Mosinee edges RHS gymnasts in GNC dual

The Rhinelander High School gymnastics team put up a solid total on Tuesday but it wasn’t enough to take down a Mosinee team that delivered its best performance of the year.

The Indians edged Rhinelander in three of the four events and took a GNC Small dual meet 118.425-117.0 Tuesday in Mosinee. 

It was Rhinelander’s second highest score of the season — only trailing the 117.7 it posted three days earlier at the Marshfield Invite. However, Mosinee outscored Rhinelander in two of its strongest events, vault and floor, to earn the victory. 

“It was an interesting meet. We did have some ups and downs,” Hodag coach Kristina Aschenbrenner said. “I think, overall, the scores were just a little bit lower on most of the events, but we had a good beam night, so I think that brought up our team score.”

Sophomore Alexis Smith led the Hodags on the night, finishing third in the all-around with a career-high score of 30.4 points. She tied for first on vault with an 8.35, took second on floor with another 8.35 and finished in the top five in all four events. 

“That was a goal for her so good for her. She had very solid (showing) for the meet today,” coach Aschenbrenner said.

Freshman Addison Fish was fourth in the all-around (29.575), highlighted by third-place showings on vault and balance beam. Wendy Fronk was sixth in the all-around (28.025) and Sam Aschenbrenner finished seventh (27.95).

Rhinelander trailed by roughly six points going into the final rotation of the night and needed to make up ground on balance beam to have a chance to catch Mosinee, which finished on uneven bars. The Hodags had one of their best beam performances of the year, scoring 29.95 in the event, but it was not enough to reel in Mosinee.

Sophomore Lexi Skubal came home second in the event (7.65) as Rhinelander claimed four of the top six spots. 

“Lexi Skubal, who did varsity for us at the last meet for the first time, she actually ended up getting second for everyone competing on varsity. She had a no-fall beam routine,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “Addison had a no-fall beam routine. Alexis had a very clean routine. Wendy threw a new skill. She did fall on it, but that happens and so we were happy with that.”

Coach Aschenbrenner said the Hodags were a bit off on floor exercise Tuesday. “I think the girls were honestly just a little tired tonight so this couple mishaps here in there that normally wouldn’t happen,” she said. 

After having only three meets during the first seven weeks of the season, Tuesday marked Rhinelander’s fourth meet in just 10 days. The Hodags were without freshman Emeline Hintz (knee/illness) and senior Margherita Tibaldeschi (illness). 

“That definitely has a toll on you. You know we’ve had some sickness going through the group as it’s going through the school, so couple girls didn’t come tonight,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “Hopefully we can stay healthy and get back in the gym and kind of prep. We have a meet this weekend, but I guess we’re more focused on making sure everyone’s ready to go and healthy for conference.”

The loss put Rhinelander, Mosinee and Antigo in a three-way tie for second in the GNC Small standings at 1-2. It will come down to the conference meet next Saturday in Stevens Point to see which team finishes as runner-up behind Ashland in the division. 

Though the Hodags have struggled with girls out of the lineup the last few meets, they are still posting some of their best scores of the year, which has coach Aschenbrenner eager to see what the team can do once it gets back closer to full strength. 

“We’ve definitely not hit our potential, I do believe,” she said. “Last year you know we pretty much peaked that at conference, which would be good timing.”

The Hodags travel to Ashland Saturday for the Valentines Invite.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].