Last Updated: Friday, April 13, 2007 3:34 PM CDT
Senior-less Hodags in search of leadership
by Daily News Sports
Last year, the Rhinelander boys' tennis team placed fifth in the conference with a 2-5 record and finished 4-7 overall. The season was highlighted by Rahul Jain qualifying for state competition with a fourth-place finish at sectionals and the team's two victories over Marshfield.
The Hodags lost a good group of players to graduation -- captains Alex Zarley (No. 2 singles) and Pete Raymond (No. 3 singles), as well as doubles players Aaron Pierre, Steve Teclaw and Will Dolenshek.
This is the first time in Bob Heideman's 22 years as the Hodags' head coach that his team will be without a senior.
Some players to watch this year will be captain Jain (junior), Andy Bognar and the No. 1 doubles team of junior Shane Polzin and sophomore Kolin Dean.
“They [Polzin and Dean] want to play singles, but we can't sort that out until we get outside,” said Heideman.
“Andy [Bognar] was No. 4 singles last year and is probably the best athlete on the team,” the coach added.
Other returning letterwinners at doubles are juniors Dan Chojnacki, Ryan Trembley and Dan Rosin.
The team's biggest challenge entering the season will be leadership.
“We had a number of sophomores who played last year that will move into being experienced junior players this year,” said Heideman. “But without seniors, they have to take on that leadership role, and I don't know how that will play out.”
The coach is happy with what he is seeing from the team already.
“I like the work ethic of the team as a whole -- I have seen an improvement in their drills,” said Heideman. “Right now we are working hard at getting better and that is always a good sign.”
Heideman feels that the team's preparedness is limited by its lack of outdoor practice during the preseason.
“We have had years where we have gone to our first meet without having played outside.”
This also makes it difficult for the coach to determine how they will fare against other teams.
“I have to take what I see here in the gym and put it under the microscope of competition in terms of a final decision about our outlook for the season.”
Heideman predicts that Stevens Point and Wausau East will be the teams to beat in the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
“They [Stevens Point] are the four-year reigning conference champs and will be the favorite,” Heideman said.
Rhinelander has generally finished in the top three over the past 20 years.
“Last year was different, and I think the challenge for this group is how far we can get back into the conference race,” said Heideman.
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Rhinelander junior Dan Chojnacki is one of the returning letterwinners who will be an integral member of this year’s Hodags squad.
(Michael Patterson - Daily News)
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