Sports Digest

Registration for RIA hockey, learn to skate now open

The Rhinelander Ice Association announced last week that registration for the 2024-25 winter hockey season and its fall Learn to Skate program are now open.

The RIA offers youth hockey for players ages 3 to 14. Youth Hockey typically starts in mid-October and continues through the beginning of March. The RIA typically fields co-ed teams at the following levels: 6U/8U (Mites), 10U (Squirts), 12U (Peewees) and 14U (Bantams).

Additionally, the RIA is offering a fall (2024) Learn to Skate session. This is an introductory course to get kids on the ice and comfortable with basic skating skills. This is best for ages 4-8 but other ages are able to sign up. If younger than 4, The RIA asks to make sure the skater has at least a 30-minute attention span. The RIA can provide skates to use each time from our rental inventory.

Skating will be held from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings from Oct. 22 to Dec. 10, with no class Tuesday, Dec. 3. The cost for the class will be $25 per skater.

More information about both programs and links for online registration can be found on the RIA’s website, www.RhinelanderIce.com.

WIAA board conducts first meeting of fall, contact ad hoc committee meets

Cory Hinkel, superintendent at Luck, presided over the first meeting of the 2024-25 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control last Friday.

The board conducted its 2024-25 officer elections. Karl Morrin, superintendent in the Northwestern School District, will serve as the president-elect. It will be Morrin’s second term as president when he assumes the position in 2025-26, also serving in the role in 2022-23. Jill Stobber, athletics and activities administrator at Waterford High School, was re-elected to the role of treasurer.  In addition, Kurt Cohen, superintendent at Potosi, and Nathan Lehman, superintendent at Stratford, were introduced as new members of the Board.

Dan Retzki, the District 4 representative, announced his resignation from the board after accepting a principal position at a member school outside the district he was elected to represent. As a result, a qualified school administrator will be appointed for a one-year term representing the district until a successful candidate is identified during a special election held at the same time as the regular elections in 2025.

Tim Flood, the district athletic director in Green Bay and co-chair of the Classification Committee, presented a review of the first year implementing the Tournament Series Performance Factor. The board approved one change to the Classification Committee Handbook for 2024-25, removing the requirement to include conference commissioner representation on the committee.

Other board action items included approval of the 2024-25 operational budget, the 2024-25 Media Policies Reference Guide, the annual renewal of the WIAA’s membership in the National Federation of State High School Associations and various general financial reports, as well as the move of the April 29, 2025, Board meeting to Thursday, April 24 at 1 p.m.

The meeting came one day after the WIAA’s Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee conducted its latest meeting.

Following the introduction of Paul Ackley, athletic director at McFarland — who is new to the ad hoc committee after replacing a departing member — the group reviewed the most recent draft of the planned survey. The committee participated in thoughtful discussion of how to best engage multiple audiences and gather a representative sample of actionable data.

The committee and the WIAA executive staff also finalized the communication plan for the implementation of the summer coaching contact survey.

In addition, the committee continued its discussion regarding summer coaching contact based on the work done thus far in reviewing current policy language, national survey data and membership feedback.

In preparation for the upcoming fall area meetings, which are predominately attended by athletic directors, the committee created a list of topics for presentations to be led by ad hoc committee members at each of the district meetings.

The stated purpose of the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee is to represent the diverse voices of the membership in evaluating season lengths, game maximums, and coaching contact with the primary goal to promote a balanced, education-based athletic experience for student-athletes.  

The next meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 10, and the next in-person meeting will be conducted at the WIAA office on Tuesday, Oct. 22.