RHS Sports recap: Friday, Feb. 7

Boys’ swimming: Rhinelander 1st/6, GNC Meet

The Rhinelander High School boys’ swim team dominated Friday night, winning all 11 events and setting seven Great Northern Conference records in the process as they won the GNC Championship meet at the Heck Family Community Pool. 

The Hodags nearly doubled-up second-place Tomahawk, outscoring the Hatchets 463-235 on the night. 

Seniors Dolan O’Malley, Shawn Denis and Mathias Fugle were all four-event winners while senior Samson Shinners won three events. Fugle broke the conference record in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, Denis claimed the conference marks in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, Shinners broke the conference record in the 200 freestyle and the Hodags broke conference records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Dolan O’Malley won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke for Rhinelander while Dean Gillingham claimed the 500 freestyle. In all seven different Hodags won at least one event and 12 Hodags earned all-conference honors with a top-three finish in an event. 

Rhinelander is back in action next Saturday in a WIAA Division 2 sectional in Ashwaubenon.

Boys’ basketball: Rhinelander 81, Tomahawk 13

The Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team dominated Friday night, defeating the Tomahawk Hatchets 81-13 on the road in GNC play. 

The Hodags led 50-8 at halftime and cruised in the second half. Truman Lamers had 18 points to lead four Hodags in double figures. Abe Gretzinger had 15 off the bench, and Jatyn Barkus and Devon Feck both had 14. 

Rhinelander (12-5, 7-2 GNC) moved back into sole possession of first in the GNC, a half game up on Medford which was idle on Friday. The Hodags host Shawano on Tuesday. 

Girls’ basketball: Rhinelander 52, Tomahawk 32

The Rhinelander High School girls’ basketball team cruised on senior night, defeating the Tomahawk Hatchets 52-32 Friday at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. 

Rhinelander lead 23-9 at halftime and never let the lead get within single digits in the second half. 

Senior Dawysn Barkus scored a career-high 16 points to lead Rhinelander while Vivian Lamers added 13 points. 

Rhinelander (12-8, 7-3 Great Northern) hosts Shawano on Tuesday in the early game of a girls-boys doubleheader. 

Boys’ hockey: Ashland 4, Rhinelander 0

Three goals in the third period proved to be the decider on Friday evening at the RHS boys’ hockey team lost 4-0 to Ashland on the road in non-conference play. 

Rhinelander trailed 1-0 after two periods, but two Landon Pusokulich goals in the first 3:33 of the third period gave the Oredockers breathing room, and Ashland tacked on one more goal about four minutes later. 

Rhinelander, which was shut out for a fifth straight game, was out shot 50-29 in the contest. Asher Rivord made 46 saves in the loss. 

Rhinelander (2-18-0, 0-8-0-0 Great Northern) travels to Antigo Tuesday for the second round of the Great Northern Conference tournament.

Girls’ wrestling: Rhinelander 6th/19, CWWWL Finale at Merrill

The RHS girls’ wrestling team took sixth with three participants Friday evening in the Central Wisconsin Women’s Wrestling League Finale in Merrill. 

Cassidy Lindner finished third at 120 pounds, Miranda Daab was third at 235 and Mya Swanson took fourth at 126. 

The Hodag girls will to Wausau West next Friday for WIAA regional play.

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