August 13, 2018 at 12:23 p.m.
Team preview: RHS girls' tennis
Experienced group looks to regain GNC crown
Team preview: RHS girls' tennis
The Hodags are eager to begin a new streak this year but, to get back on top, they may have to contend with more than just the Red Robins.
That's because the conference grew by two teams this year, adding private schools Wausau Newman and Stevens Point Pacelli - the teams that tied for first in the Division 2 subsectional at Lakeland last October - to the mix.
Regardless, Rhinelander coach Bob Heideman said the goals for this year's Hodag squad remain the same.
"Surely, we want to win conference," he said. "That's the main goal. After that, (the goal) is to get better and I think that we're headed in that direction."
Rhinelander returns an experienced group, with eight of last year's 10 starters back in the fold. The lone graduates from the squad are No. 1 singles player Belinda Weddle and No. 1 doubles player Livi Roberts.
With Weddle gone, it appears the rest of the singles lineup will bump up one flight - if Saturday's scrimmage against Wausau West at the RHS tennis courts is any indication.
Junior Alex Oestreich moved up to the top flight after going 11-1 in Great Northern Conference play at No. 2 singles a year ago. That one loss came to Antigo's Izzy Matuszewski in the finals of the conference tournament. Emma Roberts and Kenedy Van Zile - last year's conference champs at Nos. 3 and 4 singles - move up a flight to the second and third slots.
While returning players Lisa White, Izzy Haverkampf, Jaiden Thiel and Kathryn Borski are in the varsity mix, Heideman opted for a pair of freshmen to fill the holes in the lineup for Saturday's scrimmage with Kaylee Pontell playing at No. 4 singles and Annika Johnson partnering with senior Haley Seefeldt at No. 1 doubles. Both players won their matches Saturday.
"I think both of them took a major step in terms of solidifying their positions," Heideman said following the scrimmage. "What they need now is a lot of experience and guess what they're going to get over the next two weeks. They're going to get a lot of experience. We're expecting that they'll build from here."
The two others doubles teams return intact from a season ago. Madi Losch and Alexis Pyrchalla, the champs at No. 2 doubles, are back as is the third doubles pairing of Jackie Wells and Savannah Chartier.
"I'm expecting a lot out of the doubles teams this year. I think they're going to be the core that we build the wins around," Heideman said.
Still, getting back on top in the GNC is going to be easier said than done, given the changes in the conference this year. With the league now at eight teams, teams will play each other only once in dual meet play ahead of the conference tournament Sept. 22 at Lakeland.
Antigo, which edged Rhinelander by seven points for last year's conference title, is slated to return seven of its 10 starters. Wausau Newman brings with it the odds-on favorite for conference singles player of the year, sophomore Mia Larrian, who finished fifth at state in the Division 2 singles draw last year. Her one loss in Madison came in the quarterfinals to her older sister, Laura Larrian, who has since graduated.
Both Newman and Pacelli figure to be contenders in the conference, considering they tied for first in a Division 2 subsectional that included GNC schools Lakeland, Marshfield Columbus, Medford and Phillips.
Still, until he sees Newman and Pacelli firsthand, Heideman said Antigo is the team to beat in the GNC.
"I think we're going to have a good test this coming tournament in Wausau because Newman, who's new to the conference, we're going to play them," Heideman said, alluding to a non-conference matchup that took place Monday as part of the two-day Wausau West Invite. "I think we lost to Newman last year. It will be a good indicator."
Rhinelander will get a very strong indication as to the strength of its team during the first two weeks of the season. The Hodags will open the conference slate against Marshfield Columbus at home Thursday before hosting Ashland, Ironwood, Mich. and Merrill in a quadrangular on Friday. Next week's schedule includes five match days, including a quad at Wisconsin Rapids and a second invite at Wausau West.
Wausau West scrimmage
The Hodags got their first taste of competition Saturday in a scrimmage at Wausau West. The scrimmage was much like a regular dual meet, except for the fact that coaches were permitted to talk to players after any point, rather than having to wait until the players changes ends of the courts or a set came to an end.
Unofficially, Rhinelander took the scrimmage 5-2 with a sweep in doubles and wins in the two lower singles flights.
"I like it. I think the mantra is going to be footwork and being ready," Heideman said of where his team sits following the scrimmage. "I think if we continue to improve there, we'll be OK."
Oestreich had a tough draw in her first match at No. 1 singles, losing to state qualifier Natasha Bailey 6-1, 6-1. Emma Roberts fell to Lilia Teske 6-4, 6-1 in the second flight.
Van Zile rallied from down 1-5 in the second set to defeat Anika Eder 6-2, 7-5 while Pontell downed Sophia Kohl 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles.
Seefeldt and Johnson played the longest match Saturday, outlasting Kylie Rennie and Sam Mellberg in a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 11-9 marathon that took roughly 2 1/2 hours to complete. Losch and Pyrchalla were 6-1, 6-1 winners over Olivia Majernik and Rachel Hartman at No. 2 doubles. Wells and Chartier defeated Sydney Weiland and Breanna Holtz 6-2, 6-4 in the third flight.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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