September 1, 2022 at 2:51 p.m.
Ruetz, Gremban score top 10 runs for RHS at Nine Mile
Ruetz, Gremban score top 10 runs for RHS at Nine Mile
Senior Cody Ruetz finished fourth and sophomore Greyson Gremban was sixth Tuesday as the Hodag boys placed fourth out of seven teams in the Mosinee Invite held at Nine Mile Forest.
The race featured six of the seven teams in the GNC. Tomahawk was the only conference school to skip the meet. Overall, the Hodags found themselves in the middle of the conference pack. The Hodag boys were third among GNC schools Tuesday as were the Hodag girls, who finished fifth out of nine complete teams.
"I think we're a mid-pack type on the boys' side, top four for sure. I think that's fair to say, with the ability to climb that ladder," Hodag coach M.J. Laggis said afterward. "I think on the girls' side, we're lower middle pack and we've just got to keep getting better."
Ruetz led the way for Rhinelander for the duration of Tuesday's race, settling into the top five shortly after the starting gun fired. He ran there the entire race before coming to the line fourth in a time of 18 minutes, 4.3 seconds. He finished behind Lakeland's Owen Clark, Medford's Tanner Hraby and Lakeland's Ashton Bremer.
Gremban, who was Rhinelander's top finisher Aug. 25 in the Hodag Invite, was not far behind his teammate. He tracked down and passed Antigo's Logan Higgins over the final 200 meters to take sixth at 18:20.1.
Both Ruetz and Gremban improved from their performance in the same race a year ago, with Ruetz dropping 1:22 off his 2021 time and Gremban shedding 3:21.
"I think Cody had a little bit of a breakout race today, for his senior year," Laggis said. "He's looking to be the leader. Obviously, we had some seniors last year that were really fast and strong. He is really emerging in that role, both before races and in the huddle and during the race. I though he got stronger as it went. Greyson's just looking smooth and had a really good race."
The rest of Rhinelander's top five finished in a pack with Shawn Denis in 23rd (20:41.1), Gavin Denis 24th (20:42.5) and Olin Slette 28th (20:53.4).
"If those three can keep improving - and they're working hard at it - that's going to be a huge difference maker for us a month from now," Laggis said. "Watch those three, because if we can keep Cody and Greyson the way they're going, and keep those three coming along, you'll see us start to tighten the gap with Lakeland."
Payton McCue (46th, 24:23.2) and Bryan Glover (59th, 26:49.5) rounded out the Rhinelander contingent on Tuesday.
Senior Juliana Smith led the Hodag girls for a second straight race. She placed 20th overall, covering the 5K course in 22:49.4. That was more than a minute faster than her time in last year's race at Nine Mile.
Sophomore Sophie Miljevich was second on the team again in 23rd at 22:53.9 and Leah Jamison came home 27th at 23:40.0.
"The girls made some strides," Laggis said. "Juliana was strong and you had Sophie and Leah (right there). Those three have got to keep getting better and working all the way around. I think they could go in any order here at some point, but Juliana has been our No. 1, and that's been really good. Sophie and Leah have got to keep right on going."
Maria Hubler (36th, 25:11.1), Brynn Teter (37th, 25:15.4), Luna Grage (47th, 26:29.9) and Kyleah Hartman (50th, 26:48.0) rounded out the varsity contingent for the Hodag girls.
Laggis said, now that the Hodags have seen every team in the GNC at least once, the work begins in earnest to close the gap between now and the conference meet in mid-October.
"Other teams will improve too, but I think we have a track record of making some big gains. If we work hard, we'll tighten that gap even more," he said.
Rhinelander is back in action Tuesday in the Ted Voigt Invitational hosted by Lakeland at Minocqua Winter Park.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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