RHS netters edge Medford in key GNC win

As the Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team began its quest for an unprecedented 12th straight Great Northern Conference title Thursday, April 16, it went head-to-head against the team that will most likely be the biggest hurdle in pursuit of history.

The Hodags cleared the hurdle, if only just, on Thursday — securing three match tiebreakers as part of a 4-3 win over the Medford Raiders in Medford. 

Medford, with eight starters back from its squad a year ago, figured to be a tough draw for the Hodags. That assumption proved accurate as the Raiders claimed the bottom two doubles flights and No. 3 singles, and pushed the Hodags elsewhere.

“It was real close. It easily could have went the other way, so it was awesome to see this team pull through in some tight matches and walk away with their first conference victory over a very strong team,” Hodag coach Matt Nichols said. “They brought a lot of game, and it was a big win for the team, and it really helps us with some momentum moving forward.”

It likely helped that two of the Hodag entries that needed a match tiebreaker to win have already been battle-tested in that regard. Asher Rivord walked away with a tiebreak win at No. 1 singles as did the No. 1 doubles tandem of Danek Koniar and Henry Bonardelli.

Rivord has gone to a match tiebreaker in each of his three matches thus far, winning two of them. The other, last Tuesday at Marshfield, was abandoned due to rain. Koniar and Bonardelli bounced back from a match tiebreak loss against Marshfield to get the win on Thursday. 

“It was exciting for them. They obviously have that experience, learned through some past experiences and pulled through in a really tight, and commanded the victories,” Nichols said.

The two got their wins in different fashions. Rivord fended off a second-set comeback from Parker Hill to win 7-5, 6-7, 10-8. 

“Asher, the guy he was playing was very, very consistent player. A lot of long rallies, a lot of back and forth. I think Asher himself just struggled with some inconsistency through the second set,” Nichols said. “He was a little off with his groundstrokes, but it was exciting to see him able to put it back together and pull through the tie break.”

    Rhinelander’s Henry Bonardelli hits a return during a GNC boys’ tennis match at Medford Thursday, April 16. Bonardelli and No. 1 doubles partner Danek Koniar won their match in a tiebreaker as part of a 4-3 victory over the Hodags. (Matt Frey/Star News)
  

Koniar and Bonardelli rallied from down a set to get past Cash Thums and Christian Preuss, 3-6, 7-5, 10-3. 

“They’re really still growing as a pair. Danek’s played, but obviously a different level at the No. 1 spot. Henry coming in, playing No. 1 doubles as a freshman, has just given them the opportunity to grow a lot as a team,” Nichols said. “Just working through some strategy in that second set, carrying it into the tiebreak, really, really helped them out. They were able to take it and run with it for the victory.”

In the third match that went to a decider Calvin Loomis fended off Blaine Searles, 6-0, 4-6, 10-5 at the No. 2 singles flight. Brayden Barnhill had the most comfortable win of the night, cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Jaeden Brandner at No. 4 singles. 

“Calvin had a great first set. I think he lost a little, maybe urgency in the second set and opened the door, but was able to pull it together in the tiebreak and then, and Brayden (had) just a very, very consistent game,” Nichols said. “Slow and steady, was very patient and had a lot of long points, but was able to command them, stay in them when needed, and walked away with a decisive win.”

Sam Loomis and Kellen O’Malley were defeated in the No. 2 doubles flight by Axl Spanbauer and Carter Ziehlke, 6-2, 6-4. Roan Childs and Mark Currie played their first varsity match of the spring at No. 3 doubles, falling to Lucas Maher and Austin Czarnecki, 6-0, 6-0.

The win gives the Hodags an early two-point lead over the Raiders in the point standings. With only three other conference duals remaining for both teams ahead of the conference meet in Rhinelander May 21, every match is going to be critical as the Hodags look to build a bit of a buffer over the Raiders. That begins this afternoon as the Hodags host Ashland at the RHS tennis courts. 

“With such a small conference, it’s, each (match) is so important,” Nichols said. “With Ashland one coming up there. Hopefully, have learned, they’ll have learned through this that last match. We’ll work on a couple things fine-tune during practice and bring some of that confidence into the next round and hopefully through the whole season.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].