March 10, 2022 at 8:36 a.m.
'Normal' RHS track season begins under unusual circumstances
'Normal' RHS track season begins under unusual circumstances
Practice began Monday for the first sport to get underway in the 2022 spring season, but there were several absences as a number of athletes were still finishing up their winter sport - as part of a Hodag boys' basketball team that has made a run to the sectional round of the WIAA tournament.
Hodag track coach Aaron Kraemer said it's a good problem to have as his program -and the rest of Rhinelander's spring sports - look to take the baton and build upon the positive momentum created during the fall and winter sports seasons.
"Anything can happen in March in basketball. We were kind of preparing for them not to be there and, honestly, I would more likely than not say that they were not practicing this week anyway, because they just went through a difficult season and they need time to rest and recover. But, they get bonus basketball, they get a chance to make a run toward state and I hope they do," Kraemer said.
Even when the basketball players get back into the fold, there will likely be a number of pre-arranged absences next week as the School District of Rhinelander takes its spring break.
"Spring break, it's hard to navigate, but we just tell our kids to enjoy," Kraemer said. "There are a few things you can do when you're on the beach or at a resort. If you're here, weight room's open. We have the best facility in the state, you can go out to the Dome and workout out there. Those who don't, they get a chance to rest and be fully recovered for the next meet week."
Kraemer, in his fifth season at the helm of the Hodag track program, doesn't seem to mind. The fact that Rhinelander is practicing in March is a departure from the last two years. In 2020, the Hodags got one week into their training before everything came to a screeching halt - and the season was eventually canceled - due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year practice did not begin until the middle of April with a shifted calendar, again due to the pandemic.
"Last year was a strange year going all the way into June and then getting soaked at state," he said. "Now, starting back in March again for the first time since we told the kids to go home, it's a different feeling. I would love to say I'm prepared for it, but today was just one of those days where you take it in stride and the kids rallied around each other. It was a great first day."
The team split its time between the Hodag Dome and the Aspirus Fitness Center on Monday, doing some baseline speed testing and long with some strength training. Kraemer said the senior class -led by multiple returning sectional and state qualifiers - set the tone on day one.
That showed in the team's baseline sprint testing which included fly 10-yard max speed testing. Senior Cole Worrall, a state qualifier in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles last year, was fastest with a top speed of 23.0 MPH, according to the team's Facebook page.
Seniors Megan Brown, Sage Flory and Emma Germain - all on Rhinelander's conference-winning 4x100 meter relay last June - were all over the 18 MPH mark on the girls' side, along with junior Gussie Gruett.
"When they started as freshmen, we were winning the conference championship and they know what the sport expects and what I expect and what we've been doing. They're a great group of seniors already and I can see that, and they're going to have a lot of success this season," Kraemer said.
Per usual, the Hodags will ease into the competition schedule with a light indoor slate. The team will begin competition with an indoor invite at Ashland March 24 and will take part in the Great Northern Conference indoor invite at Northland Pines April 7. The outdoor season will begin April 19 at Lakeland.
The remainder of RHS spring sports teams will begin their practices over the coming weeks. The RHS softball team begins practice March 14; Hodag baseball and girls' soccer will start March 21; and RHS golf and boys' tennis will begin March 28. All dates are the earliest allowed by the WIAA.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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