Hodag netters open with strong 6-1 win over Everest

It was only one meet, but if the season opener for the Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team is any indication, the squad’s ability to reload will set itself up well for another successful year. 

The Hodags swept singles and claimed a pair of match tiebreakers Thursday, April 9 as they defeated D.C. Everest 6-1 in the Hodag Dome in non-conference play. 

That was one flight better than the Hodags did last year against the Evergreens, when they knocked off the subsectional opponent 5-2. Rhinelander did it despite having six new starters, including four freshmen, in the lineup against an Everest team that returned eight players from last year’s meeting.

“Anytime you’re in a competition of some sort, you really learn a lot. I think the biggest thing is just the, almost like the young blood, this like young energy on the team,” Hodag coach Matt Nichols said. “And it’s not necessarily like, ‘Oh, it’s the freshman bringing it,’ but the energy from the freshmen, the sophomores, everyone, that energy that comes through in practice, then carries over to the team. The camaraderie and then their willingness to learn their willingness to try new things, it’s just gonna really push us to improve pretty quickly by the end of the season.”

All the incumbents in the Hodag lineup played up in higher flights Tuesday, after the team graduated its Nos. 1 and 2 entries in both singles and doubles from a year ago.

Junior Asher Rivord, who got a taste of No. 1 singles at the end of last season, pulled through in his first test of the season at the flight. He fended off Everest’s Tim Waller in a marathon match 7-5, 4-6, 10-2. Waller, a senior, was Everest’s No. 2 singles player and downed Rhinelander’s Karter Massey in straight sets in last year’s match.

“Looking back at last year’s D.C. Everest team we knew that their singles, if they kept them there, that’s kind of where their strength is going to be,” Nichols said. “No surprise that that was a really close match. But it was really cool to see Asher rise to that occasion. He finished his season at No. 1 last year, but then to come out, kind of own that spot and get his first win there is awesome.”

Rivord rallied from down 0-3 in the first set to prevail, but went down a break early in the second set and never fully recovered, forcing a 10-point match tiebreaker. Rivord played error-free in the tiebreak and controlled the decider from the onset.

“He played a very clean tiebreak. That’s the biggest (thing), the mentality of what can you do,” Nichols said. “And he really cleaned up a lot of the things we talked about throughout the game, and it all came together in that tiebreak.” 

Junior Calvin Loomis bumped to No. 2 singles and fended off a second-set push from Keagan Carlson in a 6-0, 6-4 win. Junior Aidan Lueder rolled over Brecken Thomas, 6-1, 6-2 in the third flight and junior Brayden Barnhill rounded out the singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Noah Klauk at No. 4.

In doubles the Hodags’ lone senior, Danek Koniar, teamed with freshman Henry Bonardelli in the top flight and the two cruised to a maiden victory, downing Gavin Dombeck and Alex Brezeznski, 6-0, 6-1.

“The two of them, I think, are going to just grow really, really well throughout the season,” Nichols said. “Danek’s a big leader in the doubles line. So that’s a huge influence on Henry. It’s going to be great for Henry’s growth, but also the pairing there, both the skill level, the mentality, they’re both out there locked in, ready to go. Big win for them. Really nice win, especially quality over the subsectional opponent.”

Two more freshmen, Sam Loomis and Kellen O’Malley, fought through a pair of tiebreakers to claim their first victory as they held off the Everest tandem of Owen Gavrila and Quinten Schommer, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 10-5 in the second flight. In doing so, the two freshmen beat a pair of seniors who were Everest’s top doubles pair last season.

“For those two to step up to No. 2 doubles and then push through a match tiebreak win, I mean, just to get there, but then also to capitalize on that, that’s huge,” Nichols said. “I know they’re jumping into some big shoes right away, and they proved that they’re ready for it.”

Rhinelander’s lone defeat came at No. 3 doubles where sophomore Kash Krouze and freshman Juan Diego Grage, both making their varsity debuts, fell to the team of Donnie Xiong and Yasen Lee, 6-1, 6-0. Xiong and Lee were Everest’s No. 2 doubles team last year.

The Hodags are scheduled to play Marshfield in a non-conference match today on the road. 

Rhinelander stays on the road to face Medford on Thursday. With eight starters back, the Raiders figure to be one of the top challengers as the Hodag seek a record 12th straight GNC championship. Medford started its season Thursday with a 6-1 loss to Marshfield.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].