All-GNC: RHS basketball teams each earn 5 honorees

Following successful regular seasons, both the Rhinelander High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were well-represented on the All-Great Northern Conference squads.

Both teams had five honorees including two unanimous first-teamers in senior Will Gretzinger and freshman Aubryn Clark. Both teams had one second-team selection and three honorable mentions as the teams were announced Friday morning.

Voting for the all-conference squads was conducted by the conference coaches Wednesday night and both Hodag coaches said they left the meeting feeling their teams were justly recognized.

“All of them deserve that nod and we’ve got other guys that have been very valuable to this team but, for those guys, it’s great to see them noticed,” Hodag boys’ coach Derek Lemmens said.

“I’m super excited for the kids,” Hodag girls’ coach Ryan Clark said. “All five of them contributed to our success this year to be 9-3 so it’s kind of cool to see all five get recognition.”

Boys’ basketball

    In this Feb. 9, 2024 file photo, Rhinelander’s Will Gretzinger attempts a 3-pointer during a GNC boys’ basketball game against Lakeland at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. Gretzinger received unanimous first-team honors as the GNC announced its all-conference boys’ basketball team on Friday. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Gretzinger, who scored 17 points Thursday night in the Hodags’ GNC championship-clinching win over Medford, was one of four players in the conference to earn unanimous first-team honors. He was joined on the list by Mosinee’s Keagen Jirschele and Landen Thomer, and Medford’s Tanner Hraby. 

Gretzinger went into the final night of conference play third in the GNC in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. He was also tops in the conference in free throw shooting (80.8%) and third in the league in made 3-pointers (29).

“Will is definitely a first-teamer and he was in the conversation for player of the year, which is exactly what I thought he should have been,” Lemmens said. “He’s scoring the points. He’s doing so many things but he’s also bringing that leadership that’s so important to our team.”

Sophomore Devon Feck earned second-team honors for Rhinelander while seniors James Heck and Will Quinn, and junior Truman Lamers all received honorable mention.

Feck has provided a big spark for the Hodags, serving as the team’s sixth man. His 30 made 3-pointers were second in the league behind only Hraby. Feck entered the final night of GNC tied for sixth in the conference, averaging 11.7 points per game.

“Devon getting second-team was awesome, as a sixth man,” Lemmens said. “When you look at it, if he’s playing like he has the second half of the conference season in the first half, he’s a first-teamer. He’s been making huge shots, having big games against big teams. It took him a little while to get his feet wet as a sophomore, which is expected. What he’s really become as an option for us is exciting moving forward and for this year. He’s really shown he’s one of the top players in this conference.” 

Lemmens noted Quinn nearly earned second-team honors, quite a feat for someone who averaged less than three points per game on the season. He was tied for fifth in the league in assists (3.2) and fourth in the conference in steals (3.0). Quinn also regularly drew the assignment against the top guards in the conference. 

“He impacts games defensively and he’s taken some really good players completely out of the game,” Lemmens said. “I think he’s done that twice to Jirschele and every game he’s getting the toughest assignments and he comes through.”

Lamers was tied for eighth in the conference at 10.2 points per game and fifth in the conference in steals (2.1) while Heck was sixth in the league in rebounding (5.7).

“Truman, his athleticism, he makes some of the most spectacular plays that I’ve seen as a coach,” Lemmens said. “He’s been a highlight reel. He’s had big games where he’s gotten us points. I think that it’s great that he got that nod. I think what’s exciting about that is I hope that kind of motivates him. The cat can be something special next year if he really commits to the game and continues to improve. 

“James, his numbers don’t pop but what he does every day as a leader and what he does inside for us is invaluable. He’s averaging six rebounds (in conference). He owns the paint for us. He’s our presence and he’s doing this very undersized. He’s got to take on bigger guys all the time. He’s got to be able to guard inside and out and he’s gotten so much better at finishing. His second half has been such an improvement from the first half.”

Hraby was chosen as the conference’s player of the year while Lemmens and Medford’s Ryan Brown shared coach of the year honors. Voting took place prior to the Hodags’ 50-45 win over Medford Thursday night that locked up a share of the conference crown for Rhinelander.

“That’s always nice. At the end of the day it comes down to the top teams. That’s usually what determines that,” Lemmens said of his honor. “These guys winning is what really got that acknowledgment.”

Girls’ basketball

    In this Dec. 15, 2023 file photo, Rhinelander’s Aubryn Clark drives to the basket against Tomahawk’s Bryn Baalke during the first half of a GNC girls’ basketball game at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. Clark was named a unanimous first-team All-GNC selection last Friday. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Aubryn Clark was one of two freshman to earn first-team honors in the GNC, and the only one to earn unanimous recognition.

Clark had the numbers to back it up in her first year. She was third in the conference, averaging 18.0 points per game and finished second in the conference in assists (5.3). Lakeland’s Kristina Ouimette and Mosinee’s Taelyn Jirschele also received unanimous honors while Lakeland’s Ava Evenhouse and Medford’s Kayla Baumgartner rounded out the first team.

“I’m happy for Aubryn, she’s worked really, really hard. That was pretty cool. She had a good season,” said coach Clark, Aubryn’s father. 

Senior Lily Treder received second-team recognition for the Hodags, while seniors Leah Jamison and Morgan Van Zile, and freshman Vivian Lamers all received honorable mention. 

Treder was a 3-point shooter for the Hodags. Her 31 made triples ranked third in the conference and she finish fifth overall in scoring at 13.1 points per game. 

“Lily I thought was a borderline first/second-teamer. I’m sure she got some first-team votes. I’m happy for her season,” coach Clark said.

Van Zile was the most efficient shooter in the conference. She shot 52.5% from the field to lead the league. She was also the fifth-best free throw shooter in the league (58.6%) all while averaging 6.1 points per game. Jamison averaged 8.1 points per game and was sixth in the league with 26 made 3-pointers. Lamers averaged only 2.8 points per game, but typically drew one of the team’s top defensive assignments. 

“Morgan’s been our secondary ball handler and has had some really good games, like at Northland Pines, Mosinee. She’s a good defender and does a little bit of everything for us,” Clark said. “Leah’s been a steady senior, fantastic kid, great teammate and can hit some big shots. Then Vivian is our defender. She’s relentless, a great rebounder but really our best defender.”

Ouimette, who averaged 28.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game in the GNC, was voted the conference’s player of the year while Medford’s Chad Fronk took home coach of the year honors. 

Rhinelander finished runner-up in the conference this season with a 9-3 league mark.

“I thought it was a good season,” coach Clark said. “Lakeland was clearly the best team in the conference and went undefeated. But I was really happy with how we finished. I thought us, Mosinee and Medford, it could go anywhere from 2-3-4 and I thought at the end of the season, Medford and Mosinee might have been playing a little bit better, but for the duration of the season, I thought we did a really nice job.”

Other sports

The other winter sports in the GNC already had their all-conference honorees determined.

The boys’ hockey coaches voted on and announced their all-conference recipients during the conference tournament finale Feb. 10 in Mosinee. Rhinelander’s Joey Belanger received second-team honors as a forward while Gavin Denis received honorable mention. Tomahawk’s Austin Lamer was named the conference player of the year while Antigo’s Brian Bunnell took home coach of the year honors. 

All nine RHS boys’ swimmers received multiple all-conference honors after the Hodags won all 11 events at the GNC meet in Medford Feb. 2. Zacha King, Shawn Denis, Brock Arrowood, Dolan O’Malley, Samson Shinners, Mathias Fugle and Judson O’Malley all earned first-team honors thanks to winning at least one event at conference. Charlie Antonuk and Christopher Larson each received second-team honors as part of a pair of runner-up relays. King, who broke the conference record in the 100-yard backstroke and won all four of his events at conference, was voted swimmer of the year while Rhinelander’s Jenny Heck took coach of the year honors. 

In wrestling, Logan Schwinger, Owen Kurtz and Reid Schultz all earned first-team honors thanks to their conference titles at 190, 215 and 285 pounds at the conference tournament in Antigo Feb. 3. Robert Schramke received honorable mention thanks to his third-place finish at 132. Kurtz, additionally, was voted co-wrestler of the year, sharing the honor with 175-pound champ Logan Kawa of Medford. Medford’s Brandon Marcis was voted coach of the year. 

Rhinelander had only one honoree in gymnastics. Freshman Alexis Smith earned second-team honors thanks to a runner-up finish in the vault during the conference meet in Rhinelander Feb. 17.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].