Indoor track finale
Lakeland’s Emerson Rubo wins girls’ 3,200-meter run at distance meet
The Lakeland Union High School track and field team ended the indoor season with a distance meet. The Thunderbirds took part in the Point Indoor Distance Carnival Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. No team scores were kept at this event.
Lady T-Birds win second half, season opener
The Lakeland Union High School girls’ soccer team won its season opener for the first time in three years Tuesday night. The Thunderbirds beat non-conference Hayward 2-0 at IncredibleBank Field. Originally supposed to have been played in Hayward, the game was moved to Minocqua with Hayward’s field not ready.
Big inning costs Lakeland baseball in season opener
Mistakes caused one big inning and cost the Lakeland baseball team a chance at winning its season and Great Northern Conference opener Tuesday. Merrill defeated the Thunderbirds 8-3 in Merrill.
Late rally sends Merrill softball by Lakeland
The Lakeland softball team found itself in another close game with one inning being the difference. The Thunderbirds fell 6-2 to Merrill in a Great Northern Conference game Tuesday in Minocqua.
Season preview: LUHS golf team poised for another strong season
A stretch of dominance from the Lakeland golf team has been going on for almost a decade and this year looks no different. The Thunderbirds have won seven consecutive Great Northern Conference titles, qualified for state eight straight seasons and won the state championship in 2024. With most of its talent back from last season, Lakeland is chomping at the bit to see what it can do in 2026.
Season preview: Thunderbird baseball creating an identity
Lakeland Union High School baseball is looking to create a culture in year two under coach Adam Bremer. The Thunderbirds found themselves in the basement of the Great Northern Conference standings last season, tied for last with Antigo. It’ll take everyone if Lakeland wants to move up in the standings.
Season review: Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op surged late
A young Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op saved its best for last in a season full of learning and growth. The Eagles, comprised of schools Northland Pines, Lakeland Union, Rhinelander, Three Lakes, Antigo, Hurley and Norway (Mich.), finished the season with a record of 8-14-2. They ranked fourth out of five teams in the Wisconsin Valley Conference at 2-7-0.
Season preview: Lakeland boys’ tennis team rebuilding
An inexperienced Lakeland boys’ tennis team begins the season with a small roster of student-athletes looking to make their mark. The Thunderbirds began the season with 10 players out for tennis. Half of those players have seen time on the varsity court.
Lakeland’s Kennedy Howard wins second state title in three years
Zia Amershek, Landon Hoban find podium for Lakeland
One Lakeland Wrestling Club wrestler stood atop the podium as a state champion during last weekend’s state tournament. Lakeland took part in the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation (WWF) Kids Folkstyle State Championships Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29 in Madison. Lakeland’s Kennedy Howard won her second state title in three years.
Rhinelander outslugs Lakeland in GNC softball opener
Hits and runs were aplenty in the Lakeland softball team’s home and Great Northern Conference opener on Tuesday. Rhinelander beat Lakeland 10-8 to hand the Thunderbirds their first loss of the season.
Dominating the track
Lakeland boys take first, girls second at home indoor invite
The Lakeland Union High School track and field team had some of the top times and marks at its home indoor meet. The Lakeland boys took first out of seven teams with 217 points at the T-Bird Indoor Invite Saturday at LUHS in Minocqua. The Lakeland girls finished second out of seven teams with 135 points. Chequamegon won with 167 points.
Mercer High School track and field opens new season
The Mercer High School track and field team started its new season Saturday in Minocqua. The Tigers ran in the T-Bird Indoor Invite at Lakeland Union High School. The Mercer girls finished fourth out of seven teams with 43 points. The Mercer boys finished fifth out of seven teams with 25 points.
Lakeland golf team staying true to its process
Lakeland golf has put together strong teams over the years, and they’re looking to do that again this season. Scott Howard has been coaching Lakeland golf for 10 years. Starting in 2016, he’s guided the Thunderbirds to Great Northern Conference championships, sectional titles and one state plaque.
All hands on deck
LUHS boys’ tennis has just enough to field full varsity team
The Lakeland Union High School boys’ tennis team got its season underway Monday inside the LUHS fieldhouse. Eight student-athletes came out for the first day of practice with two possessing varsity experience. However, there are a few who will play this season that didn’t practice on the first day.
Danny Mac champs
Lakeland softball wins Danny Mac Invite, starts season 3-0
A surprising run to the tournament crown showed that this year’s Lakeland softball team is ready to write its own story. The Thunderbirds went 3-0 and won their bracket in the Danny Mac Invite at the Hodag Dome in Rhinelander. They defeated Shawano 5-4 on Friday and Edgar 12-7 in six innings and Clinton 6-5 in the championship game on Saturday.
Season preview: LUHS girls’ soccer vying for more conference supremacy
Consistency has helped the Lakeland girls’ soccer team stay atop the Great Northern Conference standings for almost half a decade. Even though one era ended, another one begins.
Getting the marks
Lakeland track and field finds individual success in Eagle River
Several Lakeland Union High School varsity track and field student-athletes looked to hit specific marks in a meet Thursday night in Eagle River. The Thunderbirds participated in the Northland Pines Indoor Invite. In a meet that featured mostly Lakeland’s JV athletes, a couple stood out with strong performances.
Season review: Lakeland boys’ hockey team finished middle of the pack
The Lakeland Union High School boys’ hockey team went through the highs and lows of the season in 2025-26. The Thunderbirds went 9-10-0-0, 4-6-0-0 in the Great Northern Conference. They scored 48 goals and gave up 48 goals, an average of 2.5 per game each. They tied for fifth with Waupaca with 12 conference points.
Lakeland Wrestling Club sends seven to state tournament
State tournament takes place this weekend in Madison
The Lakeland Wrestling Club had a strong showing in Merrill last weekend, sending seven wrestlers to the state tournament in Madison. Lakeland took part in a District 5 state qualifier tournament in Merrill on Saturday. Twenty wrestlers competed for Lakeland with seven advancing to state.
T-Bird boys’ track takes third in Ashland
Lakeland girls finish in seventh place
The Lakeland Union High School track and field program got its first taste of competition in Stevens Point and Ashland over the course of the last week. Several Thunderbirds took part in an invite at Stevens Point on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. Then, Lakeland sent many athletes to the Oredocker Large School Indoor Invite at Ashland on Tuesday.
Season preview: Lady T-Bird softball building on last year’s state run
Last year’s run to the state tournament was a historic moment for the Lakeland softball program. They’re hoping to keep that momentum going forward this spring. The Thunderbirds finished fourth in last year’s Great Northern Conference standings but won four playoff games by a combined four runs to send themselves to Madison.
Lakeland baseball building skills on and off the field
Baseball is back, and for Lakeland Union High School’s team, they’re focusing on the mental aspect just as much as the physical part. The first day of baseball for the entire team came on Monday at the LUHS fieldhouse. Last week, pitchers and catchers practiced over spring break. Monday and Tuesday featured tryouts.
LUHS girls’ soccer revamping its team
Varsity and JV spots were up for grabs when the Lakeland Union High School girls’ soccer team held tryouts earlier this week. Student-athletes showcased their skills during tryouts on Monday and Tuesday at the LUHS fieldhouse. Coaches evaluated players on a number of traits, both technical and mental.
Fact or fiction: All about the carnivores of Wisconsin
Pop culture has always presented carnivores in different ways. Here in Wisconsin, it’s time to determine what is fact and what is fiction. There are several carnivores that call Wisconsin home, or at least visit. Here are a couple of animals that one may or may not see:
The rare animals of Wisconsin
There are many animals that one has seen while living in the Northwoods. At the same time, there are plenty of animals that are hard to spot, very rare or non-existent. Here are four animals that may or may not be seen in Wisconsin.
The fascination and habits of ants
Ants are incredibly-strong, tiny insects that we all have seen. However, when ants invade people’s homes, they aren’t as well-received. There are ways to deal with ants. There are over 100 different ant species that live in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. A lot of them prefer to live outdoors than indoors.
LUHS boys’ hoops drops road game to Rib Lake
A halftime deficit of 20 points was too much for the Lakeland boys’ basketball team to overcome on Thursday. The Thunderbirds fell 65-46 in a road contest at Rib Lake. Rib Lake grabbed ahold of the momentum early and took a 41-21 lead after 18 minutes of play.
The great Christmas debate: live tree or artificial
There’s been a long-time debate over Christmas trees — should one choose a live or artificial tree? I have to give my side of the story. My family and I have always gotten a live Christmas tree, cut straight from a tree farm. That makes it pretty easy for me. I’ll always go with a live tree.
The process of hibernation
Winter is coming. With cold temperatures and harsh conditions approaching, animals like to go into a state of hibernation or torpor. Hibernation is described as “the condition or period of an animal or plant spending the winter in a dormant state.”
A problem with lady beetles
Tips to prevent them from getting in, what to do if spotted indoors
Throughout the last couple of months, one might have seen a particular insect crawling in or around your home. There are ways to keep these insects outside. Little bugs that one might see flying around and crawling this time of the year are multicolored Asian lady beetles, a member of the ladybug family.
Up to bat
Bats in the spotlight on International Bat Week
This week is International Bat Week. Even though we might not see bats, they are a beneficial part of the ecosystem. There are a few bat species here in Wisconsin. Maybe the most common is the big brown bat.
T-Bird boys’ soccer regional champs again
The Lakeland boys’ soccer team kept its unbeaten streak alive and won the regional championship for a third straight season. The Thunderbirds first beat ninth-seeded Medford 7-0 in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal on Thursday. Then, Lakeland shut out Mosinee, the No. 4 seed, 2-0 in a regional final on Saturday. Both games took place in Minocqua.
LUHS boys’ cross country team wins sectional title
Lakeland’s Emerson Rubo punches ticket to state individually
Having already won the conference title, the Lakeland boys’ cross country team punched its ticket to the state meet. The Thunderbirds won the sectional championship, taking first out of 15 qualified teams with 45 points at a WIAA Division 2 sectional meet Friday, Oct. 24 at Merrill Area Recreation Complex.
Merrill’s quick start puts an end to Lakeland football’s season
The Lakeland football team dug itself a hole that it couldn’t recover from in a 38-12 Level 1 playoff loss to Merrill on Friday night.
Lakeland volleyball upsets Wisconsin Dells
Lady T-Birds fall to Waupaca in regional final match
In a season full of highlights, the Lakeland volleyball team made an unexpected run to the regional finals, upsetting the No. 3 seed in the bracket.
Lady T-Bird swim finishes second in the GNC
Lakeland earns honorable mention all-conference in five events
The Lakeland Union High School girls’ swim team had several all-conference swimmers following the Great Northern Conference Meet in Rice Lake. The Thunderbirds placed second out of nine teams with 230 points on Friday. Combining the 14 conference points from the dual season and the 16 points from the GNC Meet, Lakeland totaled 30 points for second place in the conference standings, it’s best as a program since taking second in 2020.
Lady Thunderbirds soar to playoff sweep
Lakeland volleyball reaches 20-win mark for the first time in 17-plus years
Right from the first serve, the Lakeland Thunderbird volleyball team established its play and cruised to a three-set sweep to open the playoffs on Tuesday. No. 6 Lakeland beat No. 11 Ashland 3-0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-14) in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal match in Minocqua.
Playoff preview: Lakeland football getting rematch game with ‘Jays
The Lakeland football team is back in the playoffs once again. Tonight, they’re playing a familiar opponent as they look to try and extend their season. The Thunderbirds (5-4, 3-4 GNC) are set to take on the Merrill Bluejays tonight in Merrill with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Flambeau eliminates Mercer volleyball from the playoffs
The Mercer volleyball team saw its season come to an end following a three-set loss to Flambeau in a playoff game on Tuesday. “(Flambeau was) all seniors, and they had been playing together for many years — it showed,” coach Robyn Schoeneman said. “When you have that many seniors — playing in the postseason is a whole different ball game. The film we watched certainly didn’t do them justice.”
Tomahawk rallies to down Lakeland football on Homecoming
Thunderbirds qualify for playoffs for a fourth straight season
The Lakeland football team had co-Great Northern Conference champions Tomahawk on the ropes, but didn’t have enough to finish the game. Tomahawk (8-1, 6-1 GNC) defeated the Thunderbirds 28-13 during the Homecoming game on Friday in Minocqua. Lakeland also celebrated its seniors prior to the game.
Undefeated and unbeaten
Lakeland boys’ soccer enters postseason undefeated in conference play, unbeaten on the season
The Lakeland boys’ soccer team put the finishing touches on a little more history, and an undefeated conference season, on Thursday as it beat Northland Pines 3-1 in Eagle River.
Thunderbird boys make it four straight cross country titles
Addison Eggen, Emerson Rubo finish first team all-conference for the girls
Several key runners returned on Saturday to help the Lakeland boys’ cross country team claim its fourth straight conference title. The Thunderbirds edged Rhinelander 34-39 in team score at the Great Northern Conference Championships at Northwood Golf Club in Rhinelander. On the girls’ side, Lakeland’s Emerson Rubo finished runner-up and Addison Eggen in the top five to finish first team all-conference.
Lady T-Bird swim sends seniors off with a win
Lakeland girls’ swim’s 7-1 record its best record in GNC in 13 years
A celebration of two seniors and a win made it a perfect night for the Lakeland Union High School girls’ swim team on Thursday. The Thunderbirds beat Colby/Abbotsford 109-57 at the LUHS pool, the final Great Northern Conference dual meet of the season.
LUHS volleyball loses in five to Stratford
Lady T-Birds host Ashland in regional quarterfinals tonight, 7 p.m.
Five sets gave the Lakeland volleyball team plenty of opportunity to get ready for the postseason, however the Thunderbirds couldn’t pull out a win on Thursday. Lakeland fell 2-3 (25-16, 16-25, 18-25, 25-17, 10-15) to non-conference Stratford on the road. The Tigers defeated Lakeland for a third consecutive season.
Robyn Schoeneman returns as Mercer volleyball head coach
Tigers fall to Solon Springs in five sets
The Mercer High School volleyball team got ready for the postseason by putting a scare into Solon Springs on Senior Night. The Tigers fell 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 23-25, 25-14, 3-15) to the Eagles on Thursday in Mercer.
Back-to-back conference champs on Senior Night
LUHS boys’ soccer team defeats Merrill
For a second straight year, the Lakeland boys’ soccer team called themselves Great Northern Conference champions. The Thunderbirds defeated Merrill 4-0 on Tuesday in Minocqua.
Lady T-Birds place third in the GNC standings
Lakeland volleyball gets No. 6 seed for next week’s playoffs
The Lakeland volleyball team may not have gotten all the results they wanted to at last weekend’s conference tournament, but they still made a little program history. The Thunderbirds went 2-1 and finished in third place at the inaugural Great Northern Conference tournament on Saturday in Eagle River. Lakeland beat Antigo in three sets, fell to Medford in four sets and beat Merrill in four sets.
Game preview: High stakes set the stage for LUHS football against Tomahawk on Homecoming
Homecoming. Senior Night. One of the co-leaders of the Great Northern Conference is making the trip to Minocqua in a football game packed with emotion. The Thunderbirds (5-3, 3-3 GNC) are hosting Tomahawk (7-1, 5-1 GNC) tonight at IncredibleBank Field for the Homecoming game.
Turnovers tank Thunderbirds
Lakeland football falls to Wausau East on the road
Turnovers and missed chances led to a Lakeland football loss in a Saturday afternoon contest. Wausau East (3-5, 2-4 GNC) defeated the Thunderbirds (5-3, 3-3 GNC) 24-10 in a Great Northern Conference game at Thom Field in Wausau. The loss ended any hopes Lakeland had at sharing the GNC title.
T-Bird boys’ soccer clinches share of conference title
Thunderbirds win eighth straight game
One of the goals for the Lakeland boys’ soccer team is a conference championship. They earned at least a share of it following their latest win. The Thunderbirds beat Medford 8-0 in 79 minutes on the road on Thursday.