By Bob Skubal
Retired coach, historian, author of ‘History of Tomahawk Sports’
TOMAHAWK – The first year for boys’ swimming was in the 1998-99 season. Head coach was Sara Fahey, and she was assisted by Marcia Obukowicz and Marion Kohl. Team members were Das Manninen, Jared Nease, Jonathan Fischer, Jason Mielke, William Sullivan and Lucas Nease.
Tomahawk has had three varsity coaches for their first 22 years as a sport at Tomahawk High School (THS). Marion Kohl has the longest tenure with 16 years.
While we will look back at some of the highlights of the program, special attention will be given to the 2017-18 and 2019-20 teams.
1998-99
That first year, Tomahawk was third at their own Hatchet Triangular and participated at the Eau Claire Memorial 11-Team Invite, but no team scores were kept. They placed 8th at the Wausau East Relays, 8th at the Ashwaubenon Invite, lost 78-72 to Lakeland in a dual before placing third at a conference triangular. They finished their season by placing 10th at sectionals.
1999-2000
1999-2000 saw Marcia Obukowicz take over as head coach. Team members were Jonathan Fischer, William Sullivan, Tom Kamrath, Mike Kaplanek, Das Manninen, Jason Mielke, Ken Herman, Ryan Johnson and Ryan Petrouske.
THS was 5th at the Hodag Invite, lost an 86-71 dual to Lakeland, participated in the Eau Claire Memorial Invite, took third at the Tomahawk Triangular, took third at the Rhinelander Triangular, placed 7th at the Ashwaubenon Invite, lost a 90-66 dual to Lakeland, lost a 91-66 dual to Medford and placed third at a conference triangular before finishing the season with a 7th place at Sectionals.
2000-01
Marcia Obukowicz returned as head coach. Team members were AJ Kleich, Mike Kaplanek, Das Manninen, Jason Mielke, Casey Rossiter, Andy Kaplanek, Dan Juedes, Ryan Johnson, Derek Gessler, William Sullivan, Tom Kamrath, Jonathon Fischer and Josh Martin.
This was a successful season for Tomahawk, who were the unofficial conference dual meet champions. Conference schools were Lakeland, Medford and Tomahawk. The season started with a 66-28 loss to Rhinelander, a 4th-place finish at the Hodag Relays, 93-69 over Medford (first dual meet victory in school history), 95-66 over Lakeland, 4th at the Ashwaubenon Invite, 94-72 over Medford, 95-68 over Lakeland, 1st at the Lakeland Triangular and a 7th place at sectionals. Success and numbers of participants were growing.
2001-02
THS was the unofficial conference champion. At this meet, Tomahawk scored 128, Medford 88 and Lakeland 80. Tomahawk had their first state entries. They were William Sullivan, who was 15th in the 50m freestyle, and the 200m freestyle relay team of Ryan Johnson, Ben Illick, Dan Manninen and William Sullivan placed 13th.
2002-03
Tomahawk was unofficial conference champions, scoring 122 points, with Lakeland scoring 92 and Medford 82.
2003-04
The conference meet saw Rhinelander with 322 points, Wausau East/West 307, Stevens Point 269, Wisconsin Rapids 182, Tomahawk 117 and Lakeland 101. The first All-Conference athletes were Edd Theut, 2nd Team in the 100 butterfly; and the 400m freestyle relay of Edd Theut, Dan Juedes, Karl Grodevant and AJ Kleich, honorable mention.
2004-05
Marion Kohl took over as varsity coach in the 2004-2005 season.
2011-12
Marion Kohl was voted Great Northern Co-Coach of the Year. Tomahawk became be part of the Great Northern Conference with schools from Rhinelander, Lakeland, Medford and Shawano.
2017-18
Marion Kohl was coach. Team members were Kole Svacina, Brady Tjugum, Evan Ploeckelman, Tyler Larch, Tom Reiter, Travis Phillips, James Zastrow, Jacob Miller, Devon Liebnitz, Keaton Jed, Cullen Flynn, Trey Miller, Adam Hall and Ethan Liebnitz.
Tomahawk was 6-2-1 in conference duals, which was good enough for second place, behind Lakeland. They defeated Rhinelander 99-66, Antigo 92-72, Shawano 86-80, Medford 125-44 (Tomahawk went 1-2-3 in all but one event), Antigo 103-56 and Medford 101-39. Their tie was with Rhinelander 80-80. Losses were 95-72 and 103-65 to Lakeland. In addition, THS was 4th at the Hodag Relays and 8th at the Ashwaubenon Invitational. The conference meet saw Lakeland with 322 points, Tomahawk 274, Shawano 244, Rhinelander 226, Antigo 137 and Medford 62.
All-Conference honors went to Travis Phillips, 1st Team (100 butterfly); Travis Phillips, 2nd Team (50 freestyle in a new school record of :22.72); the 400 freestyle relay team of Kole Svacina, Keaton Jed, Thomas Reiter and Travis Phillips, 2nd Team (with a new school record of 3:32.75); the 200 medley relay team of Kole Svacina, Evan Ploeckelman, Travis Phillips and Keaton Jed, honorable mention; Kole Svacina, honorable mention (500 freestyle in a new school record of 5:24.05); and Jacob Miller, honorable mention (100 backstroke).
Tomahawk was 4th at sectionals with 239 points, and Travis Phillips qualified for state in two events. Travis placed 4th in both the 50 Freestyle (with a new school record of 21.98) and 100 butterfly (with a new school record of 52.96).
2019-20
Marion Kohl, Nathan Goehe and Wyatt Schumitsch produced the best season thus far for the THS boys’ swimming program. Team members were Noah Buckwalter, Taje Casey, Cullen Flynn, Zach Hanse, Keaton Jed, Caleb Kretzschmar, Jack Lacina, Ethan Liebnitz, Trey Miller, Alex Norman, Travis Phillips, Adam Hall, Austin Snow and Brady Tjugum.
Tomahawk was 8-2 in conference duals, placing second behind Rhinelander. Conference victories were over Antigo 99-40, Shawano 114-51 (Tomahawk took first in all 11 events), Lakeland 85-83, Medford 103-49, Antigo 92-35, Shawano 89-76, Lakeland 89-76, and Medford 100-57. Both losses were to Rhinelander, by scores of 105-65 and 109-60. Other results were 3rd at the Wisconsin Rapids Invite, 2nd at the Hodag Relays and 6th at the Ashwaubenon Jaguar Invite.
THS was second at the conference meet, scoring 285 points, while Rhinelander was the conference champion with 417 points. All-Conference honors went to Travis Phillips, 1st Team (200 IM with a new school record of 2:01.08); Travis Phillips, 1st Team (100 butterfly); Brady Tjugum, 2nd Team (200 freestyle); the 200 freestyle relay team of Zach Hanse, Ethan Liebnitz, Adam Hall and Brady Tjugum, 2nd Team; the 400 freestyle relay team of Brady Tjugum, Trey Miller, Keaton Jed, and Travis Phillips, 2nd Team (with a new school record of 3:26.76), the “A” medley relay team of Trey Miller, Zach Hanse, Travis Phillips and Keaton Jed, honorable mention (with a new school record of 1:47.42); Brady Tjugum, honorable mention (100 freestyle); and Keaton Jed, honorable mention (500 freestyle).
THS took second at the Wisconsin Rapids 11-Team sectionals, scoring 278 points behind sectional champion Rhinelander, who scored 336 points.
At the state meet in Madison, Tomahawk was 17th of 33 teams with 52 points. Travis Phillips was state champion in the 50 freestyle (with a new school record of :50.81). Phillips was also 3rd in the 100 butterfly. The 400 freestyle relay team of Brady Tjugum, Trey Miller, Keaton Jed and Travis Phillips was 13th, and the 200 freestyle relay team of Brady Tjugum, Trey Miller, Keaton Jed and Travis Phillips took 13th. In addition to Tomahawk having their first and only swimming state champion, these were by far their best team results.
2020-21
Coach was Marion Kohl. Rhinelander would easily won conference with 414 points, while Tomahawk was fourth with 199. All-Conference honors went to Zach Hanse, 1st Team in the 100 breaststroke, with a new conference record of 1:03.33. The 200 medley relay team of Caleb Kretzschmer, Zach Hanse, Ethan Liebnitz and Adam Hall was 2nd Team All-Conference, and Zach Hanse was 2nd Team All-Conference in the 100 butterfly. Hanse would qualify for state in the 100 breaststroke, where he placed 11th with a time of 1:02.59 for a new school record. He also qualified in the 200 individual medley, placing 13th.
2021-22
Melissa Nieman became varsity coach. Rhinelander won conference with 497 points, with Tomahawk placing third with 270 points. Zach Hanse qualified for state in the 100 breaststroke, placing 15th and in the 200 IM, placing 16th.
2022-23
2022-23-Therese L’Esperance became varsity coach, and she was assisted by Lauren Hansmann. Rhinelander won conference with 422 points, with Tomahawk placing second with 177 points.
All-Conference honors went to Zach Hanse, First Team in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:00.48 for a new school record. Hanse was also Second Team in the 200 IM, and the 200 medley relay team of Trey Morrison, Zach Hanse, Zach Germano and Sam Zastrow was honorable mention. Hanse once again ended his season at state, where he placed 7th in the 200 IM and 8th in the 100 breaststroke, which placed Tomahawk in 20th place of 32 teams with 23 team points. Rhinelander was the Division 2 state champion with 256 points.