August 13, 2018 at 9:42 a.m.
Team preview: RHS girls' swimming
Hodag swimmers seek to continue steady climb in GNC
Team preview: RHS girls' swimming
There's only one rung left for Rhinelander to climb as it seeks its first conference title since 2002, when the Hodags were part of the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
"I think the girls are really motivated because they know that," Hodag head coach Jenny Heck said. "They understand that. I think they're hungry to continue to get better.
There's optimism on deck that the Hodags can challenge perennial conference power Tomahawk and vie for the GNC crown. Rhinelander returns three of its four state qualifiers from last season, along with several other letter winners, and brings in a freshman class that figures to make an immediate impact.
"I think we're going to have a really good team this year," Heck said. "We have a nice group, all the way from freshmen to seniors. We have four freshmen, three seniors and a lot of experience in between."
A couple of freshmen broke on to the scene last year and made an immediate impact - Makenna Winnicki and Lisa Kennedy. They're both back and ready to improve upon last season's results. Winnicki was a state qualifier in the 500-yard freestyle and the 200 medley relay. She was also the runner-up to Tomahawk's Kylie Theiler at conference and sectionals in both the 200 and 500 freestyle.
Kennedy was also part of the state-qualifying medley relay team and added a third-place finish in the GNC meet in the 100 backstroke. Senior Grace Heck is also back from last year's state 200 medley relay squad.
"The returning swimmers, especially the returning swimmers that went to state, have a lot of experience," Jenny Heck said. "They're going to lead the team and show them, through their experience, where we need to go. I think we're going to look for them, as well as Maddie Quinn who's one of our captains, as leaders of the team."
Playing off Winnicki and Kennedy's strengths the Hodag coaching staff figures the backstroke and distance freestyle will be among the team's strongest events this year.
Junior Marisa McGuire will likely also figure prominently into the lineup. The freestyler was part of a runner-up finish in the 200-freestyle relay at last year's conference meet and finished inside the top eight in all four of her events at sectionals.
The team lost some depth, particularly in the freestyle events, with the graduation of seniors Carly Seidl, Taylor Macak and Jenna Hawley. Additionally, it appears the team will need to replace state qualifier Marissa Martin who, as of this writing, had not come out for the team.
A freshman class of four will look to help fill that void. The quartet of Noelle St. Pierre, Maria Heck, Sierra Woodford and Emily Tinsman, all join the team after having come through the ranks with the Rhinelander Swim Club and the James Williams Middle School team.
"They know what it takes to do well. I think they are going to be ready to contribute and swim fast right off the bat," Jenny Heck said. "They're well-rounded. They can swim different events. We can put them in almost any event and I think they're going to point for us. That's going to give us a lot of versatility and options for the season."
Additionally, the team welcomes back senior Miranda Edrmann, who has not swum since her freshman year, when she was part of the team's conference championship-winning 200 medley relay.
Erdmann's addition puts the team right at 15 swimmers this season - down from last year's numbers. Heck said that puts the emphasis on everyone on the roster to improve throughout the season, because everyone will likely be counted on at some point this season to produce points.
That's because the Great Northern Conference appears more competitive than ever. Tomahawk's still the team to beat, but Rhinelander closed the gap last year. Medford came on strong at the end of last season and Ladysmith/Bruce/Flambeau consistently fields strong teams.
"It's going to be great competition in the conference this year," Heck said. "I think we're going to have some great meets, close meets and, hopefully, we'll end up on top. Tomahawk's going to continue to be a great team. We'll try to do our best against them. I think we're going to matchup closer (with them) than last year."
This season, the GNC returns to eight teams as Mosinee joins the fold in its inaugural season.
Rhinelander will host Colby/Abbotsford in the first GNC dual of the fall Aug. 30 at the Heck Family Community Pool but will have four non-conference invites in the interim to establish a baseline for the season.
"I think we will learn a lot," Jenny Heck said. "We have some great opportunities ahead. We have some relay races, which gives us a chance to see what kids can do in multiple events. That will be fun. We have an outdoor meet. We have the Colby Pentathlon. Both of those are fun meets to get the season going."
The Colby Pentathlon opens the season this Wednesday, followed the next day by an outdoor meet in Merrill.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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