November 21, 2022 at 8:22 a.m.
Team review: RHS cross country
Hodag harriers finish mid-pack in 2022 season
Team review: RHS cross country
The Hodag boys placed sixth at sectionals and advanced at least one runner to the WIAA state tournament for the third time in five seasons. Both Hodag squads placed fourth in the GNC and won the Northland Pines Invite in early October.
"After a year like we had last year, you want to win it every year," Hodag coach M.J. Laggis said after the Hodag boys finished fourth at the GNCs, unable to defend their 2021 conference title. "But you've got to meet your kids where they're at and we have a young group, particularly on the boys' side, and we really made some growth this year and I'm proud of that. We really improved our times along the way."
Here are five storylines from the recently completed season.
Ruetz's run
Cody Ruetz went from the third-to-fifth runner on a senior-laden squad last year to the unquestioned leader of the pack this year. His times dropped considerably as well. His personal-best time of 17 minutes, 15 seconds for five kilometers was roughly 45 seconds faster than last year and he was Rhinelander's top runner on the boys' side in nine of the team's 11 races.
It all culminated with a fifth-place run at a WIAA Division 2 sectional hosted by Oconto Falls, which earned him a return ticket to the state meet in Wisconsin Rapids.
"I think he really turned into a strong leader. I think he had some really good examples in front of him last year of how to pull a team together," Laggis said. "He fed off that and I think, this year, he really was the centerpiece and a guy that was always playing the music on the bus calling guys in and calling the group together. I think he learned a lot last year and had a tremendous experience and I think he applied a lot of it this year, and I think he made the most out of his senior year."
If Ruetz had an off day, it was usually through something not of his own making. He finished seventh at conference in Medford after getting a rock lodged in one of his cleats midway through the race. At state, Ruetz fell while jockeying for position in the top quarter of the field in the opening half mile before getting tripped, falling and eventually finishing 84th.
Boys' squad
Ruetz's running mate much of the year was sophomore Greyson Gremban, who also took a big step after last season. He was Rhinelander's top finisher at the GNCs, placing sixth and narrowly missed qualifying for the WIAA state meet, taking ninth at sectionals last month.
"For most would be a bitter pill to swallow but, for him, I think it's just the energy he needs," Laggis said of Gremban, who missed a return trip to state by roughly six seconds.
Freshman Olin Slette emerged as Rhinelander's No. 3 runner as the season progressed. He was the team's third all-conference recipient on the boys' side, placing 21st in Medford.
Teammates Gavin Denis and Brody Kowieski finished right behind Slette at conference. Sophomore Shawn Denis was slowed by a mid-season knee injury. Sophomore Payton McCue and senior Bryan Glover rounded out the squad.
Seniors' emergence
A pair of seniors came into their own for the Hodag girls' side this season. Juliana Smith emerged as one of the team's top runners this season. She led the team in five races this season, finishing 17th at conference and 25th at sectionals.
"Juliana, true to her form, just got stronger as it went," Laggis said. "As a senior, she's a quiet leader, but I can't help but think about how athletic she looks as a runner right now compared to three years ago. It's been her being committed to being a runner. I'm really proud of her.
Another senior, Aubrey Younker, came on at the end of the season. She was the team's fourth-best finisher in the GNC meet, placing 28th. She was the third-fastest for the Hodag girls at sectionals, placing 48th.
"I can't believe what a leader she emerged as. As I think of my time as a cross country coach, she would definitely go down as a top five or six leader," Laggis said. "She wasn't our fastest runner by any stretch going into it, but she just kept working on her leadership which led into her running, and her running led into more leadership. By the end of the year, she was nailing it for us as a varsity runner."
Girls' squad
Additionally, the Hodags got a bounce-back year from junior Leah Jamison. She was hurt much of the 2021 season but returned to the all-conference form she displayed as a freshman. She was 18th at conference, crossing the line side-by-side with Smith. That seemed fitting because Smith and Jamison each led the team in five races this season. Jamison was 27th at sectionals, right behind Smith.
"Leah Jamison, she came back from an injury-riddled year," Laggis said. "She was such a worker in the weight room and the miles in the summer. I'm really proud of her."
Sophomore Sophie Miljevich was Rhinelander's third runner much of the season and the Hodags had a pack of runners beyond that who typically finished together - junior Maria Hubler and sophomores Brynn Teter and Luna Grage.
What's next
The boys' side will have a solid core next year, with everyone except Ruetz and Glover returning. Laggis said the trick will be, like it was in 2021, to get the pack to improve together.
"That group has got to be that wall a little closer to the front and they're just not there yet, but they have another year to try to do that," Laggis said.
The girls will have a little more work to do, graduating Smith and Younker from the front of their squad. But the team will return five of their starters from the end of the season and has depth from the JV side to draw from.
"We've got a good base returning and the thing with them is they like to run and they like to work together, and that's half the battle," Laggis said. "You've got to have girls that camaraderie and want to do the work. You get them to do the offseason work, the base layer, then you can get them to improve in the season."
Both sides also figure to pick up runners from a middle school program that was among the best in the GNC this fall.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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