December 10, 2018 at 1:27 p.m.
Hodag swimmers win home relay meet
Hodag swimmers win home relay meet
Rhinelander won four events, placed second in two others, and won the five-team event Saturday at the Heck Family Community Pool.
Unlike last year, when the Hodags finished in a three-way tie for first place, Rhinelander got the trophy all to itself this time around. The team won three straight races to clinch the overall title with one event remaining and finished the event 16 points ahead of runner-up Marshfield.
"This was fun. They were really excited, hoping to win after the three-way tie last year, but it's always a fun meet and great competition," Hodag coach Jenny Heck said. "They swam really well. Their splits were fast. They looked sharp. We've been working really hard and I was pleased with their times. I knew they were sore and tired coming into this meet so I was happy they swam as fast as they did."
The Hodags sat in third place following the fourth event - the 200-yard freestyle relay - but kicked it into high gear from there, winning four of the next five and placing second in the event they did not win.
Rhinelander excelled in the specialty stroke events on Saturday, winning the 300 butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke relays, as well as the 150 mixer medley.
Martin Hoger, Jacob Schoppe and David King won the 300 butterfly relay with a time of 3 minutes, 16.27 seconds. Joseph Heck, Hoger and King won the backstroke relay (3:16.60). Thaddeus Heck, Russell Benoy and Devon Gaber took the 150 mixer medley (1:18.95) and Benoy, Joseph Heck and Thaddeus Heck won the 300 breaststroke relay (3:29.16).
"Our splits in our strokes were faster than we have done previously," coach Heck noted. "I think we're getting in better position, which we need to be, because we have Shawano and Lakeland coming up Tuesday (and) Thursday. Those are going to be two fast meets and good competition."
Rhinelander added runner-up finishes in the 400 individual medley relay with the team of King, Joseph Heck, Hoger and Benoy. Thaddeus Heck, King, Benoy and Gaber finished second in the 500 decrescendo freestyle relay. Both of Rhinelander's runner-up finishes came against defending Great Northern Conference champion Lakeland, setting the stage for what figures to be a competitive dual between the teams Thursday at the Heck Pool.
"We were able to see where their guys are at, where we're at and, hopefully put together a good lineup that will give them a run for their money," Jenny Heck said.
The Hodags added a third-place finis in the 200 medley relay with the team of Cooper Kovac, Ashton Cole, Schoppe and Hoger.
Tomahawk edged Lakeland for third place in the meet. Superior finished fifth. Heck said the Hodags had a little extra motivation to win their home invite.
"It's so fun. You've got the home crowd advantage and the music," she said. "They were pumped up and ready. It's always a fun meet for us."
The Hodags travel to Shawano for a conference dual meet this evening.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.