Conference and sectional sneak peek
Lakeland cross country boys, Charlie Ernst win Merrill Invite
The Great Northern Conference looks a little different this year with the addition of Merrill. The Lakeland cross country team got a little conference preview on Saturday. The Lakeland boys won the Merrill Invite on Saturday at Merrill High School. They took first out of six qualified teams with 22 points. Lakeland’s Emerson Rubo and Addison Eggen both finished in the top three in the girls’ race.
Going to the postseason with momentum
Lady T-Bird tennis wins final two duals
The Lakeland girls’ tennis team got two final tune-ups before subsectionals next week, winning its first non-conference matches of the season. The Thunderbirds first beat non-conference Ironwood, Mich. 6-1 on Monday. Lakeland then beat non-conference Ashland 7-0 on Tuesday. Both matches took place in Minocqua.
Lakeland boys’ soccer team keeps rolling
The Lakeland boys’ soccer team showed no signs of slowing down in their latest victory on Thursday. The Thunderbirds beat Antigo 8-0 at IncredibleBank Field in Minocqua. Lakeland is 7-0 through its first seven games in Great Northern Conference play for the first time since 2021.
LUHS girls’ tennis team places fifth at conference tournament
Four T-Birds awarded all-conference honors
The previously two-time defending conference champion Thunderbirds looked to put forth their best showing at the conference tournament last week.
Back on track
Lady Thunderbirds win all 11 events in the pool
After falling to Rhinelander in their last dual, the Lakeland girls’ swim team responded in a big way. The Thunderbirds won all 11 events and beat Ladysmith Co-op 118-37 on Thursday in Minocqua.
Emerson Rubo wins Three Lakes Invite
Lakeland boys’ cross country team finishes runner-up
Down a couple of key runners, Lakeland cross country still showed positive results and even had an individual winner. Lakeland’s Emerson Rubo won the girls’ race in the Three Lakes Invite Thursday at Big Stone Golf Course. The T-Bird boys took second out of 10 qualified teams with 60 points.
Finding a way together
Lady T-Bird volleyball (4-0) off to its best start in the Great Northern Conference era
With eight combined sets and many points, the Lakeland Union High School volleyball team was tested against two teams in two days. They passed the test and made some team history along the way. The Thunderbirds beat Wausau West 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20) in a non-conference match on Monday in Wausau. Lakeland then defeated Tomahawk 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22) in a GNC clash on Tuesday in Minocqua.
Still unbeaten
T-Bird boys’ soccer collects two more conference wins
Six-for-six. The Lakeland boys’ soccer team wrapped up the first half of Great Northern Conference play with an undefeated record. The Thunderbirds first beat Merrill 3-0 on Friday, Sept. 19 in Merrill. Then, Lakeland defeated Northland Pines 6-1 on Tuesday in Minocqua.
Looking to bounce back
Thunderbirds and Bluejays looking to gain edge in conference standings tonight, 7 p.m.
The Lakeland football team won four straight games to begin its season. The Thunderbirds are looking to respond after taking their first loss of the season last week. The Thunderbirds (4-1, 2-1 GNC) play host to the Merrill Bluejays (3-2, 2-1 GNC) tonight in Minocqua. Lakeland is looking to separate themselves from a pack of 2-1 teams, one of them Merrill.
Lakeland cross country earns medals at Smiley
Coming off of their home invite featuring a small number of teams, the Thunderbirds put their speed to the test in a larger field last weekend. The Lakeland boys’ cross country team finished 11th out of 23 qualified teams with 303 points in the Division 1 Bill Smiley Invite Saturday at Wausau East High School. Among small Division 1 schools, the Lakeland boys had the fifth-best team score.
LUHS girls’ tennis falls to Pacelli
In their final tune-up before the Great Northern Conference tournament, the Thunderbirds struggled to find wins against Pacelli. The Cardinals beat the Lakeland girls’ tennis team 6-1 on Tuesday in Minocqua.
Medford muscles its way to victory
T-Bird football loses its first game of the season
Injuries, missed opportunities and a road game were too much for the Lakeland football team to overcome in a rare Thursday night game. Medford (2-3, 2-1 GNC) beat the Thunderbirds (4-1, 2-1 GNC) 20-18 at Raider Field. The Raiders have won nine straight games over the Thunderbirds dating back to 2018.
Hodags humble Lakeland girls’ swim
A tough test awaited the Lakeland Union High School girls’ swim team on Thursday. Even in defeat, they still saw some positive results and personal bests. Rhinelander defeated the Thunderbirds 121-49 at the Heck Family Community Pool in Rhinelander.
LUHS girls’ tennis drops dual to Rhinelander
The Lady T-Bird girls’ tennis team looked to translate their hitting from practice to the match against Rhinelander on Thursday. The Hodags beat the Thunderbirds 5-2 in Rhinelander. The Hodags beat the Thunderbirds 5-2 in Rhinelander.
LUHS boys’ soccer remains perfect in conference play
The Lakeland boys’ soccer team played its inaugural Great Northern Conference game against the Merrill Bluejays in a matchup of undefeated conference teams on Friday night. The Thunderbirds (5-0 GNC) used three second half goals to beat the Bluejays (3-1 GNC) 3-0. Lakeland got goals from Marshall Holmquist, Oren Slemmons and Michael Melka.
Lakeland cross country teams gain experience at Smiley Invite
The Lakeland cross country teams got a chance to see a variety of different teams and runners with the Smiley Invite on Saturday in Wausau. The Lakeland boys finished 11th out of 23 qualified teams with 303 points in the Division 1 race. Emerson Rubo and Addison Eggen both finished in the top 35 in the girls’ race.
Marquee victory
T-Bird football tops Mosinee for the first time since 2008
Movie-goers flocked to the theater to see “The Dark Knight.” The New York Giants ended the New England Patriots’ quest for a perfect 19-0 season. Both of these things took place in 2008, the last time Lakeland football had beaten Mosinee. Then last Friday night happened.
Road win over rival keeps momentum moving forward
Lady T-Bird volleyball begins conference play 3-0 for the first time since 2011
Lakeland volleyball went through the ups and downs, including an injury, before ultimately achieving a win over Rhinelander on the road. The Thunderbirds beat the Hodags 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-11) on Tuesday night. It was Lakeland’s second win over the Hodags in less than a week.
Learning from experience
LUHS girls’ tennis goes winless at Wausau West Invite, beats Antigo
The Lakeland girls’ tennis team got its first taste of non-conference matches before returning home for a Great Northern Conference victory. The Thunderbirds dropped all five of their matches at the Wausau West Invite Friday, Sept. 12 through Saturday, Sept. 13. Lakeland then beat Antigo 6-1 on Tuesday in Minocqua.
Defenders of the net
Washburn Castle Guards hand Mercer volleyball its first conference loss in seven years
The Mercer High School volleyball team has gone through the ups and downs under new coach Alaina Syverson, including its first two conference matches.
Lady T-Bird girls’ swim stays undefeated by slimmest of margins
Sometimes, a swimmer can win an event by just out-touching their opponent. For the Lakeland girls’ swim team, they needed the final event to stay undefeated in conference play. The Thunderbirds traveled to Medford for a Great Northern Conference double dual on Thursday. Lakeland beat Merrill 103-64 and Medford 86-84. It was Lakeland’s first conference win over the Raiders since Oct. 15, 2020.
Home spectacle
Lakeland boys’ cross country team, Emerson Rubo win Ted Voigt Invite
Many Thunderbirds saw positive results when the Lakeland cross country team hosted its annual home invite. The Lakeland boys finished first out of three qualified teams with 17 points at the Ted Voigt Invite at Minocqua Winter Park on Thursday. The Lakeland girls didn’t qualify for a team score but had the top two individuals.
Road warriors
Lakeland boys’ soccer wins fourth straight road game to open season
In a matchup of undefeated Great Northern Conference teams, the Thunderbirds set the tone early on to get another road win. The Lakeland boys’ soccer team beat Mosinee 4-1 on Thursday in Mosinee. The first four T-Bird games had all been on the road with Lakeland winning all four.
Moment to shine
Joey Jurries brings home four medals, one gold, following world championships
Joey Jurries set out to an international swimming meet to represent the United States of America, the Northwoods and so much more. He brought back more than just medals.
Wergin race team wins BMX state championships
BMX means a lot to JJ Wergin and his family. When the BMX state championships came to Rhinelander, they were very excited and brought home several state titles. The Wergin race team of Hazelhurst includes manager JJ and his kids James, Jayce and Jackson Wergin. In addition, two other members of the Wergin race team had some top results.
LUHS volleyball wins two in Prentice
The Lakeland volleyball team showed no signs of slowing down with two wins on Thursday. The Thunderbirds beat Prentice 2-0 (25-17, 25-17) and Rhinelander 2-0 (25-14, 25-9) in a non-conference triangular in Prentice.
Lakeland football wins wild one over rivals
Thunderbirds take on Mosinee tonight in Minocqua, 7 p.m.
Turnovers, defensive touchdowns, controversial calls — the 2025 Axe Game had it all as Lakeland improved its record to 3-0. The Thunderbirds beat the Hodags 43-32 on Friday, Sept. 5 at Mike Webster Stadium in Rhinelander.
Sweet sweep
Lady T-Birds move to 2-0 in conference play following sweep of Medford
Momentum can be a powerful ally in sports. The Lakeland volleyball team won three out of four matches at a Saturday invite before stunning Medford with a sweep.
Twice the fun
LUHS girls’ tennis wins back-to-back conference duals
Two wins in two days gave the Lakeland girls’ tennis team momentum heading into the weekend. First, the Thunderbirds finished their match against Merrill on Monday, winning 5-2. Then, Lakeland beat Marshfield Columbus 7-0 in a road match on Tuesday.
Lakeland girls’ swim finishes runner-up in Wisconsin Rapids
The Lakeland Union High School girls’ swim team got to test its speed against new faces in an invite last weekend. “We had a tough week,” coach Tierney Edwards said. “It was the first week back to school, and we had a meet on Thursday. The girls were tired and sore, but they didn’t let that stop them from showing up and racing. I think some of them were pleasantly surprised with some of their times.”
A dominant showing
Lakeland girls’ swim wins every event of conference double dual
A dominating performance by the Thunderbirds saw them win every single event in the pool in the Great Northern Conference opener. The Lakeland Union High School girls’ swim team hosted a double dual on Thursday. They beat Tomahawk 122-41 and Mosinee 132-32.
Thunderbirds shut out rivals on the road
The rain and cold didn’t prevent the Lakeland boys’ soccer team from a convincing win over their rivals on Thursday night. The Thunderbirds hit the road and beat Rhinelander 7-0 for their second Great Northern Conference victory this season.
Strong finish
Lakeland volleyball outlasts Northland Pines in home, conference opener
The Lakeland volleyball team started slow but finished strong in its home and Great Northern Conference opener on Thursday. The Thunderbirds beat Northland Pines 3-1 (20-25, 25-15, 25-21, 29-27) at the Lakeland Union High School fieldhouse in Minocqua.
Ashland docked
Lakeland football shuts out Oredockers in home opener
A week after a high-scoring game, Lakeland football let its defense do the talking in a shutout victory over Ashland. The Thunderbirds beat the Oredockers 14-0 on Friday, Aug. 29 in Minocqua. It was Lakeland’s first shutout win since Sept. 15, 2023 against Merrill (35-0).
T-Bird boys’ cross country team finds its first victory
Emerson Rubo, Addison Eggen place in top three in girls’ race
The Lakeland cross country teams continued to gain early-season momentum with another strong showing in their latest meet. The Lakeland boys won the Mosinee Invite with 55 points on Tuesday at Nine Mile Forest in Wausau. A total of 12 schools competed in the invite. Lakeland’s Emerson Rubo and Addison Eggen both finished top three individually in the girls’ race.
T-Bird boys’ soccer routs Antigo
Playing a second straight road game to open the season didn’t phase the Thunderbird boys’ soccer team. Lakeland beat Antigo 8-1 on Tuesday in Antigo.
LUHS volleyball gains big-match experience
Lakeland volleyball gained valuable experience and won a few games to open its season. The Thunderbirds went 3-4 and finished 28th out of 40 teams at the non-conference Menomonie Sprawl Invite Friday, Aug. 29 through Saturday, Aug. 30 at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
LUHS girls’ tennis picks up first win
Medford makes a statement with sweep over T-Birds
Lakeland girls’ tennis saw the ups and the downs that come with a young team following two different sweeps last week. First, the Thunderbirds beat Phillips 7-0 for their first overall and Great Northern Conference win on Tuesday, Aug. 26 in Phillips. Then, Medford defeated Lakeland 7-0 on Thursday in Minocqua.
T-Bird boys’ soccer catches a break in opening win
The Lakeland boys’ soccer team found their footing in the second half for a comeback win in the season’s opening game. The Thunderbirds beat non-conference Wausau East 2-1 on the road on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Lady Thunderbirds find their speed in the pool
Olivia Mickle ends up in fourth place overall in pentathlon
Swimmers from the Lakeland Union High School girls’ swim team got a chance to go up against competitors of their own age group in a rare pentathlon. The Thunderbirds swam in the D.C. Everest Pentathlon on Tuesday, Aug. 26. No team scores were kept in this individual-based event.
Off to a good start
Lakeland cross country sees positive results to begin season
Lakeland’s cross country team got its season off to a good start with a strong team score and fast individuals on Thursday. The Lakeland boys finished second out of 12 teams with 61 points at the Hodag Invite in Rhinelander. D.C. Everest won with 28 points. The Lakeland girls didn’t accumulate a team score but had two individuals in the top six.
Season preview: Lady T-Bird volleyball relying on its depth
Led by second-year head coach Taylor Bruhl, the Lakeland Union High School volleyball team is as deep as it’s been in a long time.
Season preview: New Mercer volleyball team looking to create own legacy
The fresh season brings new changes for the Mercer volleyball team. They’re entering 2025 with new leadership on and off the court. The Tigers had no problems winning the conference championship for a sixth straight year and a regional championship for a ninth consecutive season in 2024.
Snowhawks sneak in one more win before summer’s end
The Lakeland Tomahawk Snowhawks needed every run they could get to end the season with a win on Monday night. The Snowhawks hung on and defeated WPS Local 420 15-14 in the regular-season finale.
Home opener
Lakeland football welcomes Ashland tonight, 7 p.m.
After an exciting win at Hayward last week, the Lakeland football team plays in its home opener today.
T-Birds fly past Hayward in second half
Lakeland football scores most points in a game since 2021
Three touchdowns by all three football phases were just the start of Lakeland’s explosive season-opening win over Hayward/Lac Courte Oreilles on Friday. The Thunderbirds defeated the Hurricanes 50-23 in Hayward. Lakeland’s 50 points scored were the most in a game since Oct. 8, 2021 when they scored 60 against Ashland.
First taste of competition
LUHS girls’ swim finishes fifth at Fun in the Sun Relays
Warm temperatures and sunshine provided the perfect backdrop for the Lakeland girls’ swim team’s season debut on Thursday. “This is a great meet to get our feet wet and back into the swing of things,” coach Tierney Edwards said. “We get to see a lot of teams and get back to racing, but it’s very low stakes. I tell the girls to just go out there and see what they can do.”
Wausau Newman tops young Lady T-Bird tennis team in season opener
The Lakeland girls’ tennis team opened its season with a tough draw against defending sectional champion Wausau Newman. Wausau Newman defeated Lakeland 5-2 in both teams’ Great Northern Conference opener on Thursday in Minocqua.
Season preview: Lakeland boys’ soccer loaded again
The Lakeland boys’ soccer team believes it has the depth to compete in the Great Northern Conference and beyond. Last year, the Thunderbirds won the conference title with an 8-0-1-1 record and 27 points. They went on to win a WIAA Division 2 regional championship as well.
Season preview: Freshman class bolstering LUHS cross country teams
The Lakeland cross country teams have individuals, freshmen included, that can make some noise in the state. It’s a tale of two teams. While the Lakeland boys have plenty of options this year, the Lakeland girls might not be able to field a team this year. However, the talent is high for both teams as they enter the new season.