Youth Sports Roundup

YMCA of the Northwoods gymnasts fare well at state

A number of gymnasts from the YMCA of the Northwoods program — including several who were on the RHS gymnastics team this past winter — performed well last weekend at the YMCA state championships in West Bend.

The group finished second as a team in the Platinum division with all four gymnasts who qualified in that division reaching the podium in at least one event. All three gymnasts who qualified in the Gold division also reached the podium, while the club had six gymnasts compete in the Silver division.

    YMCA of the Northwoods gymnastics program members who participated in the Gold Division at the YMCA state competition March 14-16 in West Bend pose for a photograph. Pictured, from left to right, are Holly Novak, Helina Gurskey and Rachel Bidell. (Submitted photo)
  

Emeline Hintz was a state champion in the Platinum division on the floor exercise while Alexis Smith won the state title on vault. Hintz finished second behind Smith on vault, added a fifth-place finish on uneven bars and took fourth in the individual all-around. Smith added a fourth-place showing on floor, Samantha Aschenbrenner was fourth on balance beam and Addison Fish took sixth on floor exercise. 

In the Gold division, Holly Novak was the runner-up on vault, finished fifth in the floor exercise and took fourth in the all-around. Rachel Bidell was second on floor exercise and Helena Gurskey finished sixth on balance beam.

    YMCA of the Northwoods gymnastics program members who participated in the Silver Division at the YMCA state competition March 14-16 in West Bend pose for a photograph. Pictured, from left to right, are Autumn Stockwell, Isabelle Flory, Amelia Rosemark, Eloise Schiek, Taylynn Senoraske and Briar Grill. (Submitted photo)
  

Taylynn Senoraske was the squad’s only podium finisher in the Silver division, taking eighth on vault. Isabelle Flory, Briar Grill, Amelia Rosemary, Eloise Schiek and Autumn Stockwell also competed. 

To qualify for state, gymnasts needed to receive a 33.0 score or above in the all-around during an eligible regular season meet. 

“It was a large and long meet, with many talented gymnasts. Those that placed definitely earned it, but all gymnasts performed well and should be proud,” coach Kristina Aschenbrenner said. “Our Platinum team placing second as a team was a huge accomplishment.

“Our growth in YMCA of the Northwoods gymnastics and the recent accomplishments directly reflect having a year-round, fully-equipped gymnastics facility and the dedication of Y staff and coaches to build the program. We are just starting our program. It is exciting to think about what we can accomplish.”

The YMCA of the Northwoods team will next compete at the Badger State Games April 4 in Stevens Point and all who participated in the state meet have qualified for YMCA Nationals, which will take place June 24-28 in Green Bay.

JV basketball awards

The Rhinelander High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams presented their junior varsity team awards during their respective banquets last week.

    Girls’ basketball junior varsity award winners, from left to right, were Amelia MacIntyre (Hodag Award), Kara Monk (Defensive MVP), Madelynn Treder (Most Improved) and Ashlyn Hapka (Spirit Award). (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

    Boys’ basketball junior varsity award winners stand next to coach Chad Bolkema, far left. Pictured, from left to right are, Conner Rappley (MVP), Jackson Weinzatl (Mr. Defense), Josh Willoughby (Mr. Hustle), Vince White (Mr. Defense), Renin Craig (Hodag Award) and Sawyer Bishop (Most Improved). (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Boys’ basketball JV2 award winners stand next to coach Nick Karaba, far left. Pictured, from left to right are, Trey Karaba (Captain), Tommy Eades (MVP/Captain, William Reynolds (Most Improved/Hodag Award), Colton Spaulding (Mr. Defense) and Grant Gremban (Captain). (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Boys’ basketball JV3 award winners stand next to coach Kaleb Winter, far left. Pictured, from left to right are, Chase Curby (Hodag Award) and Teagon Catalano (MVP). Defensive MVP Talon Catalano was unavailable for the photograph. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

Middle school bowlers wrap up season

The Rhinelander Area Youth Bowling Club’s middle school team concluded WiHSBC District 9 play Sunday with two losses at North Star Lanes in Antigo. The Hodags fell to Antigo No. 3 5-2 in the first match and then to Wisconsin Rapids/Port Edwards 4 1/2-2 1/2 in the final match. 

The Hodags had only four bowlers available on Saturday and were forced to take zeroes in two frames each game as a result. Despite that the Hodags managed to take games from both of their opponents, fill roughly 49% of their frames on the day and average more than 103 pins per game.

Coach Cory Dellenbach noted the two matches in one day were a struggle for a team that had been accustomed to bowling once a day during the regular season when they bowled alongside the high schoolers.

“I think for many who are used to it yet, they lost energy in that second match. Doing tournaments will help build that stamina needed for long days,” he said.

The Hodags actually edged Antigo No. 3 in total pinfall, 759-754, for the match, but close losses in Game 2 (117-116) and Game 6 (116-108) ultimately proved to be the difference. Rhinelander won game 3 (108-99) and Game 5 (143-78). 

The Hodags tied the first game with Wisconsin Rapids 114-all and were tied in the match through five games after taking Game 2 (95-85) and Game 5 (99-94). Rapids won the final two games 100-95 and 113-89 to claim the dual.

Natalie Dellenbach led the Hodags falling 19 of her 28 frames on the day with six strikes, Brighton Walkowski was 18 of 28 with five strikes. Xane Kallio and Logan Johnson each went 10 of 28 with seven and three strikes, respectively. 

Coach Dellenbach noted that Natalie Dellenbach and Walkowski are in contention to qualify for the WiHSBC middle school state meet, which will take place May 3 in Appleton. State qualifiers will not be known until the other districts in the state wrap up regular season play in April.