Team preview: RHS boys’ soccer

New head coach John Weigel admitted last Monday when practice began that he and the rest of the Rhinelander High School boys’ soccer team have some pretty big shoes to fill following last season.

That almost goes without saying considering the success the Hodags experienced. After finishing second in the GNC, the Hodags went on a wild playoff run that included three penalty kick shootout victories and ultimately led to the team’s first ever WIAA state tournament appearance. 

But the Hodags lost 11 seniors from that squad and coach Nathan Bates stepped down at the end of the season. For the Hodags to attempt to replicate last year’s success they’ll have to do so with pretty much a new cast of characters. 

“We do have quite a few boys that played on that state team from last year that are returning in key roles,” coach Weigel said. “Then we have some juniors that are trying to step up into those big roles and fill them.”

The Hodags graduated six of their seven All-GNC selections from last year. The lone returning player from that group is senior Will Quinn, who earned first-team honors as a midfielder. He’s expected to have a big role in the attack this year.

Fellow seniors Mason Shinners and Matthew King also will likely figure prominently. Both had goals as Rhinelander erased a 2-0 deficit in the playoffs at GNC champion Medford before the Hodags eventually won in penalties.

“I think Will Quinn has stepped up huge. He was a huge player last year and I think he’s one of the top midfielders in the conference,” coach Weigel said. “Mason’s improved a ton, his shot, his power. We have a lot of juniors that are now seniors that I think will do really good.”

Goalkeeper Cooper Radke, who made a number of pressure-packed saves in last year’s tournament run, also graduated. Junior Barak Rappley, who served as the Hodags’ backup keeper last year, will step into the starting role this fall.

“Barak has worked under Gavin and Cooper for a couple of years and has had a lot of good practice,” coach Weigel said. “I think our keeper is right up there with them. We’ve had some good keepers in the past.”

It will also be on a mainly new defensive line. Only senior Neil Weigel returns from last year’s unit, which graduated defensive co-player of the year Charlie Heck along with other defensive stalwart Leo Losch.

“The other three are stepping into new shoes,” coach Weigel said. “That’s what practice is for. We’re working on it and trying to get it back to the spot where Leo Losch and Charlie were.”

Will Gretzinger, Garrett Younker and Dalton Fritz round out the list of returning seniors. 

Quinn, Shinners, King and Neil Weigel are serving as team captains this year. Though a number of pieces are different, Quinn said he’s still optimistic about what the season may bring.

“We’ve got a lot of good players returning,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of kids stepping up. Just go out there, give it our all and I think we can make a good run for it. I’m excited to see what this season holds.” 

Though Rhinelander lost a number of key players, so did its two chief rivals in the GNC last year — Medford and Lakeland. Because of that, coach Weigel said the conference may be as even as it’s ever been this year. 

“It’s going to be a tough conference this year,” he said. “It seems like, even in past year, it’s almost like that football saying, ‘any given Sunday.’ Any given Tuesday or Thursday any team could beat any team with just a set piece or a good cross or something.

“Medford, it seems like they lose 11 seniors every year and come back with a tough team. It should be interesting to see. Last year Eagle River (Northland Pines) had a young team. It seemed like Mosinee had a lot of young players that were really good.”

It’s worth noting that the Hodags ended Friday morning’s practice by taking penalty kicks. That practice obviously served Rhinelander well in last year’s playoffs and Weigel said it will likely come in handy again this season, considering the perceived parity in the GNC.

“It’s one of the things the kids like to do a lot. They have fun. You can see there smiling over there practicing them. It paid off huge,” he said. “Three of our final games ended in PKs. Nowadays conference games don’t end in ties. It’s a big part of the game, and a lot of those conference games are not really blowouts. They’re 1-0, 2-1 games. Could you end in a PK shootout? It’s pretty likely nowadays.” 

The Hodags will start to see how this year’s team comes together tonight when it travels to New London for the regular season opener. Rhinelander comes home to host Wausau East in non-conference play on Thursday and will start GNC play at Mike Webster Stadium next Tuesday with a sectional semifinal rematch against Medford. 

“We obviously have those big lofty goals,” coach Weigel said. “Every team wants to make it to the big games at the end, but I think we’re going to slowly take it game by game. We’ll start with New London, then look toward Wausau East and get into conference.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].

RHS BOYS' SOCCER SCHEDULE

Date    Opponent/Event    Time

8/22    at New London    6 p.m.

8/24    WAUSAU EAST     7 p.m.

8/29    MEDFORD*    7 p.m.

8/31    at Antigo*    4:30 p.m.

9/7    LAKELAND*    7 p.m.

9/9    HODAG INVITE    10 a.m.

9/12    MOSINEE*    7 p.m.

9/14    at Northland Pines*    4:30 p.m.

9/21    at Medford*    7 p.m.

9/23    HAYWARD    Noon

9/28    ANTIGO*    7 p.m.

9/30    WIS.  RAPIDS    11:30 a.m.

10/3    at Lakeland*    7 p.m.

10/5    at Mosinee*    7 p.m.

10/6    at Merrill    7 p.m.

10/12    NORTHLAND PINES    7 p.m.

10/17    WIAA Regionals    TBD

* Conference games | HOME GAMES IN CAPS