May 24, 2021 at 8:57 a.m.
Hodag tennis wins home invite
Hodag tennis wins home invite
The Hodags dominated their home pentangular meet, going 3-0 on the day. The Hodags had 6-1 victories over Bay Port and D.C. Everest before blanking Ashland 7-0. Rhinelander was scheduled to play Wausau East in the in final round of the tournament, but the Lumberjacks opted not to play at the end of a long day of tennis.
"We got three matches in, so pretty much a full day as far as tourneys are concerned, and wins against each team. It was fun, good tennis," said Hodag tennis coach Matt Nichols, whose team improved to 12-0 overall with the wins.
For the majority of the team, it was the first competition since May 15, which capped off a stretch of eight matches in nine days. The Hodags had a only two contested flights on Thursday as they defeated a short-handed Lakeland squad 7-0 in the Hodag Dome.
Nichols said much of the week was put toward rest and fine-tuning skills.
"It was good, we were able to do some drilling," he said. "We actually ended up shortening some of the practices just due to overuse injuries, but it was good to get out and get competing so they could put some of those skills into play."
The Hodags only once went with their standard lineup on Saturday, trotting it out for the opening match against Bay Port. Rhinelander swept singles with Jacob Weddle, Joey Belanger, Leo Losch and Joey Sturzl all taking straight set wins. The only loss came at No. 1 doubles, where Elijah Evers and Luke Ring fell to Hudson Menne and Rohan Gala 2-6, 4-6.
"Our No. 1 doubles, they played a really competitive Bay Port team and got some good experience at that level, just getting pushed a little bit," Nichols noted. "Even though it was a loss there, it was fun to see them compete and play a good team."
The teams of Billy Berwig and Layne Roeser, and Jake Losch and Joseph Heck were straight set winners in the second and third doubles flights.
The Hodags mixed things up for their second match of the afternoon against D.C. Everest, giving both Weddle and Evers a match off, while bumping Ring to No. 1 singles. Ring rallied back in that match to defeat Lucas Allen in a super tiebreaker, 2-6, 6-2, 10-7.
Belanger, Losch and Sturzl all cruised in straight sets in the lower singles flights. Again, Rhinelander's lone loss came at No. 1 doubles where Berwig and Roeser bumped up a flight and fell to John Belton and Colin Belton, 6-2, 6-3. Jake Losch and Joseph Heck took No. 2 doubles while Charlie Heck and Braden Mork took No. 3 doubles.
"We pushed out doubles a little bit so we bumped them all up, got them some experience at the next flight up. Our singles as well, Luke had that opportunity to play at No. 1," Nichols said.
The Hodags altered the lineup again and cruised against Ashland, dropping a total of 10 games in the six contested matches. Weddle, Berwig and Leo Losch took the first three fights of singles while Roeser was credited with a default victory at No. 4 singles.
Overall, the Hodags went 6-0 on the day at Nos. 3 and 4 singles between Leo Losch, Sturzl and Roeser.
"Both of those (flights) played really well," Nichols said. "We had some longer matches there in the past in conference duals. It was fun to see them close out each match in two sets. They were both playing really well."
In doubles Evers and Ring, Jake Losch and Joseph Heck, and Brad Mork and Charlie Heck were all 6-1, 6-0 winners.
It was only the fourth match of the season for Mork and Charlie Heck at No. 3 doubles. The tandem moved its second to 4-0 with the win.
"They're both playing at that level, we just have such a competitive team they can't start there every time," Nichols said. "It awesome to get these tournaments where we can move them up and have them play at the varsity level, get some experience there."
Rhinelander 7, Lakeland 0
The Hodags cruised Thursday in conference play over Lakeland, improving to 5-0 in the GNC. Lakeland had only three players available for Thursday match, playing at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.
Rainy conditions forced play into the Hodag Dome, which held its first varsity high school tennis match.
"That was exciting," Nichols said. "It was a rainy day and we still got to play all those matches. It was awesome to use the dome to have that experience."
Rhinelander bumped Leo Losch up to No. 1 singles for the match, and he defeated Zac Muenzner, 6-1, 7-5. In doubles, Evers and Ring were 6-1, 6-1 winners over Max Bybee and Henry Shockley.
"It was fun to watch Leo, he was playing really well, and then No. 1 doubles as well. They've just had a really consistent season. Both are playing at a good level, where we need them to be right now," Nichols said.
Sturzl, John Currie and Gavin Denis were credited with default wins in singles while Berwig and Roeser, and Jake Losch and Joseph Heck won unopposed in doubles.
Rhinelander is back in action this afternoon in a non-conference match at Wisconsin Rapids. The team returns home Tuesday to face Pacelli, which it beat 6-1 on May 7, in conference play.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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