October 18, 2021 at 8:47 a.m.
Run to greatness
Hodag boys win GNC, secure first cross country conference title since 1987
Run to greatness
Cal Laggis led six Rhinelander finishers in the top 16 overall as the Hodags won the Great Northern Conference boys' cross country championship at Minocqua Winter Park. Rhinelander finished 18 points ahead of Medford for the conference title - the team's first since its state championship season in 1987.
Five Hodag runners took home all-conference honors, and that was more than enough to claim the title a year after the team finished fifth at conference without a number of its top runners due to COVID-19 protocol.
"It was a long time coming and I'm awfully proud," coach M.J. Laggis said. "These kids just took the bull by the horns and followed our workouts. I couldn't be more proud of them. It just feels awesome."
"This group of guys is something special," said senior Ty Welk, who finished 10th on the day. "And to finally have a trophy to show for it is just amazing."
Rhinelander was projected as the favorite going into the meet, with Tomahawk and Medford its nearest contenders. The Hodags got a strong start, getting six of its runners in the top third of the field off the sound of the starter's pistol. The Hodags held their position much of the way, and appeared to be in command as the pack flashed by the spectators near the two-mile mark to begin a demanding final mile on the hilly course.
"We were approaching the two-mile mark and I saw Cal right there in the two, three hole and then that throng behind him I thought, 'Wow, if we can just hold this for a mile, we've got this,'" coach Laggis said.
Cal Laggis came across the line third, covering five kilometers in 17 minutes, 23.9 seconds. A short time later, a sea of green jerseys appeared on the horizon as the runners made their way toward the finish line.
Senior Jack DeNamur led the charge in ninth (18:42.8), followed by Welk in 10th (18:44.8), Cody Ruetz in 13th (18:50.8), Jaden Beske in 14th (18:53.9) and Greyson Gremban in 16th (18:57.6).
"I knew the second I crossed that line, and I turned around and saw my boys in green closely behind, I knew we took it," DeNamur said. "It was the best feeling in the world."
Medford, led by individual champion Joey Sullivan, outscored Rhinelander 16-22 through the first three runners. The Hodags' depth ultimately decided the title. Medford's fourth and fifth runners finished 21st and 29th, respectively.
"That's why we won it, the strength of that group," coach Laggis said. "It's the (younger guys) that can push the older guys, and that's what makes Ty Welk, Cody Ruetz and Jack DeNamur go that much harder. Jaden Beske, who played football all year, came out of nowhere the last two weeks and had an outstanding run today."
Tomahawk, the defending boys' conference champion, never really materialized as a factor in the race, placing only three runners in the top 15. The Hatchets finished third, 15 points behind Medford.
The top 14 finishers in the race received all-conference awards. Rhinelander had five all-conference runners, after placing nobody in the top 14 last season. Cal Laggis, who finished fourth in the conference as a sophomore, returned to the all-conference first team after missing last year's conference meet due to COVID protocol.
"It couldn't have been a more hollow ending," coach Laggis, Cal's father, said of last season. "My goal, and I talked to Cal about it all year, was to make the most of this season, enjoy every second of it and finish strong.
"Super proud of Cal. The way that a few runners had beat him all year and Cal just came back and beat them today. He finished third with a great showing, 17:24. His goal was 17:30 today and he's shooting for a real good time at sectionals next week."
Sullivan dominated the boys' race, winning with a time of 16:42.9. He was alone at the front much of the race while Cal Laggis, and Lakeland's Owen Clark and Ashton Bremer staged a three-way fight for second. Clark beat Laggis by roughly nine seconds for the runner-up spot while Bremer finished fourth.
"I battled with those two Lakeland kids for quite a while back in the woods in that third mile," Cal Laggis said. "That third mile is really tough on this course. It's hilly, but I battled with them and came out ahead of one of them, and that was my goal today."
Jason Zheng (41st, 21:53.0) and Gavin Denis (43rd, 22:11.5) rounded out the Hodag varsity.
The Hodags were fifth out five qualifying teams in the girls' race. Freshman Sophia Miljevich once again was the team's top finisher, placing 18th in 22:17.3.
The Hodag girls have been plagued by injury much of the year, with varsity contributors Leah Jamison and Eva Hetland missing multiple races. They were both out of the lineup again Saturday. Sage Flory was Rhinelander's second runner in 26th (23:14.8). Juliana Smith (23:46.80), Emma Germain (23:51.3) and Luna Grage (23:59.3) were 28th through 30th. Reese Gehrig finished 32nd (24:06.9) and Kyleah Hartman was 37th (25:13.6).
"The girls have gotten stronger and stronger," coach Laggis said. "Their strength has been sticking together all year and I think where our boys kind of came out of nowhere, I think we have a girls' team that has a chance to do that if we can put the right pieces in place. I think you could see them take a jump next year."
Medford defeated Tomahawk 32-61 for the girls' title. Northland Pines sophomore Nora Gremban won the individual title going away. Her time of 18:49.1 was 2:02 ahead of runner-up Jennifer Kahn of Medford.
The Hodags are back in action this coming Saturday in a WIAA Division 2 sectional in Oconto Falls.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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