RHS Sports recap: Thursday, May 16

Girls’ soccer: Rhinelander 1 (3), Northland Pines 1 (1)

With its Great Northern Conference title hopes dashed prior to kickoff, the Rhinelander High School girls’ soccer team could manage only a 1-1 draw with Northland Pines Thursday at Mike Webster Stadium. The Hodags did salvage an extra conference point, taking a penalty-kick shootout, 3-1.

Northland Pines’ lone shot on goal found its way home on a Zoe Anderson strike in the 18th minute. The Hodags leveled the match shortly after halftime on a Morgan Van Zile goal in the 43rd minute. 

Sophie Miljevich, Vivian Lamers and Ella Miljevich converted their chances for Rhinelander in the shootout, which was clinched in four rounds after the Eagles failed to put three of their four chances on frame.

The Hodags were mathematically eliminated from title contention earlier on Thursday when Lakeland defeated Medford 2-0. Rhinelander (11-2-3, 6-1-1-1 Great Northern) locked up second in the conference with the result and will close the regular season at Lakeland on Tuesday.

Track: RHS girls 1st/6, boys 3rd/6, Dale Peterson Invite

It was a record-setting day for Rhinelander High School sophomore Libbey Buchmann at the Dale Peterson Invite in Antigo. 

Buchmann broke a 25-year-old school record in the discus, winning that event with a throw of 134 feet, 9 inches. That beat the mark of 133-0 set by Amy Stevens in 1999. That was the highlight in an otherwise low-key meet for the Hodags. The Rhinelander girls won the six-team event while the Hodag boys took third. 

In addition to Buchmann’s milestone, the Hodag girls got wins from Olivia Ruetz in the 400 meters, Averie West in the 300 hurdles, Lena Timphys in the pole vault and its 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. Rhinelander’s lone win on the boys said came from Ivan Loka in the pole vault. The Hodags finished second in three of the four relays.

WIAA tournament competition begins Monday for the Hodags with a Division 2 regional at Rice Lake.

Golf: Rhinelander T3rd/7, GNC Meet No. 7

Rhinelander entered the final round of the Great Northern Conference tournament tied for third in the standings with Northland Pines and left in the exact same position after both teams shot 342 and tied for third in the conference finale Thursday at Trout Lake Golf Club in Arbor Vitae.

Sam Schoppe was the only Hodag to finish in the points on Thursday. His 9-over round of 81 took 10th and dropped the junior to sixth in the final individual standings — the first spot on the all-conference second team. Brody Kowieski took 11th on Thursday with an 83 and finished 11th overall, receiving honorable mention. Blake Petroff shot 92 and failed to score any points as he finished 16th, one-half point away from conference recognition. Chase West shot 86 for the Hodags. 

Rhinelander closes the regular season with its home invite at Northwood Golf Club on Friday.

Tennis: Rhinelander at GNC tournament, ppd.

The Great Northern Conference boys’ tennis tournament was postponed from Thursday to Friday due to rain. Play gets underway shortly after 9 a.m. Friday at the RHS tennis courts. The Hodags enter the day six points ahead of Lakeland as they seek their 10th straight conference title.

Softball: Rhinelander at Merrill, ppd.

Rhinelander’s WIAA Division 2 playoff softball game at Merrill was postponed Thursday due to rain. The teams will try again Friday to get the contest in. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. in Merrill.

Full reports will be published in Tuesday’s River News.