Monsterous comeback
Rhinelander walks off Whittlesey in finale, clinches WBA playoff berth
Owen Kurtz hit a walkoff double to right to cap a four-run rally — all with two outs in the ninth — as the River Monsters completed a wild 10-9 comeback over the Whittlesey Reds at Stafford Field.
Medford too much for Rebels in regional championship
There was no miracle finish for the Rebels. Medford was simply too much for Rhinelander, winning the first and only game Sunday 11-0 in five innings to clinch its third straight trip to the Legion state tournament.
Hodag Little Leaguers play hard in state tourney effort
The record will show that the Rhinelander 12U Little League All-Star team went 0-3 and finished last in the four-team Wisconsin Little League state tournament last weekend. But that statement belies how the Hodags played in the four-day event in West Bend.
PHOTOS: Northwoods Track Club hosts final meet
The Northwoods Track Club hosted its final meet of the summer Friday, July 25 at Mike Webster Stadium.
Depth at a premium for Hodag football entering season
With the start of fall practice just one week away, Rhinelander High School football coach Aaron Kraemer says he is emphasizing getting as many athletes as possible ready to play come week one.
Hodag volleyball taking advantage of increased summer contact
Rhinelander High School volleyball coach Jayme Wyss admits she’s not a fan of the decision to lift the restrictions on the numbers of days coaches can be in contact with their players during the summer, but she’s still trying to use the new rules to her and the Hodags’ advantage.
Rebels make it to regional championship game
Rhinelander won three of first four in tournament
The odds were stacked against Rhinelander entering the final day of the Class AA Region 2 tournament but, following a dominant Saturday in the loser’s bracket, the Rebels were one of the final two teams standing in the six-team regional.
Rebels looking to put it all together for postseason run
Regionals begin Thursday in Minocqua
Depending on how one looks at it, the path for the Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels could either set up for a deep run or an early exit from the Class AA regional tournament. Which path Rhinelander takes will start to be decided Thursday when the tournament gets underway in Minocqua.
Rebels’ Vanderbunt named to Legion All-Star Game
Rhinelander’s Dylan Vanderbunt has been named to this year’s Wisconsin American Legion All-Star Game, which will be played Aug. 10 at American Family Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. He is one of 24 members of the Stars team, which will face the Stripes squad in the 53rd annual event.
HEAVEN-SENT
Rhinelander Little League returns to state tourney with emotional win over Wausau American
Much has changed since Rhinelander’s Little League All-Star team finished as runners up in the state 10-and-under championship two summers ago. But, following a late-inning rally Tuesday night, the Hodags still have the chance to finish one spot better as 12Us.
Rebels bounce back in postseason primer
Following back-to-back rough outings, the Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels bounced back Monday night in their final contest before the start of the Class AA Legion regional tournament.
Team review: RHS boys’ tennis
Hodags maintain GNC dominance
The Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team reached some rarified air this spring in terms of Great Northern Conference domination.
Babe Ruth Roundup
Hodag Seniors earn walkoff win over Tomahawk
Daniel Meier’s one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Brodee Dillenberg and gave Rhinelander a dramatic 8-7 come-from-behind victory over Tomahawk in Northwoods Babe Ruth Senior League play Tuesday at Stafford Field.
Rebels can’t overcome bad start in 11-2 loss to Northwoods
The Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels are struggling, and they’re going to have far fewer chances to right the ship before the postseason than originally scheduled.
Babe Ruth Roundup
Rhinelander Prep wins wild game over Lakeland-1
The third time proved to be the charm for Rhinelander against Lakeland’s loaded No. 1 team Wednesday night in Northwoods Babe Ruth Prep League play.
Local gymnasts compete at YMCA Nationals
Rhinelander’s Smith claims gold on vault
With this year’s YMCA National Gymnastics Championship & Invitational just a short drive away in Green Bay, the YMCA of the Northwoods Club program decided to try its had at the nationwide event for the first time.
Track season continuing in Rhinelander
Northwoods Track Club meet attracts 85 to Mike Webster Stadium
Eighty-five athletes came out for the first ever Northwoods Track Club summer meet. While the event itself was pretty laid back — athletes signed up at the beginning of the night and could then decide whether or not to do an event minutes before it started — the opportunity to compete made it worthwhile for a number of athletes.
Rebels win 1 of 3 at Merrill
Rhinelander won only one of three games in the Art Perkins Memorial tournament, defeating Minocqua Post 89 10-7 on Saturday morning. Though the Rebels made late comebacks in their other two games, big innings were too much to overcome in a 10-6 loss to Merrill Post 46 on Friday night and a 9-8 loss to Chippewa Falls Post 77 on Saturday afternoon.
Team Review: RHS Track & Field
Hodags reached new heights in 2025
It’s safe to say that, up until recently, Rhinelander has not been considered as a strong track and field program. Prior to a breakthrough Great Northern Conference title in 2019, the last time the Hodag boys’ track team won a conference championship was 1967.
Team Review: RHS girls’ soccer
There were certainly some highlights for the Rhinelander High School girls’ soccer team this spring. The Hodags didn’t allow a goal in nine consecutive conference games, which allowed them to earn a share of their first Great Northern Conference title since 2018.
Monsters win back-to-back games
Rhinelander downs Everest in extras, takes slugfest over Marshfield
Over the course of two days the Rhinelander River Monsters got right back into the WBA postseason race.
Schmidt shuts down Kingsford in Rebels win
Mason Schmidt delivered his best outing of the year thus far Monday night for the Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels. The senior righty struck out five and scattered three hits over seven innings of work as the Rebels knocked off Kingsford, Mich. 4-1 at Stafford Field.
Team review: RHS golf
Hodag golfers struggled to find consistency this spring
Rhinelander began the year with Great Northern Conference title aspirations — and had the talent capable of competing for a championship — but could never seem to find a way to get at least four of their five starters firing on all cylinders on the same day.
Team review: RHS baseball
‘New identity’ helped Hodags rebuild
An influx of young, talented underclassmen certainly helped the Rhinelander High School baseball rebound to a 13-11 record in 2025. But, moreover, coach Joe Waksmonski said last week during the team’s banquet that the Hodags’ turnaround came from the team buying into a new identity for the program.
Babe Ruth Roundup
Slow start costs Rhinelander Senior vs. Phillips
Rhinelander could not overcome a slow start Thursday and fell to Phillips 15-5 in Northwoods Babe Ruth Senior League Play at Stafford Field.
Rebels drop two in rain-soaked invite
Mother Nature took the first two days of the Rebel Invite away from Rhinelander Post 7 over the weekend. A pair of Class AAA teams nabbed the final day from the Rebels.
River Monsters’ late rally falls short at Whittlesey
The Rhinelander River Monsters found life late on the road at Whittlesey on Sunday, but their rally was too little too late to complete an epic comeback in Dairyland League play.
McCue, Rivord headline award winners at boys’ tennis banquet
The Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team put a wrap on its 2025 season Monday with its year-end banquet in the RHS Library.
Conner Rappley voted Hodag baseball MVP
The sophomore who became Rhinelander’s No. 1 pitcher during the 2025 season earned the Hodag baseball team’s most valuable player award.
Team review: RHS softball
Amid struggles, Hodag fastpitch shows improvement
Following a 1-15 campaign in 2024, there wasn’t much direction for the Rhinelander High School softball team could go but up. The Hodags did make some strides this year, going 5-16 overall, but improvement was a struggle due to factors well outside the team’s control.
River Monsters split twinbill at Merrill
MERRILL — The secret, it seems, for the Rhinelander River Monsters to be successful this season simply boils down to the opportunity to hit last.
Hodag soccer earns eight all-GNC nods
Lamers, Tulowitzky among players of the year
It turns out the Great Northern Conference title is not the only thing the Rhinelander and Lakeland girls’ soccer teams shared this season. The GNC co-champs also shared the conference’s top three awards, sharing offensive player, defensive player and coach of the year honors following a spilt decision by the conference coaches last week.
Hodag baseball falls to Mosinee in regional finals
Postseason run included upset win over St. Croix Falls
The Rhinelander High School baseball team finally ran out of steam Thursday following a state-trotting final week of its season.
Rebels look to build on momentum of high school baseball season
Legion slate kicks off Wednesday vs. Antigo
As one season ends, another one begins for Rhinelander baseball. Given how the spring high school baseball season came to a close for the Hodags, there’s plenty of optimism surrounding the Rhinelander Post 7 Rebel American Legion squad as its season kicks off Wednesday night at home against Antigo.
Sent Wau-packing: Top-seeded Hodags upset by Comets in regional finals
There will be no chance at revenge this year for the Rhinelander High School girls’ soccer team. The Hodags hopes of a deep run in the WIAA tournament came to a sudden halt Saturday when the fourth-seeded Waupaca Comets came into Mike Webster Stadium and upset Rhinelander 2-1 in a WIAA Division 2 regional final.
Track team names athletes of the year, most improved
Prior to the WIAA state meet, the Rhinelander High School track team handed out its postseason honors during its team banquet last Tuesday in the RHS commons.
Schoppe shoots 89 at golf sectionals, does not advance
A slow start Wednesday cost Rhinelander High School senior Sam Schoppe the opportunity to have two more rounds to finish off his high school golf career.
Majority of All-GNC teams announced
Six recognized for Hodag baseball, two for softball
Eighteen Rhinelander High School student-athletes were recognized over the weekend as the Great Northern Conference released its all-conference teams in four of its six sports for the spring 2025 season.
River Monsters roughed up on the road by Abbotsford
Murphy’s Law plagued the Rhinelander River Monsters last Friday night in Dairyland League play at Abbotsford. The Merchants jumped on Rhinelander for six runs over the first two innings and cruised to a 10-0 victory.
Hodag softball team hands out awards
The Rhinelander High School softball team closed out its season on Tuesday by handing out a trio of awards to its varsity team.
RHS Class of 2025 bids farewell as Hodag Dome returns
When the Hodag Dome was damaged, deflated and temporarily closed following an end-of March ice storm, the Rhinelander community faced plenty of questions and uncertainty.
La Crosse bound
Hodag track sends three individuals, three relays to state meet
Truman Lamers was the only of Rhinelander’s 12 entries on the boys’ side to make it qualify for the WIAA state track meet in La Crosse. Five of Rhinelander’s 13 entries on the girls’ side made it through.
Hodag tennis goes winless at sectionals
The postseason run for the Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team came to an end Wednesday as the three flights that advanced in the WIAA tournament all went winless in a Division 1 sectional in Eau Claire.
Hodag boys win regional track title
Girls finish 2nd, teams advance 25 entries to sectionals
Having a shot to win Tuesday’s WIAA Division 2 regional track title was not the main objective for either the Rhinelander High School boys’ or girls’ track teams. Nearly winning both was a very nice side effect, however.
Seniors shine for Hodag tennis at subsectionals
The seniors on the Rhinelander High School tennis team were able to extend their careers by at least one more day.
Hodag golfers miss sectionals by one stroke
Schoppe advances individually
A back nine fade on Tuesday cost the majority of the Rhinelander High School golf team the opportunity to advance in the WIAA tournament.
Hodag baseball spilts final regular season games
After closing out the Great Northern Conference season with one of its best games of the year, the Rhinelander High School baseball team followed up with one of its worst last Friday. The Hodags bounced back Tuesday, however, as they looked to carry momentum into the WIAA playoffs.
Late rally not enough for Monsters against Minocqua
The Rhinelander River Monsters found themselves down four runs on two separate occasions Sunday afternoon in Minocqua and, ultimately, ran out of time in their comeback.
How sweep it is!
Hodag track lays claim to GNC boys, girls titles
Both the RHS boys and girls’ track teams were victorious at the Great Northern Conference meet in Mosinee. It’s the first time the Hodag girls have ever won a conference title and marked the third conference title for the Hodag boys in the last seven years.
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