Sports Digest

Hodag swimmers  to hold alumni meet Monday

The Rhinelander High School boys’ and girls’ swim team are calling all former Hodag swimmers back to the Heck Family Community Pool Monday, Dec. 23 for the annual Alumni Swim meet. 

The meet will offer shortened events for alumni. Events include the 100-yard medley relay, the 100 and 200 freestyle relays, the 50 and 100 freestyle, the 25 and 50 butterfly, the 25 and 50 breaststroke and the 50 backstroke. The current RHS boys’ swim team will also be on hand, swimming between events. 

Warmups will begin at 4:45 p.m. with racing at 5 p.m.

“Gather your speedo and some friends to form a relay or form one there! It’s all for fun and fellowship,” the RHS swim team posted on its Facebook page. “Join, visit, see the new scoreboard and swim if you want. Bring your friends and family to cheer you on!” 

RIA summarizes 2024 calendar year

The Rhinelander Ice Association recently summarized its 2024 year via social media. In a post made to Facebook Tuesday, Dec. 10, the RIA said 2024 has been “a year of growth” for the organization.

The post stated participation numbers in youth hockey and figure skating showed substantial growth over the year with over 120 youth hockey players and more than 70 youth figure skaters. Additionally, public open skate sessions have been record setting, with the RIA attributing that success to the donation of new rental skates made to the organization two years ago.

In terms of capital improvements, the rink install a Low-E ceiling in the summer, which is projected to reduce energy cots by up to 25%. The RIA also modernized its outdoor signage, replacing the facade with a contemporary design, and successfully reinstated the LED message board.

The RIA stated improvement projects slated for 2025 include the installation of a new dehumidification system for the arena and the addition of epoxy flooring in the entryway and shower areas. Furthermore, the parking area on the west side of the building is slated to be graded. 

“We cannot thank our volunteers, donors, and the community enough for their unwavering support,” the post stated. “Our programs are experiencing rapid growth thanks to everyone’s efforts. We look forward to another successful year ahead!”

WIAA Conference Realignment task force reviews football, lacrosse realignment plans

The WIAA’s Conference Realignment Task Force assembled and reviewed submitted applications at the first meeting of the football and lacrosse conference realignment process Dec. 10 at the WIAA executive office in Stevens Point.

The football plans created and advanced by the Task Force and approved by the Board of Control would be implemented for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The lacrosse realignment plan will be effective in the spring of 2026.

Forty-six schools requested a change from their current conference affiliation, including 28 in 11-player football, 16 in 8-player football and two in boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. The widespread volume of requests impacts conference alignment throughout most of the state in these respective sports.

Most of the football conference realignment requests were modified by the Task Force. The requests by Bay Port, Sheboygan Falls, Two Rivers and Webster were denied. 

The plans do not affect the Great Northern Conference, which would stay in its current format with chartered members Antigo, Lakeland, Medford, Merrill (as of the 2025-26 school year), Mosinee, Rhinelander and Tomahawk, plus Wausau East. Details of the denied plans, as well as the complete configuration of the modified conference affiliation recommendations for football and lacrosse, are available for review by accessing the “Requests and Proposals” option on the WIAA’s Conference Realignment web page.

Member schools that had their applications denied or any schools impacted by a proposed realignment solution may appeal the decision and appear in-person or virtually at the Task Force meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Requests to appeal must be submitted in writing by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. A school may appeal by having a representative appear at the WIAA office or appear virtually. Each school will be provided a maximum of five minutes to present new information to the Task Force.  

Any modification to plans made by the Task Force at its Jan. 16 meeting may require an additional meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. At that time, all schools affected by any additional modifications of the football or lacrosse alignment solutions may provide written feedback or appear virtually before the Task Force finalizes the modified solutions.

Plans that are advanced from the Task Force will be reviewed by the Board of Control to make a final determination on each of the proposals at its March 11, 2025 meeting.