Sports Sidelines - Vilas County News-Review
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  • Pro sports teams join stop COVID coalition

    All three of Wisconsin’s major professional sports teams are getting involved in a new coalition effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19. 
    The “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition released its second public education announcement on broadcast TV and digital platforms statewide, featuring three players from the Green Bay Packers. The Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks are also joining the “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition as
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  • Badgers, Big Ten to start this Friday

    It’s been a long fall without Big Ten football, but that will all change starting this Friday, Oct. 23, as the Wisconsin Badgers will be opening their 2020 football schedule. 
    The Badgers will host Illinois at
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  • WIAA approves attendance policy

    With the fall sports tournament season ready to start next week in volleyball and the following week in boys soccer, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)?Board of Control ratified last week a culminating event attendance policy.

    The policy was shared with
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  • It’s good to watch local sports again

    It sure was a good feeling to walk on the sidelines of the Northland Pines soccer and football fields the last couple of weeks to take photos of high school teams back in action.
    The last time I had been around high school sports was the
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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 17th annual Noontime Hockey League kicked off this week, according to Michael Eder, the coordinator of Noontime Hockey.
    “We started Noontime Hockey more than 15 years ago and
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  • WIAA adjusts rules to navigate pandemic

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control approved several modifications of the membership’s rules to allow more opportunities for athletes in addressing the ongoing challenges of navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The board approved a number of pandemic-associated rule alterations for this school year only. It
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  • Fall WIAA tourneys won’t be in Madison

    With the uncertainty of conducting culminating events and tournaments and given the challenging situation with COVID-19 restrictions in Dane County, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) and UW-Madison announced WIAA tournaments will not be conducted at UW facilities this fall.
    The WIAA has
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  • Majority of schools opt for fall sports

    The 513 schools in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) declared by the Sept. 1 deadline for either the traditional fall season or the alternate fall season to be held in the spring of 2021.
    In July, the WIAA Board of Control voted to
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  • Northland Pines gets Award of Excellence

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) has recognized 46 schools, including Northland Pines, that met the criteria to be named recipients of the Award of Excellence in 2019-’20.

    The award recognizes the
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  • Another pandemic hit, no fans at Lambeau

    It’s going to be a very different football season for fans this fall on the high school, college and pro levels, especially for those enthusiastic spectators at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the country and throughout Wisconsin, the
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  • Hope high school sports can return

    It could be an interesting year for high school sports in Wisconsin

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) approved several details of a one-year alternative season in the spring for fall sports and reduced the number of weeks for sports during the 2020-’21 winter and spring seasons at its
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  • College football up in air this fall

    It looks like the fall sports season may take another hit. The Big Ten conference presidents met over the weekend to discuss whether to have a football season this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a story in USA Today. 

    A 
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  • WIAA starts campaign to aid fall sports return

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) is initiating a statewide social media campaign, #TeamUpToBeatCOVID, in an effort to enhance the likelihood of returning to school and school activities by following safe practices to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

    The WIAA is encouraging all Wisconsinites to
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  • Brewers finally start bizarre 2020 season

    The 2020 Major League Baseball season is underway. It took awhile in coming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Milwaukee Brewers are back in action.

    The shortened 60-game schedule got underway last weekend, though the Brewers
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  • WIAA makes changes in hockey, basketball

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control acted on coaches committee recommendations impacting hockey and basketball, and several issues in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at its recent June virtual meeting.
    In hockey, the board approved
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  • Golf tournaments support YMCA, Trees

    While the COVID-19 pandemic has canceled or postponed sporting events for much of the spring and summer, two nonprofit organizations are still planning golf tournaments as fundraisers this summer. 

    The YMCA of the Northwoods will host its
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  • Pines Hall to induct four athletes, coaches

    The Eagle River-Northland Pines High School ­Athletic Hall of Fame Committee announced it is scheduled to induct two standout athletes, an athlete who returned to coach at Pines, and a student who went on to be a prominent coach, Friday, Aug. 21, though the induction ceremony could be postponed due to 
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  • Trees center changes golf tournament date

    Despite the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the cancellation of many sporting events this summer, Trees For Tomorrow is hosting its annual golf tournament fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Eagle River Golf Course in Eagle River.

    The tournament is
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  • Snomo hall of fame to induct four in 2020

    The International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, located at the World Snowmobile Headquarters in Eagle River, has announced its Class of 2020 inductees.

    For more than 30 years, this prestigious Hall of Fame honor is bestowed on annual recipients in recognition of their achievements for the sport of snowmobiling in several categories: inventors, designers and
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  • Eagle River Speedway ready for safe opening

    Let the racing begin.

    Eagle River Speedway promoters Pat and Patti Zdroik said the track’s season-opening race will be Tuesday, June 23, at the D-shaped, third-mile clay oval located in
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  • WIAA implements automated seeding for 2020 football

    WIAA implements automated seeding for 2020 football

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) will be rolling out an innovative formula that will automate the seeding process for teams within the groupings for the 2020 football playoffs.

    The formula — and the computer application to process the data to determine the seeds — was developed with
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  • Owners and players working on MLB plan

    There is a possibility for Major League Baseball (MLB) at some point this summer.
    The Major League Baseball Players Association delivered a return-to-play proposal to MLB over the weekend that includes a 114-game season.
    The plan, in response to 
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  • Rule changes OK’d for hockey, basketball

    While players and fans are waiting for the high school sports scene to return, people behind the scenes are busy adjusting rules.
    Measures to reduce the risk of injury for participants and to provide an additional scenario for instant replay usage comprise the prominent components of the 2020-’21 high school ice hockey rules changes approved by the
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  • WIAA surveying high school athletes

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) has endorsed a University of Wisconsin (UW) research study to determine how school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the physical health and well-being of high school students.
    Approximately 2,500 male and female student-athletes aged
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  • Packers announce tough 2020 schedule

    With the COVID-19 pandemic still influencing sports on a daily basis, there is hope there will be some resemblance of an NFL football season this fall — especially for Green Bay Packers fans. 
    The 2020 NFL schedule has the Packers opening the regular season at
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  • There is outside chance for limited spring sports

    There is outside chance for limited spring sports

    There still could be a chance of some high school sports this summer, including baseball and softball, track and field, and girls soccer.

    While the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) board of control voted to cancel 2020 spring sports regular-season competitions and the Tournament Series due to
    read the full story
  • Volk of Three Lakes named Scholar Athlete

    Volk of Three Lakes named Scholar Athlete

    Sixteen senior girls — including Kortnie Volk of Three Lakes in Division 4 — and 16 senior boys have been selected as finalists to receive the prestigious 2020 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Statewide Scholar Athlete Award underwritten by Marshfield Children’s Hospital.
    To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were
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  • High school sports likely done for spring

    It’s been a weird spring without high school or youth sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No indoor track and field meets at the impressive Northland Pines field house, no softball or baseball games at Don Burnside Park in Three Lakes and no soccer games at Oldenburg Sports Park on Highway G.

    It has resulted in
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  • Decker also waits as racing put on hold

    Decker also waits as racing put on hold

    The COVID-1 pandemic has really put a halt on sports at all levels. No NCAA Basketball Tournament, the NBA and NHL seasons postponed, and no start to Major League Baseball. It’s been a weird spring.

    For NASCAR and other race fans, the season also has been put in a turmoil as
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  • Free online courses offered for officials

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) is always looking for more officials for high school sports.

    Since many individuals are at home for an indefinite period of time due to the current worldwide COVID-19 health crisis, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has decided to make its
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  • Two inspiring shows moved this sports fan

    With the world of sports basically on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, including no high school sports, no March Madness basketball games and no professional sports, I turned to ESPN one night last week to see what might peak my interest.

    My wife said she was
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  • It’s a tough time for athletes, fans

    With the acceleration of COVID-19 in the United States, organized sports at the professional and amateur levels have experienced unprecedented cancellations. 

    At the high school level, one state tournament after another got canceled. Karissa Niehoff, executive director of 
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  • Sports sees changes with COVID-19 spread

    Nearly all American sporting events, from high school to professional, have been canceled for the foreseeable future. For sports fans, it will make for a pretty dull spring.

    The National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League suspended their games for the time being, given the
    read the full story

  • Girls hoops tourney starts this Thursday

    The 45th annual WIAA Girls Basketball State Tournament will take place Thursday through Saturday, March 12-14, at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
    The single-elimination tournament features a five-division format with four teams qualifying in each of the five divisions, including Crandon from the Northern Lakes Conference in
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  • Eagles boys return to State tourney ice

    The 50th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Boys Hockey State Tournament and the 19th Girls Hockey State Tournament will take place this Thursday through Saturday, March 5-7, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. 
    The four-team boys field will include the
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  • Tournament trail starts this week

    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
    read the full story

  • Decker finishes fifth in Daytona truck race

    Natalie Decker was all smiles following her historic run in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season-opener last Friday night at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

    Decker, 22, of
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  • ERRA again seeking Dome stories, photos

    The Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) is once again asking area hockey backers to support a fundraising opportunity for the Dome through the Kraft Hockeyville USA competition.

    The ERRA, a nonprofit organization, is trying to raise
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  • Full 26.2-mile marathon dropped from Journeys

    With the calendar flipping to February, now is the perfect time to start training for the 24th annual Journeys Marathon scheduled for Saturday, May 9, with one major change — no full marathon.

    Journeys will be taking place again this year except the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center will not be hosting the
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  • UW alumnus helped change early football

    The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association periodically sends out press releases about native Wisconsinites who graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    As you’re watching the Super Bowl this year, take a moment to
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  • Natalie Decker joins Niece Motorsports

    It’s a new year, and for Eagle River native Natalie Decker, that means new goals, a new number, same mindset.

    Running multiple races in her rookie season, Decker has signed with Niece Motorsports after wrapping up her rookie year with DGR-CROSLEY.

    Decker will be in a
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  • Derby, pond hockey put Eagle River on map

    While all eyes are on the 57th annual World Championship Snowmobile Derby this weekend, there’s another major sporting event set for Eagle River in February.
    The 15th annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championship will be held on
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  • Packers fans ready for return to playoffs

    There is excitement in Wisconsin’s air as the Green Bay Packers are back in the playoffs after winning the NFC North Division and earning a first-round bye in the playoffs.

    The Packers, 13-3, will host
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  • Pines boys soccer, Three Lakes track lead sports stories

    Pines boys soccer, Three Lakes track lead sports stories

    There were many exciting local sports stories for high school teams and individual athletes during 2019. The following were some of the highlights of the past year:
    1. The Northland Pines boys soccer team won
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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
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  • Pines honored for sportsmanship

    The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2019 fall State Tournaments, including Northland Pines in boys soccer. 

    The WIAA/Rural Insurance Sportsmanship Award is
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