March 14, 2018 at 12:48 p.m.
Rhinelander girls' basketball team hands out awards
Rhinelander girls' basketball team hands out awards
The Hodags went 14-10 this season, their most wins in a season since the 2002-03 campaign according to coach Ryan Clark. Rhinelander's 10-2 record in conference play was its best since joining the Great Northern Conference in 2010 and the Hodags finished in the top three in every team statistical category the GNC keeps during the 2017-18 season.
"The varsity team, this year, I think was very entertaining to watch," Clark said, addressing the players during the banquet.
The Hodags handed out several awards during the course of the banquet, highlighted by senior awards presented to each of the seven players in this year's senior class - Ally Seefeldt, Alayna Franson, Jada Appling, Megan Fernandes, Lexie Rick, Molly Wagler and Maddie Meyer.
"I thought we had a great group of seniors, Clark said. "I'm so thankful for you seniors. It's taken a long time to get a reputation back where it is strong and I think it's as strong as it's ever been, and that's a credit to you young ladies, especially you seniors. You have been fantastic. You've represented out program extremely well."
The team handed out several awards, but no MVP award. The only varsity-exclusive award on the afternoon was the toughness award, which Seefeldt won for the third consecutive year.
"I think, Ally, you're the toughest kid I've coached in 14 years," Clark said of a senior who averaged 19 points per game in the GNC this season. "Ally had a fantastic year - offense, defense rebounding - kind of the glue of our team."
The team's most improved player award went to sophomore Kenedy Van Zile, who led the team in several statistical categories with in the GNC including scoring (20.5 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg), assists (3.3 apg) and steals (4.0 spg).
"Kenedy had a fantastic year. She went from not being on the all-conference team at all to being unanimous first-team all-conference. I think that's an incredible achievement," Clark said.
Another senior, Alayna Franson, won the team's defensive player of the year award. She finished fourth in the GNC - tied with Seefeldt - with 3.3 steals per game.
"We put you on Abby Parris from Lakeland," Clark said, addressing Franson. "You really frustrated her. We put you on Mandi Baker from Medford. We had you guarding the best player we could find."
Meyer won the team's hustle award and Rick earned the team's Hodag award.
The team presented Hodag, most improved, hustle and defensive awards for all three levels of the program - varsity, junior varsity and JV2. Photos of sub-varsity award winners will be published in Saturday's "Youth Sports Roundup" section.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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