April 3, 2017 at 1:15 p.m.
Team preview: RHS boys' tennis
Hodags netters looking for sixth GNC title in seven years
Team preview: RHS boys' tennis
The Hodags are coming off a season in which they went 7-1 and they return eight of 10 starters from last year.
Rhinelander lost Cody Vinger, who went undefeated in the GNC in second, along with Ryan Kovac in second doubles to graduation, but it appears the Hodags are primed to continue business as usual.
"As a team we are setting the goal as taking the conference championship," Rhinelander head coach Bob Heideman said. "For the first time in the school's history we will be Division 2. So I think we hope to advance about five positions to the sectional and hopefully we will get someone to state."
Rhinelander hasn't won a sectional championship since 1989 and it hopes to place in the top five this season.
Returning at the head of the lineup this year is senior Logan Wild, who went 7-1 in first singles last season.
Wild was the GNC champion and player of the year last season, falling in the semifinals of the conference tournament and placing third in 2015 as sophomore.
This year, he looks primed to get back to his championship ways and cap off a career that has already seen him go 25-3.
"[Two years ago] he stumbled in the semis to the kid from Lakeland, who eventually took it, and he finished third," Heideman said. "This year we should have a good shot at winning No. 1 singles."
Wild is joined by Matt O'Melia and Markus Johnson, both of whom went 8-0 last season and will compete for Vinger's spot this year.
Johnson is also the reining sectional champion in fourth singles.
Sophomores Logan Oestreich, Freddy Wisner, Jonas Sabani, Russell Benoy, along with junior Cade Aschenbrenner are competing for the third and fourth singles spots that are available.
"There's a little question of who's going to play what after Logan," Heideman said. "That's kind of what we're sorting out."
Grant Gilbert and Logan Keso are back at first doubles. Marshall Bessette is also back after missing all of the 2016 season with an injury.
Heideman believes that Antigo might be the favorite to win the GNC this year. Rhinelander split with the Red Robins during the regular season and then the two schools faced off in the five of seven spots in the finals of the GNC Tournament, which the Hodags won.
"I do believe this: Antigo has nine out of 10 players returning," Heideman said. "I truly believe that Antigo is the favorite to take conference at this point."
Rhinelander is scheduled to open the season on Thursday at Medford.
Nick Sabato may be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter @SabatoNick.
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