May 17, 2021 at 10:47 a.m.
Rhinelander netters remain unbeaten, take commanding lead in GNC
Rhinelander netters remain unbeaten, take commanding lead in GNC
The Hodags got there with wins over Antigo and Lakeland Thursday and Friday. The team then ran its record to 8-0 overall on the season with a non-conference win over Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday.
Rhinelander sits at 4-0 in GNC play - and at 52 of a possible 56 points through four conference duals - thanks to a 6-1 home win over Antigo on Thursday and a 7-0 victory over short-handed Lakeland on the road Friday. That's twice as many points as second-place Medford, which is set to battle third-place Pacelli this afternoon to round out the first half of the conference season.
"We're making some big progress toward our goal of a conference title," coach Matt Nichols said. "Everyone's playing well. It looks like we'll be able to accomplish that goal, but anything could happen, so we've got to keep giving it our best and pushing forward."
The Antigo match on Thursday was by far the most competitive of the three, with the Hodags splitting a pair of three-set matches at Nos. 3 and 4 singles.
In both cases Rhinelander rallied from down a set to force a decisive third set. Joey Sturzl dropped the first set at No. 4 singles to Nolan Bunnell, 2-6, but rallied back to take the final two sets, 6-3, 6-4. Leo Losch lost the first set to Antigo's Calvin Jansen 5-7 at No. 3 singles. He took the second set 6-3, but fell 5-7 in the decisive third set.
"We were again challenged at those Nos. 3 and 4 singles spot, with great games," Nichols said. "It goes to show their mentality and the competitive spirit they have, and that they truly are there and they can earn those points too."
Rhinelander rolled in the remainder of the matches. Jacob Weddle was a 6-2, 6-0 winner over Simon McPhail at No. 1 singles while Joey Belanger took the second flight 6-2, 6-1 over Sam Bretl. The Hodags did not drop a single game in doubles with Luke Ring and Elijah Evers taking the top flight, and Billy Berwig and Layne Roeser taking the second flight. Jake Losch and Joseph Heck won, unopposed, in the third flight.
"Weddle, one doubles, two doubles, they're all playing really well, two singles too. Across the board, everyone's playing well. We've just had some more competitive players in the lower flights. It's been fun to watch the competition. Our guys played well," Nichols noted.
Lakeland had only two players available for Friday's conference match in Minocqua, handing the Hodags' forfeit victories in five flights. Weddle routed Each Muenzner 6-0, 6-0 in the top flight of singles while Belanger was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Henry Shockley at No. 2 singles.
Rhinelander was able to play only one match on Saturday in a rain-shortened Wausau West Invite, sweeping Wisconsin Rapids, 7-0.
The Hodags didn't drop a game in singles, with an altered lineup. Weddle took the top flight with Evers and Ring moved from No. 1 doubles to take the second and third flights, respectively. Gavin Denis was credited with a default win for the Hodags at No. 4 singles.
Berwig and Roeser moved up to the top doubles flight and had the most competitive match of the day, rallying to beat Rapids' Eric Hulgen and Joey Bohman in a supertiebreker, 2-6, 6-2, 10-4.
Joseph Heck and Losch were 6-0, 6-2 winners at No. 2 doubles. Braden Mork and Charlie Heck slid into the No. 3 doubles spot and won, 6-0, 6-3.
"We switched our lineup a bit. We wanted to give Joey a break. His wrist was bothering him a bit," Nichols noted. "With him sitting, we went Luke and Elijah. I know they want to play singles, so we gave them that opportunity with Joey gone. All the doubles moved up and it was great experience for them moving up into the next spot up."
Rhinelander was scheduled to play two more teams in its subsectional - Pulaski and Green Bay West - on Saturday, but rain nixed those plans. Nichols noted those two teams were able to play Wausau West, which will provide some indirect comparisons come subsectional time. Overall, Nichols said, Saturday's partial washout was a mixed blessing.
"Honestly, it was good for our team," he said. "We had three matches this week and I know a lot of our guys are tired and they are some minor injuries that are popping up. The rest wasn't necessarily a bad thing."
To that end, Nichols said the Hodags have canceled a scheduled non-conference match against D.C. Everest scheduled for today. Everest will instead take part in the Hodags' non-conference invite this coming Saturday. With another round against short-handed Lakeland on the calendar for Thursday, Nichols said most of his team will get an opportunity to rest this week after starting the season with eight matches in nine days.
"Our guys have been working really hard and they could use a break just to recover their bodies and maybe catch up in school. It will be good for them," he said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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