Hodag harriers sweep Northland Pines Invite

EAGLE RIVER — The Rhinelander High School cross country team took advantage of a smaller field and took care of business Tuesday in Eagle River. 

The Hodag swept both the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the Northland Pines Invite. The Hodag boys placed five runners in the top 20 as they edged the hosting Eagles by three points for the title. It was more of a runaway in the girls’ race as Rhinelander placed all seven of its varsity runners in the top 13 and cruised to a 31-point victory in the six-team meet.

As the Hodags’ final weekday meet of the season, coach M.J. Laggis said the event served as a nice confidence booster as the conference and sectional meets approach. 

“I think that’s exactly how you use it. You’ve got to use it to build confidence,” he said. “No disrespect to anybody here, but you come in, it’s a smaller meet, you get the job done. You probably should win and you do win. That doesn’t mean you’re going to beat those teams at conference, but you get the job done today and gain momentum.”

The Hodags won on the boys’ side despite battling injuries. With junior Shawn Denis (ankle) out for the second race in a row, and Brody Kowieski (knee) done for the season, the team got a lift as junior Augustus Porter made his debut and checked in with a 20th-place finish. That proved to be just enough for the Hodags to hold off the Eagles.

“We just needed another guy, another runner big time with Brody down,” Laggis said. “Brody was really one of our stronger runners, obviously. It was a big help, but now we’ve gotta keep him (running) and keep him healthy.”

Junior Greyson Gremban continued to lead the Hodags as he took third place on the day, covering the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 38.8 seconds. Behind him freshman Avrom Barr took seventh (19:04.0), followed by Gavin Denis in 11th (19:53.4) and Jackson Weinzatl in 14th (20:24.8).

“One of the things that’s been fun on the boys’ side to watch is that Greyson’s just worked incredibly hard all year, but then those three behind him — Gavin, Avrom and Jackson, and not necessarily in that order — those guys have just been a really improving group,” Laggis said. “Gavin, as a senior, has shown a ton of leadership to those two freshmen. I think the two freshmen are improving like crazy.”

Porter finished at 21:21.5. Jonathan Campbell (32nd, 23:09.9) and Hank Kowieski (34th, 23:29.0) rounded 

    From left to right, Maria Hubler, Hayley Schiek, Ella Miljevich and Kara Monk round a corner together in the opening mile of the Northland Pines Invite in Eagle River Tuesday, Oct. 3. The Hodag girls placed seven finishers in the top 13 as the won the meet by 31 points over Northland Pines. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

On the girls’ side, Leah Jamison scored her best finish of the year, coming home third on the day (22:12.6). Sophie Miljevich then led a parade of Hodag finishers, taking sixth (22:46.6). Luna Grage followed in seventh (23:16.8), Hayley Schiek was eighth (23:36.10), Kara Monk took 10th (23:37.6), Ella Miljevich was 11th (24:13.4) and Maria Hubler was 13th (24:55.5).

“Leah has really established herself as just a really hard worker,” Laggis said. “Her and Soph have gotten closer and closer for that No. 1 spot. Soph, who didn’t have a great year last year, has just improved every single week with attitude and effort. I’m really, really happy with her run. 

“Then you’ve got that wall of Maria, Hayley, Ella and Kara Monk. Luna was a strong No. 3 ahead of that group, and Luna did it with some shin splints. That’s just really encouraging. We’re definitely improving despite the fact we’re battling injury after injury.”

Crandon’s Tayler Karcz (16:38.0) took the boys’ race ahead of Three Lakes freshman Nolan Waltz. On the girls’ side. Northland Pines’ Nora Gremban, who has been sidelined much of the season due to injury, turned in a Secretariat-like performance with a course record time of 18:11.0 as she beat Crandon’s Addison May by 3 minutes, 17 seconds.

“I haven’t watched her in a while with her being injured. I just cannot believe the gap she opened up by the two-mile mark and she just looked like an absolute racing machine,” Laggis noted.

The Hodags return to action Saturday in the Hatchet Invite at Inshalla Country Club in Tomahawk.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].