Hodag gymnasts top GNC Small squad in return to competition

It’s been a long time between competitions for the Rhinelander High School gymnastics team but, in the opener of a busy stretch run to finish the season, it showed Saturday it is right in the mix in the GNC Small Division race.

The Hodags came home sixth in the nine-team Julie Langseth Memorial in Antigo on Saturday. Rhinelander posted a team score of 116.05 in its first meet since the Charlie Martin Invite in Wisconsin Rapids back on Jan. 4. 

The four-week layoff wasn’t exactly by design. Rhinelander had one scheduled meet go away when Lakeland folded its gymnastics team for the 2024-25 season and another against Antigo postponed to tonight due to inclement weather. 

Some of that rust was apparent on Saturday, but the Hodags still posted their second-highest team score of the season. 

“We had a lot of falls on beam and we actually had a couple falls on floor. So we definitely have things to work on,” coach Kristina Aschenbrenner said. 

The meet gave Rhinelander some reason for optimism. because the three teams it beat were its three competitors in the GNC Small Division. The Hodags finished a quarter point ahead of Ashland, Mosinee was 1 1/2 points behind Rhinelander and Antigo was roughly three points back.

“Being able to beat Antigo and Ashland, which Rhinelander hasn’t done for a while, (was exciting),” coach Aschenbrenner said. “And we didn’t have our best meet. I know the other teams had some girls out too. The next few meets will be interesting, but we know that we can do that.”

Freshman Emeline Hintz broke into the 30s in the individual all-around for the second time this season, taking 20th overall with a score of 30.35. She was Rhinelander’s top performer on balance beam. A no-fall routine put her 21st with a 7.45 from the judges. She also led the Hodags on uneven bars (22nd, 6.9) and took 15th on the vault (8.3).

“Emeline, she actually had a great beam routine,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “We have a couple new skills we need to add in so that’ll be fun to see on Tuesday, if we can get those added in. She actually had a fall on the floor, on her tumbling pass, so she did extremely well when you consider she had a fall. Then bars, there’s definitely room for improvement. (She had a) very clean vault.”

Sophomores Samantha Aschenbrenner and Alexis Smith also competed in the all-around for Rhinelander. Aschenbrenner was 25th (28.75) while Smith with 27th (27.85). Smith scored the Hodags’ best event finish, placing 10th on the vault (8.5) and added a 15th-place showing on floor exercise (8.1).

“We had some new skills that we threw. Samantha through some tumbling skills that were new and Alexis threw a new bar dismount,” coach Aschenbrenner noted. 

    Rhinelander’s Mollie Arneson performs her floor exercise routine during the Julie Langseth Memorial gymnastics meet in Antigo Saturday, Feb. 1. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

The Hodags also got a number of newer gymnasts into the varsity rotation on Saturday. Mollie Arneson made her varsity debut on floor. Freshman Vayda Ives also competed in that event. Adalynn Strobel and June Chiamulera competed on vault, and Brynn Teter competed on uneven bars.

“Molly did fabulous at our first varsity competition ever. On floor getting a 7.0 her first time ever competing varsity,” coach Aschenbrenner noted. “We have a bunch of girls that are, all around, kind of the same level. But we’ve been trying to get everyone in there so they can see how it goes and some have risen to the occasion, like Molly did today. Then you have you know people like Brynn, who as a senior comes out for gymnastics and is throwing a bar routine that has great skills in it. It might not score the best, because it’s her first year ever doing it but it’s great that to see that.”

Marshfield won the meet with a 129.8, edging Valders/Roncalli, Medford and West Bend West. Ashland’s Leanna Lipske took the all-around (33.2).

While the Hodags have had only four meets so far this season, the calendar takes a much busier turn this month. The Hodags have two more dual meets and two more invites prior to the Great Northern Conference meet and WIAA sectionals.

“I think we’re ready,” coach Aschenbrenner said of the busy stretch ahead. “I think we can take this momentum and just really clean up our routines and really throw the skills we’ve been working on. I think we’re all feeling good and we’re on an upward climb for sure.”

The Hodags will host Antigo this evening at the YMCA of the Northwoods. As the only home dual for the team this season, Rhinelander will be celebrating parents’ night, senior night and YMCA youth night this evening. The meet gets underway at 5:45 p.m.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].