 9-11. With the recent cold temperatures, it’s anticipated there will be plenty of ice for the event.

Last year, about 290 teams from 23 states and Canada participated in the event. This year’s tournament will consist of 19 no-check divisions, including several women’s divisions. Nearly 300 teams are

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Sixel and Simac headed to Australia for tourney

Tuesday, January 9, 2018 11:47 AM

Dave Sixel of Sugar Camp is taking more local athletes around the world for a competition.

The United States of America Federation of Pankration Athlima (USAFPA) will be sending Team USA to Sydney, Australia, for the upcoming Les Scar Cup Feb. 23-25.

Team USA coach Dave Sixel has selected 10 athletes from around the United States, including several from this area, to compete in this upcoming championship which has been sanctioned by the world governing body known as WPAF.

One of these athletes is

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Top 20 sports stories revisited for 2017

Tuesday, January 2, 2018 12:09 PM

There were many exciting local sports stories for high school teams and individual athletes during 2017. The following were some of the highlights of the past year:

1. The Northland Pines girls hockey team won its second straight Great Northern Conference (GNC) championship with a 7-1 record under first-year coach Rodney Sternhagen. The Eagles finished 14-10 overall and were seeded fourth in the WIAA Sectional Tournament. But the girls hockey season came to an all-too-familiar ending. For the sixth straight year, the

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Longwell, Tauscher to be inducted into Hall

Tuesday, December 26, 2017 12:23 PM

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. announced that it will induct former Packers players Ryan Longwell and Mark Tauscher at the 48th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet to be held Saturday, July 21, in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Placekicker Longwell entered the NFL in 1997 as a free agent, first signing with the San Francisco 49ers and coming to Green Bay off waivers later that year. Longwell’s 1,054 career points during his nine seasons (1997-2005) with the Packers stood as the team’s all-time scoring mark until 2015.

Longwell connected on 226 field goals and 376 extra points during his Packers career, leading the club in scoring in nine consecutive seasons. His 964 points from 1997-2004 were the most in the NFL over that span, and he holds Packers records for

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Eagles hockey team supporting community

Tuesday, December 19, 2017 12:06 PM

Most high school athletes spend hundreds of hours in the offseason training and improving their abilities to make their teams better. That’s in addition to the hundreds of hours during the season practicing and playing games.

Those same athletes are also students, finding time to complete homework, work on class projects and study for tests. Many of them are on the honor roll.

In addition, many athletes still find time to support their communities. For example, the Northland Pines High School boys hockey team supports their community by helping Northwoods Share, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based at

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Nominations sought for Pines Hall of Fame

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 11:19 AM

The Eagle River/Northland Pines High School Athletic Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for future inductees, the committee has announced.

The Hall of Fame, established in 2003, recognizes persons who have contributed or excelled in high school, college and/or professional sports and includes athletes, coaches and other citizens of the Northland Pines School District who have contributed to the sports program.

A 12-member committee developed the Hall of Fame, with John Wainwright, a former football coach and teacher at Pines, leading the group. Other committee members are Jerry Burkett, Tom Obrodovich, Brian Margelofsky, Chris Oatman, Ken Kluever, Colyn Carter, Tom Druschke, Larry Favorite, Larry Snedden, Tom Dunphy and

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Pines goes independent for football in 2018

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 11:37 AM

The Northland Pines High School football team will play an independent schedule in 2018, athletic director Brian Margelofsky announced last week.

The Eagles have been members of the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference (WestPAC) since 2010, but that conference is expanding to 16 teams next fall with large and small divisions of eight teams in each.

Margelofsky said the expanded conference will result in the elimination of both the Mid-Peninsula Conference and the Mid-Eastern Conference in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

“Northland Pines would have been a medium-sized school in the large division and travel would have been

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Badgers, Ramesh headed to title game

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 10:39 AM

The University of Wisconsin Badgers football team and former Northland Pines standout Austin Ramesh are headed to the Big Ten Championship game this Saturday, Dec. 2.

The Badgers improved to 12-0 on the season with a solid 31-0 victory at Minnesota Saturday and remain in the hunt for a national College Football Playoff.

Wisconsin will need to beat Ohio State in this Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis, Ind., starting at 7 p.m. on FOX. A victory over Ohio State would likely put the Badgers in

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It’s a new season for area teams, fans

Tuesday, November 21, 2017 11:56 AM

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 the Northland Pines boys soccer team making the Regional final, the Three Lakes volleyball team reaching the Regional final and the Three Lakes cross-county team sending two runners to the State Meet.

But now it’s time for a new chapter in the high school sports scene. On tap this winter are girls and boys hockey and basketball at Northland Pines, girls and boys basketball at

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Football title games set at Camp Randall

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 2:18 PM

The 42nd annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Football State Championship Finals will be held this Thursday and Friday, Nov. 16-17, at Camp Randall Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

High school football fans who want to avoid the lines the day of the game can buy State Football Finals tickets now online at wiaawi.org/tickets.aspx. Ticket prices for the event are $8 per game for adults, $20 for a Thursday all-day pass, $15 for a Friday all-day pass and $30 for a two-day pass. Admission for children 6 years old and younger is $1 per game.

There will be championship games in

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Pond hockey tourney returning to Dollar Lake

Tuesday, November 7, 2017 12:22 PM

It looks like the 13th annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships on Dollar Lake next February will be as popular as ever.

It took just minutes for the first division to sell out for the 2018 event slated for Feb. 9-11. The entire 19 divisions were filled in less than an hour.

“We continue to be surprised every year by how quickly the event sells out,” said Katie Holmgren, the tournament director for the annual event on the scenic lake just east of Eagle River.

Hundreds of teams were parked on the USA Hockey Adult Hockey website (adulthockey.usahockey.com) trying to land a spot at the immensely popular outdoor tournament that brings more than 300 men’s and women’s teams to Eagle River to

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3-on-3, Skills Challenge to ignite winter sports

Tuesday, October 31, 2017 11:28 AM

With the fall sports season winding down, the winter sports season for high school teams is just around the corner.

The state cross-country championships are in the books, with several local athletes running well and high school football teams are in the level 3 playoffs.

Meanwhile, the 36th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Boys Soccer State Tournament will take place this Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 2-4, at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, and the 45th annual WIAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament also will take place Thursday through Saturday at

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Volk, Zwettler to run against state’s best

Tuesday, October 24, 2017 2:56 PM

Two runners from Three Lakes will be competing in the 105th running of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Boys Cross-Country Championships and the 44th annual Girls Cross-Country Championships this Saturday, Oct. 28, at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Advancing to the Division 3 State Run from Three Lakes are Kortnie Volk, who placed second in the Athens Sectional girls run, and Jared Zwettler, who also placed second in the boys Sectional at Athens. Volk ran the 5,000-meter course in 20 minutes, 1.4 seconds. Zwettler finished his 5,000-meter race in 17:01.3.
The boys and girls will both run a

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Decker to wrap up season at Kansas 150

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 11:40 AM

Eagle River native Natalie Decker will wrap up her whirlwind season when she takes the wheel in Friday night’s ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Kansas 150 season finale at Kansas Speedway.

Decker returns to the seat for the seventh time this season. Despite having raced Pocono’s superspeedway twice this season, Kansas marks just the second time the 20-year-old rookie driver will race on a mile and a half surface during her young career.

Sporting a new look, Decker will unveil support from

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WIAA Board to revisit basketball shot clock

Tuesday, October 10, 2017 12:37 PM

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control voted to revisit the implementation of the basketball shot clock at its meeting in Stevens Point last week.

The board’s decision to revisit the 35-second shot clock at its Dec. 1 meeting comes after discussion and input received at this fall’s area meetings of coaches and athletic directors.

Previously, the board voted to implement the use of the shot clock for varsity games beginning with the 2019-’20 season. That vote came at its June meeting. Then at the August board meeting, the board voted to