October 19, 2020 at 8:37 a.m.
Short-handed Hodags finish fifth in GNC cross country
Short-handed Hodags finish fifth in GNC cross country
With its top two runners on the boys' side - juniors Cal Laggis and Jaden Beske - unable to compete, the Hodags finished fifth at Thursday GNC championship at Edgewater Country Club in Tomahawk. Rhinelander also finished fifth in the girls' race.
Laggis had not finished outside of the top five in any race so far this season, and likely would have contended for another top five on Thursday night, while Beske had established himself as Rhinelander's second runner throughout the season. Neither were allowed to race on Thursday. Coach M.J. Laggis noted Beske might be able to return for today's WIAA Division 1 subsectional in Medford, but Cal Laggis' season has come to a premature end.
"There were two guys that could have really helped pull those team standings up big time and they couldn't run. What do you do," coach Laggis said. "I'm not sure what they would have done tonight, but I think Jaden Beske is without a doubt a second-team runner this year, the way he worked and his times and the way he competes on meet day. Cal was probably three or four (overall). He was probably top five without any questions at all. He was 12 seconds off Sullivan the last time he raced him. He would have been in the hunt."
In a change this season, the GNC added a third category to its all-conference team - honorable mention for runners who finished 15th to 21st overall. Rhinelander ended up with six all-conference honorees as a result.
With Laggis and Beske out, Cody Ruetz finished the night as Rhinelander's top runner on the boys' side, clocking in 15th overall with a time of 18 minutes, 50.9 seconds. Ty Welk, back after being sidelined for a couple of weeks due to health concerns, was 17th (18:56.2), followed by senior Daniel Goldsworthy in 19th (19:00.0) and junior Jack DeNamur was 20th (19:01.2).
"All four of those guys were all-conference honorable mention," coach Laggis said. "I'm really proud of those guys for how hard they worked and how hard they pulled together tonight. In particular, I'm very happy for Daniel Goldsworthy as a senior because he got a little bit of recognition with the honorable mention, and well-deserved. He's just been a really hard-working, solid, everyday, plug along guy. Happy for those for and, for Jack DeNamur and Cody Ruetz and Ty Welk to get on the board."
Rhinelander had two runners earn all-conference honors on the girls' side. Senior Ali DeNamur took 16th (21:34.2) and freshman Leah Jamison finished 19th (21:48.0).
"Leah Jamison, you're really happy to see a freshman get into that category and make a little bit of a mark," Laggis said. "For Leah, she has a lot of ability but ability means nothing if you don't work hard. How hard she works over the next years will determine how successful she is but what a great start for her. Ali DeNamur, I'm really happy for her. She's just one of the great kids to be around. She wants to go to Ripon (College) next year and continue her running career and I've encouraged her strongly to do that. I'm really happy for her that she got recognition."
Travis White (42nd), Jake Losch (45th) and Jason Zheng (46th) rounded out the varsity contingent for the Hodag boys. Medford's Joey Sullivan (16:40.9) won the meet while Tomahawk placed five runners in the top 10 to take the boys' conference title in a landslide. Lakeland, Medford, Northland Pines and Rhinelander rounded out the top five. The Hodags finished 49 points behind Lakeland for the runner-up spot - a gap that would have likely been negligible had Laggis and Beske been able to run.
"It's always difficult. You're trying to get a group of guys ready and I think, for the first time since I've really been coaching, we really had a team of guys that thought they could really make a mark tonight and do really well," coach Laggis said. "I got to tell you, the boys that were able to run just laid it on the line. They really did."
Emma Germain (24th), Juliana Smith 927th), Ella Schiek (28th), Abbey Henrichs (31st) and Eva Hetland (37th) rounded on the running order on the girls' side. Laggis noted the efforts of Schiek and Henrichs, two of the three seniors on the girls' side along with Ali DeNamur.
"Abbey Henrichs has really been a good leader and a hard worker for us and a very good student and a really good kid. I would have liked to see her have a little bit better of a night but she's been very, very solid for us and I'm really proud of her," he said. "Ella's just really started to work harder than ever and it shows. I'm really proud of the role she's taken on with our team."
Lakeland's Kate Melms (19:47.4) won the individual girls' title while Medford edged Tomahawk by 14 point for the individual crown. Lakeland, Mosinee and Rhinelander rounded out the top five.
The Hodags are in Medford today for a WIAA Division 1 subsectional. The nine-team meet will be split into two heats, with Rhinelander racing in the later of the two heats with Medford, Merrill and Lakeland. Once the results of both heats are combined, the top two teams overall, plus the five fastest individuals not on a qualifying team, will advance to sectionals.
"We're running against Division 1 schools so we have to go out there, do our best, run against ourselves and our times and (see) how much we can improve from that standpoint and leave our best out there on Tuesday," coach Laggis said. "I think that has to be the game plan."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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