Johnson enshrined in Hodag Hall

Tyler Johnson had a larger-than-life stature when he played football for the Rhinelander Hodags. On Wednesday, his name was cemented among some of the best to ever step on the gridiron for the Green and White. 

Johnson, a Class of 2005 Rhinelander grad, was this year’s only inductee into the Rhinelander Athletic Booster Club’s Hodag Hall of Fame. He was enshrined during the clubs 43rd annual awards banquet at the Pines Event Center.

Johnson was a four-year varsity starter in both football and boys’ basketball, but the gridiron was where he made his biggest impact. 

Johnson earned All-Wisconsin Valley Conference honors at running back in 2003 and 2004, and as a defensive lineman in 2004. He earned honorable mention all-state honors on the defensive line in 2005, was named a Channel 7 All-Star and was invited to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star game, but was unable to play due to injury. 

He went on to play collegiately at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors in 2009 and was on the 2008 UMD squad that won the NCAA Division II national championship. 

In joining the Hodag Hall of Fame, Tyler Johnson becomes one of a select few gridders to be bestowed with the club’s highest honor — as his older brother, Kevin, mentioned in his introductory speech Wednesday night. 

“I was just looking at the list and the football players — Mike Makris, Troy and Jason Doering, Brad Jackomino, Mike Fixmer, Jim Moore, Dave Crossen, and obviously Mike Webster. That’s some ridiculous company,” Kevin Johnson said.

“Those are people that you grow up idolizing,” Tyler Johnson said in his acceptance speech. “And I just feel extremely honored and humbled that I get to be a part of that collective group of athletes. I definitely feel like I have a little bit of imposter syndrome right now. But super humbled and appreciative.”

Tyler Johnson thanked many people who helped him along the way, including former Hodag coaches, teammates, family and friends. In particular, he thanked his family for keeping him grounded and pushing him to become better.

Kevin Johnson noted that Tyler, four years his junior, was always wired a bit differently — thanks in large part to an early love he developed for the weight room.

“You could tell about a young age, that he was going to be something special in football. He was just a butt kicker. He was one of those kids who could change a game in football on his own,” Kevin Johnson said. “Tyler worked hard. I think it was sixth-grade year, I was a sophomore. Tyler was going to the gym every day. and I was getting close to, you know, varsity basketball. I was on varsity baseball and I didn’t go to the gym at all. I really looked up to him with his commitment, going to the gym and working out. I probably would have been a lot better at sports if I had his work ethic.”

Tyler Johnson said his love affair for the weight room wasn’t fostered by natural ability, but rather a chance to rub shoulders with some older Hodag players he idolized. 

“I love going to the weight room in middle school because there were these larger than life people. People like the Makrises and Doerings … They made the weight room a really cool place to be,” he said.

Tyler Johnson covered a wide range of topics during his roughly 20-minute speech — including poking fun at his long, but relatively ordinary high school  basketball career.

“I do know that I’m definitely the only one to start all four years on varsity and never make all-conference. And I might be a little bitter about that,” he quipped. 

Tyler Johnson also recounted the lessons he learned during UMD’s national championship run, which came on the heels of a disappointing 4-7 campaign in 2007. He noted how that run was more built on belief and positive culture than pure talent. 

“We went from 4-7, to going 15-0 and won the national championship, because we believed. We weren’t the most skilled group, but we believed it more than anything,” he said. 

While Kevin Johnson quipped that delivering the presenting speech for his younger brother, “is probably the closest I’m ever going to come to having a Hall of Fame speech,” Tyler Johnson said having an older brother to push him and look up to was one of the best gifts he could have.

“Having an older brother is one of the greatest gifts you can have if you want to be a successful athlete, if you want to get pushed,” he said.

Tyler Johnson also thanked the Rhinelander community, and the ABC for what it does to support Rhinelander sports.

“This Hodag community has given me so much and continues to give to its students,” he said. “What the ABC does for student-athletes in Rhinelander is something special. To the wonderful and fine finding people of the ABC board that continues to help and grow our athletic department, you are all very vital to the success of Rhinelander. The money you continue to raise and give that helps our student athletes is valuable and a very important part of the success of this community. 

“Respectfully, I thank you not just allowing me to be a part of the Hodag Hall of Fame, but I thank you for being part of this community and what you do to make a difference for our youth.”

Bauer honored with Heart of the Hodag

    The Bauer family accepted the Heart of the Hodag Award on behalf of youth baseball coach Dan Bauer, who passed away last November, during the 43rd annual Rhinelander Athletic Booster Club Banquet at the Pines Events Center Wednesday, May 14. Pictured, from left to right, are Bauer’s widow, Jenna and their four children, Avery, Eli, Isaac and Blake. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

The most poignant moment of the evening came when the ABC presented its Heart of the Hodag Award, posthumously, to Rhinelander firefighter and youth baseball coach Dan Bauer, who passed away last November at the age of 42 after suffering a heart attack. 

Bauer’s widow, Jenna, and their four children were on hand to accept the award. 

Bauer was an integral part of the Rhinelander youth baseball program and managed the Hodag Little League 10U All-Stars to the state championship series in 2023.

In presenting the honor, Rhinelander ABC board president Brandon Karaba said Bauer’s legacy will carry on for a long time to come. 

“A meaningful life is one that leaves a positive mark on the world and has a long-lasting impact on others,” he said. “That was Dan. He strived for a life that made a positive difference in the lives of others, and the kids had coached, and the people that he worked with, and in the community he lived in.”

Student-athletes honored

    Truman Lamers, left, and Sophie Miljevich were presented with the Rhinelander Athletic Booster Club’s Student-Athlete Scholarships during the 43rd annual Rhinelander Athletic Booster Club Banquet at the Pines Events Center Wednesday, May 14. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

The ABC presented its two $1,000 student athlete scholarships to seniors Truman Lamers and Sophie Miljevich. Both have been standout athletes in multiple sports. Lamers was a multi-time all-conference recipient in football, boys’ basketball and track and field while Miljevich had earned all-conference honors three times each in cross country and girls’ soccer. 

Lamers, according to documents provided to the ABC, ranked second in this year’s graduating class at the time of his application. He will head to Florida Gulf Coast University next fall to study athletic psychology. Miljevich ranks in the top 20% of this year’s class and will head to the University of Minnesota to study kinesiology on the pre-dental track.

“They are outstanding athletes, and when (we) went through the final applications, theirs just leapt off the page. They were both amazing individuals and deserve every bit of the scholarship,” Karaba said.

Sophomore Celia Francis was also on hand and recognized by the ABC for defending her WIAA Division 2 state championship in the 200-yard individual medley at last November’s Division 2 state girls’ swim meet in Waukesha. 

Year in review

Karaba noted that the ABC donated back roughly $23,500 to Rhinelander High School and youth sports programs bringing the clubs contributions back to the community since 2002 to more than $428,000.

Additionally he noted that the club’s annual raffle held in conjunction with Shoeder’s RV and Marine brought in another $41,000 that was donated directly back to the sports programs who sold tickets for the drawing. 

The club’s biggest fundraiser, its annual charity golf outing, will be held Friday, Aug. 1 at Pinewood Country Club in Harshaw. Registration for the event is underway and more details can be found on the club’s website, rhinelanderabc.org.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].