March 29, 2019 at 1:14 p.m.
Team review: RHS gymnastics
Team review: RHS gymnastics
The Hodags' average score in conference meets was 116.7 points, down roughly four-tenths of a point from last season. That resulted in a runner-up finish in the GNC Small division.
Here are five key stories from the season.
CHASING MEDFORD
The Hodags were the defending GNC Small champions but, from the very first meet of the season, it was clear that Rhinelander would be the hunter and not the hunted this season.
That's because Medford improved significantly, thanks to incoming freshmen Makala Ulrich and Brooklyn Bilz. The Raiders beat Rhinelander in the season-opening Hot Cocoa Invite in Medford and were consistently a step or two ahead of the Hodags.
The Raiders beat Rhinelander by just under five points in a dual meet Feb. 8 to decide first place in the GNC Small heading into the conference tournament and then threw up a season-best 128.125 at conference to knock off Rhinelander by 8.25 points for the Small Division crown.
"They were fun to watch. The girls were just all really hitting for them," RHS coach Heather Sturtevant said of the Raiders' performance at conference. "They really do deserve to be conference champs. They've been throwing up those kinds of scores the last multiple meets."
The trend continued a week later as Medford scored a 126.325 to take the second and final team state qualifying berth at the Antigo sectional. Rhinelander was fourth in that meet with a score of 119.55.
RAVEN'S ROOST
Most of the individual accolades toward the end of the season went to senior Raven Sturtevant, who had a strong finish to the regular season, but was slowed slightly at sectionals due to injury.
Sturtevant had a string of three straight routines that scored 8.15 or higher on the balance beam entering sectional - including an 8.525 at the GNC meet to win the conference championship in that event.
At conference, Sturtevant finished fourth on the floor exercise (8.225) and tied for fifth on the vault (8.2) and earned all-conference honors with a third-place finish in the all-around (31.55), despite a rare fall on uneven bars that dropped her into an eighth-place tie in the event.
Hip and back issues prevented Sturtevant from performing all of the stunts in her floor exercise routine at sectionals. Regardless, she finished sixth in the event (8.2) was named an alternate for the state meet in the event. She tied for ninth on balance beam, was ninth on uneven bars and 10th in the all-around at sectionals.
BRINGING THEIR BEST
Eight gymnasts set personal bests this year, led by sophomore Autumn Shafer, who set new career marks in all four events as well as the individual all-around. Lilli Bishop and Bridget Koser set new marks in three events and the all-around. Raven Sturtevant set three personal records, Amber Briggs had two personal bests. Harlie Zimmermann, Alyssa Scheuermann and Emily Radke each had one personal best.
"We had a season of personal bests, which was just amazing - especially those last couple meets," Heather Sturtevant said during the team's banquet. "Usually you kind of peak early and then you just hope because they're judging hard at the end of the season. We were still knocking some routines out of the park. I'm so excited and so proud of you girls."
NO PRESSURE
According to coach Sturtevant, part of the reason Rhinelander was able to turn in personal bests late in the season is that it went into several late season meets without the pressure of worrying about its team score. With Medford all but out of reach for conference and sectional honors, the team went into the final few meets with few expectations.
"It was good to see that and the girls enjoy going down with no expectations. A few girls I think were able to pull out a few extra tenths," she said following the sectional meet.
WHAT'S NEXT
Rhinelander loses only three seniors, but their impact will be felt as Raven Sturtevant, Zimmermann and Mikayla Evenstad (who missed all of 2018-19 due to a knee injury) bid farewell.
In Raven Sturtevant, the team loses its top all-arounder and the GNC Small champion on the balance beam. Zimmermann, meanwhile, was a two-event starter for the Hodags.
The Hodags have four young gymnasts who posted similar scores much of the season in sophomores Shafer, Koser and Bishop, along with freshman Mallory Myers.
"Do we get them back as all-arounds? I don't know. But they're definitely going to be key in multiple events for sure," Heather Sturtevant said. "We'll be looking at some incoming freshmen who could come in and take up some spots on varsity on bars and floor."
Additionally, Rhinelander will have seniors Amber Briggs and Emily Radke back next year.
Both were contenders for varsity spots on beam by season's end.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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