ABC Banquet: Bauer family accepts Heart of the Hodag Award

The Rhinelander Athletic Booster Club(ABC) held its annual banquet Wednesday, May 14 at The Pines event center. Tyler Johnson, from the Class of 2005, was inducted to the Hodag Hall of Fame in recognition of his prowess on the football field in high school and at the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he was a nose tackle and helped the team go from a 4-7 season to a Division II national championship and a 15-0 record. Johnson was a four-year starter for the Hodags in basketball and football and was honorable mention all-state his senior year and a Channel 7 All-Star. Johnson was also invited to play in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star game, but was unable to play due to an injury.
The ABC also awarded $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors Truman Lamers and Sophie Miljevich.
Finally, the Heart of the Hodag Award was presented to the family of Dan Bauer. Bauer, an assistant chief at the Rhinelander Fire Department, suffered a fatal heart attack in November at the age of 42. He had been an integral part of Hodag Little League as well as a coach for basketball and football. Jenna Bauer and the couple’s four children accepted the award.