RHINELANDER - The exciting sport of Roller Derby has finally made it's way to the Northwoods. We've been following these ladies since they started practicing a year ago and Saturday night, they made things official.
The Northwoods Derby Knockouts hosted their very first bout in front of a packed house at the Rhinelander Ice Arena. They went up against the Keweenaw Roller Girls from Houghton, Michigan. The Knockouts wearing green.
If you've never seen it in person, you're missing out! The bout lasts an hour, divided into 2 halves... and the team earns points when the jammer, who you see with the star on her helmet, passes opposing skaters.
The ladies were thrilled to show off their skills.
The Knockouts won in convincing fashion taking their debut bout 277-115. They have 5 more scheduled this year and you can catch them back in Rhinelander this August.
ANTIGO - This weekend motor sports fans were cheering on their favorites at a Demolition Derby in Antigo. It's basically bumper cars, on steroids.
Over 50 drivers from across the country competed at the Langlade County Fairgrounds.
The goal, is to deliberately ram their cars into all the others. The drivers go both forward and in reverse trying to make contact.
After all the smashing and crashing the last car that still can operate, is the winner.
Another group that benefited from the event was the Elcho Fire Department. Money raised from concession sales will go toward buying new equipment for the firefighters.
After the dust settled, the derby was a huge success.
Antigo Horse Trainer D. Wayne Lukas Wins at Preakness
Submitted: 05/18/2013
BALTIMORE - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas made history at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday when he saddled Oxbow for a front-running upset victory in the 138th Preakness Stakes (G1). The 15-1 long shot gave his 77-year-old trainer his sixth Preakness victory, as well as his 14th triumph in a Triple Crown event.
Lukas, who had been tied with legendary “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons since saddling Commendable for a Belmont Stakes victory in 2000, became the winningest trainer in Triple Crown history.
Overlooked by the bettors, who made Kentucky Derby winner Orb their 3-5 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-olds, Oxbow was in control throughout the 1 3/16-mile Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown on his way to victory by 1 ¾ lengths under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS - Ever wanted to be up close and personal with the Packers? Today fans had that chance in Wisconsin Rapids. It was the team's final stop on their Tailgate Tour. Every visit is a fundraiser for an area charity.
This one was for Opportunity Development Centers. They help people with disabilities work and succeed.
Over 1,000 Packer fans were at Witter Field.
Packers President Mark Murphy was on hand. So were current players Randall Cobb, Alex Green, and Jarret Bush. Former Packer greats Santana Dotson, Frank Winters and Aaron Taylor were there too.
The team answered questions from fans and also signed autographs. The Packers were happy to meet fans and make a difference.
RHINELANDER - Only a few more weeks till school is out for summer and seniors are busy finalizing their plans for college. A Hodag volleyball star is heading to Minnesota.
Taylor Wissbroecker made it official today. She'll be playing women's volleyball for the University of Minnesota at Duluth.
Wissbroecker signed her National Letter of Intent this morning at Rhinelander High School.
She was the 2012 Great Northern Conference player of the year and led the conference in both kills and blocks. Wissbroecker visited the campus in Duluth in March and made a verbal commitment and she's confident she made the right choice.
CONCORD, NC - Authorities in North Carolina say former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 71.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office says authorities received a call believed to be from Trickle on Thursday saying that ``there would be a dead body and it would be his.'' Authorities tried to call the number back, but no one answered.
The sheriff says Trickle's body was found near his pickup truck at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Boger City, N.C., about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte. Sheriff's Lieutenant Tim Johnson says foul play is not suspected.
- Opening round of softball regionals began Thursday. The Division One bracket was released on Thursday. Rhinelander is a #5 seed in their regional. The Hodags play at #4 Wausaw East for their first game, Tuesday May 21. The winner faces #1 Stevens Point Thursday May 23.
Also in D-1 Merrill earned a #3 seed. Merrill will host #6 Wausau West Tuesday. #2 D.C. Everest has a home game against #7 Marshfield.
To view all of the softball brackets in all four divisions, click on the link below.
MERRILL - Most of us don't have the chance to travel internationally... but some Karate students in the Northwoods are hoping to take their talents across the pond.
The Merrill Karate Club has been around since the early 1980's. They pride themselves in offering unique, high quality training for students of all ages.
Jon Gartmann is the Chief Instructor. "All it is is making the things they need to learn and the discipline and respect and the stances and the moves, and just putting a fun spin on it."
"You get to do the obstacle course and freeze tag," adds eight year old Kati Drury.
THREE LAKES - Racing begins at TNT Speedway this weekend.
The Three Lakes track will have opening night on Saturday.
Final preparations are getting done at the track the next few days.
It's also the return of Tim and Patti Rutzen as the track owners. A group of 7 racing enthusiests ran the track last year. But the group decided it was best to go another direction. Tim and Patti still hope to sell the track at some point.
WHITEWATER - Ryan Schilter stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the tenth inning and smacked a walk-off single through the left side to give the UW-Stevens Point baseball team a 6-5 win over Benedictine in the first game of the NCAA Division-III Midwest Regional Wednesday afternoon.
Benedictine posted three runs in the first inning and added one more in the second inning to take an early 4-0 lead.
The Pointers got on the board in the home half of the second inning when Jimmy Coady led off with a double and scored off the bat of Riley Spetz.
Joe joined the Newswatch 12 sports team in July 2011 as the Sports Director.
Before coming to the Northwoods, Joe was the Weekend Sports Anchor at KBJR in Duluth, MN. Joe's resume includes working at WFRV in Green Bay, WDIO in Duluth, and WTCH radio in Shawano.
Joe has always had a passion for sports, especially football, hockey, and golf. Joe is a 2005 graduate from UW-Oshkosh with a B.S. degree in Radio/TV/Film. During his college days, he was the Sports Director for the university's radio station twice.
A native of Frog Station, WI (near Green Bay), Joe grew up watching the Packers, Brewers, and Bucks. In fact he also lists listening to old Packer radio braodcasts among his hobbies. Recently, Joe married his fiancee Amy.
When he is not watching or playing sports, he's likely reading or watching something on the American Civil War, or World War II.
Joe says,"In just a short time, I have really been made to feel right at home, thanks to the great folks in the Northwoods."
If you see Joe out on a shoot, please feel free to say hi and email any story ideas you may have.
Marisa Silvas joined the Newswatch 12 sports team in October 2011 as the Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter.
Prior to coming to WJFW, she was an editor/associate producer for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in San Francisco, CA. She also was a freelance field producer for NBC's Football Night in America and spent 6 years as a sports producer and editor for KNTV, the Bay Area’s NBC affiliate where she co-hosted a weekly Sports Sunday web show with Jerry Rice.
She graduated with a degree in Communications from Santa Clara University.
Marisa is new to the Northwoods and the cold weather but has lived in several different locations on her journey to Rhinelander. Coming from a family with military ties, she was born in Austin, TX, but also grew up in Mississippi, Lancaster, CA, San Antonio, TX before settling down in Campbell, CA for the past several years.
Marisa has always had a passion for sports and people and has followed her dreams to WJFW after pursuing a full time on-air job for several years.
Marisa likes all sports but is most passionate about the NFL, NBA and major league baseball. Since she has lived in many different locations her favorite teams are all over the country as well. You will see her following her favorites: the San Antonio Spurs, Oakland Athletics and yes, Packers fans, sorry, the Chicago Bears.
She is also an avid fantasy sports fan and has participated in fantasy football and hockey leagues the past 5 seasons. Feel free to ask her for the hot waiver wire pickup!
She and her husband of 4 years, Lyndon, have taken several vacations over the past few summers to visit all the MLB parks...she has now been to 14 and is excited to add Target Field to the list this summer! Her favorites so far are Wrigley, PNC and Miller Park. She and her husband also make an annual trek to Soldier Field to watch their beloved Bears and hang out in their favorite city, where they got engaged at the top of the Hancock Tower in 2007.
In her free time, she loves hanging out with her husband Lyndon and adorable puggle Walter. She also never misses her favorite TV show, Dancing With The Stars and with an extensive dancing background, someday dreams of being a future celebrity contestant and winner!
Marisa is very excited to be making the big move from sunny California to the winter wonderland of Rhinelander! If you see Marisa out in the field or around the town, feel free to say hi and buy her a hot chocolate, she's probably cold!
Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Neither Rockfleet Broadcasting / Northland Television, Inc. nor By Request Web Designs shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints.
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