Press Release
On Saturday, the Hatchets traveled to 9-Mile Forest for the Great Northern Conference Championships. On the varsity ledger the Hatchet boys placed fourth, while the girls finished fifth. For Tomahawk, the Junior Varsity boys placed second and the JV girls placed fourth. Lakeland won both varsity team championships and swept all four races on the day.
Earning All-Conference honors were freshman Haley Voermans-Dean and junior Mason Webster. Haley raced to her third fastest 5000-meter time of 20:49 placing sixth overall and earning 1st Team All-Conference honors. Mason made the 2nd Team All-Conference squad with his 14th place effort in time of 18:07.
Other Hatchet varsity finishers were: Evan Ploeckelman (17th), Cayton Scholz (18th), Meagan Berg (21st), Maggee Renn (23rd), Justin Jarvensivu (25th), Rylie Swan (29th), Morgan Waye (33rd), Parker Johnson (35th), Olivia Weber (36th), Kate Krueger (37th) and Lucas Tjugum (40th).
Varsity results include GV-Lake-38, Med-54, Mos-92, Rhine-99, THS-112, NPHS-147, Ant-187 BV-Lake-25, NPHS-67, Med-67, THS-109, Mos-124, Rhine-130 and Ant-176.
Junior Luke Olson started the day off on the right note as he won the Junior Varsity race with a solid 19:04 5000-meter clocking. Teammate Keegan Karlen placed 3rd only 7 seconds behind Luke. Freshman Gillian Buckwalter placed 5th for the lady Hatchet JV squad in 23:38.
Other Tomahawk JV placers were: Orion Spaulding (10th), Shawn Dirkx (11th), Erik Zedler (12th), Brett Gerber (13th), Arianna Schreiner (13th), Matt Johnson (14th), Josh Wick (15th), Jackie Wick (21st), Corinn Genelin (22nd), Jacob Miller (22nd), Taylor VanStrydonk (23rd), Keaton Jed (24th), Anthony Ierulli (25th), Sam VonSchrader (26th), Jenny Zheng (27th), Jared Leverance (29th), Reed Zedler (33rd), Carl Theiler (34th), Jarrett Flynn (35th), and Kole Svacina (46th).
JV results include GJV-Lake-26, Mos-46, Rhine-69, THS-73, NPHS-Inc, Med-Inc, BJV-Lake-30, THS-37, Med-62, Mos-110, Rhine-146 and Ant-Inc.
Next race for the Hatchets is on Saturday as Tomahawk travels to Waupaca for the WIAA Division 2 Northeastern Wisconsin Sectional race. The meet gets underway at 11:00 a.m. with the boys varsity race. The top 2 teams and the top six non-qualifying team members advance to the state meet the following weekend in Wisconsin Rapids.
Quotes/AOW
“At our team meeting this week we set our goals realistically high. Everyone knew Lakeland was going to dominate the event, but we felt we could be in the mix for the runner-up spot on the boy’s side and thought that we could challenge Mosinee and Rhinelander for third in the girl’s race. With an unexpected DQ on the course for one of our boys and the girls not handling the high humidity very well, we struggled to attain those team placings.
“After experiencing numerous seasonal best performances last weekend at home, we were a bit surprised at how average our performances were this weekend. This week we really ‘cut back’ the mileage on our junior varsity and were working mostly leg speed drills this week for the entire team. It showed as we got out ‘fast’ in most events, but we couldn’t hold pace in most cases. We need to do a better job at Waupaca next week, maintaining our speed and positions in the second mile and down the homestretch.
“For Haley and Mason to make the All-Conference squad was nothing short of awesome. They both worked hard all season and it showed today in their placements.
“For the second straight year, the GNC could be well-represented at Rapids. Lakeland is the odds on favorite to advance for both squads. Medford and Peshtigo are going to battle for the remaining spot on the girls side. Oconto Falls, Medford, Pines, Seymour, and Tomahawk will have the best shots to claim the remaining boys qualifying position. Pack running will be a key factor in our destiny next weekend for the boys.”
Haley Voermans-Dean… “Haley went anaerobic earlier in this race than she was used to. The first mile was very fast, but she handled herself like a veteran and didn’t panic. She worked hard at the tail-end of the lead pack not to lose contact with them. In the last 1000 meters she made a nice move to pass a an athlete and insure herself a finish as a 1st Team All-Conference runner, quite an accomplishment for a freshman!”
Mason Webster… “Mason has been doing an excellent job finishing his races. This meet was no exception, as he is able to find another gear when he needs it down the stretch. He also moved past 2-3 athletes in the last 1000 meters to grab the final All-Conference position and the lone Hatchet on the squad.”