Rhinelander High School Explained

Rhinelander High School
Streetaddress:	665 Coolidge Avenue
City:	Rhinelander
State:	Wisconsin
County:	Oneida
Zipcode:	54501
Country:	United States
Superintendent:	Eric Burke
Principal:	Shane Dornfeld
Schooltype:	High school
Grades:	912
Athletics:	Football, cross country, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, wrestling, Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, baseball, softball, golf, track and field
Conference:	Great Northern Conference
Motto:	Committed to Excellence
Rival:	Lakeland Thunderbirds
Founded:	1889
Enrollment:	778 (201718)^[1]

Rhinelander High School (RHS) is a high school in Rhinelander, Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States.^[2]

History

The first Rhinelander High School was built in 1889. It was named Rhinelander Union High School (RUHS) and the building was commonly known as Old Central. It stood on what is now Saroca Park. When the school began it had just two teachers and fewer than 80 students. By 1912, attendance had grown to over 215 students.

The school was demolished to accommodate increased enrollment. The new high school, known as Rhinelander High School today, had its first graduation on June 4, 1959, with a class of over 200 seniors.^[3]

Extracurricular activities

• Key Club: A self-governing organization service organization, this club is affiliated with the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District and Key Club International.
• Band
• Library Club
• Mock Trial

Mock Trial simulates a courtroom trial, with students playing the roles of witnesses and attorneys in a fact situation provided by the state bar. The school holds the record for the most consecutive wins in Mock Trial.^[4] The team has 27 regional championships and 15 state championships,^{[5] [6]} RHS won the National High School Mock Trial Championship in 1989^[7] and has finished second twice.

• Debate: The RHS debate team travels and competes with other high school debaters. In 2007, the Rhinelander debate team took second place at the state competition in the novice division. In 2008, the team took first place at the state final.^[8]
• National Honor Society

The organization sponsors a scholarship drive by selling weekly "Dress Down Day" stickers to faculty. NHS calculates and distributes academic letters and bars to eligible students and sponsors the annual homecoming talent show.

• Drama: Students perform two drama productions per school year. They are involved in all facets of the production, including acting, set design, costumes, lighting, and drama competition.
• SADD

This group promotes students making healthy choices, such as seat belt use and staying drug-free. At Homecoming and Prom, it sponsors a speaker to address the student body. It also promotes Red Ribbon Week to elementary schools.

• Shodags: Shodags Show Choir is a musical song and dance group. It performs at school functions and community gatherings.
• German Club: The German Club travels to Germany as part of the German American Partnership Program every two years and hosts German students every two years. The group raises money through candy sales, fruit sales, and Advent calendar sales for both events. Other events include a lock-in, movie night, caroling, picnic, bowling, and going out to eat.
• Spanish Club: Spanish Club raises funds for foreign language trips abroad.
• Student Council: This student organization attempts to resolve issues in the school and provide services and events for the students and staff. Participants are either elected to a council office in April, a class office in May, or selected as a class representative.
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Sports

Rhinelander High School sports include cross country, dance team, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, hockey, wrestling, Nordic and Alpine skiing, baseball, softball, and track and field.^[9] Rhinelander High School teams participate in the Great Northern Conference, a division two conference. Until 2010, the Hodags were a part of the Wisconsin Valley Conference, a division one conference. RHS won state championships in boys cross country in 1966 and 1987, and in girls swimming in 2020.^[10]

Notable alumni

• Jason Doering, football player
• Gene Englund, professional basketball player^[11]
• Breta Luther Griem (1915), dietitian and television host
• Walt Kichefski, football player
• Ray Terzynski, professional basketball player^[12]
• Helen Vlahakis (1931), movie actress known professionally as Helen Valkis and as Joan Valerie^[13]
• Mike Webster, Hall of Fame center, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974–1988; Kansas City Chiefs, 1989–1990^[14]
• Frederick Wedge, professional boxer, clergyman, and college professor^[15]

External links

• Rhinelander High School Homepage

45.6483°N -89.4°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rhinelander High. National Center for Education Statistics. February 3, 2020.
2. Web site: Rhinelander High School. School District of Rhinelander. May 13, 2012.
3. "Rhinelander Union High School Reporter 1959"
4. http://www.wisbar.org Wisbar.org
5. Web site: RHS Mock Trial team claims Regional Championship. Star Journal. December 28, 2017.
6. Web site: High School Mock Trial Tournament Finalists announced. March 13, 2006. State Bar of Wisconsin. May 13, 2012.
7. News: First time ever: LUHS mock trial team to compete at state semi-finals. Nimsgern. Tom. March 11, 2011. Lakeland Times. December 28, 2017.
8. Web site: RHS Debate Team. School District of Rhinelander. May 20, 2012.
9. Web site: RHS Activities . School District of Rhinelander.
10. Book: 2019 State Cross Country Meet Souvenir Program . November 2, 2019 . . Wisconsin Rapids, WI . 26.
11. Web site: Gene Englund Past Stats. databaseBasketball.com. databaseSports.com. 2006. September 2, 2010.
12. Web site: Raymond Terzynski Statistics. Just Sports Stats. May 28, 2019.
13. News: Helen Valkis Was Active in School Plays. The Rhinelander Daily News. May 18, 1937. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. 5. Newspapers.com. December 28, 2017.
14. http://www.hodagfacilities.com/ Hodag Facilities Foundation :: Home
15. "Kid Wedge, Pastor and Ex-Pugilist, 'Knocked Out' by Divorcee", The Milwaukee Journal (January 25, 1929):2.