Hodag gymnasts crack 120 points in Ashland

The Rhinelander High School gymnastics team accomplished something it had not done in six years during Saturday’s Valentines Invite in Ashland. 

The Hodags posted a team score of 120.55 points and finished sixth in the eight-team field. That marked the first time Rhinelander has finished in the 120s since Jan. 19, 2019 at the Rice Lake Invitational, and the team’s best score since posting a total of 121.9 points at WIAA sectionals Feb. 22, 2018.

It was Rhinelander’s best team score of the season by nearly three points and, afterward, coach Kristina Aschenbrenner said the Hodags still have plenty of room to grow.

“Yeah, I mean they hit a score of 120 overall, and to know that we had some falls and we had some (missed) connections and some skills that we didn’t throw, we still have momentum to go even higher,” she said. “(It) gives us a lot of confidence going into conference.”

The Hodags started their day by posting their best score of the year on an event that has been its nemesis — balance beam. Rhinelander had only two falls combined between its five routines as it broke into the 30s for the first time this year in that event, scoring a 30.8.

“We had three no-fall beam routines, and then the other girls fell just once. So yeah, a great way to start us off,” coach Aschenbrenner said. 

Rhinelander had four gymnasts separated by just a quarter point in the individual all-around. Freshman Addison Fish led the way in 16th overall with a score of 29.85 points. Sophomores Alexis Smith and Samantha Aschenbrenner weren’t far behind, tying for 17th with scores of 29.8 and senior Wendy Fronk was 19th with a 29.6. 

Fronk had two of Rhinelander’s best individual performances on the day. She placed 13th on the balance beam with an 8.05 and followed that up with an 18th-place showing on floor exercise (8.0).

“Wendy had a phenomenal meet. You couldn’t ask for a better meet, her last invite of her senior year,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “(She) went up and had a great beam, had a great floor, had a great vault and then a great bars so yep she just hit it tonight.”

Smith had Rhinelander’s top individual finish, taking 12th on the vault (8.45). Fish added a 14th-place finish in that event (8.3).

Rhinelander also got a bit of a boost on the health front Saturday as freshman Emeline Hintz, who had been sidelined for the Hodags’ last three meets due to a leg injury, was back in the lineup on uneven bars. She posted the team’s best score in that event, taking 22nd (6.95).

“She’s a great bar swinger and we needed that score on bars so that was a huge help,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “She did get clearance so hopefully we will see her back in at least two if not three or more events at conference.”

Hintz’s performance was part of the Hodags’ best bars effort of the year. All five competitors in that event scored in the 6s as Rhinelander totaled 26.85 points in the event. 

Stevens Point won the meet with a 135.9 while GNC Small-leading Ashland finished second with a 130.65. Antigo, the other GNC Small team in the field apart of Rhinelander, was eighth with a 119.15. 

Ashland, after going 3-0 during the dual meet season, has established itself as the clear-cut favorite to win the Small division title going into this coming Saturday’s GNC meet in Stevens Point. Rhinelander, Antigo and Mosinee come in tied for second after going 1-2 in the duals. 

After Saturday’s performance, the Hodags are optimistic they can vie for the runner-up spot in the division, which would be their best conference finish since the 2021-22 season. 

“We’re coming into it pretty healthy, feeling good. The girls are excited about the skills are throwing so looking forward to it,” coach Aschenbrenner said.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].