By Bob Skubal
Retired coach, historian, author of ‘History of Tomahawk Sports’
TOMAHAWK – Before we take a look back on how the THS athletic teams did this past spring, I would like to acknowledge honors received after the winter sports season. Knowledge of these awards came after the winter summary was submitted to the Leader.
Tomahawk hockey received an award from the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association for the highest GPA of any team, regardless of division, with a 3.87. Austin Lamer was voted to the First Team All-State Hockey Team. Jonah Dickens was voted to the Honorable Mention All-State Hockey Team. Bryn Baalke was voted to the All-State Academic Team by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. The girls’ basketball team was voted Second Team All-State Academically by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association with a GPA of 3.971. Finally, Tomahawk Hockey received the State Sportsmanship Award from the WIAA.
Baseball
Let’s start our spring summary with the baseball team.
Coaches were John Roberts in his first year as head coach, assisted by Tom Kahle, Tom Tollefson, Bill Cook and Jason Olsen.
Team members were Ethan Ihn, Ethan Trayes, Grant Albrecht, Landon Hoff, Brayden Larson, Cooper Hetzel, Andrew Tollefson, Montgomery Framke, Walter Horabik, Brody Hilgendorf, Nick Arndt, Colton Seslar, Logan Norman, Connor Vanderwyst, Brody Rigney and Nathan Norman.
The team ended with an overall record of 5-16. Final conference standings were Mosinee 12-0, Medford 8-2, Antigo 6-6, Lakeland 6-6, Tomahawk 4-8, Eagle River 3-9 and Rhinelander 1-11. The four conference wins ties for the most conference wins since the 2018 team under Jacob Jarvensivu.
Because of his hard work, the GNC coaches awarded Brayden Larson with second team All-Conference honors. Conference wins were 2-0 over Eagle River in nine innings, 8-2 over Antigo (first win over Antigo since 2013), 13-6 and 3-2 over Rhinelander (first wins over Rhinelander since 2019). Conference losses were to Eagle River 5-4, Medford 14-0 and 6-1, Lakeland 10-0 and 7-0 (Lakeland threw a no hitter in both games), Mosinee 10-0 (Mosinee threw a no hitter) and 16-0, and 13-2 to Antigo. In nonconference games, Tomahawk defeated Prentice 15-2 and lost to Marathon 11-0, Crandon 13-2, Hustisford/Dodgeville 13-1 and 9-6, Chequamegon 7-1, St. Croix Falls 12-2, Cumberland 20-1 and 7-4 to Coleman in the playoffs.
Softball
Next, let’s look back at the softball program.
John Larson was in his 31st year as head coach. He was assisted by Jon List, Ron Volz, Abby Kraklow, Alex Bunce, Megan Roberts and Lauren Schauer.
Team members were Averi Petta, Sara Gebauer, Emerson Lange, Sammy Gebauer, Kayeigh Haring, Khianna Vacho, Scout Stromberg, Macy Jankiewicz, Sophie Olsen, Bella Marino, Abbi Kallerud and Maddy Baumann.
The team ended with an overall record of 12-14. Final conference standings were Mosinee 12-0, Antigo 8-4, Lakeland 8-4, Medford 8-4, Tomahawk 4-8, Eagle River 1-11 and Rhinelander 1-11. Conference wins were over Eagle River 19-0 and 22-3, and Rhinelander 12-2 and 13-2. Conference losses were to Medford 9-3 and 11-3, Mosinee 15-0 (Mosinee only gave up one walk for the entire game) and 9-0, Lakeland 5-0 and 6-0 and Antigo 16-4 and 13-9.
In nonconference games, Tomahawk defeated Wausau East 18-7, Wabeno/Laona 7-5, Two Rivers 6-1, Reedsburg 12-7, Juda/Albany 6-5, Edgar 6-4 and Athens 8-6. Losses in nonconference games were to Two Rivers 9-5, Monroe 13-3, Merrill 6-5, Grantsburg 14-4 and Wausau Newman 11-7.
In the playoffs, Tomahawk defeated Weyauwega-Fremont 6-3 before losing to number 1 seed Peshtigo 9-1.
GNC All-Conference honors went to Scout Stromberg first team, Macy Jankiewicz second team and Khianna Vacho and Samantha Gebauer honorable mention.
Golf
Our third sport so look back at is golf.
Garth Gerstenberger was in his 30th year as varsity coach, and he was assisted by Sean Totch.
Team members were Austin Lamer, Sawyer Hanna, Owen Dickrell, Carson Childers, Caiden Reichelt, Brayden Lamer, Noah Pearson, Lydia Ziert, Dane DeKiep, Summer Gaedtke, Sophie Kiser, Brett Marheine, Ryan Montag, Owen Oates, Keagyn Schoone, Tobias Scott and Sean Towle.
Season results were 1st at the Tomahawk Triangular, 14th of 24 teams at the Reedsburg Invite, 5th at GNC Meet #1 at Tomahawk, 6th of 14 teams at the Barron Invite, 6th at GNC Meet #2 at Mosinee, 5th of 16 teams at the Marathon Invite, 6th at GNC Meet #3 at Rhinelander, 6th at GNC Meet #4 at Eagle River, 6th at GNC Meet #5 at Mosinee, 6th at GNC Meet #6 at Antigo and 6th at GNC Meet #7 at Lakeland.
Final conference standings were Lakeland 49, Mosinee 40, Eagle River 31.5, Rhinelander 31.5, Medford 21, Tomahawk 15 and Antigo 8. Austin Lamer received honorable mention All-Conference honors.
At the Northwestern Regionals, Tomahawk placed 6th of 10 teams with a score of 361. Lakeland won Regionals with a score of 307. Sawyer Hanna qualified for Sectionals, shooting an 85, and was the second golfer from a non-qualifying team at Regionals. At Sectionals, he shot a 90 which was good enough for a tie for 44th place.
Boys’ track
Coaches for boys’ track were Kurt Cordova in his sixth year as head coach, assisted by Carmi Pietila-Cleary, Adam Maki, Dane Borchardt, Jake Wiedemeier, Paula Flynn, Connor Ahrens and Stephanie Ahrens.
Team members were Ryan Larson, Tiegan Sarazin, Tyler Sundquist, Michael Samundsen, Zach Larson, Jack Amelse, Beau Stromberg, Sam Zastrow, Jerome Morrison III, Jeremiah Johnson, Dominic Boos, Nathan Rosenmeier, Elliot O’Connor, Dane Schoenenberger, Zach Germano, Mason Riebe, Lorenzo Silenzi, Kael Oates, Kaiden Kapellusch, Jack Derleth, Patrick Samundsen, Tristin Bridges, Caden Gustafson, Presley Gutbrod, Skylar Harper-Dahlvig, Mason Towle, Andrew Voermans, Matt Walbeck, Sam Zastrow, Mason Jaecks, Bruce Peetz and Ethan Gibeault.
Season results were a 7th of eight teams at the Ashland Invite, 4th of seven teams at the Lakeland Invite, 5th of eight teams at the Eagle River Invite, 3rd of nine teams at the Marathon Invite, 10th of ten teams at the Little Chute Invite, 9th of ten teams at the Medford Invite, 3rd of nine teams at the Eagle River Invite, 3rd of eight teams at the Eagle River Boys’ Throwers Event, 5th of seven teams at the Three Lakes Invite, 9th of 11 teams at the Otto Bacher, 1st of six teams at the Tomahawk Invite and 8th of 11 teams at the Hodag Invite.
At the conference meet in Medford, co-champions Eagle River and Lakeland had 127, followed by Medford 124, Rhinelander 119, Mosinee 82, Tomahawk 58 and Antigo 43.
All-Conference honors went to Patrick Samundsen, 1st Team All-Conference in the shot put; the 4X800m relay team of Jeremiah Johnson, Jerome Morrison, Beau Stromberg and Samuel Zastrow, 1st Team All-Conference; and the 4X100m relay team of Dane Schoenenberger, Ryan Larson, Zach Germano and Mason Jaecks, honorable mention All-Conference.
At the Rice Lake Regionals, Tomahawk placed 8th of nine teams with 38 points. Rice Lake won the Regional with 129.5 points. Advancing to sectionals were Presley Gutbrod in the high jump with a 2nd-place finish, Dane Schoenenberger in the 200m by placing 3rd, Presley Gutbrod in the 200m with a 4th-place finish and the 4X400m relay team of Presley Gutbrod, Dane Schoenenberger, Beau Stromberg and Mason Riebe with a 4th-place finish.
At Sectionals, Tomahawk was led by the 4X400m relay team of Presley Gutbrod, Dane Schoenenberger, Beau Stromberg and Mason Riebe, which placed 11th.
Girls’ track
Our final sport is girls’ track.
Once again, Kurt Cordova was head coach, and he was assisted by Carmi Pietila-Cleary, Adam Maki, Dane Borchardt, Jake Wiedemeier, Paula Flynn, Connor Ahrens and Stephanie Ahrens.
Team members were Elise Gibeault, Alicia Voermans, Nadia Schoone, Faith Derleth, Halle Derleth, Siennah Calkins, Alli Palmer, Reese Molitor, Elizabeth Lee, Robin Schmidt, Abbie Rosenmeier, Lydia Shaney, Kambyl Mattke, Kaylynn Sandry, Naomi Nelson, Mariah Sparbel, Mya Kromm, Payton Haring, Paige DeKiep, Kailynn Hanse, Jennie Frederickson, Norah Mann, Aarwen Alberg, Elizabeth Arnott, Ayla McCormick, Kinsley Lange, Liam Dickrell, Rachael Reilly, Exxie Walbeck and Shelby Borowski.
Season results were 2nd of eight teams at the Ashland Invite, 3rd of seven teams at the Lakeland Invite, 1st of seven teams at the Eagle River Invite, 1st of nine teams at the Marathon Invite, 4th of ten teams at the Little Chute Invite, 8th of ten teams at the Medford Invite, 2nd of nine teams at the Eagle River Invite, 1st of four teams at the Eagle River Girls’ Throwers Event, 2nd of six teams at the Three Lakes Invite, 1st of 11 teams at the Otto Bacher (Elise Gibeault set a new school record in the 400m dash in a time of 58.71 sec. and a new school record in the 200m dash in a time of 26.53 sec.), 1st of six teams at the Tomahawk Invite and 1st of 11 teams at the Hodag Invite.
At the conference meet in Medford, the Lady Hatchets won their ninth conference tournament title in school history and the first since 2014. Scores were Tomahawk 146, Eagle River 125, Medford 107, Rhinelander 106.5, Lakeland 97, Antigo 57 and Mosinee 53.5.
First Team All-Conference honors went to Elise Gibeault in the 200m and 400m (Elise set a new school record and new conference record with a time of 58.44 sec.) and the 4X200m relay team of Faith Derleth, Halle Derleth, Siennah Calkins and Alicia Voermans. Second team All-Conference honors went to the 4X100m relay team of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Rachael Reilly and Alicia Voermans; the 4X400m relay team of Rachael Reilly, Abbie Rosenmeier, Norah Mann and Siennah Calkins; the 4X800m relay team of Robin Schmidt, Lydia Shaney, Rachael Reilly and Alli Palmer; Kaylynn Sandry in the high jump; Alicia Voemans in the pole vault; and Ayla McCormick in the discus. Honorable mention All-Conference honors went to Alli Palmer in the 3200m, Faith Derleth in the 200m, Elise Gibeault in the high jump and Siennah Calkins in the triple jump.
Kurt Cordova, Carmi Pietila-Cleary, Adam Maki, Dane Borchardt, Jake Wiedemeier, Paula Flynn, Connor Ahrens and Stephanie Ahrens were voted Great Northern Conference (GNC) Coaches of the Year.
At the Rice Lake Regionals, Tomahawk was 4th of nine teams with 91 points. Rice Lake won the Regional with 152 points. Advancing to Sectionals were the 4X200m relay team of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Alicia Voermans and Elise Gibeault with a regional title, followed by second-place finishes by Elise Gibeault in the 400m, the 4X400m relay team of Faith Derleth, Halle Derleth, Alicia Voermans and Elise Gibeault, Alicia Voermans in the pole vault and Ayla McCormick in the disc. Advancing by means of a third-place finish were Alicia Voermans in the 100m and the 4X800m relay team of Robin Schmidt, Rachael Reilly, Lydia Shaney and Alli Palmer. Placing fourth and also advancing were Faith Derleth in the 200m, Siennah Calkins in the triple jump and Ayla McCormick in the shot put.
At Sectionals, Tomahawk was 12th of 32 teams with 20 points. THS was led by the 4X200m relay team of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Alicia Voermans and Elise Gibeault with a Sectional title in the time of 1:46.55 min. for an new school record. Elise Gibeault also qualified for State in the 400m with a third-place finish in a time of 58.77 sec. Ayla McCormick completed her high school career with a toss of 124’ 2” in the disc.
At State, the 4X200m relay team of Halle Derleth, Faith Derleth, Alicia Voermans and Elise Gibeault was 8th in a time of 1:46.76, while Elise Gibeault was 10th in the 400m with a time of 1:00.36.
I would like to congratulate Ryan Flynn on an outstanding job with our co-curriculars. He often goes beyond what he has to do to help our programs to be successful. He has made it a point to respect the past individuals who gave everything to our present success. His hard work is appreciated.
Former THS athletes who have passed
Last, but not least, I would like to pay respects to former THS athletes who have recently passed.
They are Eugene Schreiber, Class of ’53; Darwin Kluball, Class of ’55; Roger Goldbeck, Class of ’63; and Joe Pickett, Class of ‘68. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends.