The Northwoods River News

Hodags fumble away football opener, fall to Ashland in OT

Rhinelander committed five turnovers and fell to the Oredockers 26-20 in overtime at Weikal Field. The fifth and final turnover was a Cyrus Leisure fumble near the first down marker on a third-down play in the extra session.

Making a splash: Hodag swimmers win opening Merrill Relays

The Rhinelander High School girls’ swim team showcased its depth and versatility Thursday night. The Hodags won five events, and placed second in three others, as they won the 13-team Merrill Fun in the Sun Relays at the Bierman Aquatic Center.

Hodag tennis cruises over Antigo in GNC opener

The Rhinelander High School girls’ tennis team breezed through its first Great Northern Conference test of the season on Thursday, earning a 7-0 victory at Antigo.

Team Preview: RHS volleyball

Hodag spikers seek more improvement

After a 12-27 campaign last year and two wins in Great Northern Conference — the latter being the most for the squad since 2017 — the Rhinelander High School volleyball team looks to take another step forward this season.

Team Preview: RHS boys’ soccer

RHS enters season as work in progress

New Rhinelander High School boys’ soccer coach John Vojta has high expectations for his squad but, with a young roster and coming off a 4-10-2 season last year, the Hodags realize that this year’s team will be a work in progress.

Team Preview: RHS cross country

After trip to state Hodag harriers eager for encore

Matching the success of last year’s squad will be difficult for the Rhinelander High School boys’ cross country team, but coach M.J. Laggis and the Hodag harriers are ready for another run after qualifying for the WIAA state meet as a team for the second time in four years.

Pigskin Preview Week 1: Rhinelander at Ashland

Hodags travel to Ashland to kick off 2025 season

The dress rehearsals are over and things happen for real tonight as the 2025 high school football season kicks off for the Rhinelander Hodags.

Media picks Mosinee to win GNC title

Panel has Hodags sixth

It has been seven years since someone other than Medford or Mosinee has lifted the Great Northern Conference football trophy and, in the eyes of a number of area sports pundits, that trend will not change this season.

Notebook: Vojta gets to work as RHS soccer practice begins

New head coach John Vojta has wasted very little time this week getting the Rhinelander High School boys’ soccer team up to speed.

RHS Sports recap: Thursday, Aug. 21

Girls’ tennis: Rhinelander 7, Antigo 0 | Girls’ swimming: Rhinelander 1st/13, Merrill Relays

Hodag gridders have ups and downs in preseason scrimmage

Scrimmage day for the Rhinelander High School football team was about what one would expect. There were some flashes, there were some early-season mistakes and there was a chance to get ready before the ball goes in the air for real this coming Friday night.

Team preview: RHS girls’ swimming

Opportunity knocks as Hodag swimmers look to maintain dominance

There are some heavy hitters gone from last year’s squad for the Rhinelander High School girls’ swim team. But, with seven returning state qualifiers and a roster full of experience, there is plenty of opportunity for the Hodags to maintain their status as one of the top Division 2 programs in the state.

Wet, wild and winning: Vanderbunt has memorable experience at Legion All-Star Game

A lot happened Aug. 10 between the time Dylan Vanderbunt got to American Family Field until he was able to play on it in the 53rd annual Wisconsin American Legion All-Star game, but it all proved to be worth the wait for the Rhinelander senior.

Northwood’s breast cancer awareness night scores another record

The members of the Northwood Golf Club ladies golf league in Rhinelander once again teamed up with their colleagues from Inshalla Country Club in Tomahawk earlier this month in support of breast cancer awareness. The result was the best in the event’s 17-year history.

Team Preview: RHS football

Hodags looking to get back into playoff, GNC mix

The narrative for the 2024 Rhinelander High School football team could have been much different if not for some untimely injuries and some close losses to rivals on the road.

RHS girls’ golf team gets off the ground

History was made Tuesday at Northwood Golf Club as the Rhinelander High School girls’ golf team held the first practice of its inaugural season.

Notebook: Hodag swimmers entering season in stride

The Rhinelander High School girls’ swim team was 13 strong on Tuesday as practice opened for the 2025 season.

Monsters upset Hudson, take 2nd in regional

The Rhinelander River Monsters saw their season come to an end this past Saturday, but not before the team ended the year on a high note.

Team review: Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels

Despite inconsistency, Rebels have optimism for future

It seemed fitting that the Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels finished an even .500 on the season with nine wins and nine losses. There were points this summer where it looked like the Rebels were the team to beat in the Northwoods. At other times, the team had a hard time getting out of its own way.

‘Hungry’ Hodag gridders open practice

Last year's missed postseason opportunity has coach Aaron Kraemer and the Hodags hungry as practice for the 2025 season officially commences. Tuesday was the team’s first day on the field, with a 3 1/2-hour session that finished under the lights at Mike Webster Stadium.

Lady Hodags wrap up summer with camp

With a number of returning starters and a talented incoming freshman class, coach Ryan Clark hopes the 2025-26 season can be one in which the Rhinelander High School girls’ basketball team takes a step up and begins to contend for Great Northern Conference championships once again.

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.