The Lakeland Times

T-Birds use momentum to win road opener

Axe Game tonight against Rhinelander

Traveling up north, the Lakeland football team battled adversity for their second consecutive win, first on the road. The Thunderbirds beat Ashland 33-16 in a non-conference game at Oredocker Stadium on Friday, Aug. 30.

Lady Thunderbirds finish invite in top 15

Lakeland volleyball goes 4-3 in Menomonie

The Lakeland volleyball team traveled to the University of Wisconsin-Stout for the annual Menomonie Sprawl Friday, Aug. 30 through Saturday, Aug. 31. The Thunderbirds had one of their best showings in recent memory.

Two early goals result in Lakeland’s first conference win

Lakeland opened up conference play with a road game against Northland Pines on Tuesday. The Thunderbirds scored twice early and found a way to win. The Lakeland boys’ soccer team defeated Northland Pines 2-1.

LUHS boys’ cross country team comes out on top

It’s been a positive start to the season for the Lakeland cross country teams. The girls won last week in Rhinelander. On Tuesday, the boys won in Wausau.

Olivia Mickle, Daryn Smolinski, Kasey Wise place top three in respective age groups at D.C. Everest

The Lakeland girls’ swim team showed off their individual times in a pentathlon at D.C. Everest last week. Nine Thunderbirds swam in the pentathlon that featured a 50 butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle and 100 individual medley (IM) on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Home shutout win opens season

Lincoln Friedley scores hat trick in season opener

The Lakeland boys’ soccer team opened up with a dominant shutout win at home. The Thunderbirds beat non-conference Merrill 8-0 in 66:46 on Thursday night.

Lakeland girls win first cross country meet

Boys take runner-up finish

A strong showing by Lakeland’s top runners helped the girls’ cross country team to a season-opening victory in Rhinelander.

Battle-tested Lady Thunderbirds get by Wausau Newman

The Lakeland girls’ tennis team hosted their second conference match of the season. Even with several close matches, the Thunderbirds still came out on top on Thursday in Minocqua.

LUHS girls’ swim takes part in D.C. Everest Pentathlon

The Lakeland girls’ swim team focused on individual times with a pentathlon meet on Thursday. A couple of Thunderbirds shined in their age groups.

Undefeated no longer

Dazzle’s Demons win summer finale over Snowhawks

Dazzle’s Demons stood in-between the Snowhawks and an undefeated season. Jesse Robinson’s Demons were too much for the Snowhawks to overcome.

Season preview: Lady Thunderbirds building on last year

A new coach signals a new era for the Lakeland volleyball team. Coming off a program-best year in the Great Northern Conference, they’re ready to keep going higher.

Lakeland girls’ tennis dominates, wins all three matches over the weekend

The Lakeland Union High School girls’ tennis team took part in a trio of non-conference matches that saw the Thunderbirds win every set.

Game preview: T-Bird football hits the road for the first time tonight

The Lakeland football team is looking for its first 2-0 start in five years. They’re hitting the road for a game against an old conference foe.

Mercer volleyball opens season with three wins

The Mercer volleyball team got their season off to a good start with three wins at the Crivitz Invite on Tuesday. The Tigers went 3-1 and won the silver bracket with 2-0 wins over Niagara (25-16, 25-12), Marinette (25-20, 25-10) and Gibraltar (25-15, 25-22). Mercer fell 0-2 (24-26, 19-25) to Wabeno/Laona.

Lakeland football starts 1-0

Thunderbirds win season opener for first time in five years

All three phases worked together to help the Lakeland football team win their season opener for the first time in five years.

Perfect start to the season

Lady Thunderbirds win first four matches

Opening up against a conference opponent, the Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) girls’ tennis team took care of business and won their season, home and conference opener on Thursday.

Sixth-place finish opens season for Lakeland girls’ swim

The Lakeland girls’ swim team opened their season with an outdoor relay meet in Merrill on Thursday. Many Thunderbirds made their high school debuts.

Season preview: LUHS boys’ soccer taking advantage of depth

History was made last season when the Lakeland boys’ soccer team made it all the way to the sectional final game. They feel they have the depth to contend among the Great Northern Conference’s (GNC) best again.

Lyons roars in Minocqua

Marquette University amateur uses late surge to win Wisconsin State Open

It was anyone’s game in the final round of the Wisconsin State Open. In the end, one golfer came out victorious.

Season preview: Thunderbirds vying for top spots in GNC

Returning all-Great Northern Conference (GNC) runners and a boys team that made it to state last year give the Lakeland cross country teams plenty to be excited for this season.

Mikey makes his mark

Lakeland Times intern Mikey Rottier unofficially throws 87 mile per hour (MPH) pitch

Lakeland Times intern Mikey Rottier has been doing a lot more than writing stories. He claimed he could throw a baseball up to 75 miles per hour (MPH).

Local golfers miss the Wisconsin State Open cut at Minocqua Country Club

After 36 holes, the Wisconsin State Open was trimmed to 61 players. Four local golfers found themselves on the outside looking in.

A lifelong connection

Dragon Riders overcome adversity, finish strong at Minocqua Dragon Boat Festival

It takes an entire team to have success in Dragon Boat. For a mother and her son, it’s also become something they’ve bonded over together. The Minocqua youth Dragon Boat team, known as the Dragon Riders, competed at the Minocqua Dragon Boat Festival this past weekend.

Season preview: Thunderbirds reloading for another playoff run

The Lakeland football team graduated a number of all-conference players this spring. However, they’re looking to get back to the playoffs yet again in 2024.

Snowhawks top WPS Local 420

Season finale next week against Dazzle’s Demons

Coach Jeff Smith had to call on some extra reinforcements as the Snowhawks remained undefeated on the season. The Snowhawks defeated WPS Local 420 19-13 on Monday night.

Season preview: The ‘stars have aligned’ for LUHS girls’ tennis team

Experience, leadership, returning all-conference talent, new courts — the 2024 Lakeland girls’ tennis team has it all in what they’re calling a “dream” season.

Season preview: Lakeland girls’ swim younger in 2024

Numbers have steadily increased for Lakeland girls’ swim as they continue to rebuild their program. Led by a state-qualifying swimmer, they’re hoping to climb up the Great Northern Conference (GNC) standings.

Packers preview: Green and Gold poised for breakout season

There’s something about the Green Bay Packers this year. I think there’s potential for a huge season for the Green and Gold in 2024-25.

Wisconsin’s best golfers coming to Minocqua

Minocqua Country Club hosts 2024 Wisconsin State Open next week

The Wisconsin State Open showcases some of the best golfers in the state each year. It’s coming to the Northwoods’ backyard this year.

Record-setting performance

Wake My Day! wins Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival

A loss by the slimmest of margins gave the boat Wake My Day! motivation when they set a new course record in Bemidji two weeks ago.

Snowhawks win eighth game of the summer

Rain has thwarted a couple of snowshoe baseball games this season. On Monday, the Snowhawks returned to Snowshoe Park with a dominant win.

New courts, new season

Lakeland girls’ tennis team gets season underway

There was a buzz in the air as the Lakeland girls’ tennis team met up for the first day of practice on Tuesday morning.

Thunderbirds conclude summer in Rhinelander

The Lakeland 14U softball team split two games on Sunday to wrap up their summer at a tournament in Rhinelander last weekend.

Curling comes to Rhinelander

Men’s team took on La Crosse in playdown with Nationals at stake

Sports such as hockey and basketball are popular in the wintertime. One sport that has grown in Rhinelander is that of curling. It all started with a Learn2Curl event.

Lakeland 14U softball team falls twice

Windy and chilly conditions met the Lakeland 14U softball team as they played their first two games of a tournament in Rhinelander on Saturday.

Back to the basics

Lakeland football opens season with first day of practice

Football returned to the Northwoods with the first day of practice for the Lakeland Thunderbirds.

Trout Lake Golf Club celebrated 100 years last month

Last month, Trout Lake Golf Club celebrated 100 years. They’re still working on improving the golf course a century later.

Season review: Lakeland track and field teams went above and beyond

Owen Clark finished Lakeland career a state champion

The Lakeland track and field teams had another strong season that produced conference champions, state qualifiers and one who topped the podium in La Crosse.

Season review: Lakeland golf brought home state championship

First place equals a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Lakeland golf team brought home their own golden trophy with a state championship earlier this summer.

Season review: T-Bird boys’ tennis posted program’s best conference finish in nine years

The Lakeland boys’ tennis team’s experience paid off this year with a top finish in the conference standings and a trip to state for their top singles player.

Season review: LUHS baseball put together their best conference record since 2017

The Lakeland baseball team rebounded after a slow start to the season. They ended up having their most wins in Great Northern Conference (GNC) play in seven years.

Snowhawks get by Black Bear Bar to remain unbeaten

After a rainout the week before, the Snowhawks found themselves in a tight game on Monday night. The Snowhawks beat Black Bear Bar 9-7 at Snowshoe Park in Lake Tomahawk.

Two losses end Minocqua 89ers’ season

The Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team saw their season come to an end following last weekend’s Class AA Region 2 Tournament.

Season review: LUHS girls’ soccer rose to the challenge with conference and regional titles

The Lakeland girls’ soccer team defied expectations once again to become conference and regional champions.

Season review: Lady Thunderbirds made Great Northern Conference program history

Perfect games, playoff wins and extra-inning home runs were just part of the fun for one of the best Lakeland softball seasons in their program’s history within the Great Northern Conference.

Summer league champions

Lakeland girls’ basketball beats Stevens Point, Wittenberg-Birnamwood

The Lakeland girls’ basketball team concluded their summer with the Ultimate Team Camps (UTC) Girls’ Basketball Tuesday Varsity League championship last week.

Thunderbirds top Tomahawk in high-scoring finale

Lakeland 12U baseball team slugs two homers, scores 19 runs

A high-scoring baseball game that combined for 34 runs and three homers turned into a summer finale win for the Lakeland 12U team.