Hodag soccer team conducts year-end banquet

The Rhinelander High School boys’ soccer team did things a bit differently when it came to awards Sunday, Nov. 9 as it held its year-end banquet at the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom.

Every member of the team earned some sort of an award from the coaching staff, highlighting what they brought to this year’s Hodag squad. 

“The coaches got together and we came up with awards that we felt were a highlight for benefit to the team, that that player contributed,” first-year head coach John Vojta explained to those in attendance prior to presenting the awards. “We’re not doing MVP awards, we’re not doing any of that stuff. We’re doing some award that is a memory of what each player brought to the team, and how it affected the team.”

All 13 players who received varsity letters had a corresponding award to go with it. Highlights among the group included junior Asher Rivord earning the energy award, junior Charlie Johnson claiming the best soccer IQ award, freshman Henry Bonardelli earning rookie of the year and junior keeper Eric Parish receiving the turning point award.

Parish took over the starting goalkeeper position during the second half of the season, going 1-5-3 on the year with a 2.45 goal against average and a .813 save percentage. He recorded a pair of shutouts on the year, including a nine-save effort in a 0-0 draw at Waupaca Sept. 25 that Vojta credited as the turning point of the season. 

“Eric saw a couple starts at non-conference games. We traveled to Waupaca, and Eric had an all-star night,” Vojta said. “Eric faced double-digit saves with multiples I still don’t know how he got to. The first thing the Waupaca coach said to me, ‘You’re keeper. Wow.’ I felt that this was what the team needed to see and believe. We ended up with a 0-0 draw, and it turned our team’s season around. Our results improved with each game after that.”

Rivord was Rhinelander’s leading scorer on the year, tallying three goals and an assist, as he earned second-team honors in the Great Northern Conference. His header goal proved to be the difference in Rhinelander’s lone win of the season — a 1-0 triumph over Medford Oct. 7. 

“Asher brought a lot of energy to our team. Asher is a motor that has no stop. He caused problems for a lot of defenses,” Vojta said. “The Antigo coach (Jerome Jones) can’t wait for you to graduate, by the way. All the Mosinee (Aaron Fielder) coach would tell his defense is, ‘Watch No. 3. No. 3 is open, get on him.’”

Though Johnson didn’t record a point for the Hodags this year, he was a valuable part of the midfield to start the season before moving back to the defense to help solidify the back line. Like Rivord, Johnson earned second-team recognition from the GNC.

“Throughout the season, we needed someone to plan the back to read the game and anchor our defense. Charlie, being a good captain, took on the role and  the move turned out to benefit our team results,” Vojta explained. 

Bonardelli, the lone freshman on the team to receive a letter, finished third on the team in scoring this season with a goal and an assist. His goal came in a 1-1 draw at Merrill Oct. 9.

“He was asked to jump into a starting role. That can be a difficult task for a freshman, yes? He embraced it, he played hard,” Vojta said.

Other varsity letter winners included sophomores Caden Ehrhardt (versatility award), Owen Evers (iceman award), Trey Karaba (Mr. Dependable), Kamden Kostrova (leadership award), Roan Childs (toughness award) and Dean Gillingham (man-marker award); juniors Landon Catlin (endurance award) and Aidan Lueder (best playoff goal award); and senior Soren Dumar (JV warrior award).

Rhinelander went 1-13-4 on the season and was eliminated in the opening round of the WIAA playoffs when it fell in a penalty kick shootout against Medford after playing the Raiders to a 1-1 draw. The Hodags showed improvement over the second half of the season, going 1-4-3 in its final eight games after going 0-9-1 in its first 10 contests. 

“I considered it a good season of my mind,” Vojta said. “From where we started at the beginning to where we ended at the end, I think there was great growth improvement, and I think the boys came together and became a family, and a team.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].