Hodag tennis sweeps Pacelli on senior night

The Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team honored its seniors and took one more step toward another Great Northern Conference title on Thursday.

The Hodags breezed past short-handed Pacelli, taking all three contested matches in straight sets as they knocked off the Cardinals 7-0 at the Hodag Dome.

Pacelli, with low numbers, forfeited at Nos. 2-4 singles, as well at No. 3 doubles. Rhinelander, boasting an all-senior lineup, dropped three total games in the matches that were played.

    Rhinelander’s Dalton Fritz plays a point during a GNC boys’ tennis match against Pacelli at the Hodag Dome Thursday, May 2. The Hodags won all three contested matches in straight sets and defeated the Cardinals, 7-0. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

John Currie rolled past Marcus Lansing 6-0, 6-1 in the lone singles match. In doubles play, Joey Belanger and Dalton Fritz downed Hunter Wrezinski and Dominic Kroenig 6-0, 6-1 while Gavin Denis and Dawson Pontell were 6-1, 6-0 winners over Josh Opaneye and Chad Ellingson.

“I think they played with good consistency, smart shot selection and good pace on the ball,” Hodag coach Matt Nichols said. “Doubles, they worked well as units. They were trying some new things with attacking the volleys. It was nice to see John get some good rallies in there, a lot of good strokes. He had some nice groundstroke rallies and that was good for his game development.”

Nick Lesch, Payton McCue and Zacha King received forfeit wins in singles play while Aiden Ostermann and Michael Schiek picked up a forfeit victory at No. 3 doubles.

Lesch and King played an exhibition doubles match after the varsity matches were completed as did the eighth senior on the squad, Gabe White.

“Eight seniors, they bring a lot of talent, a lot of energy, so celebrating them was the big thing and that was the highlight,” Nichols said. “It was nice Pacelli was able to get some extra matches in there for us that all eight could play, and we had the dome and that worked out well, even though it was raining.”

The victory moved Rhinelander to 4-0 in the Great Northern Conference and back to the top of the conference standings, 10 points ahead of second-place Lakeland.

The Hodags enter today conference finale on the road at Medford needing to take only three of the seven flights to ensure first place in the standings heading into the GNC tournament May 16 in Rhinelander. 

The Hodags played a non-conference dual at Wausau West Monday that concluded after press time for today’s edition.

“Two important games, West with the sub (seeding), Medford with the conference,” Nichols said. “I think we’ve been preparing well. I think we’ll be ready to compete and having the weekend off will be really nice for them. I think, mentally and physically, they can use a break and it will be good for them.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].