Hodag volleyball team hands out awards

The Rhinelander High School volleyball team capped of its 2025 season Sunday with an awards banquet in the RHS cafeteria. In addition to varsity letters, the Hodags handed out awards for the leaders in four statistical categories and two other coach-based awards.

Senior Libbey Buchmann, who missed almost the entire season after undergoing knee surgery in early September, was presented the coaches award by head coach Jayme Wyss. Though Buchmann — the Hodags’ lone returning all-conference player from 2024 — was relegated to the sidelines, Wyss commended her for her dedication to the team when she was unable to play. 

“Libbey, your commitment to this team is simply unparalleled,” Wyss said. “It’s easy to show up when you’re healthy. It’s tough watch from the sidelines because your team has forward without you. While your knee was not right in the summer, you were still there for every single opportunity to play to get better, to lead your team. And then even on the night of surgery, there you were, taking your new spot — as they captain from the bench. You came to practices, and you came to almost every match. You cheered, you encouraged, and you stayed positive. You demonstrated a level of leadership that is noteworthy, and a toughness and resilience of character that cannot be denied.”

Junior Cassidy Lindner won the team’s Hodag Award. Wyss said Lindner blossomed late in the season as a back row player and grew in confidence on and off the court. 

“You have such a spirit and fire in you, but early on in the season, you’d get down on yourself and shut down,” Wyss said during the banquet. “Moving you out of the pressure of the front row seemed to help it somewhat, but your greatest turning point came during the Phillips tournament (Sept. 27), where you just played hard and loud and had the best energy on the team. You played without hesitation and picked up a ball at the tournament that was way outside the court, way out by net, nowhere near you and got it up and over and in on the other side. You celebrated your teammates by spinning circles on the floor and just being an overall absolute blast to play with. You went for being part of the team to being the life of the team. You carried joy on your face and passion in your play.”

Junior Olivia Ruetz was recognized as the team’s leader in kills (117), senior Kayla Skubal took home honors as the leader in digs (330), freshman Kylie Treder led the way in assists (258) and freshman Corynn Waksmonski paced the team in blocks (25). 

Buchmann, Skubal and fellow senior Tori Stella were recognized as team captains. Wyss said she has a special connection with this year’s seniors, who were freshmen when she first came to Rhinelander as a junior varsity coach and were juniors when she returned to lead the program in 2024.

“This was a group of girls that had perhaps taught me more about myself than any other team ever had. I’m not sure if they could have they could ever understand the effect that they had. Thank you for that,” she said.

With a young roster to begin with, and a number of key injuries along the way, the Hodags struggled to a 3-33 record this season and went winless in Great Northern Conference play. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].