Cross country: Hodag boys, girls both take 5th in home opener

Once again the Rhinelander High School cross country team finds itself playing catchup early in the season, but is hoping that the results come October are much different than the ones in late August.

The Hodags finished fifth in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions of their season-opening home invite Thursday in front of RHS. The two teams that figure to be the preseason favorites in the Great Northern Conference — Lakeland on the boys’ side and Tomahawk on the girls’ side — showed well in the race, placing ahead of the Hodags. However, coach M.J. Laggis said Thursday’s race was merely a starting point, not a final destination.

“It’s all about how far you can get these kids at the end. And we’ve proven that two times now in the last four years, and we’re looking to do it again,” he said, referencing the state meet appearances for the RHS boys in 2021 and 2024.

Junior Avrom Barr appeared to be in strong form to start the season as he led the Hodag boys with a fourth-place finish on that day. He covered the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 4.3 seconds. That was roughly 24 seconds up the road from race winner Nolan Waltz of Three Lakes. 

Another key returning piece from last year’s state-qualifying squad, junior Jackson Weinzatl came home 16th (18:44.1) 

“You expect Avrom to be right up there in the front,” Laggis said. “And I thought Jackson ran a pretty good race today. Jacko’s had a fantastic attitude, so has Avrom, and really good to see that.”

    Rhinelander’s Macy Myers competes in the Hodag Invite cross country race at Rhinelander High School Thursday, Aug. 28. Myers finished second overall in the girls’ 5K race and the Hodags placed fifth in the meet. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

On the girls’ side junior Macy Myers, who narrowly missed a trip to state as an individual last year, came home in the runner-up spot on Thursday. She emerged from a pack that included GNC front-runners Charlee Lund of Tomahawk and freshman Emerson Rubo of Lakeland to claim second with a time of 20:57.9.

“Really like the effort of Macy Myers up there is our No. 1 runner. Not just where she finished, but how she did it and how strong she looked in her finish, I thought was just fantastic. Really proud of her,” Laggis said.

A few surprises emerged on the boys’ side in Thursday’s race. Junior Jonathan Campbell, who didn’t crack the varsity lineup last season, came home as Rhinelander’s No. 3 runner. He finished 31st on the day (19:37.9). Sophomore Matthew Wood, in his high school cross country debut, was fourth on the squad taking 48th (20:23.80) and another first-time varsity finisher, Wyatt Crowell was the team’s No. 5 in 55th (20:46.8).

“Johnny, to look at where that kid was as a freshman and how he’s composed, physically and mentally right now, is just an unbelievable change. Really proud of how he ran today,” Laggis said. “I thought Matt Wood, a newbie, a swimmer, he’s got that mentality and really got stronger. Another piece of the boys’ puzzle is Wyatt Crowell. He had a really, really good offseason. He has been Mr. Consistent, running, and I think you’re going to see him emerge stronger as it goes. He’s already miles ahead of where he was last year, so we’re excited to see where he goes.”

Two returning members from Rhinelander’s state team, sophomores Grant Gremban and Michael Brunette were 56th (20:50.5) and 63rd (21:08.4) on the day. 

Junior Kara Monk, who was slowed toward the end of last season by injury, finished one spot better than she did in the Hodag Invite a season ago, coming home 21st (23:59.6). Behind her were a couple of runners who flirted with the varsity seven last year and an incoming freshman.

Junior Gabby Wanta came home 27th (24:54.4) followed closely by freshman Noelle Mayo in 28th (24:59.7). Sophomore Gretchen Fiebke rounded out the team’s top five with a 30th-place run (25:20.2).

“When you look at our top five scorers today, that’s a good nucleus of kids with Kara Monk and Noelle and Gabby and Gretchen, not in perfect order there. But those five really, I thought, looked strong —and not that there aren’t more, for sure — but I thought those five looked strong today, and they’re going to have to make some big improvements to be going. I know that they will. Gabby and Gretchen are not exactly experienced here. It’s only their second year. And Noelle Mayo, as freshman, has continues to impress with her work ethic and how she ran today. She was another one, she got stronger overall as the race went.” 

Sophomore Emily Schiek cracked the varsity seven for the first time, coming home 45th overall (27:54.9). Freshman Adeline Olson rounded out the varsity in 62nd (30:09.4).

Westby’s Elizabeth Curtis was the runaway winner on the girls’ side, taking that race with a time of 19:37.6. Westby won the girls’ title by 18 points over Tomahawk. D.C. Everest ran away with the boys’ title, placing five runners in the top 12. 

Lakeland came home second on the day.

Six of the eight Great Northern Conference schools were in attendance on Thursday. Tomahawk was third-best among the GNC schools on the boys’ side in seventh, followed by Northland Pines in ninth, Antigo in 10th and GNC newcomer Merrill in 11th. 

Tomahawk (second), Rhinelander (fifth) and Merrill (sixth) were the only scoring teams from the GNC on the girls side. Antigo, Northland Pines and, surprisingly, Lakeland did not have the minimum five runners required to receive a team score.

Rhinelander is back in action today as it takes part in the Mosinee Invite at Nine Mile Forest in Wausau.

In the interest of full disclosure, the River News notes that the author of this story has a family member who is an athlete on the RHS cross country team.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].