October 5, 2018 at 1:05 p.m.
Hodag swimmers sweep Mosinee, improve to 5-0 in GNC
Hodag swimmers sweep Mosinee, improve to 5-0 in GNC
The Hodags overwhelmed Mosinee, winning all 11 events in a 135-28 rout at the Heck Family Community Pool.
Rhinelander (5-0) knew it would have its way against a fledgling, first-year Mosinee (0-6) program, which gave the team a chance to get creative with its lineup.
"I think this meet was really a great opportunity for us because a lot of swimmers wanted to swim events they don't normally swim throughout the year and we just weren't able to put them in because we needed them in certain areas," coach Jenny Heck said. "We had a lot of best times in events that kids haven't gotten to swim this year. It was good to see. And it was also an opportunity to see how we did in events we had swam this year, but not in a while."
Ten different Hodags had a hand in at least one win on the night, led by sophomore Makenna Winnicki, who was a winner in all four events she swam. Individually, she won the 50-yard freestyle (26.09 seconds), the 500 freestyle (5:31.06) and was part of the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
It was Winnicki's first swim during the conference season in the 500, an event she qualified for the WIAA Division 2 state meet in last year. Her time was roughly 11 seconds off her best from a year ago, which coach Heck said was right on track for this point of the season.
"It was good to get Makenna in the 500 and get a time on her," she said. "She needs to be doing that. I think that's a good spot for her, especially considering how she was swimming in this race. I think she'll be just fine going into the end of the season."
Grace Heck took the 100 butterfly (1:09.84), the 100 backstroke (1:10.04) and was part of the winning 200 medley relay team. Lisa Kennedy, in addition to being on the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays, won the 100 freestyle (58.62).
Marisa McGuire won the 200 freestyle for Rhinelander (2:21.00), Noelle St. Pierre added a win in the 200 individual medley (2:34.40) and Maddie Quinn won the 100 breaststroke (1:25.11).
Though Rhinelander has one home meet remaining Oct. 15 against Colby/Abbotsford, the team used Thursday's meet to honor its class of five seniors. They were also paired together in a couple of relays. Quinn, Alexis Denny, Grace Heck and Miranda Erdmann teamed up to win the 200 medley relay (2:14.17). The senior quartet of Allie Fugle, Quinn, Erdmann and Grace Heck finished second to teammates Kennedy, Riley Miller, Maria Heck and Winnicki (1:52.46) in the 200 medley relay.
"That's always fun for the kids because they don't always get to be together on those relays," Jenny Heck said. "They did really well together."
McGuire, Kennedy, St. Pierre and Winnicki scored the win for Rhinelander in the 400 freestyle relay (4:04.01).
Rhinelander swept the top three places in all four individual freestyle races, along with the 100 backstroke. Technically, the team swept the top three spots in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays as well, but a school is allowed to score only two teams in each relay during a dual meet and the third-place finishes in each of those races were considered non-scoring exhibiton entires. The Hodags added 1-2 finishes in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay.
Every member of the Hodags' lineup scored points in the meet, which coach Heck said was quite an accomplishment.
"This might have been their first night that they've scored any varsity points," she said. "Like I've told the girls all season, all of them matter and it's great where they can see that in a meet where they all point."
The challenge will be much different next Thursday night as the Hodags head to fellow GNC unbeaten, and four-time defending conference-champion Tomahawk. The winner of that meet will be assured at least a share of first place heading into the Great Northern Conference championship meet Oct. 26 at Lakeland Union High School in Minocqua.
"We're going to go after it, put our best lineup together and do what we can against Tomahawk," Heck said. "They're a fast team, but it's great competition and I think we'll be ready for them."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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