Youth Sports Roundup

10K Shot Club honored

The Rhinelander Ice Association honored its 2023 members of the 10,000 Shot Club prior to a Rhinelander High School boys’ hockey game against Mosinee Thursday, Jan. 11. 

As the name implies, youth hockey players were challenged with taking at least 10,000 shots in the off-season between April 1 and Nov. 1. Fourteen players completed the challenge and received a T-shirt, a certificate for a free pizza and will be added to the 10,000 Shot Club Wall of Honor located just inside the entrance of the Rhinelander Ice Arena. 

Pictured are this year’s honorees after they were announced prior to the Mosinee game. In the front row, from left to right, are Jonah Simkins, Gwyen Peters, Sawyer Peters, Mason Paulson, Marcus Cahee and Max Cahee. In the back row are Marshall Besaw, Landon Oehlerking, CJ Sparks, Connor McGee, Wyatt Peters, Easton Ostrom and Jacob Baumann. Club inductee Isabel Welch was unavailable for the photograph.

    (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

RBA hosts home tourney

The Rhinelander Basketball Association hosted a fifth- and sixth-grade boys’ basketball tournament at Rhinelander High School and James Williams Middle School Saturday, Jan. 13. Rhinelander Black won the sixth-grade division, defeating Marshfield White 45-25, Tomahawk 55-2 and Merrill 47-22. The Rhinelander Green team went 1-2 on the day and took fourth. The Hodags beat Tomahawk 40-2 but lost to Merrill and Marshfield White. 

Rhinelander also took first in the fifth-grade division, defeating Antigo (31-15), Lakeland (43-14) and Merrill (50-15).

    The Rhinelander Black sixth-grade boys’ basketball team won its home tournament Saturday, Jan. 13. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Coltyn Anderson, Boston Hopfensperger and Max Howard. In the back row are coach Jason Kremer, Carter Bell, Jaxson Kremer, Hans Sommer, Connor Clark and coach Ted Sommer. (Submitted photo)
  

    The Rhinelander fifth-grade boys’ basketball team won its home tournament Saturday, Jan. 13. Pictured, from left to right, are William Sundby, Isaac Bauer, Eli Bauer, Rylan Pasanen, Easton Sieker, Jaxon Eades, Blake Sundby and Griffin Rady. (Submitted photo)
  

    The RBA seventh-grade boys’ team poses after winning the Northland Pines tournament in Eagle River Saturday, Jan. 6. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Parker Lee, Conner Cassanova and Levi Black. In the back row are Blake Bauer, Cade Goffe, Zack Olcikas, Micah Sieker and Brodee Dillenberg. (Submitted photo)
  

Middle school Nordic competes in Cable

The Hodag Nordic middle school ski team competed for the first time this season, taking part in the Seeley Hills Classic in Cable Saturday, Jan. 13. 

The Hodag girls tied for second in the middle school division with Lakeland. Kelsie Skubal led the way, covering the 3-kilometer classic course in 15 minutes, 9 seconds. Noelle Mayo finished eighth (15:17) and Scarlet Hartmann was 15th (18:48). 

Rhinelander took fourth of four teams on the boys’ side. Aaron Calhoun led the way, taking eighth overall (12:04), Douglas Hartmann finished 16th (14:29), Korbin Skubal was 18th (15:33), Jacob MacFarland was 19th (15:37) and Samuel Loomis finished 20th (16:28).

    Kelsie Skubal takes off from the starting line for the Hodag girls. (Photos by Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Jacob MacFarland skis toward the finish line in the boys’ race.
  

    Noelle Mayo heads toward the finish line in the girls’ race.
  

Peewee Bs take 2nd at home tourney

The Rhinelander Ice Association’s Peewee (12U) B hockey team took second in its division of 12-team Peewee B/C tournament at the Rhinelander Ice Arena Jan. 12-14. 

The Hodags won Friday night’s game over Elmbrook, 5-3. Ben Gehrmann had a hat trick in that contest. Collin Jorata and Alec Pilat also scored. Max Miljevich scored twice on Saturday and Pilat added a goal as the Hodags scored three in the third period to defeat Ozaukee 3-1. 

Rhinelander fell in the championship game 4-1 to Milwaukee Winter Club. Gehrmann scored in the first period for the Hodags before Milwaukee scored four unanswered. 

    Goalie Owen Wallermann makes a kick save on a breakaway chance during Sunday’s game.
  

    The RIA Peewee B team celebrates with its second-place trophy following Sunday’s game.