Sports digest

Monsters’ games nixed when Rapids no-shows

Sunday’s scheduled Dairyland League doubleheader between the Rhinelander River Monsters and the Wisconsin Rapids Redhawks was nixed Sunday when Rapids informed Rhinelander that it would not have enough players to play the twinbill less than three hours before the scheduled noon first pitch. 

Rapids was leading the Dairyland League standings with a 4-0 record while Rhinelander sits at 4-5 and fell to sixth in the standings following the results of other games played over the weekend. As of press time, it was unclear if either or both of the games would be rescheduled or considered by the league as forfeit wins for the River Monsters. 

Rhinelander’s next game will be Wednesday, July 9 at home against the Minocqua Wood Ducks, with first pitch slated for approximately 7:30 p.m. following a Northwoods Babe Ruth Prep League game at Stafford Field. 

Three Hodag golfers named GCAW Academic All-State

Three members of the Rhinelander High School golf team have been recognized as 2025 Academic All-State honorees by the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin, the organization announced this past Friday. Brothers Brody and Hank Kowieski both earned high honors from the GCWA while Blake Petroff received honors. 

The GCAW noted students are submitted by member coaches of the association. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, have participated in at least 75% of their team's varsity competitions during the 2025 season, be in good standing regarding athletic and school codes of conduct at their participating schools and be either a sophomore, junior, or senior.

The GCAW noted that 424 students from 128 different high schools were honored as Academic All-State recipients in the 2025 season. The average GPA of these students is 3.729.

Carlson joins WIAA as administrative assistant

Emily Carlson has been named the administrative assistant for Associate Director Mel Dow, and will begin her duties at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association on July 14, the organization announced late last week.

Carlson possesses teaching, coaching and service experiences as she begins her new position. Her most recent positions included positions as a Banquet and Event Captain at SentryWorld in Stevens Point since last year and coaching Level 2 CrossFit at Baseline Performance in Plover, since 2021.

Prior to her most recent position, she taught high school physical education, health and adaptive physical education at Menasha High School and served as an assistant track & field coach for two years from 2022-24. 

“Emily’s experiences in the classroom and as a coach will enhance her ability to provide an immediate service to our staff and the membership,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said. “We feel very fortunate to be adding her talents to our staff.”

Carlson’s office responsibilities will be to assist in the coordination of athletic-related services for wrestling, girls’ golf and baseball, as well as the administration of the Sports Medical Advisory Committee and the Sports Advisory Committee. Her role will also include organizing eligibility data; responding, interacting and representing the association with customary inquiries from the membership and other constituents; general clerical tasks and compiling various committee meetings; and other projects assigned by the associate director.

Carlson is a 2022 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. Carlson participated in softball, tennis and track & field at Kimberly High School before graduating in 2018. 

With the addition of Carlson and the retirement of Deb Lepak, Hydie Laidlaw, who has 30 years of experience in the office, will now serve as the administrative assistant for Assistant Director Jake Beschta, who began his role as an assistant director on June 5. Their sport responsibilities include 11-player football, boys’ and girls’ hockey, softball, as well as the administration of the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee, Scholar-Athlete program and the New AD Workshop.