By Bob Skubal
Retired coach, historian, author of ‘History of Tomahawk Sports’
TOMAHAWK – It’s hard to believe that the 2023 spring sporting season has come to a close.
Once again, weather continued to play havoc on the early spring sporting season. One would seem to think that winter was never going to end this year, and adding to it, normal inclement weather makes this writer wonder why the WIAA doesn’t start the spring sporting season a month later and end by July 1 – now to convince the southern schools that this is a good idea, when weather has little impact on their schedules.
Some newsworthy items to begin with are that starting in the fall of 2024, Tomahawk will go back into the GNC for football, along with Wausau East, with Ashland and Hayward being removed.
Joanna Phillips signed a letter of intent to swim for Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Ryan Flynn was selected to become the first Activities Director for Tomahawk High School. This position will replace the duties of the Athletic Director and oversee all co-curricular activities, including the pool. This writer feels that Ryan will do a great job and wishes him well with his new challenges.
Track and field
Let’s start the spring summary with the track and field programs.
Both the boys’ and girls’ programs were coached by Kurt Cordova, in his fourth season as head coach. He was assisted by Paula Flynn, Connor Ahrens, Stephanie Ahrens, Dane Borchardt and Jake Wiedemeyer.
Members of the boys’ program were Ryan Larson, Jerome Morrison, Zach Larson, Beau Stromberg, Domonic Boos, Nate Rosenmeier, Taje Casey, Presley Gutbrod, Nick Stefanich, Dane Schoenenberger, Ty Anthes, Jack Derleth, Sam Zastrow, Jeremiah Johnson, Brayden Ristau, Elliot O’Connor, Joe Reiter, Zach Hanse, Ethan Gibeault, Bruce Peetz and Pat Samundsen.
The boys’ program started with an eighth place finish out of 13 teams at the Ashland Invite. They were then fifth of seven teams at the Eagle River Invite. Their third competition saw Tomahawk take fourth of eight teams at the Marathon Invite, and this was followed by a tenth place of 11 teams at Little Chute.
Next was the Wausau West Invite, where THS was fourth of seven teams. At the Merrill “Otto Bacher” Invite, Tomahawk was eighth of 11 teams. The annual Tomahawk Invite saw Tomahawk second of five teams with 115.5 points, with Rhinelander winning with 143.5 points. In their last competition before conference, Tomahawk was sixth of 11 teams at the Rhinelander “Hodag” Invite.
At the GNC meet held at Lakeland, Tomahawk was fifth. This tied their best conference finish since the 2012 season. Conference results were Lakeland 184, Medford 150, Eagle River 134.5, Rhinelander 103, Tomahawk 52, Mosinee 38.5 and Antigo 32.
All-Conference honors went to Joe Reiter, first team in the shot put; Zach Hanse, second team in the 300m hurdles; the 4x800m relay team of Ethan Gibeault, Jeremiah Johnson, Beau Stromberg and Ty Anthes, honorable mention; and the 4x200m relay team of Zach Hanse, Ryan Larson, Dane Schoenenberger and Presley Gutbrod, honorable mention.
At Regionals, Tomahawk was seventh of eight teams with 47 points. Qualifying for sectionals at Arcadia were the 4x800m relay team of Ty Anthes, Ethan Gibeault, Beau Stromberg and Sam Zastrow; Presley Gutbrod in the high jump and 200m; Joe Reiter in the disc; and Zach Hanse in the 300m hurdles.
At Sectionals, Tomahawk was led by Zach Hanse, placing 11th in the 300m hurdles.
Now, on to the girls’ program.
Team members were Nadia Schoone, Mariah Sparbel, Arawen Albert, Kambyl Mattke, Jennie Frederickson, Lydia Shaney, Alli Palmer, Marie Gorell, Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Rachel Reilly, Elizabeth Lee, Robin Schmidt, Kailynn Hanse, Morgan Hansmann, Kinsley Lang, Alicia Voermans, Paige DeKiep, Joanna Phillips, Ayla McCormick and Clara Heil.
Their season started with an eighth place of 12 teams at the Ashland Invite. Next, they were fourth of eight teams at the Eagle River Invite. At the Marathon Invite, THS was second of 8 teams. The Little Chute Invite saw Tomahawk take ninth of 11 teams.
Tomahawk then had a solid performance at the Wausau West Invite, where they took second of 7 teams. The Merrill “Otto Bacher” Invite resulted in a fifth of 11 teams. In their lone championship of the season, Tomahawk won their own invitational with a total point performance of 126, compared to Rhinelander’s second place with 104 in the five-team invitational. At the last competition before conference, Tomahawk was fifth of 11 teams at the Hodag Invite.
Conference results were Mosinee 135.17, Medford 113.33, Eagle River 104, Antigo 101, Lakeland 93, Rhinelander 78 and Tomahawk 71.5.
All-Conference honors went to the 4x200m relay team of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Alicia Voermans and Marie Gorell-1st team; the 4x100m relay team of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Alicia Voermans and Marie Gorell, 1st team; the 4x 800m relay team of Morgan Hansmann, Alli Palmer, Robin Schmidt and Elizabeth Lee, 2nd team; Alicia Voermans, 2nd Team (pole vault); Morgan Hansmann, honorable mention (800m); and Ayla McCormick, honorable mention (disc).
At Regionals, Tomahawk was fifth of 8 teams. Sectional qualifiers were the 4X100m and 4X200m relay teams of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Marie Gorell and Alicia Voermans; the 4X800m relay team of Paige Dekiep, Morgan Hansmann, Alli Palmer and Robin Schmidt; Alicia Voermans in the 100m and pole vault; Faith Derleth in the 200m; Halle Derleth in the 200m; Robin Schmidt in the 3200m; and Ayla McCormick in the disc.
Sectional action saw Tomahawk being led by Ayla McCormick placing ninth in the disc and the 4X100m and the 4X200m relay teams of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Marie Gorell and Alicia Voermans also placing ninth.
Golf
The golf team was coached by Garth Gerstenberger in his 26th season as head coach. Assistants for the program were Sean Totch and Beth Baalke.
Team members were Michale Anderson, Sophie Kiser, Calden Reichelt, Nathan Riemer, Cheyenne Schade, Trevor Schumann, Carson Childers, Sawyer Hanna, Austin Lamer, Riley Massa, Quentin Susa, Lydia Ziert, Owen Dickrell, Sean Towne, Austin Lamer and Drew Albert.
Conference competition is made up of seven events, with each school hosting one competition.
Tomahawk finished in seventh place in GNC meets one, two, three and seven. GNC meets four and six saw Tomahawk improve to sixth place. Tomahawk’s highest conference finish was in GNC meet five, when they shot a 345, which was good enough for fifth place.
Final conference standings were Lakeland 48, Medford 40, Rhinelander 32, Mosinee 29.5, Eagle River 23.5, Antigo 12 and Tomahawk 11.
Tomahawk would have its first All-Conference athletes since 2019, when Ty Gerstenberger was All-Conference. Owen Dickrell was second team All-Conference and Sawyer Hanna was honorable mention All-Conference.
Nonconference results: Barron 15 Team Invite, which saw the Hatchets take fourth with a 357; Antigo Seven-Team Invite, where Tomahawk took second, shooting a 189; and the Tomahawk Nine-Hole Triangular, where Tomahawk took second, with Dickrell shooting a 38.
Regionals at Rice Lake saw the Hatchets finish in fifth place, just missing qualifying for Sectionals by three strokes.
Sawyer Hanna qualified for Sectionals when he shot an 85 and was the fourth individual from a non-qualifying team to make the cut. Hanna was the first golfer from Tomahawk to qualify for Sectionals from a non-qualifying team since 2017, when Andrew Cook and Michelle Lodholz qualified.
Sawyer Hanna and Drew Albert received Academic All-State honors.
Tomahawk’s golf season came to an end at Sectionals, with Sawyer Hanna shooting an 83 and tying for 23.
Softball
Let’s now take a look at softball.
Head coach was John Larson, who was in his 30th year as varsity skipper. He was assisted by Ron Volz, Lauren Schauer, Abby Kraklow, Alex Bunce and Morgan Roberts.
Team members were Scout Stromberg, Macy Jankiewicz, Sammy Gebauer, Khianna Vacho, Bella Marino, Kayleigh Haring, Bryn Baalke, Emerson Lange, Sara Gebauer, Sophie Olsen, Sienna Calkins, Maddy Baumann, Abbigail Kallerud, Ella Peissig, Kylie Peissig, Frya Alberg, Molly Jablonski, Emma Hoff, Abi Micke and Payton Haring.
Tomahawk was 7-12 overall and 4-8 in conference competition, which was good enough for sixth place. Varsity wins were over Lakeland (4-1 and 4-2) and Eagle River (18-8 and 14-4). Conference losses were to Medford (16-0, with Martha Miller, the 2022 GNC Co-Player of the Year throwing a no hitter and a perfect game; and 6-1), Mosinee (17-6 and 10-0), Antigo (11-2 and 7-5) and Rhinelander (6-1 and 9-2).
Final conference standings were Medford 11-1, Mosinee 9-3, Antigo 8-4, Rhinelander 5-7, Lakeland 5-7, Tomahawk 4-8 and Eagle River 0-12.
Nonconference wins were 10-7 over Athens, 8-4 over Shell Lake and 8-5 over Marathon (Vacho was 2-3 with two doubles and four RBIs). Nonconference losses were to Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 16-5, Monroe 9-2, Orangeville, Ill., 16-6 and 8-7 to Weyauwega-Fremont (Stromberg went 4-4 and had five RBIs) in regionals.
Postseason honors went to Scout Stromberg, All-Conference second team; and to Bella Marino and Khianna Vacho, who were both honorable mention All-Conference.
Baseball
Our final sport to look back at is baseball.
Head coach was Scot Neu was in his third season. He was assisted by John Roberts, Bill Jelinek and Bill Cook.
Team members were Tyler Jablonski, Zach Friske, Addison Peissig, Grant Albrecht, Noah Pearson, Ethan Ihn, Landon Hoff, Brayden Larson, Cooper Hetzel, Andrew Tollefson, Brody Rigney, Montgomery Framke, Brody Hilgendorf and Nick Arndt.
Tomahawk had an overall record of 2-18 and they were 0-12 in the conference. Conference results were losses to Eagle River 14-4 and 12-2, Medford 9-1 and 13-0, Lakeland 14-2 and 6-5 (Jablonski hit two home runs, and Lakeland won the game on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh), Mosinee 12-0 (Mosinee threw a no hitter) and 15-2, Antigo 10-0 and 12-1 (Tomahawk honored the 1959 state qualifying baseball team with a banner) and Rhinelander 11-3 and 13-1.
Nonconference losses were to Marathon 14-1, Nekoosa 14-4, Johnson Creek 10-0 and 10-0 and Weyauwega-Fremont 11-1; and 6-2 to Phillips in the second round of the playoffs.
Their first win came against Tigerton 15-. Tomahawk had 11 hits, with Friske having three hits and Jablonski two with four RBIs.
Tomahawk’s finest showing of the year came in the playoffs, where they defeated 12-1 Clayton/Turtle Lake on Clayton’s diamond 6-5. The victory over Clayton/Turtle Lake was the first win for Tomahawk in the playoffs since 2016.
All-Conference honors went to Tyler Jablonski, who was voted second team All-Conference.
Solo and Ensemble
I would also like to take this time to congratulate the following high school students and choir director on a job well done at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival in Stevens Point on May 6.
Participating students were Salma Ramadhani, Maddy Baumann, Arawen Alberg, Jenny Meza, Brynnen Stefan, Maria Smith, Murphy Koth, Elli Witulski, Bella Marino, Kennedi Kromm, Sadie Miller, Robin Schmidt, Kailey Cerny, Greyson Marta and Choir Director, Corey Colburn.
eSports
In addition to the success of Tomahawk students at Stevens Point on May 6, I would also like to congratulate the eSports club on their successes this year.
Club members were Sam Kurth, Michael Walbeck, DJ Scott, Lax Loka, Ryan Sanders, Elliot O’Connor, Mathew Walbeck, Payton Loka, Elias Repinski and John Groat.
The club ended with a 5-3 record under the direction of Paula Norman.
Alumni who have passed away
Last, I would like to pay respects to our alumni who passed away this past season.
They include K Lorenzen, Class of ‘49, George Kreutzer, Class of ‘47; Wayne Kaphaem, Class of ‘69; and Howie Hetzel, Class of ‘39 (this writer knows of no other THS athlete who lived longer than Howie, as he passed away at the age of 103).
Our thoughts and prayers go out to each of their families.