When the Shawano Hawks take to the field for the 2026 season, they will play home games on a new synthetic turf football and soccer field.

Fans of Oconto Falls High School’s football team probably noticed a big change in the Panthers’ schedule for the upcoming season.

Instead of past Northwoods Conference matchups with teams like Clintonville, Coleman and Crivitz, the Panthers will now compete in the Packerland Conference, which also includes Bonduel, Oconto, Peshtigo, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, Kewaunee and Marinette.

Eight-player football gives high schools with low participation numbers and inexperienced players an opportunity to compete against similar programs in the same boat.

Take Menominee Nation High School, for example.

Mother Nature forced the cancellation of the feature races Aug. 1 at the Shawano Speedway, but there was still good racing action with the heat races.

In the sport modifieds division, Seymour’s Tim Jorgenson and Shawano’s Travis Rhoades won the heats.

Marion’s Dan Michonski won the first heat in the stock car division, and Shawano’s Trent Nolan captured the checkered flag in the second heat.

Ryan Malueg’s walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Aug. 2 gave Leopolis a 6-5 BABA West Division win over Tigerton.

West Division

Leopolis 6, Tigerton 5

Jackson Krohn led the Bulldogs with three of his team’s 12 hits, while Malueg, Nate Laude and Riley Nietzer added two each.

Austin Hoffman had three of Tigerton’s nine hits.

A big day on the mound for Bonduel’s Jett Thielke led to another Dairyland League win for the Broncos.

Thielke struck out 14 batters over six innings in a 5-2 win over Shawano on Aug. 2 at Jack Reinke Field.

Bonduel 5, Shawano 2

The Broncos improved to 13-2 in Dairyland play with a home win over the Lobos.