October 31, 2021 at 7:28 a.m.
All-GNC roundup: Hodag GK Ostermann named GNC defensive player of the year
All-GNC roundup: Hodag GK Ostermann named GNC defensive player of the year
Senior goalkeeper Gavin Ostermann was not only a unanimous first-team choice by the coaches, he was voted the conference's defensive player of the year. Forward Beau Howard was also a unanimous first-team selection.
Midfielder Tucker Frederickson received second-team honors along with defenders Alexx Huff and Charlie Heck. Defender Leo Losch and midfielder Braden Mork received honorable mention.
"Everyone of the kids earned what they got," coach Nathan Bates said. "It would have been nice to see a couple of other awards given to some of my players, but I'm happy with the way it shook out."
The awards were the result of voting by the conference coaches conducted last Wednesday in Tomahawk.
Neither Ostermann nor Howard had the best stats in the conference this year, but the rest of the conference coaches recognized their value to the Hodags.
Ostermann was fourth in total saves (62), save percentage (.785) and goals against average (1.70) in the league, while Howard scored only twice in league play this year. Seven of his nine goals on the season came in non-conference competition.
"Statistically speaking this year, they definitely weren't the ones who had the best stats for the season, but they had respect from all the coaches in the conference that knew them," Bates said. "Beau, every game that he played in, he put a lot of pressure on every team we played. He had his opportunities. He might not have connected as much this year as I would have loved to have seen, but he had the respect of the coaches. All the coaches in the conference said that Gavin is a stud goalkeeper and it's going to be a big loss for Rhinelander."
Frederickson had eight assists on the season, the second highest total in the GNC, while Mork was tied for fourth in assists (5) and tied for eighth in total points (13).
Huff, Heck and Losch were all part of a back line that allowed 1.7 goals per game in league play.
"My defense was all-stars, all of them," Bates said. "They all deserved, in my opinion to be recognized, and the majority of my defenders were recognized this year. They were a big part of our team. Without them, I wouldn't have had even the season we ended up having."
Lakeland's Yaroslav Myshchyshyn took home the league's offensive player of the year honors.
Volleyball
Two seniors, Ariel Pauer and Reagan Hartman, received honorable mention for the Hodag volleyball team.
Pauer's 28 blocks were tied for fifth overall in the conference and she finished second in the conference at 1.04 blocks per set.
"Playing 27 sets and having 28 blocks is a pretty good number," coach Dan Wolter said. "That puts you up there with the Megan Scholzs and Abbi Martins of the world. She missed two games for us at the beginning of the year, but she was still able to put up very high numbers defensively for us."
Hartman led Rhinelander with 79 digs in conference play this season from her libero position in the Hodags' back row.
"I was very pleased to see Reagan's name on that list, just the amount of work and effort and everything she put into the year," Wolter said. "The hustle plays that she made really made her stand out. For her to get that award really shows her character."
Mosinee, which was undefeated in the GNC, swept the special honors with Claire Selenke and Justin Jacobs earning player and coach of the year, respectively.
Other recipients
All-conference teams in girls' swimming, girls' tennis and cross country were determined by results of each sport's conference championship meet. Rhinelander ended up with a total of 24 all-conference recipients in those three sports.
The Hodags took home the most all-conference recognition in girls' swimming, where 10 different swimmers placed in the top three in at least one event at the GNC meet held Oct. 22 in Rhinelander.
Malia Francis, Karis Francis and Abi Winnicki were each first-team all-conference in four different events. Freshman Ellyse Younker earned first-team honors in the 200-yard individual medley and as part of the team's winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. Noelle St. Pierre and Genna Fugle twice earned first-team honors as part of winning relays.
Rhinelander's B entry in the 200 medley relay - Maria Heck, Sam Sundby, Lily Thorsen and Sierra Woodford - earned second-team honors. Heck (200 IM), Sundby (100 breaststroke) and St. Pierre (50 freestyle) earned second-team honors in individual events.
Fugle (200 IM), Younker (100 butterfly) and Thorsen (100 breaststroke) were Rhinelander's three honorable mention recipients.
Malia Francis, who was part of four GNC-record performances during the conference meet, was voted the GNC's swimmer of the year for a third consecutive season.
In girls' tennis, Rhinelander had seven all-conference award winners based on the GNC tournament held in late September. Annika Johnson, the conference champion at No. 1 singles, received first-team honors and was the conference's singles player of the year. Kaylee Pontell (No. 2 singles) and Tori Riopel (No. 3 singles) also earned first-team honors by virtue of their conference titles.
Taylor Riopel, Paige Oleinik, Kylee Younker and Helena Wisner all made the conference's second-team following runner-up performances at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles.
Rhinelander had seven all-conference recipients in cross country. Cal Laggis, who finished third in the boys' conference race, received first-team honors while Jack DeNamur, Ty Welk, Cody Ruetz and Jaden Beske were all on the second team. The top seven finishers at the GNC Meet Oct. 16 at Minocqua Winter Park made the all-conference first team while the next seven finishers made the second team.
Greyson Gremban and Sophia Miljevich each earned honorable mention. Gremban was 16th in the boys' race while Miljevich was 18th in the girls' race.
M.J. Laggis earned GNC boys' cross country coach of the year honors by virtue of Rhinelander winning its first cross country conference title since 1987.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.