April 6, 2023 at 6:30 a.m.
Team preview: RHS boys' tennis
Experienced squad eyes GNC repeat
Team preview: RHS boys' tennis
With a lineup that features eight returning starters from a team that won last year's GNC title in a landslide, the Hodags have strong expectations once again.
"I'd say this is one of the easier years of picking a lineup. Having so many returners is just exciting to have," third-year head coach Matt Nichols said.
The Hodags began their title defense Thursday afternoon against Lakeland in the Hodag Dome, kicking off a 16-event schedule prior to the start of the WIAA tournament.
"We're hitting the ground running," Nichols said. "Thursday's our first conference match and that starts our road toward that team goal of winning conference."
While the Hodags have most everyone back from last year's squad, the team does have to big holes to fill in singles, where it graduated Nos. 1 and 2 players Luke Ring and Elijah Evers. The team was still finalizing its lineup early this week, but Nichols said he expects the remaining holdovers from last year's singles lineup - juniors Dalton Fritz and John Currie - to take those roles.
Nichols said Fritz is projected to jump from No. 4 singles - where he went 20-6, won a GNC title and finished third at sectionals - all the way up to the top spot. Currie moves from No. 3 singles, where he was 15-9 last year and a GNC champ, to No. 2.
"Those are two big spots and singles is not easy, especially jumping (from) Nos. 3 and 4 to Nos. 1 and 2. Just watching them play, I think they're ready for it," Nichols said. "It comes down to a lot of consistency, some playing the game, but their strokes are really developed and, watching them play, I think that we're able to fill those spots."
Junior Dawson Pontell, who played predominantly doubles last season, will likely settle into the No. 3 singles spot to start the season while junior Nick Lesch, who made a couple of spot starts on varsity last year, figures to fill the No. 4 spot.
Nichols cautioned, however, that positions may change as the season progresses.
"We essentially have a lineup. It might change a little bit as the season progresses, because some people have been hitting more than others," he said. "Maybe they come in and improve a lot and earn that spot."
The Hodags figure to be exceptionally strong in doubles, with pretty much all of last year's lineup returning. That includes the top tandem of senior Layne Roeser and junior Joey Belanger. They teamed up midway through last season and went 11-3 together en route to a GNC title and a sectional appearance.
Though Belanger suffered a hand injury that sidelined him for the end of the boys' hockey season in February, he has been practicing with the tennis team so far this spring - despite still sporting a cast on his injured hand.
Seniors Charlie Heck and Leo Losch will reprise their role in the No. 2 spot. They went 20-7 together last season, winning at GNC title and placing third at WIAA sectionals. Senior Eli Lundt rounds out the list of returning seniors.
"We've got Nos. 1 and 2 both competing really strong, even with Joey's injury," Nichols said. "Then having Eli return and bringing some experience there, he's also playing really well. We've got a lot of returners, and it's looking like a good year."
The biggest question mark appears to be who will team with Lundt now that Pontell has moved over to singles. Lundt compiled a 17-8 record last year with three different partners last year.
"I think that might be one of the more fluid spots," Nichols said.
The Hodags were slated to have a scrimmage on Tuesday with Ashland to serve as a dry run prior to the start of the season, but that event was canceled due to inclement weather.
Rhinelander cruised to a perfect 8-0 record in the GNC last year and won the title by 42 points over Antigo. Nichols said he's confident the Hodags are the team to beat in the GNC again this year.
"A lot of the No. 1 singles graduated out - I know Lakeland and Antigo," he said. "Numbers seem higher for the teams, which is exciting. I'm not sure the skill of some of these teams, I think some are more on the rebuilding or they just don't quite have the depth that we do."
With that, Rhinelander will be putting as much emphasis on its non-conference schedule this year as it does its GNC matches. Rhinelander is the only GNC school in Division 1 for the WIAA tournament and will play in a subsectional that includes all six playing members of the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
The Hodags are slated to have two invites in Wausau this spring, as well as invites in De Pere and Appleton. Rhinelander will also face three Valley schools - Stevens Point, Marshfield and D.C. Everest - in single match dual meets over the course of the season. Nichols said those matches will be important to position his team for postseason success.
"We're going west instead of east, but I think it's still feasible to crack that podium, if not take that first spot at subsectionals," he said. "I know SPASH is a really strong team and Marshfield is up there too - those are the two teams that have joined the sub now. Bay Port's gone, and they were the biggest competition last year. I would really like to see a lot of guys qualify on. We haven't really dialed in what our goal is for that, but I don't think it's out of the question to get at least five (flights). Seven would be a challenge, but may be a possibility."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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