QUICK SCORES & HEADLINES
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Girls' soccer
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06/01/2013
Hodags - 1
River Falls - 0
Final
Headline:
WIAA regional final
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Baseball
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05/28/2013
Hodags - 0
Green Bay Southwest - 7
Final
Headline:
WIAA regional semifinal
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Baseball
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05/25/2013
Beaver Dam - 9-9
Hodags - 1-2
Final
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Softball
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05/23/2013
Hodags - 0
Stevens Point - 7
Final
Headline:
WIAA regional final
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RHS: Football
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Hodag Football Set for Sequel
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By Student Writer - Connor Kuczmarski | Published: 06/12/2013
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Quarterback Luke Linsmeyer fakes to Conner Johnson and rolls out for a pass during the annual Rhinelander High School summer football team camp. ( Photo By Bob Mainhardt ) |
Following a year that saw them crack the playoffs for the first time in 23 years, the Rhinelander High School football team is back at it after a long winter. Taking part in the annual team camp, the Hodags are ready to put in the time this summer to put the team in position for back to back playoff berths.
"It's nice to know school's out and a lot of folks are thinking about R and R," RHS football coach Jim Moore said. "But to all of us here this is R and R. We have the fitness class at 7 o'clock so a lot of these guys worked out there and now will come out to do a little football."
Throughout his tenure as head coach, Moore is well known for his adamant stand on success being built in the offseason. Focusing on the basics like blocking and tackling, the camp exists to get the gears turning in the players' heads and promote some fun on the football field.
"We focus on the basics," Moore explained. "We are getting used to our shoulder pads and helmets again and we are going to have a little different twists in the defense."
The Hodags will be changing their base defense following the departure of last season's defensive coordinator Tyler Johnson. Johnson is heading north to coach at his alma mater of University of Minnesota Duluth, but the team is in experienced hands. Prior to Johnson's tenure, Coach Gary Zarda was known for patrolling the defensive sidelines, and the task will be his once again.
"We are going back to more of a 3-5-3 defense," said Moore. "Last year Coach Johnson ran more of a 5-3-3, but basically when you put those guys on the line of scrimmage they need to be bigger and stronger like (departed senior) Josie Schaffer. Now we have more linebacker types and those guys can run a little better. Now we only need three big guys up front and three DB's who can cover a lot of ground."
In last year's 5-3-3 defense the Hodags had 5 players near the defensive line, while three linebackers and three defensive backs in the second and third levels of the defensive respectively. This season the five linebackers will be an effort to match personnel.
Yet Moore seems confident in the personnel at hand.
"Our senior class is really going to be pretty exceptional," Moore stated confidently. "Last year's senior class helped us experience something that is exciting and that's the playoffs. I think they can get us back there."
With 18 seniors on the roster, Moore highlighted several who he thinks will have large impacts on the season.
"Ryan Nehls is making a comeback, and he ran the 100 meter dash at state. He is one of the fastest kids in the GNC and has good size. Having him be here can improve our wide game. We have Connor Johnson inside and we are moving Mitch Reinthaler in to quick end. We are going to get him (Mitch) into the thick of things and help us block because he is a big, physical kid."
Nehls is coming off a track season which saw him finish 14th in the state in the 100 meter sprint. Johnson is coming off a season that saw him lead the team in rushing with 452 yards. Reinthaler too led the Hodags at his respective position, reeling in 10 receptions for 205 yards before going down with an injury.
Only two varsity starters return on the offensive line, in returning seniors Bryce Bilogan and Lukas Kreger. Yet Moore is confident that with continuously improving strength thanks to summer weight training programs, the Hodags will have the bodies to make the initial push in the trenches.
"Up front is where we make things go," said Moore. "We are looking at Bryce Bilogan and Ryan Frahm at the tackles, and Lukas Kreger and Adam Woebbeking put in a good year of weight lifting (at the guards). We are still looking for a center but we have good possibilities on the line."
Catching up with Johnson and Woebbeking themselves, they both explain that camp is the perfect time to start the final stretch of the offseason right, competing and improving as they close in on the season.
"Camp is a great place to hone in on my skills," Johnson said. "I just want to get them better. We can all work on speed, reads, and things like that."
"Team camp is just a good place to shake your rust off," Woebbeking added. "We can get the new kids into it. We get everyone together before the season kicks off and have a fun time."
As far as personal goals, after posting such lofty junior seasons the duo is set for even more impressive 2013's.
"I personally expect myself to lead the team in rushing yards," said Johnson. "Hopefully I will also be a big linebacker on defense, and I want to keep pushing myself to be a key player on this team."
"I want some tackles for losses and hopefully a couple sacks here and there," Woebbeking said. "I want to be the leading tackler on the team again and I think moving to middle linebacker from outside linebacker will help that."
With the team out on the field they are also focusing on perfecting the passing game. The Hodags are once again taking part in summer seven on seven competitions, and will host Marathon and Lakeland along with Antigo potentially on Friday. With all the new wrinkles in Rhinelander's game plan, even the players recognize the benefit to an early jump on the season.
"It's a really big help to work on your skills and stance and football instead of playing at the beach the whole summer," said Woebbeking. "We have helmets and shoulder pads on and it helps us get the feel for the season. We are hungry for it."
Johnson wrapped up with equal sentiments.
"It's always nice to lace up the cleats and put on the pads," said Johnson. "It's a good experience for everyone and you get to have fun with your friends and play football at the same time. It's a good time."
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The Hodag Football Team Holds Awards Banquet
11/12/2012 The Rhinelander Hodags football team held their annual awards banquet. To cap off an injury plagued season that saw the Hodags finally make the playoffs for the first time since 1989 the team finished
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Inside the Helmet: Season in Review
10/26/2012 I am going to start this article by saying that I don't think there has been a more successful year in the history of Hodag football. Although we didn't have the perfect record, the perfect roster, or
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Storybook Hodags Football Season Ends at Waupaca
10/19/2012 Barring a miracle, nobody expected the Rhinelander football team to have more than an outside chance of making their first playoff appearance since 1989 a multi-game affair.
Despite holding a l
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10/13/2012 
