Hodag harriers tested at SPASH Invite

Between the field, the course and the conditions, the Rhinelander High School cross country team had its work cut out for itself Saturday in the Stevens Point Invite.

When all was said and done, the Hodag boys found themselves 10th out of 14 qualifying teams and the Hodags girls were 12th out of 15 teams at Standing Rocks Park in Plover against a field that featured a number of Division 1 programs from the Wisconsin Valley Conference and elsewhere around the state. 

As if the competition and the rolling terrain weren’t difficult enough, a race-time temperature near 80 degrees added to the challenge. However, coach M.J. Laggis said Saturday’s race was a good test for his team hosted by a SPASH team that has ruled the Wisconsin Valley Conference for the better part of four decades.

“It was really hot conditions, but that’s such a fun environment for racing,” he said. “It truly embodies what a cross country course should look like. There are just tents everywhere along the starting chute heading out and it’s a great cross-country atmosphere and a lot of cross country people around.”

Senior Greyson Gremban again had the best finish for the Hodag boys, covering the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 16.0 seconds to take 14th overall. He was 56 seconds behind race winner Ethan Olds of Stevens Point. Laggis said Gremban stuck to his game plan of racing near the front of the 107-runner field the entire way.

“I was really, really happy with Greyson, how he managed his race,” Laggis said. “He wanted to be in that top 20 early on — and you have to consider, there are some heavyweight teams there — and he was. He hung right in that top 20, crawled his way up to 14th, settled in right there and ran a really good race, with what I thought was a really strong finish. I’m happy about that.”

Sophomore Avrom Barr was not far off Gremban’s heels, coming home 16th in 17:35.0. With senior Brody Kowieski out while taking the ACT exam, the rest of the Hodag varsity featured underclassmen. Sophomore Jackson Weinzatl was 56th (19:31.9), freshman Michael Brunette was 78th (20:41.0), freshman Wyatt Crowell was 85th (21:38.5) and freshman Grant Gremban finished 93rd (22:42.0).

“Avrom Barr continues to improve and, again in hot conditions today, I thought Avrom got stronger as the race went,” Laggis said. “I was really pumped about three things. Jackson Weinzatl took another step and ran really well in hot conditions. Then it was Mikey and Wyatt in fourth and fifth. They really did a nice job and took a step as runner. On the JV side, Hank Kowieski PRed and I thought that was awesome. Good things happened today.”

Brynn Teter continued to pace the Hodag girls. The senior, who wasn’t among Rhinelander’s top seven at conference or sectionals last year while battling injury, made it four straight races as the Hodags top finisher to start the year. She came home 38th overall in a field of 109 at 22:35.0.

“Brynn Teter showed up to race again. That kid just seems to get stronger as the week goes,” Laggis said. “I know I’ve said it before, but if you told me last year she was going to show up and race the way she’s racing this year, I might not have believed it. I’m just totally impressed with her attitude, her demeanor and how hard she finishes races. I’m really impressed.”

Sophomore Macy Meyers was again Rhinelander’s second runner, in 61st at 23:44.7. She was followed by Kara Monk in 68th (24:09.4), Hayley Schiek in 78th (24:48.2), Sophie Miljevich in 84th (25:11.4) and Ella Miljevich in 88th (25:58.2).

“Those girls, we’re constantly comparing scores with them with what Medford and Lakeland and Tomahawk are doing on the same courses we might have run in a different race,” Laggis said. “Some of that’s been going on. We’re within striking distance in the conference, there’s no doubt. The big thing and what we’re trying to get across is we’ve got to keep improving and work through the aches and pains and keep getting faster. That’s easier said than done.”

The Hodags will get another chance to measure themselves against most of the GNC, and a number of other schools from around the state this coming Saturday in the Bill Smiley Invitational in Wausau. The mid-season classic typically draws one of the largest fields in the state and Laggis said will serve as a key checkpoint for his team with a month remaining before championship season begins.

“It’s a great measuring stick. There you are Sept. 21 and you’re able to say, ‘Here’s what we’re we at right now.’ Basically a month before sectionals, here’s where we’re at and here’s where we need to improve,” he said. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].