Hodag gymnasts finish 5th at sectionals

ASHLAND — A year of improvement for the Rhinelander High School gymnastics team came to an end Saturday in a WIAA Division 2 sectional.

The Hodag posted a score of 119.2 points, good enough for fifth place in the seven-team Ashland sectional. While that score was more than 14 1/2 points better than its postseason performance a year ago, the team was unable to advance any gymnasts to the state meet in what proved to be a loaded sectional draw.

The score was Rhinelander’s third-highest of the season, but roughly 2 1/2 points off its total from the previous weekend’s Great Northern Conference meet.

“Overall the girls did good. I don’t think this was our best meet,” Hodag coach Kristina Aschenbrenner said. “I think we might have peaked at conference. A few mistakes but we had, leading up to this meet, some illness and some injury.”

Sophomore Alexis Smith, who made it to state as an alternate on vault last year, was unable to make it back to Wisconsin Rapids this year. Vault was again her strongest event as her first attempt garnered an 8.4 from the judges. She was unable to better that score on her second attempt, but sat in the fifth and final transfer spot with two rotations remaining.

Ashland’s Kaia Werner bumped Smith out with an 8.8 in the next to last rotation, and scores of 8.85 and 8.75 by Bloomer’s Ella Nelson and Celina Hess dropped Smith into a tie for eighth in the final standings. 

“We know Alexis has a great vault. Our goal this summer is going to be up to upgrade that vault,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “We have a number of girls that have been just itching to start throwing sukes on vaults, so we’re going to work hard this summer to increase those skills.”

    Rhinelander’s Wendy Fronk performs on balance beam, spotted on a skill by head coach Kristina Aschenbrenner, during a WIAA Division 2 sectional gymnastics meet in Ashland Saturday, March 1. Fronk finished with a no-fall routine that placed 12th. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

Smith came the closest to qualifying of any Hodag gymnast. Senior Wendy Fronk was the next closest, taking 12th on balance beam with a score of 7.925. The last gymnast on Rhinelander’s last rotation of the day, Fronk went out in style with a no-fall routine, but it took an 8.6 to advance in the event. 

“You can’t really wish for better,” said coach Aschenbrenner, who admitted to being nervous when she went to spot Fronk on a difficult skill on the beam. “Honestly, when she went up, I was just hoping I didn’t trip over the mount when I when I was setting up the spotting block. I’m like, ‘Oh, please Lord, just don’t trip and fall on the beam.’ She’s been working super hard and she’s a pro.”

Beam was the highlight of the day for the Hodags as they recorded only one fall in their five routines and posted a team score of 30.5 — their second highest total of the year in the event.

“That was a great way to finish. We’ve been working really hard on our beam and it might not shown in the scores per se, but the girls threw their routines that they wanted to throw,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “Even though we had one fall with Alexis, she also threw two skills that she hadn’t been making, and made those, so that I think that was a victory.”

    Rhinelander’s Addison Fish competes on uneven bars during a WIAA Division 2 sectional gymnastics meet in Ashland Saturday, March 1. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

Freshmen Addison Fish and Emeline Hintz led the Hodags in the all-around with scores of 29.85 and 29.675 to finish 15th and 16th, respectively. Fish had the team’s best performance on uneven bars (18th, 7.0) and added an 8.15 on vault. Hintz also broke into the 8s on vault with an 8.1.

“Addison to be able to come back and again finish the year with a no-fall beam routine, just shows that she’s just a solid competitor overall and as a freshman, she started our year off great. She ended our year off great. She’s going to be one to watch coming forward,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “Emeline had a very strong all around again. Couple mistakes, but overall, she’s going to be one to watch. She has some big skills in the works that are going to be coming up and it’ll be fun to see what she’s able to throw next year.”

Smith added Rhinelander’s top score on floor exercise (17th, 8.0) and took 18th in the all-around with a 28.95. Fronk finished 19th in the all-around (28.875) and sophomore Samantha Aschenbrenner was 20th (28.60).

“Alexis, super strong, you know, just had some errors that were unfortunate on floor, but strong competitor on vault and, again, hit some new skills on beam that so we’re excited,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “Wendy has been solid all four years of her career, has just been a steady source and just a positive, positive person for our team. She hit it today finishing up on beam and will definitely be missed.

    Rhinelander’s Samantha Aschenbrenner tumbles in mid-air during her floor exercise routine at a WIAA Division 2 sectional gymnastics meet in Ashland Saturday, March 1. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

“Samantha, she probably had her best vault of the entire season today. The score doesn’t reflect it so much, but that’s sectionals. You have the hardest scoring, but she probably had her best vault. Her tumbling, crazy increases in tumbling, her bars have increased, and obviously hitting a no-fall beam routine today, so wonderful.” 

Making it to state out of the sectional was always going to be a tough ask, considering two of the Big Rivers Conference’s best teams, River Falls and Rice Lake, were in attendance. River Falls scored 136.3 points to beat out Rice Lake by 0.35 points for the sectional championship. Both teams advanced to this Friday’s team competition at the WIAA state meet. GNC Small champion Ashland (128.3) was third, followed by Menomonie (120.05).

Defending D2 state champion Avery Ash of Rice Lake won the all-around (36.175). She’ll be joined at state in the all-around by Ruby Amundson of River Falls, Hess, Leanna Lipske of Ashland and Ajahnei Twyman of Rice Lake. River Falls, Rice Lake and Ashland captured all by three of the available qualifying spots in individual events. 

Though the Hodags did not send anyone to state, the 2024-25 season was a big improvement for the squad, which finished as runners-up in the GNC Small Division. Rhinelander’s lowest score this season was higher than its highest score of last year (113.3), despite battling through injuries during the year. 

Given that the core of the team is freshmen and sophomores, coach Aschenbrenner said she’s excited for what the future holds for the program.

“We have a lot of things in the offseason we’re looking forward to,” she said. “Our sophomore group is phenomenal. Our freshmen that we brought in, I mean, we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what they’re able to do, and I know we have some eighth graders that are also phenomenal and will be working hard in the gym, this summer.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].