Six seniors sign in Hodag celebration

As part of the senior signing day festivities at Rhinelander High School Thursday, April 30, six members of the RHS senior class shared with their families, friends and classmates their intentions to continue following their athletic passions at the collegiate level. 

Seniors Devon Feck and Jatyn Barkus will continue to be teammates on the hardwood, as both have committed to play men’s college basketball at Ripon College. Track standout, and school record-holder, Libbey Buchmann will throw collegiately at Dakota State University. Emma Houg will continue her swimming career at UW-Eau Claire and Sadie Jones will figure state, collegiately, at Trine (Ind.) University. They joined senior Caden Sieker on stage, who had previously signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division-II college football at Winona (Minn.) State University.

“These young individuals have shown remarkable determination, teamwork and passion,” RHS activities director Brian Paulson said during his remarks. “Their hard work has paid off as they prepare to take their talents to the collegiate level. Each one of them has a unique story, triumphs, challenges, unforgettable memories here for their teammates, and moments they have shared with other athletes. As they sign their letters of intent and commit to their respective colleges, we’re excited to see them continue to strive in both academics and athletics. They are proof that with hard work, dedication and a love for being, the possibilities are endless. We can’t wait to see where the future holds for each and every one of you signing today, as you chase your dreams on and off the field.”

Here is more on Thursday’s collegiate signings. 

Editor’s note: For a full story on Sieker’s signing and commitment to Winona State, please refer to the Feb. 10, 2026 edition of the River News at the link above.

Ripon lands Hodag 1-2 punch

Devon Feck and Jatyn Barkus have been a dynamic duo in the Hodag backcourt the last couple of years, and long before that in the youth and AAU circuit. The two are going to run it back for four more years, bringing their talents to Ripon starting next winter. 

RHS boys’ basketball coach Derek Lemmens quipped he was happy to see the two wind up at the same college, which will make traveling to watch both play an easier task. He said it was also fitting, considering the amount of time they have invested together into the sport.

“What’s beautiful about these two is the journey that they took together,” he said. “Being as close as they are, and putting all that time in the gym together, and then finding out and going to the exact same school together as well, this an extra special thing.”

Feck was the first to commit to Ripon, though said he waited until the end of the Hodags’ 22-4 season to officially make his decision. 

“I always knew they were kind of the best fit for me with a lot of stuff they have going on there,” he said. “I love (head) coach (Kenny) Finco. Campus is awesome. I just think it’s the right fit, so I’m excited.”

Barkus said he made his decision within the last couple of weeks, and said having Feck land at Ripon made the choice that much easier.

“I kind of reached out to them and they were really interested when they talked to me and I saw that Devon was going there and obviously I want four more (years) with him,” Barkus said. “It’s gonna be awesome. We’re like brothers, so it’s gonna be nice having another four years together.”

The Redhawks will be getting two of the Hodags’ best players from this past season. Feck was the GNC co-player of the year and shot a staggering 46.9-percent from 3-point range. That helped him earn honorable mention All-State honors in Division 2 from the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and be named to the roster for the WBCA Division 2 All-Star Game in Wisconsin Dells this June. Barkus averaged 10 points per game for the Hodags and was an honorable mention all-GNC pick. 

They join a Ripon team that looks to rebound from a tough 2025-26 campaign in which it went 5-20 overall and had a 5-11 mark in the Midwest Conference. 

Coincidentally, both Barkus and Feck also plan to have the same major at Ripon —business administration.

Buchmann lands on her feet at Dakota State

Libbey Buchmann is back to breaking records and preparing for big things in her athletic future. Less than a year ago, she didn’t know if that was going to happen.

Buchmann, despite being named the GNC field athlete of the year last May, followed with a disappointing postseason run in which she failed to qualify for the WIAA state meet in discus after finishing in the top six in Division in La Crosse in the event as a freshman and sophomore. Then during the summer, she sustained an ACL injury that, ultimately, resulted in surgery last September. 

Buchmann’s college plans were also in flux. Because of the injury, and cuts within the program, Buchmann said the school she was going to commit to was no longer able to offer her a scholarship.

“I almost gave up after they told me no. I was very down in the dumps and I didn’t want to do anything,” she said.

However coaches with the school she hoped to attend put her in touch with Dakota State, a NAIA school in Madison, S.D. Buchmann said there was an instant connection with the program’s head and throws coach Alex Glover, which reignited her spark for the sport.

“I told him about my injury, and he said, ‘I don’t care. That makes you a better athlete. I know you can push through it,’” she said. “The coach has gone through something similar, and he just keeps believing me. He texts me all the time. He believes in me. He’s proud. He just knows everything. It’s awesome.”

While only eight months removed from knee surgery, Buchmann is back to throwing at a high level. She has already broken her own RHS record in the discus three times this season — the latest coming Friday in Kaukauna at 137 feet, 4 inches. She’s also beaten her personal best in the shot put, throwing more than 37 feet. 

Ccoya Aaron Kraemer, who is still helping the throwers this year despite backing down to a part-time basis, said last year’s setbacks have only galvanized Buchmann as an athlete. 

“You watch athletes go through that struggle and fight to reach back to the mountaintop,” he said. “Libbey’s on that journey right now and I’m extremely excited to see where she’s going to go in the future. Her potential is vast and limitless, and I’m really, really, really proud of her and thankful that I’ve gotten to the opportunity to be her coach.”

Buchmann plans to major in exercise science at Dakota State. 

Houg to keep swimming at Eau Claire

The Rhinelander High School swimming juggernaut has produced yet another swimmer who will compete at the next level. 

Reigning GNC swimmer of the year Emma Houg will carry on that pipeline while staying in state, as she heads to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 

Houg had a decorated career in which she was a multi-time state qualifier and member of the 2023 WIAA Division 2 state championship squad. She placed 13th in both of her events at last November’s state meet — the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke. 

“Throughout her career as a Rhinelander Hodag, she proved herself extremely valuable to the team.” coach Jenny Heck said during the ceremony. “She had overall success and versatility in all four strokes, and her dedication to improving and helping her team was amazing.”

For her part, Houg said being able to swim at the college level is the realization of a childhood dream that she was able to achieve through the help of the Rhinelander swim program.

“The team I’ve had behind me the whole time definitely have helped carry me to where I want to be today,” she said. “The team I’ve had behind me the whole time definitely have helped carry me to where I want to be today.”

Houg will join a solid Blugold program that was 4-2 in dual meets last year and was the runner-up in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Heck said Eau Claire is getting a leader, in and out of the pool.

“Emma’s dedication goes far beyond her own success in sport swimming. She has taught swim lessons and continues to help the younger swimmers and athletes,” she said. “You may not find a kinder, more dedicated girl. On behalf of all the coaches and people who have had the opportunity to work with Emma, we are extremely proud of you.” 

Houg plans to major in secondary education with an emphasis on English and psychology. 

Jones to continue to chase skating dream

An accomplished figure skater with the Rhinelander Figure Skating Club and Northern Edge high school club team, Sadie Jones has aspirations on ice that extend well beyond the area.

That’s why Trine University in Angola, Ind. held such an appeal for Jones. Figure skating and synchronized skating are fully-funded at Trine, something very few institutions can claim. 

According to its program information, Trine is one of just four fully-funded synchronized skating programs in the nation and one of just two programs that has a varsity intercollegiate figure skating program. 

“That was kind of the big appeal to me. I’ve been skating my whole childhood and everything, so, I’m looking forward to competing on their collegiate team, hopefully making it to the professional world and figure skating,” she said. 

While her club coaches were unable to attend Thursday’s ceremony, Paulson touched on some of Jones’s accomplishments in his remarks. 

“Sadie has been competing for quite some time in figure skating. She is a two-time U.S. figure skating gold medalist,” he said.

Jones plans to major in sports psychology at Trine. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].