Team Preview: RHS Gymnastics

It’s been a steady climb for the Rhinelander High School gymnastics team from its low point a few seasons ago when it didn’t have enough athletes to fully fill a varsity lineup. 

The Hodags showed promise two years ago with a good freshman class. Numbers improved last season, and scores did too, as the Hodags posted their best performances in eight years and were runners up in the GNC Small Division. 

That group of freshman two years ago is now juniors, numbers are still strong and there a handful of promising underclassmen behind them. All of that sets the stage for what the team hopes will be a breakout season this winter. 

“They have a high expectations of themselves. But I told them, our goal is to peak at conference and sectionals. So we just need to be able to keep working at it,” coach Kristina Aschenbrenner said. “They’re all on board. Great team, though, phenomenal. I mean, the girls have gotten together outside of practice. They’ve done things, they’ve wanted to be in the gym, they come and they work. It’s been great.” 

It all gets underway Saturday as the Hodags host the seven-team Snowflake Invite at the YMCA of the Northwoods. While much of the Rhinelander’s competition schedule will take place during the second half of the season, Saturday’s opener will be a first look at the rest of the GNC Small division, including last year’s champion Ashland —who the Hodags have their sights set on unseating this year as they strive for their first conference title since 2018. 

“When you look at the scores, they had two girls that, if they hit, that’s what won it for them,” coach Aschenbrenner said of the Oredockers’ success in the GNC Small last year. “So if we can come in and bring four strong scores on every event, no doubt in my mind, we can do well.”

The Hodags figure to have plenty of depth, returning much of last year’s squad in tact. The lone exceptions are all-arounder Wendy Fronk and uneven bars specialist Brynn Teter, who both graduated, along with exchange student Margherita Tibaldeschi, who returned home to Italy. 

This year’s squad has no seniors, but a load of juniors who bring back starting experience. Alexis Smith is the most decorated of that group. She qualified for the WIAA Division 2 state meet on vault as a freshman, and was the lone Hodag to make the All-GNC team last winter — finishing third in the GNC Small Division on both vault and floor exercise. 

The Hodags had five gymnasts compete in the all-around at sectionals last year, four of whom return. Smith is joined by sophomore Addison Fish, and juniors Emeline Hintz and Sam Aschenbrenner. Fish was the team’s top finishers in at the all-around at sectionals (15th, 29.85), and Smith, Hintz and Fish all scored in the 30s in at the all-around at some point last season. 

    Karly Gillingham practices on the balance beam during Rhinelander High School gymnastics practice at the YMCA of the Northwoods Monday, Dec. 8. Gillingham, a junior, returns for the Hodags after missing the 2024-25 season due to a back injury.
  

In addition to those four, junior Karly Gillingham is back in the fold for the Hodags. She missed the 2024-25 high school season due to a back injury, but broke into the 30s in the all-around as a freshman and led the team in the all-around in four of the team’s 12 meets that season.

“That’s going to be huge. She’s 100% an all-around gymnast,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “You’ll see her up there with Emeline and Alexis, placing in all around and being able to do any event. Just very consistent. So it’s nice to have that on the team.” 

Injuries plagued Rhinelander last season. In addition to Gillingham, the Hodags were without Hintz and Fish for a handful of meets and Tibaldeschi’s season was cut short due to injury. The silver lining with all of those injuries was that the Hodags had others who could step in and compete in an event or two. Juniors June Chiamulera, Olivia Ruetz were among those who stepped in and a number of the returning gymnasts turned in performances on JV. Additionally, the Hodags bring in three freshmen, a couple of whom coach Aschenbrenner said could challenge for spots in the starting lineup right away in Marsadies Williams and Payton Walentowski. 

Depth leads to options, which coach Aschenbrenner said she hopes she’ll have plenty of this season.

“You have our juniors who have been strong and been building this program for the last few years, but with the addition of our sophomores and our freshmen who are ready to jump into any of those positions, it’s nice to be able to have that depth, and we’ll get to choose the best routines to throw at meet,” she said. 

While coach Aschenbrenner conceded uneven bars is still a work in progress for the team, she said the team has the ability to be strong in the other events. 

“Depth-wise, I think any girl on our team could throw an 8.0 floor, vault or beam routine. I think we are pretty consistent in all the events,” she said. “I always say bars is going to make or break us. I don’t think we’re there yet, but I think the depth in our team is continuing to grow. So by the end of the season, I could definitely see our bar scores continuing to get up there.”

It will be a long season, but the Hodags should find out quickly where they stand against Ashland in the GNC Small. Not only will the Hodags host the Oredockers Saturday in the Snowflake Invite, they’ll be back in Rhinelander Dec. 18 for a non-conference triangular that includes Lakeland. Rhinelander will host Ashland once more Jan. 6 in a match that will count toward the GNC Small standings. 

Antigo, Mosinee and Lakeland — which is back from a one-year hiatus due to low numbers and is co-oping with Northland Pines — round out the GNC Small division. After snapping a long losing streak against Antigo last year, the Hodags feel they have the talent to compete with anybody in the GNC Small.

“I think our chances are really strong. I think our club program has really elevated us when you look at, Lakeland and Antigo and even Ashland, who struggled with her club programs the last few years,” she said.

Things will look different for the postseason as Rhinelander goes south for a sectional hosted by Antigo this year. Antigo and Lakeland will be the two other GNC programs in the seven-team sectional. 

“Not knowing the other teams for sectionals, all I can say is, we’re going to try to be at the top of our game, throwing our best routines, come sectionals,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “I have no doubt that our some of our individuals would be able to place. And, I even think we have a chance at team if we hit what we need to do that day.” 

Sectional front-runners will likely be Waupun and Valders/Manitowoc Roncalli. The Hodags will see both teams during the second half of the season — facing Valders/Roncalli in the Julie Langseth Memorial Invite in Antigo Jan. 31 and Waupun in the Marshfield Invite Feb. 7. 

Lakeland will host the GNC meet Feb. 21 in Minocqua. Sectionals are set for Feb. 27 in Antigo. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].

TEAM SCHEDULE

Date    Opponent/Event    Time

12/13    SNOWFLAKE INVITE    10 a.m.

12/18    ASHLAND, LAKELAND/PINES    5:45 p.m.

1/3    Wisconsin Rapids Invite    10 a.m.

1/6    ASHLAND*    5:45 p.m.

1/20    at Antigo*    5:45 p.m.

1/31    Antigo Invite    10 a.m.

2/5    at Lakeland/Northland Pines*    5:45 p.m.

2/7    Marshfield Invite    10 a.m.

2/12    MOSINEE*    5:45 p.m.

2/14    Ashland Invite    10 a.am.

2/21    GNC Meet at Lakeland    10 a.m.

2/27    WIAA Sectionals at Antigo    5 p.m.

3/6    WIAA State    TBA

* Conference meets | HOME MEETS IN CAPS