Clean sweep for Hodag powerlifting club in Wausaukee

It was another clean sweep for the Rhinelander High School powerlifting club in its second Wisconsin High School Powerlifting Association (WHSPA) meet of the season Saturday, Jan. 10. The Hodags claimed first in both the varsity and JV divisions on the boys’ and girls’ sides in a Region Six meet hosted at Wausaukee High School.

The Hodags won 11 varsity weight classes overall — seven on the boys’ side and four on the girls’ side — and added three more state qualifiers to their roster after they met or exceeded predefined total scores for their respective weight class. 

“Overall it was an impressive showing by our team,” coach Drake Biolo said. “We currently have 13 athletes qualified for the state meet in March with still a month and a half left to get more athletes through to the meet.”

Rhinelander’s three new state qualifiers are Michael Brunette, Carlie Pudlowski and Payten Denton. Brunette won the varsity boys’ 114-pound weight class with combined score of 555 pounds between his best squad, bench press and dead lift on the day. Biolo noted that score currently ranks fifth-best statewide in Brunette’s weight class. 

Pudlowski won the varsity girls’ 105 wight class (400) and Denton took the varsity girls’ 114 class (470).

They join Myles Eagleson, Trenton Smits, Canyon Sizemore, Jacob Guinther, Trevor Denton, Landon Webster, Taylor Dahlquist, Shyanne Hueckstaedt, Kali Skubal and Saige Mutter, who also posted qualifying scores in the Hodags’ season opening meet Dec. 13 at Ashland. 

Sizemore won the varsity boys’ 123 weight class on Saturday while Smits won at 132. Wyatt Crowell (148), Eagleson (181), Webster (275) and Dom Hakala (275+) were the other winners on the boys’ side. 

Webster had a 525-pound squad on Saturday and his total of 1,275 pounds currently sits No. 3 in the state. 

Other varsity podium finishers for the Hodag boys included Landon Woods (third, 123), Guinther (third, 132), Matthew Haselton (second, 165), Jackson Waydick (third, 181), Leander Sprecksel (second, 198), Brayden Dervetski (third, 198) and Brock Sternitzky (second, 275+).

The Hodag girls swept the varsity 132 class with Kali Skubal, Madalyn Soulier and Willa Bureta. Gretchen Fiebke added a win at 165. 

Also on the podium for the Hodag girls were Lola Beach (third, 123), Dahlquist (second, 148), Clara Pudlowski (third, 148), Brooklyn Marten (second, 181), Taylor McKinney (third, 181), Corynn Waksmonski (second, 220) and Sadie Edyvean (second, 242).

JV winners for the Hodags included Trevor Denton (boys 123), Kane Loka (boys 132), Logan Creapeau (boys 148), Brodie Dillenberg (boys 181), Douglas Hartmann (boys 220), Kelsie Skubal (girls 132) and Audrina Skubal (girls 148).  

Biolo noted that the total of 605 for Kelsie Skubal, who is an eighth grader, exceeds the state qualifying standard in her weight class, but only high schoolers are eligible to qualify for the WHSPA state meet.

The Hodags will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 7 when they host a WHSPA meet at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.

“The team is looking forward to a month of hard training before our final showcase in our home meet on Feb. 7,” Biolo said. “We hope everyone is able to come and attend the home meet which is free to all as we look to bring our biggest team yet.”