Hodag Highlights: Football, tennis, swimming

Running back Sam Zwaard avoided the last tackler on his way to an 86-yard touchdown run to make the score 20-7 with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter. BOB MAINHARDT PHOTO

For the Star Journal

TENNIS

After losing to Lakeland on Tuesday by a 7-0 score the Hodags girls tennis team faced Phillips on Thursday at home. Tuesday the only match not to go to straight sets was Samantha Aschenbrenner at #4 singles. Tuesday was the first time since the Hodags joined the GNC to lose 7-0 in conference. The Hodags were back to winning as they defeated Phillips by a 7-0 score.

The next home match for the Hodags will be Thursday Sept. 19.

BOB MAINHARDT PHOTOS

Sophomore Samantha Aschenbrenner played at No. 4 singles. Aschenbrenner took her Lakeland opponent to a third set that went to a tiebreaker on Tuesday.

No. 1 singles player Kelsey Winter serves in her win.

Brooke Sisel returns a serve at the No. 1 doubles match with partner Dawsyn Barkus.

Karmen Lopez hits a backhand return in her No. 2 singles win.

SWIMMING

The Hodag girls swim team finally hosted a meet on Thursday evening after being away for four meets. The team also was able to use the new scoreboard that was installed in August.

The Ladysmith co-op was the visiting team and the Hodags were not very hospitable as the home team won every event and four of the girls, Ellyse Younker, Celia Francis, Ella Heck and Vivian Lamers were three event winners. Emma Houg placed first in the 200 IM and 500 yard freestyle. Kiley Pooch was the winner of the 100 yard backstroke. The Hodags won 130-37.

The girls also won the Hodag Relays with only two other teams competing this year, edging Wausau West by six points. Ellyse Younker, Millie Gruett, Lily Thorsen and Celia Francis broke the record in the 400 yard individual medley relay.

BOB MAINHARDT PHOTOS

Vivian Lamers was the anchor in the winning 400 yard freestyle relay.

Ella Heck won the 100 yard breaststroke.

Ellyse Younker and Celia Francis look at the scoreboard to see which 200 yard freestyle relay team won the event. Francis’ foursome won by .76 second.

Rylee Mickevicius placed third in the 100 yard freestyle to complete one of the five 1-2-3 finishes for the Hodags.

Emma Houg won the 200 yard IM and the 500 yard freestyle.

Senior Ellyse Younker won the 200 yard freestyle.

Celia Francis began the meet with the backstroke leg of the 200 yard medley relay.

The new scoreboard in the pool was used for the first time on Tuesday. The project was partially funded by the Athletic Booster Club with a $10,000 donation.

FOOTBALL

The Hodag football team came into Friday’s game against Wausau East wanting to get back on the winning track after losing a close one to Lakeland last week 12-8.

Two key players returned to the lineup, senior quarterback Truman Lamers and junior Myles Eagleson, and made an impact. Lamers made three interceptions in the game and Eagleson returned to the offense with several good runs out of the backfield.

Things did not look good as the Wausau East Lumberjacks took the opening kickoff and marched down the field and scored in a minute and 25 seconds to take a 7-0 lead. But the Hodags would not give up another point to East in the game. The Hodags scored a touchdown in the second quarter but would miss the try for two points to leave East up 6-7 which would be the halftime score.

The Hodags scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and converted on one of the two-point tries and took a 20-7 lead going to the fourth quarter. The third quarter highlight was an 86 yard touchdown run by Sam Zwaard with 3:57 left in the quarter.

The Hodags scored a touchdown and converted the two-point attempt for the 28-7 final score.

Next for the Hodags is Tomahawk in Tomahawk.

BOB MAINHARDT PHOTOS