September 23, 2021 at 2:40 p.m.
Hodags rest several runners in Antigo
Hodags rest several runners in Antigo
As a result, the Hodags rested some of their top runners - especially on the boys' side - Tuesday in the Gartzke Flowage Invitational hosted by Antigo High School in the Town of Bryant. Rhinelander finished last in the six-team boys' field because of it and was third out of five teams with a girls' squad that featured most of its usual varsity runners.
Tight quarters and steep inclines make the Gartzke Flowage course extremely challenging, with times usually a minute or more off the pace of a standard 5K race. Given that, and the fact that the meet was sandwiched between last Saturday's Smiley Invite in Wausau and Thursday's Three Lakes Invite, Rhinelander coach M.J. Laggis opted to rest five of his seven usual starters on the boys' varsity team.
Laggis added that Rhinelander was scheduled to see fellow GNC contender Tomahawk head-to-head for the first time this season Thursday in Three Lakes also factored into the decision to give a number of runners the night off.
"That played a big part into Tuesday," Laggis said. "We wanted to see what we could do healthy. The boys' side has been scoring pretty well, so what can we do against what we think will be a full-staffed Tomahawk team. With three meets in six days basically, five boys didn't run. That changed our lineup completely."
Senior Jaden Beske, who is also playing football this fall, led the way for Rhinelander, taking 15th in a field of 37 varsity runners at 21 minutes, 14.3 seconds. Beske was not scheduled to run Thursday at Three Lakes as he prepares to battle Antigo in the Bell Game.
Sophomore Gavin Denis was the only other usual varsity starter who ran Tuesday, clocking in 18th at 21:57.4.
"It was nice to get Jaden Beske a run. He was our No. 1 and he ran really hard and strong. That's a tough course," Laggis said. "Gavin Denis was our No. 2. He had a good run on a tough course. Gavin's got a challenging week with two tough meets in a week and as a sophomore and first-year runner, he's dropping time, big time."
Freshman Sophia Miljevich returned to the lineup Tuesday after bowing out of Smiley due to injury and led the Hodag girls with a 10th-place finish at 23:44.0. Seniors Emma Germain (12th) and Sage Flory (15th) were next across for Rhinelander at 24:46.7 and 25:24.3, respectively.
"Sophie Miljevich was back last night. She didn't finish Smiley, but she was back last night so it was good to get her a run and try to get her two runs this week," Laggis said. "It was good on the girls' side. It was nice to get Sophie to medal (with a top-10 finish). We thought about (resting) Emma, but Emma's just so strong and solid, so just let her go."
The Hodag girls were still without sophomore Leah Jamison (hip). Luna Grage (25:36.7), Juliana Smith (26:37.1) and Reese Gehrig (26:44.2) rounded out the Rhinelander contingent in 20th, 21st and 22nd.
Jason Zheng (23:52.8) was 31st for the Hodag boys, followed by Zacha King (34th, 24:44.1), AJ Gillespie (35th, 24:44.3) and Travis White (37th, 26:10.7).
Shawano took the boys' title on Tuesday while Medford won the girls' title. Medford's Joey Sullivan (18:17.7) and Northland Pines' Nora Gremban (20:38.5) were the individual winners.
The Three Lakes Invite held Thursday concluded after press time for today's edition. Rhinelander returns to action next Thursday, Sept. 30, in the Waupaca Invite.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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