September 27, 2017 at 12:48 p.m.
RHS tabs Winnicki, Heck as co-interim girls' swim coaches
RHS tabs Winnicki, Heck as co-interim girls' swim coaches
The two have been part of the piecemeal staff for the team since head coach Lindsay Byrka resigned last Wednesday amid stalled contract negations with the district.
Brent Olson will remain on staff as a paid assistant. According to Paulson, Ingrid Bodensteiner stepped down as an assistant on Friday.
"We were trying to stay with some familiarity within the program," Paulson said. "We know that most of these kids have had Marna as a middle school coach. We also know that Jenny Heck has been volunteering her time for a long time, with (the Rhinelander) Swim Club and with the varsity swim team."
Winnicki is the James Williams Middle School swim coach while Heck is a coach with the Rhinelander Swim Club and has occasionally been on deck to assist the RHS girls' swim team. Both coaches have daughters on the team - Makenna Winnicki and Grace Heck.
Paulson said trying to restore stability within the coaching staff was key for the remainder of the season.
"The kids need somebody they're comfortable with right now (who), at the same time, is going to be able to push them on the deck," he said. "I believe we've accomplished those goals with the staff we're going to have for the remainder of the girls season."
Paulson said he made the coaching recommendation to district superintendent Kelli Jacobi who OKed the arrangement. Paulson said contract details are still being hammered out between the district, Winnicki and Heck, but "they will be paid according to Appendix A" of the School District of Rhinelander Employee Handbook.
Paulson added the school will continue to look for a permanent head coach for the team for 2018 and beyond and added that no coaching decisions have been made regarding the RHS boys' swim team, whose season begins in mid-November.
In two meets since Byrka's resignation last Wednesday, the Hodags have a 124-46 victory over Antigo in a Great Northern Conference dual meet and a third-place finish in the nine-team Husky Invite at Eau Claire North.
Winnicki and Olson oversaw the team last Thursday at Antigo. Heck joined those two pool-side Saturday in Eau Claire.
The Hodags do not have a competition this week. They will be back in the pool Thursday to take on Tomahawk in a battle of 4-0 teams in the GNC.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.