Youth Sports Roundup

Hodag hockey teams state bound

The Rhinelander Ice Association had two of its youth hockey teams punch tickets to the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA) state tournament during playdown weekend Feb. 7 and 8. 

The Hodag Bantam (14U) squad earned the wild card berth after defeating Lakeland 4-0 in Minocqua on Feb. 8. The Hodags wound up second in the Region 2 tournament after losing to Antigo later in the day. The Hodags also qualified in the Squirt (10U) B category thanks to a 4-0 victory over Antigo Feb. 8 in Marshfield. Marshfield defeated Rhinelander 5-2 for the regional title, however, the Hodags advanced as a wild card. 

Those two teams join Rhinelander’s Peewee (12U) B team as state qualifiers. The Peewee Bs will host the WAHA Class 3 state tournament March 7-8 at the Rhinelander Ice Arena. The WAHA Bantam 3A state tournament will take place in Waupun Feb. 21-22 and the WAHA Squirt 3B state tournament will be held in Merrill Feb. 28 and March 1. 

    The Hodag Bantams posed for a photograph following their state-clinching win at Lakeland Feb. 8. In the front row, from left to right are Emmerich Crass, Max Miljevich, Alec Pilat, Jacob Beran, Sawyer Peters, Max Cahee and Huey Anunson. In the middle row are Nash Swartz, Collin Jorata, Will McCone, Evan Rodziczak, Ben Gehrmann, Wyatt Peters, Owen Wallerman, Jacob Baumann, Nick Schneider and Mac McCloskey. In the back row are coach Tyler Pyrchalla, coach Ryan Gartmann, coach Jon Bessa, Gage Chavez, coach Ryan Roeser and head coach Jed Peters. (Contributed photograph)
  

    The Hodag Squirt B team poses in this contributed photograph. In the front row, from left to right are Luke Ziolkowski, Ryan Jopek, Colton Marshall, Kiva King and Jessa Flick. In the middle row are Hudson Grant, Seamus Heath, Mercer Wanta, Elijah Disher, Jaxson Krueger, Monty Ponik, Wyatt Sedgeman and Saylor Trapp. In the back row are coach Joe Ponik, coach Josh Pyrchalla, head coach Jessica Marshall and coach Jay Ramos. (Contributed photograph)
  

Rhinelander Swim Club hosts conference meet

The Rhinelander Swim Club hosted the Northern Lakes Aquatic Conference meet Feb. 7 and 8 at the Heck Family Community Pool in Rhinelander. The Hodags scored runner-up finishes in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the 14-team meet. 

According to online results, the following Hodags won individual conference titles: 

• Jack Congdon — boys’ 13 & over 1,000-yard freestyle (13 minutes, 13.55 seconds).

• Charlotte LeClair — girls’ 13 & over 50 breaststroke (32.21); girls’ 13 & over 100 breaststroke (1:12.52)

• Rylee Mickevicius — girls’ 13 & over 50 butterfly (28.85); girls’ 13 & over 200 butterfly (2:27.40); girls’ 13 & over 100 butterfly (1:03.69).

• Griffin Rady — boys’ 11-12 100 individual medley (1:15.03); boys’ 11-12 50 breaststroke (37.75); boys’ 11-12 100 butterfly (1:15.25).

• Reese Rossing — girls’ 11-12 1,000 freestyle (12:51.90); girls’ 11-12 100 butterfly (1:18.07); girls’ 11-12 400 IM (5:49.68); girls’ 11-12 500 freestyle (6:12.36).

• Isla Wagner — girls’ 9-10 50 breaststroke (37.36); girls’ 9-10 100 butterfly (1:23.36); girls’ 9-10 100 breaststroke (1:22.60).

• Channing Waksmonski — boys’ 13 & over 50 breaststroke (33.89).

• Waylon Wills — boys’ 11-12 400 IM (7:30.38).

Additionally the Hodag girls captured the 10 & under 200 medley relay with the team of Madeline Then, Isla Wagner, Aspyn Flann and Maddy Edwardson (2:31.76).

(Photos by Bob Mainahrdt for the River News)

    Jack Congdon competes in the 200-yard backstroke during the NLAC championship meet Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    Natalie Then competes in the 200-yard backstroke during the NLAC championship meet Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    Stella Beach competes in the 100-yard butterfly during the NLAC championship meet Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    Charlotte LeClair prepares for the start in the 50-yard breaststroke during the NLAC championship meet Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    Nolan Scholten competes in the 200-yard freestyle during the NLAC championship meet Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    Reese Rossing competes in the 1,000-yard freestyle during the NLAC championship meet Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    Griffin Rady swims the butterfly leg of the 100-yard individual medley during the NLAC championship meet Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    McCray Wagner competes in the 200-yard breaststroke during the NLAC championship meet Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
  

    Olivia Hunter competes in the 200-yard breaststroke during the NLAC championship meet Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Heck Family Community Pool.