March 2, 2022 at 3:36 p.m.
Hodags' Smith, Schiek named first-team All-GNC
Hodags' Smith, Schiek named first-team All-GNC
The all-conference teams were the result of coaches meetings that were conducted virtually Sunday evening.
Both the Hodag boys' and girls' teams ended up with three all-conference recipients - the maximum they could nominate based on where they finished in the conference standings. Seniors Jackson Zettler and Ryan Jamison received honorable mention on the boys' side while senior Megan Brown and junior Ava Lamers received honorable mention on the girls' side.
Smith received first-team honors for the Hodags this year after being named honorable mention in the GNC a season ago. He was Rhinelander's leader in conference play averaging 16.4 points per game. He also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in league games.
"Smith, being a first-teamer, I think he's had to carry a lot of the load in a lot of different areas on this team. Whether it's scoring, playmaking, he's been able to do that for us," Hodag boys' basketball coach Derek Lemmens said. "Jacksen to get a first-team, that was nice for him because we just have a lot of very good players in this conference."
Audrey Schiek went from not being named all-conference a season ago to a first-teamer this year. She scored 12.4 points per game in league play while averaged 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 5.3 steals.
RHS girls' basketball coach Ryan Clark said Schiek had a breakout senior season not many saw coming.
"Audrey even said, 'Clark, did you ever believe a year ago that I'd be a first-team all-conference player?' No (I didn't)," he said. "She's very deserving and I'm super excited for her. I've never seen a kid make so many strides from one year to the next. On the leaderboard she was near to top in points, assists, steals. She was always in the top five to seven. I just said (to the rest of the coaches) you can't ignore the impact the Audrey has in our 1-3-1 and her presence on the court when we play against those guys. I'm super, super happy for her and proud of that accomplishment."
Brown returned to the All-GNC squad two years after receiving honorable mention as a sophomore. In both instances, Clark said the award recognized her defensive contributions to the team. This year she averaged 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.6 steals in league play.
"I wish our conference had a defensive team, five players because I think Megan Brown is very deserving," Clark said. "She doesn't have all the offensive stats - in steals, assists and stuff like that she did fine - but I would argue she's the best defender in the conference. Very deserving for her to get some recognition for at least honorable mention."
Lamers finished just behind Schiek in scoring in the conference, at 12.1 points per game. She also averaged 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 3.8 steals.
"Ava I thought attacked the season and tried to make plays for us all year knowing that our team has always been, with the personnel we had, more defensive players," Clark said. "We needed someone to step up and look to score. Ava was always looking to be that player that could knock down the basket for us. She had a good year for us as well."
On the boys' side, Zettler averaged 8.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in the GNC while Jamison averaged 8.1 points and 6.1 rebounds.
"With JZ (Zettler) I felt at the beginning of the year he could honestly have been a second- to first-teamer," Lemmens said. "He has that ability but just couldn't consistently put it together. There are times where we definitely know we have that caliber of player on the court.
"Jamison, he took a two-year hiatus from basketball. Imagine, had he been playing that entire time the player he could possibly have been. But, in his time back, he's been such a huge impact to this team."
The Hodag girls and boys were each allowed only three all-conference nominations based on their third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively, in the final conference standings. Clark in particular, felt like he had more all-conference worthy players than he had nominations.
"I feel like Annika Johnson is very deserving of all-conference recognition, but we're only allowed (to nominate) three players," he said. "I don't think all-conference should be a fairness issue. I think it should be based on facts and if three teams have all the players, it is what it is that year, versus trying to give everyone some recognition."
Other sports
The all-conference teams in boys' and girls' basketball rounded out the GNC's winter all-conference squads. The rest had either been voted upon previously or determined by the results of each sport's conference meet.
Rhinelander had five all-conference recipient in hockey. Leo Losch received first-team honors; Cal Laggis, Joey Belanger and Sam Schneider earned second-team honors and Layne Roeser received honorable mention. The all-conference team was voted one by the hockey coaches during the GNC tournament final round in Minocqua Feb. 12.
Rhinelander's biggest haul came in boys' swimming where all 14 of members of the squad received all-conference honors by placing in the top three in at least one event. Rhinelander junior Jack Antonunk, who was a part of four winning entries and set a GNC record in the 100-yard breaststroke, was voted conference swimmer of the year.
Nine Hodag wrestlers received all-conference honors by virtue of placing in the top three in their respective weight classes during the GNC tournament Feb. 5 in Mosinee. Cole Lehman, Gavin Ostermann and Owen Kurtz all made the first team by virtue of their conference championships. Aiden Ostermann, Tanner Schmidt and Joe Fugle were on the second team while Sean Boman, Robert Schramke and Reid Schultz received honorable mention.
The Hodag gymnastics team was shut out of all-conference recognition, which went to only the top three finishers in the GNC Small division in each individual event, and the all-around, at the GNC meet Feb. 19 in Antigo.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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