Bob Mainhardt photos

SOCCER

Rhinelander and Lakeland boys soccer met Friday night at Mike Webster Stadium with the regional title on the line. The game ended in regulation with neither team able to get a shot by the goalkeepers. After two ten-minute overtime sessions the score remained tied at zero, sending the teams to a shootout. Andrew Henrichs, Mason Shinners and Braden Mork each made their shots on goal. Cooper Radke, the Hodag keeper, was able to guess correctly on three of the four shots by Lakeland to give Rhinelander the 3-1 shootout win and earn a trip to the sectional semi-final at Medford.

Neil Weigel clears the ball away from the net before Lakeland’s Brady Vizanko can get to the ball.

Will Quinn uses his body to shield the ball from Tyler Tharman.

Kyle Wiese takes a shot on goal.

Matthew King heads a ball toward the Lakeland side of the field.

Leo Losch dribbles toward the Lakeland defense before taking a shot on goal from 30 yards out.

Will Gretzinger tries to avoid contact with the Lakeland goalie.

Braden Mork’s kick goes into the upper left hand corner for the Hodags second goal.

Keeper Cooper Radke knocks away the third of four shots to earn the win against Lakeland.

Players run to the net to congratulate Cooper Radke on his saves and the win.

Players and coaches pose with the regional championship plaque.

SWIMMING
The Great Northern Conference swim meet was held Friday, with the Hodag girls extending their conference title streak another year. Rhinelander placed a swimmer in the top three in 10 of 11 events. Abi Winnicki scored the maximum number of points by being part of two winning relays and winning the 50-yeard and 500-yard freestyle races. Winnicki broke the conference record in the 500 yard freestyle for the second consecutive year. The sectional meet takes place in Merrill Nov. 5.

Lily Thorsen swam the breastroke leg of the winning 200 yard medley relay. Joining Thorsen in the win were Emma Houg, Abi Winnicki and Ellyse Younker.

Abi Winnicki won the 500 yard freestyle breaking the record she set last year.

Ellyse Younker won the 100 yard freestyle and was part of the winning 200 yard medley relay, 200 yard freestyle relay and was second in the 200 yard individual medley.

Genna Fugle won the 200 yard freestyle.

The team and coaches with their conference trophy in the Tomahawk pool.

CROSS COUNTRY
The Rhinelander cross country teams traveled to Wisconsin Rapids for the sectional meet, which the Hodag boys won last year. This year they finished in sixth place as a team and Cody Ruetz took fifth to advance to the state race. Sophomore Grayson Gremban finished in eighth place, only 6.1 seconds away from qualifying for state. The girls placed ninth out of 13 teams. The top finishers for the girls were Julianna Smith in 25th place and Leah Jamison in 27th place.

Brody Kowieski, Olin Slette and Gavin Denis run together.

Leah Jamison just about a mile into the race. Jamison placed 27th in the race.

The Hodag girls top finisher, Julianna Smith approaches the finish line.

Senior Aubrey Younker crosses the finish line in 49th place.

Cody Ruetz finishes the race in fifth place and a guaranteed spot in the state meet.

Grayson Gremban crosses the finish line in eighth place narrowly missing the cut for the state meet.

Rhinelander’s Cody Ruetz stands with the five qualifiers for the state meet whose teams are not going to the state meet.

VOLLEYBALL
Regional play began Tuesday for the Hodag volleyball team, a No.13 seed against No. 4 seed Waupaca. Four seniors, Ava Lamers, Morgan Boutelle, Maddi Roeser and Allie Dornfeld would see their high school volleyball playing come to an end as Waupaca won in straight sets 12-25, 12-25 and 15-25.

Libero Emma Chiamulera serves against Waupaca.

Senior Morgan Boutelle sets for fellow senior Allie Dornfeld.

Senior Maddi Roeser sets a ball.

Senior Ava Lamers tips the ball over the Waupaca block attempt.

Junior Lilly Treder bumps a pass.