Hodag gymnasts improve in opening loss to Ashland

The Rhinelander High School gymnastics team dropped its 2024-25 season opener to defending GNC Small champion Ashland on Tuesday night but, in doing so, posted its highest score in coach Kristina Aschenbrenner’s three seasons at the helm.

The Hodags hung with the Oreodockers in three of the four events, falling 123.35-116.9 in Ashland. The team score was the Hodags’ best since a 119.475 at the GNC meet in February 2021, and 3.6 points better than last year’s high water mark, which also came at the conference meet.

“Everyone went out there and completed their routines. I mean overall what a great place to start,” coach Aschenbrenner said.

While Rhinelander’s sophomore class grabbed most of the headlines last year, a couple of freshmen and a senior stole the show on Tuesday.

Freshman Addison Fish, in her varsity debut, placed in the top five in every event and took second in the individual all-around, posting a score of 30.075. She took third on uneven bars (6.575), tied for third on the vault (8.35), was fourth on the balance beam and fifth on the floor exercise.

“It’s highest score that we’ve had on bars so she did what she needed to,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “She actually had a fall on beam that was kind of a fluke, that probably would never happen again. So she did phenomenal.”

Senior Wendy Fronk had a solid night for the Hodags, taking third in the all-around with a 28.9. That included a third-place performance with no falls on balance beam (8.25) and an 8.0 on vault. 

“Wendy had a phenomenal beam routine, hit everything. You know, strong vault, consistent bars, strong floor. I mean she just came out there and rocked it,” coach Aschenbrenner said.

Sophomore Alexis Smith, a returning state qualifier on vault, picked up where she left off in that event, scoring an 8.625 to take second. She also had the Hodags’ top score on the floor exercise, taking fourth with an 8.025. The Hodags edged the Oredockers by 0.025 points on the vault and by 0.05 points on floor exercise on the night.

“Alexis did a great vault again very, very clean,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “What’s nice though as we had some others too that were up there and you know right alongside her. So, as a team, we have a very strong vaulting.”

Plenty of others stepped up with one of Rhinelander’s top returning gymnasts, sophomore Karly Gillingham, out due to injury. Freshman Emaline Hintz was fourth in the all-around (27.8). She tied Fish for third on the vault. Margherita Tibaldeschi, an exchange student, competed in three events. She tied for fourth on balance beam (7.15) and tied for fifth on floor exercise (7.8).

Sophomore Sam Aschenbrenner added a top-five finish on the beam, tying for fourth with Tibaldeschi.

“We have a Karly out on injury so that was that’s a big hit for us. She’s very strong in all-around,” coach Aschenbrenner noted. “But, besides that, we had to make decisions. We had at least at least one or two people doing JV that normally would be varsity so we were able to take our strongest routines.”

With a much larger squad this season, the Hodags were able to field a number of junior varsity entries. Sam Aschenbrenner was first on JV on vault and floor, while Smith was tops on balance beam and Tibaldeschi was first on uneven bars. Additionally, the Hodags had six gymnasts make their high school debuts on JV Tuesday.

“We had a lot girls that came out for the team that were brand new, never did gymnastics before. They threw some routines and they did great,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “So very exciting for our JV girls that you know I’ve never done gymnastics.”

Ashland put up some high marks in the win. Leanna Lipske took the all-around with a 31.15 and won the uneven bars (7.7). Alexandria Vittone put up a 9.15 to win the beam while Kaia Werner won the vault with a 9.25 and the floor exercise with an 8.125.

While satisfied with the start, coach Aschenbrenner said there is plenty of room for improvement moving forward. 

“We have some work on connections to work on, which will raise our score,” she noted.

The Hodags (0-1) are back in action tomorrow in the Snowflake Invitational at the YMCA of the Northwoods. The six-team meet will include all four GNC Small division teams and will be Rhinelander’s final competition prior to the holiday break. Competition gets underway at 10 a.m.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].