Hodag gymnasts down Lakeland, remain undefeated in GNC Small

MINOCQUA — Even with one of its lowest scores of the season, the Rhinelander High School gymnastics team moved a step closer to its first Great Northern Conference Small division title in eight years.

Junior Emeline Hintz won two events and the all-around, fellow junior Alexis Smith won the other two events and the Hodags cruised to a 119.9-112.875 win over Lakeland/Northland Pines Thursday, Feb. 5 in Minocqua.

Rhinelander’s team score was its lowest of the year, 0.15 points behind its mark at the Charlie Martin Invite in Wisconsin Rapids Jan. 3, however a banged-up Hodag squad still outscored Lakeland in every event. Karly Gillingham missed another meet due to injury for Rhinelander and freshman Payton Walentowski was a scratch on floor exercise after an injury in warmups for the event.

“I feel really good about the team and the depth,” coach Kristina Aschenbrenner said. “We had an injury during warm ups today with Payton on floor, and we had enough people to be able to say, ‘Yep, we can put someone in.’ That’s good for us.”

The Hodags narrowly dodged another significant injury at the end of the night as Hintz lost her balance while dismounting off the beam. She missed the protective matting at the end of the beam as a result and landed directly on the tile floor in the Lakeland Union High School cafeteria, where the event was being held. Fortunately, Hintz sprung back to her feet right away, saluted to signal the end of her routine and appeared to be no worse for wear afterward. 

Still, it was part of a shaky balance beam night for the Hodags, who combined for eight falls between their five varsity routines — including two on dismounts. 

“Beam was definitely shaky,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “When one girl has a fall that’s scary, it can be a little bit rattling. We were able to still finish and finish safely, and that’s what we’re gonna have to take for tonight.” 

Hintz was clean on her beam routine prior to the dismount and still earned a 7.8 from the judges, good enough for first in the event. 

“That just goes to how nice and clean (her routine was) that even a mistake, we can come past that,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “That’s what we’ve been really working on is if you fall once on a beam routine, getting back up and finishing that routine, because that one fall might not take you out of contention.” 

Hintz started the night with a personal-best of 7.65 on uneven bars as she won that event as well. She was the runner-up on floor exercise (8.125) and took third on vault (8.2) as she finished with a 31.775 in the all-around to win that by 1.6 points over Lakeland’s Malin Awker.

Smith claimed the floor exercise and tied for first on the vault for Rhinelander, scoring 8.4s in each event. She wound up fifth in the all-around with a 29.0.

“She’s one where she has all the ability in the world to step out and really come through for us, and that just shows that she was able to do that today. So that was great,” coach Aschenbrenner said.

Sophomore Addison Fish was third in the all-around (29.85) as she placed in the top four in all four events. That included a no-fall beam routine that earned a 6.95 and a runner-up finish in the event.

“We put Addison up first, because she’s kind of that steady, constant, reliable person, and she doesn’t get shaken,” coach Aschenbrenner said. “We like having her as our start off, to start us off strong and then hopefully build momentum, with that.”

Freshman Marsadies Williams was fourth in the all-around (29.125), highlighted by a runner-up finish on bars (7.2). Hintz, Williams and Fish swept the podium in that event, all with scores in the 7s.

“(Emeline) has been working really hard on that, it shows. And both Mercedes and Addison too, adding some new things, making real clean routines,” coach Aschenbrenner said. 

The Hodags traveled to Marshfield Saturday in an invite that concluded after press time for today’s edition. Rhinelander is back in action Thursday in its final home meet of the season, as it hosts Mosinee at the YMCA of the Northwoods. A win over Mosinee, which has been unable to field a full varsity lineup so far this season, would move the Hodags to 4-0 in the GNC Small and ensure first place in the division heading into the conference meet at Lakeland Feb. 21.

“I’m happy with what we’re doing and where we are. We just need to hopefully stop the injuries and be able to finish up the season safely,” coach Aschenbrenner said.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].