Starting a new era
LUHS girls’ tennis rebuilding their way back to the top
It’s a new era for Lakeland girls’ tennis. Graduating their entire varsity lineup except for one, a younger team got together on the first day of practice on Tuesday.
Raising the bar
Olivia Wingo’s track and field journey continuing on at Northern Kentucky University
A few Lakeland Union High School student-athletes have gone on to play Division 1 athletics in college. Olivia Wingo is the latest to join.
Season review: T-Bird distance crew excelled
There were plenty of highlights from Lakeland’s track and field teams in 2025. For the distance squad, they had all-conference and state-caliber athletes.
Packer preview: Green Bay due for a deep playoff run
As soon as the calendar turns to August, I always get fired up for football. It won’t be easy, but the Green Bay Packers have the roster to win a playoff game or two.
Jumping into the action
LUHS football hits the ground running on the first day
The first day of football practice brought with it new opportunities, a milestone and a Lakeland team that is ready to roll. The Thunderbirds started their season with practice at IncredibleBank Field in Minocqua. For Dan Barutha, he’s now been the head coach of Lakeland football for a decade.
Running away with it
Snowhawks score season-high 34 runs in rout
Things got out of hand early when the Snowhawks piled on runs in their latest snowshoe baseball victory.
Season review: One for the ages
Lakeland softball made history on the path to state
In a postseason run for the ages, the Lakeland softball team cemented their legacy with a 2025 season that will be remembered for a long time. The Thunderbirds went 21-9 in 30 games played. They placed fourth out of seven teams with a 7-5 record in the Great Northern Conference.
Medal-winning paddlers
Lori Manion, Joannie Morgan find success with Team USA at Dragon Boat World Championships
Two Northwoods natives took on the best of the best in Dragon Boat at last month’s world championships. Lori Manion and Joannie Morgan competed for the United States of America in the 17th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Dragon Boat Racing Championships July 14 through 20 in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany.
Season review: Lakeland golf continued tradition of going to state
The Lakeland golf team might have surpassed expectations with a 2025 season that included everything from a conference title to a state appearance.
Season review: Lady T-Bird girls’ soccer rose to the occasion
The Lakeland girls’ soccer team continued to get better and better as the season progressed, culminating in another conference championship.
Minocqua 89ers split two games to end summer
The 89ers didn’t walk away empty-handed following a win over a familiar opponent at last weekend’s Legion regional tournament in Minocqua.
Snowhawks make it back-to-back wins
A rare low-scoring game saw the Snowhawks win back-to-back games for the first time this summer. The Snowhawks beat Black Bear Bar 13-6 on Monday at Snowshoe Park in Lake Tomahawk.
A once-in-a-lifetime day
Jack Rubo cards 66, ties course record following first round of State Amateur
Jack Rubo, Lakeland Union High School Class of 2024 graduate, led the Thunderbirds to a golf state title last year. Most recently, he tied a course record at the State Amateur.
Regional rout
Medford shuts out 89ers at regional tournament
Medford took the lead early and never relinquished it in the Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team’s first tournament game on Thursday. Medford beat the 89ers 11-0 in six innings at the Wisconsin American Legion Baseball Association Class AA Region 2 Tournament at Minocqua Park Complex.
Season review: Lakeland boys’ tennis saved their best for last
The Lakeland boys’ tennis team built their way up as the season went on, culminating in top individual and team performances. The Thunderbirds finished second out of five teams in the Great Northern Conference with 64 total points. They went 2-2 in conference dual meets and 17-11 in conference dual matches, finishing third in the GNC in both categories. By scoring 30 points in the conference tournament, the Thunderbirds vaulted their way to second place.
Back in business
Snowhawks crush Lakeland Times to get back in win column
I missed playing snowshoe baseball last year due to a rainout. The Lakeland Times put together a team once again in a game that was an absolute blast. The Snowhawks defeated the Times 21-11 on Monday in Lake Tomahawk.
Runners-up in Tomahawk
Lakeland 14U softball team shows how bright the future is
Lakeland’s 14U softball team came close to winning a tournament in Tomahawk last weekend. The Thunderbirds went 3-2 in five games played and took second place in their 14U age bracket at the Rod Timm Memorial Girls’ Fast Pitch Tournament in Tomahawk Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20.
Errors plague Northern Wisconsin Thunder softball team
Thunder get walk-off win over Marshfield
A new softball team called the Northern Wisconsin Thunder have played in a few tournaments this summer. They looked to play their best at a tournament in Tomahawk last weekend. The Thunder went 1-3 in four games played in the U16/U18 age group at the Rod Timm Memorial Girls’ Fast Pitch Tournament Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20 in Tomahawk.
First win of the summer
89ers top Tomahawk before regional tournament
Right before the Legion tournament started, the 89ers picked up their first win of the summer on Monday. The Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team beat Tomahawk 7-1 at the Minocqua Park Complex.
Tennis tradition
Local tennis group staying strong for 30 years and counting
One might see the Lakeland Union High School tennis courts busy in the morning. For a number of locals in the community, tennis is more than just a way to exercise. For over 30 years, locals have come to play tennis on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. It started with Jerry Sikora.
Late rally not enough for 89er baseball
Unusually colder temperatures in July set the stage for the Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team’s latest game. Northwoods Legion defeated the 89ers 8-3 in Eagle River on Wednesday.
Season review: Lakeland baseball faded down the stretch
The Lakeland baseball team found it hard to win games late in the season in a wide-open race for the conference title. The Thunderbirds went 6-14 this season. They went 4-8 in the Great Northern Conference, tied with Antigo for last place in the standings. In conference games, Lakeland averaged 4.7 runs scored per game (tied for fifth in GNC) and allowed 7.8 runs (sixth in GNC).
Zimmy’s zips past ‘Hawks in ninth
One inning separated Zimmy’s All-Stars from the Snowhawks in a high-scoring affair. Zimmy’s All-Stars defeated the Snowhawks 22-16 on Monday night in Lake Tomahawk.
T-Bird boys’ basketball wins final two summer league games
Shots were falling for the Lakeland Union High School boys’ basketball team as they picked up two wins on Tuesday night. The Thunderbirds beat Marathon 48-45 and Merrill 68-32 in two summer league basketball games at Wausau East High School.
Rebels shut out 89ers
A clean game by Rhinelander helped them overtake the 89ers in five innings on Monday. The Rebels beat the Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team 10-0 at the Minocqua Park Complex.
Representing Team USA
Island City’s Lori Manion competing in World Dragon Boat Championships in Germany
Lori Manion has raced for the Island City Dragon Boat team. Now she’s taking her talents overseas for the United States of America. Manion is currently competing in the 17th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. The championships started yesterday and continue through Sunday, July 20.
Lakeland’s Drew Warren helps team win Midwest tournament
Drew Warren stood out as one of Lakeland Union High School baseball’s standout players this past spring. Last month, he helped his travel team win a big tournament. Warren, who will be a junior this year at LUHS, is playing for Elite Baseball Training this summer. They won the Primetime Baseball High School Midwest World Series that took place June 26-29 in Illinois.
Lakeland-2 drops final game
Thunderbirds showed ‘dramatic improvement’ from start to finish this season
An early lead wasn’t enough to give the Lakeland-2 Babe Ruth Prep League baseball team a victory in their final game of the season. Phillips defeated the Thunderbirds 14-5 in six innings on Thursday at the Minocqua Park Complex.
Chicago All-Stars too much for Snowhawks
Snowhawks rebound for win over local police/fire department
A bounce-back effort by the Lake Tomahawk snowshoe baseball team helped it to overtake the local police/fire department after a Fourth of July loss to the Chicago All-Stars.
Lakeland-1 wins Babe Ruth finale over Eagle River
The hits and runs came early and often for Lakeland-1 in their Babe Ruth Prep League finale. Lakeland-1 defeated Eagle River 28-8 in five innings on Monday in Eagle River.
Tomahawk rallies, walks off 89ers
The Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team fell short in an extra-inning thriller on Monday. Tomahawk defeated the 89ers 5-4 in eight innings in Tomahawk. Minocqua’s Max Keuer turned in a positive start on the mound. He had only given up one run as he entered the seventh inning. The 89ers led 2-1.
Massey tabbed as new LUHS girls’ hoops coach
Basketball has been a part of Lakeland Union High School principal Levi Massey’s journey for a long time. Now he’ll start his next adventure as a varsity head coach. Massey is the new LUHS girls’ basketball varsity head coach. He’s taking over for Melissa Ouimette, resigned, who had the position since 2015.
One last time
Kristina and Melissa Ouimette, Cale Quade help the North All-Stars defeat the South All-Stars in girls’ basketball Division 2 All-Star Game
WISCONSIN DELLS — An All-Star Game victory gave two Lakeland girls’ basketball players, and the coaching staff, the perfect sendoff on Wednesday. Team North defeated Team South 73-59 in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division 2 All-Star Game at Justagame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells. Lakeland Union High School graduated seniors Kristina Ouimette and Cale Quade participated for Team North.
T-Birds come back, stay unbeaten in Babe Ruth play
After a slow start, Lakeland put up many runs to remain undefeated in the Babe Ruth Prep League. The Thunderbirds beat Rhinelander 16-11 in six innings on Tuesday, June 24 in Rhinelander.
Lakeland 12U softball teams drop two games
Even though the Lakeland 12U softball teams didn’t get the results they wanted to on the scoreboard, they’re looking at the positives from the season. Rhinelander beat one Lakeland team 16-3, and Tomahawk beat Lakeland’s other team 19-1. Both games took place on Tuesday, June 24 in Minocqua.
End of an era
Melissa Ouimette resigns, Lakeland girls’ hoops bids farewell to eight seniors
Many of the Lakeland Union High School girls’ basketball varsity’s players, including their head coach, are saying goodbye after another historic season for the record books. The Thunderbirds won the Great Northern Conference undefeated at 12-0 for a third straight season. Overall, they had a record of 22-5, averaging 64 points per game scored. They allowed an average of 38.4 points.
Snowhawks set to take flight again this summer
Another snowshoe baseball season has started. The Snowhawks are sticking to what they know best while adding a few new faces to the squad.
Medford tops 89ers baseball for second time
Playing the same team for the second time in less than a week, the 89ers were unable to find their first win of the Legion season. Medford beat the Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team 7-3 on Monday night.
Minocqua 89ers drop road game to Medford
The Minocqua Post 89 Legion baseball team was back in action with their first road game of the summer. Medford beat the 89ers 6-2 on Wednesday night.
Lakeland’s 12U softball teams gain more experience
Lakeland youth softball features two 12U teams. They both played each other as they looked to gain more experience. The final score came to 15-9 after three-plus innings on Tuesday, June 17 in Minocqua. In the top of the first inning, Jaymie Korb’s Lakeland team took to the bats first. They scored the maximum five runs in the inning.
Scrimmage ends in tie
Lakeland Babe Ruth Prep League teams mix it up
The two Lakeland teams of the Babe Ruth Prep League mixed up their squads for a scrimmage on Wednesday. The final score came to 8-8 at the Minocqua Park Complex.
Encore performance
Saylor Timmerman dazzles in All-Star Game
Saylor Timmerman had already broken records, hit milestones and led her team to the state tournament. The star pitcher shined one more time in a Lakeland Union High School uniform on Tuesday.
All-conference awards aplenty for T-Bird spring athletics
Lakeland awarded at least one Player of the Year honor in all six spring sports
Many Lakeland Union High School student-athletes were represented with all-conference recognition following the prep spring sports season. In fact, all six spring sports saw a Thunderbird be named a Player of the Year award winner.
Season review: Lakeland Nordic ski teams saw top individual performances
Lakeland Nordic ski may not have experienced the same team success as they’ve had in the past, but several individuals still shined over the course of the season.
The dream ends
Lakeland softball’s postseason run concludes at state semifinals
MADISON — A dream season to remember came to an end for the Lakeland softball team at the state tournament in Madison. Second-seeded Denmark (25-7), the eventual WIAA Division 2 state champions, defeated third-seeded Lakeland 3-2 in a state semifinal game on Friday.
Lakeland wins wire-to-wire over Tomahawk
Lakeland has two teams in the Babe Ruth Prep League this season. One of the two teams won by double-digit runs on Wednesday. The Thunderbirds, coached by Robert Blohm, beat Tomahawk 18-2 in five innings in Minocqua.
Minocqua Post 89 Legion team loses pitcher’s duel to Northwoods in opener
A pitcher’s duel broke out in the Minocqua Post 89 Legion team’s first game of the summer on Wednesday. The Minocqua 89ers fell 2-0 to the Northwoods Legion team out of Eagle River. The game took place in Minocqua.
LUHS golf gains experience, places fourth at state
There were plenty of ups and downs in the Lakeland golf team’s performance at state earlier this week. The defending state champions placed fourth out of eight teams with a score of 665 at the WIAA Division 2 state meet Monday, June 9 through Tuesday, June 10 at University Ridge Golf Course, par 72, in Madison. Seymour won the title with a team score of 638, 15 strokes better than second-place Cambridge.
State softball preview: Lady Thunderbirds ready for first state experience
Lakeland plays Denmark in state semifinal tonight, 7 p.m.
It all ends this weekend. The Lakeland softball team is looking to bring home the championship in their first-ever trip to the state tournament.
Lakeland’s week to shine
The 2024-25 Lakeland Union High School prep sports season has taken me all over the state. I’ve watched great games and top individual performances. One particular stretch last week is one I’ll never forget. Last week Monday and Tuesday, I started mentally preparing for what could be some of the most fun and travel-filled days of my schedule this season.