November 8, 2021 at 9:07 a.m.
Laggis, Miljevich honored as fastest harriers
Laggis, Miljevich honored as fastest harriers
Senior Cal Laggis and freshman Sophie Miljevich took home the team's fastest harrier awards, headlining the list of award winners. In all, the team handed out eight awards - four each to its boys' and girls' squads. Seniors Jack DeNamur and Emma Germain won the team's Long Hauler Award, Ty Welk and Maria Hubler were named the team's most dedicated runners, while most improved honors went to Cody Ruetz and Juliana Smith.
The fastest harrier award has been presented by the team since 2015, evolving from the traditional most valuable player award. The award is objective, going to the runner who was the fastest during the season.
Cal Laggis was the No. 1 runner for the Hodag boys' team in all of his starts this year - highlighted by third-place runs at both the Great Northern Conference meet and WIAA sectionals. He backed it up with a 19th-place run in the WIAA Division 2 state meet last month in Wisconsin Rapids.
With his time of 16 minutes, 56 seconds at sectional, Cal Laggis became the first RHS boys' runner to crack the 17-minute mark in coach M.J. Laggis' nine years at the helm of the program.
"I'm really proud of what he accomplished and he really had a great career -truly the fastest kid I've ever coached and it will be brutal without him," coach Laggis said.
Miljevich emerged as Rhinelander's top runner on the girls' side after sophomore Leah Jamison sustained a hip injury following the team's second race that sidelined her for the remainder of the season. Miljevich was the Hodags' top finisher at both conference (18th) and sectionals (28th) on the girls' side.
"She emerged as our No. 1 runner for most of the season," assistant coach Melissa Krueger said when presenting Miljevich with her award. "When Leah went down with injury, she really stepped up. That's not an easy thing to do as a freshman. It takes a lot of moxie to do that. We're really proud of her with the way she ran the races and the times she brought in. I know she's going to continue to improve."
The Long Hauler Award went to those who the coaches felt best exemplified the willingness to go the extra mile in practice. On a team of hard workers, the coaches said DeNamur and Germain stood out.
"He's just a huge part of what we did this year," coach Laggis said of DeNamur. "I would have never guessed that he would come out and score for us early on and be that solid No. 2 runner that he was all the time. I was really impressed with his work ethic this year. If you watched his body of work, how much he improved over four years, it was crazy."
Speaking of Germain, Krueger noted, "You cannot run like that when you're not strong. That's how you know all the time she put in the weight room, all the miles she puts in on the road, all the focus she puts into practice and competition."
Ruetz, who was Rhinelander's top runner at conference in 2020 when a number of athletes were out due to COVID-19 protocols, dropped more than two minutes during the course of the season and finished with a personal-best time of 18:05.4 at the WIAA state meet. Smith also dropped more than two minutes during the course of the season and was 28th at conference.
"With both Juliana and Cody this year for figuring out most improved, we have all the numbers and the statistics, but it was the easiest award to figure out," Krueger said. "It was clear. And the fun thing is that both Cody and Juliana are juniors, so we've got a whole other season of them coming back and having a phenomenal senior season."
Welk, a senior, and Hubler, a sophomore, received the dedication award for different reasons. Coach Laggis honored Welk for his transformation from someone who first went out for cross country as a sophomore as a means to get in shape for basketball, to someone who emerged as a true leader on a state-qualifying team.
"There's no other way to put it. He stands a head taller than everyone, it feels like, in the huddle. When he talks to people, everyone's listening," Laggis said.
Hubler found herself on the fringe of Rhinelander's varsity seven for much of the year, but Krueger noted her dedication to the sport, running a long-distance citizens race at the end of the season.
"She's really developing as a runner, someone who enjoys the sports and wants to be here at practice, putting in the miles and doing what she needs to do to continue to get better," Krueger said.
Cal Laggis, Welk, Germain and Sage Flory were also recognized as the team's captains this season.
Rhinelander had a landmark season on the boys' side, winning a conference title for the first time since 1987 and placing ninth in its first trip to the WIAA state meet since 1997. The Hodag girls, who dealt with a number of injuries during the season, were fifth at conference and ninth at sectionals.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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