December 14, 2022 at 1:41 p.m.
Team Preview: RHS gymnastics
Hodag gymnasts debut with Snowflake Invite Saturday
Team Preview: RHS gymnastics
Seven teams, including the entire GNC Small Division, will be at the Hodag Dome for the annual Snowflake Invitational.
Though Rhinelander may be in a state of rebuilding this year - with only five gymnasts eligible to compete as of press time - Aschenbrenner's banking on getting eyes on local competitions to drum up interest, especially at the youth level.
"We're going to have a fabulous gymnastics facility come next fall," she said, referencing a new gymnastics area that will be included YMCA Northwoods' expansion project. "Let's fill that place up and build to a good middle school team, to a good high school team. That's where we want to be in the future."
With stronger numbers at the middle school level, and the upgraded facilities, Aschenbrenner is hopeful that this year will start a rebuilding process that get the Hodags back to competing for GNC titles and being in the running for WIAA state berths.
Rhinelander has finished first or second in the Great Northern Conference's Small Division each of the last seven seasons, but the program showed signs of wear toward the end of last season. Though the team finished the season posting its two highest scores, injury and attrition left the team with only four eligible gymnasts.
Coach Heather Sturtevant stepped down at the end of the season and Aschenbrenner, who previously was a WIAA-certified judge, was hired in June to lead the program.
Depth is still a concern from the Hodags at the high school level. Three of the four gymnasts who finished the season last year for Rhinelander did not return. Abby Belbot graduated while junior Claire Wilberding and sophomore Sophie Miljevich opted not to participate. With five spots in the lineup for each of the four events and only five gymnasts currently on the roster, that makes everyone an all-arounder by default.
"The girls that are here working are working hard and they deserve to do a varsity all-around," Aschenbrenner said. "We'll just plan our goals to fit with what we have. Some girls are probably doing events they probably normally wouldn't, but that's part of the learning process."
That leaves Rhinelander with only one gymnast who finished the year last season, senior Leta Cole. She was ninth in the all-around last year at the GNC meet, finishing eighth on both balance beam and uneven bars.
"Leta's been a trooper, been here doing high school for year," Aschenbrenner said. "This summer she came in and I was really impressed with her willingness to help the underclassmen, especially the middle schoolers. She had a really good attitude and was really excited for the season. She had goals, especially on bars to get some new skills."
The team did get one other gymnast back as sophomore Wendy Fronk returns after taking part in a handful of meets last year. Her best score in the all-around was a 25.825 Jan. 8 at the Wisconsin Rapids Invite.
"Wendy's been a year-round gymnast in the club programs prior to high school, so a lot of experience there," Aschenbrenner said. "She's back doing all-around and we're working on some specific goals that she wants to accomplish this year. She'll be a contributor for sure."
Three freshmen round out the squad this season - Nevaeh Anderson and twin sisters Claire and Karlie Yunkers.
Floor exercise was Rhinelander's strongest event last year. Expect that to be the case again this season, especially as Aschenbrenner notes the Yunkers sisters come from a figure skating background, "so their dance and their choreography is great, their presentation. They're going to be able to contribute in all areas," she said.
However, Aschenbrenner said she's determined to eventually turn one of Rhinelander's weakest events - uneven bars - into its strongest. She noted that may be the quickest way for the Hodags to close the gap on its competitors.
"Rhinelander someday will be known for bars. It's going to take a little while, because it's very much a feeder program, but we are really focusing on our bars," she said. "The main reason is you have teams that compete, you go to floor, you're like five-tenths difference (between) a good team and a so-so team. You go to bars, good team (versus) so-so team, two-point difference. If you're good on bars and you're so-so on every other event, you're going to do well."
After Saturday's Snowflake Invite, the Hodags will have one more meet before the holiday break, its GNC opener at Ashland this coming Monday.
Medford, which has dominated the GNC Small the past couple of years, moves up to the GNC Large this year. Ashland and Antigo - perennial sate tournament contenders in Division 2 - come into the Small to take Medford's place.
Given the team's small roster, Aschenbrenner said she's most focused on individual improvement from each of her athletes.
"If every girl were to hit an individual goal on an event, we're going to do well as a team," she said. "This year, we're focusing on those specific things we want to work on because everyone is coming in at different levels."
Rhinelander will face Antigo (Jan. 17) and Lakeland (Jan. 31) in home GNC Small duals this season. The Hodags will also have a home GNC Large-Small crossover dual against Wisconsin Rapids Jan. 23.
Marshfield hosts this year's conference meet Feb. 18 and Antigo will once again host the Division 2 sectional meet Feb. 24.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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