November 15, 2017 at 2:06 p.m.
Sabani, Lowry and Von Oepen voted RHS soccer MVPs
Sabani, Lowry and Von Oepen voted RHS soccer MVPs
Junior Jonus Sabani was voted the team's overall most valuable player, fellow junior Matthew Von Oepen won offensive MVP and senior Alec Lowry was named defensive MVP.
The awards were voted upon by the players, and three of several presented during the awards ceremony.
Sabani led the Great Northern Conference in goals and overall scoring this season, earning conference offensive player of the year honors in the process. He scored on every GNC school during the season and was the Hodags' top scoring threat.
"As far as players are concerned, there's not anyone inhere who would question your ability to play the game and how you play it. I'm more impressed with the fact that you are training every single day, in season and out of season," coach Dan Millot said. "I think you're a great example to these guys of what it takes to be a good player and what it takes to reach that next level."
Sabani's running mate much of the year was Von Oepen, who led the GNC in assists, while providing a versatile option in the midfield.
"As we've had to find different pieces of the puzzle, Matthew's stepped into every role I've asked him to," Millot said. "He's stepped into every one of those roles and your leadership is greatly appreciated. Your play, I think, speaks volumes."
Lowry, meanwhile, skippered a Hodag defense that was the Great Northern Conference stingiest for the second year running, and was voted the conference's defensive player of the year.
"Alec really took it upon himself to become a student of the game and to understand what he needed to do to run our defense," Millot said. "He's done that successfully now for two solid seasons."
Senior Ryan Roberts netted a pair of awards Monday night. He was voted the team's most improved player and also won the academic excellence award for being the senior on the team with the highest cumulative grade point average.
Roberts, who started the year as a fringe varsity/JV player, quickly blossomed into a starting defender for the Hodags.
"You took off and improved," Millot said, addressing Roberts during the banquet. "You're definitely one of the most cognitively smart players we have on the field and off. But the way you played the game, when it came to saying to someone, 'go head the ball,' he was heading the ball. He headed it with authority. You were accurate. You passed with your head. You cleared with your head. You did what you needed to do in terms of the position. Your improvement allowed us to put players in better positions for their skills. We appreciate that."
Senior Joseph Schmitz received the team's hustle award, Quinn Werner won the sportsmanship award, junior Hunter Hicks won the Hodag Strong award and Jacob Ostrander won the dedication award. Additionally, the team handed out letters to 18 varsity athletes.
The Hodags went 16-4-2 during the 2017 season and posted a perfect 10-0-0 mark in the GNC en route to their fourth straight conference championship. The Hodags won their first regional title since 2008 before being eliminated by Amherst/Iola-Scandinavia in a Division 3 sectional semifinal.
"You guys have a lot to be proud of," Millot told the team. "You are continuing the tradition of excellence within the soccer program at Rhinelander High School."
Despite the success, Millot challenged the team to raise its game to meet raised expectations for next year.
"If we seriously want to take the next step to get through the sectionals and into the state tournament - and make a good appearance in the state tournament - we need to improve our game 100 percent," he said.
In addition to the awards, Millot announced that Sabani, Von Oepen and junior goalkeeper Josh Randolph will serve as team captains for the 2018 season.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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