Hodag girls’ soccer team hands out awards

Coach Nathan Bates kept things short and sweet on Monday, as the Rhinelander High School girls’ soccer team handed out only a pair of team awards during its season-ending banquet in the RHS commons.

Senior Aubrey Younker took home the Hodag Award and senior Ava Lamers won the Academic Excellence Award. The team did not name any most valuable or most improved players, but did recognize its all-Great Northern Conference recipients during the banquet.

The speaking portion of Monday night’s awards took just over 10 minutes as Bates handed out letters, team and conference awards, and spoke briefly about each player in attendance. 

Younker, a defensive midfielder and one of the captains of this year’s squad, tallied one assist in GNC play this spring. In presenting the Hodag Award, Bates credited Younker’s leadership, on and off the field. 

“Aubrey took it upon herself — her and a couple of the other girls but she did the majority of it all season long and the in the offseason — she kept the girls’ going with captain’s practices and orchestrated all of that,” he said. “Without her, I don’t think we would have had the year we had this year. She really pushed hard for conditioning and holding captain’s practice in the offseason.”

Lamers, the valedictorian of the RHS Class of 2023, had a cumulative GPA of 4.667. In addition to the academic excellence award, Lamers received her first-team all-conference and GNC offensive player of the year awards on Monday. Lamers’ 50 points (21 goals, 8 assists) in GNC play led the league. She had 31 goals and 12 assists overall on the season. 

“I know I said this a couple of times, but she puts in so much time and has throughout all the years,” Bates said. “She earned this 100%. I’m extremely proud of her and going to miss her a lot next year.”

Bates also recognized the remainder of his all-conference honorees. Sophomore Sophie Miljevich, who led the GNC in assists and was second in the conference in total points behind Lamers, received unanimous first-team honors. Junior defender Emma Chiamulera also made the conference first team. Forward Morgan Van Zile, midfielder Leah Jamison and goalkeeper Mya Krouze — all juniors — earned second-team recognition and senior defender Annalyse Schoppe received honorable mention. 

“We nominate so many (players) based off what place we take,” Bates noted. “The other coaches in the conference make the selections. It’s not up to myself or (the other coaches) who gets a conference award. It’s based off all the other coaches in the conference. They’re the ones that vote on the girls that we nominate.” 

Rhinelander went 14-6-0 on the season and finished second behind Lakeland in the GNC with an 8-2-0-0 league mark. The Hodags upset Lakeland 1-0 in the WIAA Division 3 regional finals before getting eliminated in the sectional semifinal round by eventual state qualifier Ashland. 

“I want to thank everybody for a great season. Girls, you did fantastic. I’m very, very proud of you all,” Bates said. “That you guys again for a great season. I’m going to miss all of my seniors and thank you parents for all you did this season.” 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].