April 4, 2022 at 8:57 a.m.
Team preview: RHS boys' tennis
Hodag tennis set to reload with deep roster
Team preview: RHS boys' tennis
"The team made it very clear. We had a meeting right at the beginning and one of the team goals is to win conference and they also took it a step up and they're looking to match their performance at subsectionals from last year, qualifying all seven flights," second-year head coach Matt Nichols said. "It's doable, but it's going to be very challenging. That takes a lot of skill from the entire team, top to bottom, in order to do that. I'm looking forward to see if we can accomplish those goals."
Though there are some questions that remain unanswered, between the returning varsity players, those who saw spot starts on varsity last year and underclassmen who have entered the fold, Nichols said he's confident his team will be able to put together another strong lineup.
"There might be some growing pains at the beginning, but I foresee everyone filling into whatever role they earn very quickly, just based on their experience and previous playing," he said. "I think we're going to have a similar problem as last year where we have such a competitive team that some people that, who on any other team, would be varsity are going to be filling a JV role. But it's awesome to see the opportunity for these guys to move up, especially these guys who played JV the whole season but could easily beat varsity players on most teams in the area."
Entering the season, the biggest question is who will ascend to the No. 1 singles position vacated by the graduation of Jacob Weddle. Whoever takes over will have some big shoes to fill, replacing a two-time GNC singles player of the year.
Sophomore Joey Belanger, who went 15-4 at the No. 2 flight, is in the running, as are seniors Luke Ring and Elijah Evers, who were 16-2 together as Rhinelander's top doubles paring last year. Evers won his lone varsity start last year, a victory at No. 2 singles, while Ring went 2-0 in singles last season, with wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 flights.
That battle has not sorted itself out yet as challenge matches are scheduled to continue this week prior to Thursday's opener.
"Luke and Elijah really bring a lot of experience, playing all four years and hitting throughout the summer, year-round," Nichols said. "Both of them have shared a preference for singles. It's looking like some playoff matches to see how Luke, Elijah and Joey Belanger, our No. 2 singles, kind of shake out. Based on those, we can look on doubles pairings and, potentially some other situations as far as No. 1 singles but, right now, it seems like those are the three vying for that spot."
Assuming both Ring and Evers do not play together, Rhinelander figures to have plenty of depth at singles. Junior Leo Losch went 13-7 at the No. 3 flight last year and is also back in the fold. If Belanger, Evers and Ring all play singles, it is possible Losch could drop to the No. 4 flight, where the team is looking to replace the graduated Joey Sturzl.
All of that would leave quite a void for the Hodags in doubles, however. If Ring and Evers move to singles, that would leave only one returning doubles starter from last season, junior Layne Roeser, who was 16-2 at the No. 2 flight with graduated senior Billy Berwig. Rhinelander also graduated the tandem of Jake Losch and Joseph Heck, who went undefeated last year en route to a sectional championship at No. 3 doubles.
The good news is Rhinelander has some players ready to step in and fill the void. Juniors Braden Mork and Charlie Heck seem poised to step into the varsity lineup. They won all four of their starts together at No. 3 doubles last season. Junior Eli Lundt and sophomore Gavin Denis also return. Both were undefeated in limited varsity action last year.
"Even the guys that weren't in that consistent top 10, they bring a lot of experience. They had a lot of exhibition matches and varsity starts," Nichols said. "We have a really strong junior class and sophomore class. It's really hard to throw out any more names besides the seniors because so many guys bring different talents and a lot of experience to the team."
Rhinelander went undefeated in dual meet play last season as it earned its seventh straight conference title and ninth in 10 seasons as a member of the GNC. The Hodags figure to be the conference favorite again this season, though Nichols said he expects last year's two nearest competitors, Medford and Antigo, to give Rhinelander a challenge again.
"(Medford) lost their No. 1 singles player but I see them as being one of the top teams in the conference, along with Antigo," he said. "Those two pushed us the most and, Antigo, their No. 1 singles is coming back. They do have some experience at the top, which is huge."
Rhinelander is the largest of the five GNC boys' tennis programs, and the only one that is in Division 1 for the WIAA tournament. Yet the Hodags were able to waltz through a subsectional that included a number of Wisconsin Valley Conference teams last season. Nichols said a number of Valley schools have seen an uptick in numbers after last year's COVID-condensed season, so repeating the feat may be more of a challenge.
The good news is that Rhinelander is scheduled to see many of the teams in both its subsectional and sectional during the course of non-conference play this spring.
"We do play those teams and to get pushed early in the season, or whenever we play them, will be good experience and something we can build on at practice and further down the road," Nichols said.
Another incentive for the Hodags - the team is scheduled to host the subsectional round of the WIAA tournament May 23 at the RHS tennis courts.
Rhinelander's first four matches of the season will all be Great Northern Conference contests, including home matches against Lakeland Thursday and Pacelli April 12. Rhinelander has the benefit of being able to use the Hodag Dome in the event of inclement weather, or if the RHS tennis courts are not yet snow-free. The team's first invite is a two-day affair in De Pere April 22 and 23.
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.