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: Wrestling
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Wrestling: Klaver, Johnson Ready For State
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By Student Writer - Connor Kuczmarski | Published: 02/20/2013
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Richard Klaver, pictured, and Connor Johnson will compete at the WIAA state wrestling meet beginning today at the Kohl Ccenter in Madison. Both grapplers lost sectional titles to wrestlers ranked No. 1 in the state by Wisconsin Wrestling Online. |
For the first time in four years, the Rhinelander High School wrestling team will be represented at the WIAA state wrestling meet. Richard Klaver (152 pounds) and Connor Johnson (195) travel to the Kohl Center today to begin their quest for a state championship.
“I think we both have a really good shot,” Johnson said. “We have both been wrestling pretty consistent lately. It’s going to be really tough, the competition is fierce, but I think we can do some good things.”
Klaver and Johnson have both notched extremely impressive seasons for the Hodags. Klaver enters the state tournament with an overall record of 36-5, losing twice to Wisconsin Wrestling Online’s No. 1 ranked Travis Hettinga (43-2). Klaver, who comes in at No. 10, faces Brandon Sprecher (37-8, No. 12) of Sauk Prairie to begin this afternoon.
“It is going to be really tough,” Klaver said. “The competition is the best at state and everyone is focusing on the same goal. We have lots of time between each match so conditioning won’t be as much of a factor. It is going to come down to who is a better man on the day. (Connor and I) just need to go out and focus on doing what we do best.”
If the scenario plays out, Klaver could be looking at a third rematch in three weeks with Hettinga. Klaver lost 19-10 in the regional finals and then 10-2 in the sectional finals a week later. He recognizes that a third bout would be unique to the others, primarily because of the extremely high level at which the athletes compete.
“The first time we wrestled he was really looking for the head throw,” Klaver explained. “That is one of his best moves. He caught me in it a few times and I rolled him through twice, but he was hunting for it. The second time I knew it was coming, and I was prepared for it. We wrestled a much different match that time. I expect it to be very different if we match up again.”
Johnson enters the state tournament with what appear to be several favorable early round matchups. Johnson (No. 2, 40-3) first grapples with Brett Samson (No. 13, 33-8), a freshman from Oconomowoc. If he passes that test he is looking at either Greg Miller (No. 15, 31-14) of Burlington or Mitch Major (No. 11, 36-10) of Mukwanago in the quarterfinals. Despite taking on opponents or prospective opponents outside of the top 10, Johnson said he understands the dangers of underestimating an opponent.
“Everyone here is the best,” Johnson stated. “All the guys got here because they worked hard. I need to stick to my skills and go out there and work to the best of my ability. If I wrestle to my game plan I’m confident I can be successful.”
Johnson enters the state tournament 1-1 in his last two matches, falling to Eric Peissig of Menomonie (No. 1, 45-0) 8-3 in the sectional finals before edging past Alex Klug of Merrill 5-4 to wrestle back for the opportunity to compete at state.
Johnson said he is optimistic about his chances should he get another crack at Peissig, the top-ranked wrestler at 195.
“Anything can happen at this point,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if I will meet up with him again, but if I do I think I will be better off than I was before. I know more about him than I did last time and I come in knowing what to expect. Hopefully, I will be standing on a podium by the time it is all over.”
The first two rounds of the state tournament are held today. Wrestling begins at 3 p.m. Should Klaver or Johnson win, they would advance to the quarterfinals which will begin later that evening. Should they lose in the preliminary round, they will be cheering for the wrestler who beat them in the quarterfinals. Should Sprecher or Samson win in the quarters, Klaver and Johnson would get a spot in the consolation bracket Friday morning. Should Sprecher or Samson lose in the quarters, Klaver and Johnson’s seasons would be over.
The semifinals will be held on Friday at 7 p.m.. If Klaver and Johnson wrestle to the state championship round they will be competing on Saturday at 6 p.m. for a shot at state gold.
“We are here and we are ready,” Klaver said. “Our entire careers’ have built up to this. Connor has one year left and this is my last (season). Since we laced up our shoes for the first time this has always been the goal to compete for a state title. Now all we need to do is go out there and leave it on the mat. If we do that good things will happen.”
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Mike Piehl first inducted into wrestling club’s hall of fame
03/07/2013 The Rhinelander Wrestling Club is looking to cement an old tradition by beginning a new one.
The club inducted the first member into its Hodag Wrestling Hall of Fame Monday as longtime coach Mi
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Johnson named RHS wrestling MVP
03/07/2013 Rhinelander High School junior Connor Johnson was one of several Hodags who took home honors Monday as the Hodag wrestling team held its season-ending banquet in the RHS commons.
Johnson earned
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Hodags Finish at State, Johnson Takes Fifth
02/24/2013 The Rhinelander High School wrestling team wrapped up their season in Madison on Saturday, finishing an up and down year on a high note. With the support of an entire community behind him, Connor John
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02/22/2013 
