Hodag XC takes third at Hatchet Invite

The Rhinelander High School cross country team took third in both the boys and girls’ division of the Hatchet Invite on Saturday at Inshalla Country Club in Tomahawk.

The meet served as the final tune-up before championship season for the Hodags, who will take part in the Great Northern Conference meet this weekend. Six of the seven conference schools were in attendance on Saturday. 

Greyson Gremban led the Hodag boys once again scoring another top-three finish. He took third on the day, covering the five-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 16.4 seconds. 

Freshman Avrom Barr was the Hodags’ second runner on the day, coming home 14th at 18:57.1. Senior Gavin Denis was 16th (19:08.8) and freshman Jackson Weinzatl was 17th (19:10.6).

“Greyson’s still fighting to get down in the 16s, but he put in another really good race today and a top-three finish. That was really nice,” coach M.J. Laggis said. “Behind him, between Gavin and the two freshmen — Jackson and Avrom — those two freshmen are really coming on and really improving. Part of that’s they have a senior in Gavin bringing them along nicely. That’s nice cohesion.”

A thin Hodag squad, without juniors Brody Kowieski (knee) and Shawn Denis (ankle), struggled for a fifth scorer on the day. Augustus Porter was 34th (21:58.0) and Hank Kowieski finished 40th (22:50.7).

“We’re not scoring with a fifth at all right now, but those four have really been promising,” Laggis said. “I’m excited for those freshmen for the next couple of years to see what they can do for sure. I felt like Greyson had a really strong race in particular.”

    The Hodag girls’ cross country team, led by Sophie Miljevich (7574) and Leah Jamison (7573), leave the starting line of the Hatchet Invitational cross country race in Tomahawk Saturday, Oct. 7. Jamison and Miljevich led the Hodags, finishing ninth and 13th, respectively. (Brett LaBore/Lakeland Times)
  

Senior Leah Jamison and junior Sophie Miljevich led the Hodag girls once again, both earning medals for top-15 finishes. Jamison paced the group in ninth (22:22.3) while Miljevich finished 13th (22:37.7).

“Sophie took a nice step again today,” Laggis said. “She’s been running tighter with Leah and really had a strong finish. Even though Leah’s been battling some back pain and so on, she had a really nice run and medaled in ninth. Soph and Leah both medaled on varsity and that was very encouraging.”

A trio of freshmen rounded out Rhinelander’s top five with Hayley Schiek, Ella Miljevich and Kara Monk crossing the line six seconds apart in 17th, 18th and 19th. 

“The three freshmen — Hayley and Ella and Kara — were outstanding today. They really worked hard. I realize that our girls took third, but we are a whisker away,” Laggis said. “Those three girls were not far out of medaling today in Tomahawk. Again, three freshmen and your scoring with three freshmen. If we can keep them together, who knows what that can turn into in a year or so. That’s encouraging.”

Maria Hubler finished 26th to round out the girls’ contingent.

Lakeland, the odd-on favorite to win the boys’ conference title, placed six runners in the top 11 Saturday to win the boys’ division going away over Tomahawk. Rhinelander bested GNC rivals Northland Pines and Mosinee, while Antigo did not have enough runners to qualify for a team score. Lakeland’s Owen Clark (16:15.7) won the boys’ race.

Tomahawk placed five in the top 11 to win the girls’ division, while Lakeland edged Rheinlander by four points for the runner-up spot. Mosinee was the only other team in the field with enough girls to register a team score. Crandon’s Addison May (20:28.2) won the girls’ race.

The Hodags will head to Nine Mile Forest in Wausau this Saturday for the Great Northern Conference meet, hosted by Mosinee.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].