September 14, 2018 at 12:39 p.m.
Hodags' depth sinks Medford 91-79
Hodags' depth sinks Medford 91-79
The Hodags ran off a string of five straight wins during the middle of the meet, building enough of a cushion to fend off the Raiders 91-79 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
Rhinelander won seven events overall and clinched the dual with a win by freshman Noelle St. Pierre in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Medford edged Rhinelander for fourth place at sectionals last year, and again for second in a non-conference invite earlier this season at Marshfield. Rhinelander coach Jenny Heck called Thursday's win a satisfying one.
"We're happy about this one. We knew they'd be tough," she said. "They have some real fast swimmers. They gave us some competition we knew we'd have and I think we did fairly well against them."
Rhinelander trailed 25-21 following the 200 individual medley before turning things around. Grace Heck (27.18 seconds) and Marisa McGuire scored a 1-2 finish for the Hodags in the 50 freestyle that gave Rhinelander a 32-30 lead at intermission and turned the tables in Rhinelander's favor.
The Hodags finished first and third in each of the next four races to extend the lead to 73-51 and never looked back.
"They've been working hard. We've been working them hard," coach Heck said. "I wasn't sure they'd be able to pull it out, but they did. They were able to swim fast. They were nervous at first, but they came together during the middle of the meet. We came together at halftime and said, 'We want to win this, let's go.' They really came together."
After intermission, Makenna Winnicki gave the Hodags a win in the 100 butterfly (1:03.47) as the Hodags continued their run. St. Pierre won the 100 freestyle (58.36), Maria Heck took the 500 freestyle (6:05.09) and the Hodags captured the 200 freestyle relay with the quartet of McGuire, Lisa Kennedy, Grace Heck and Winnicki (1:47.49).
Just as important as the wins in those events were the reserve finishes that supported them. Grace Heck and Riley Miller were third and fifth in the butterfly, McGuire and Allie Fugle were third and fifth in the 100 freestyle, Sierra Woodford and Ella Schiek were third and fourth in 500 freestyle and the Hodags took third with their B relay in the 200 freestyle of Fugle, Jaylen Janssen, Schiek and Maria Heck.
"We told those kids, we need to be getting those thirds, those fourths, those fifths," Jenny Heck said. "They're really important. The 500 free, that was exciting. Ella Schiek wasn't even in that (fast) heat and she ended up placing (fourth) for us. That depth is really important in these meets."
The team of Kennedy, St. Pierre, Winnicki and Grace Heck opened the night with a win in the 200 medley relay (2:00.28). St. Pierre's win in the breaststroke (1:15.23) capped off a strong night for the freshman.
"I was really happy with Noelle's double wins. That was really impressive and really needed. That was great," coach Heck said.
Kennedy added runner-up finishes for Rhinelander in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, Winnicki was second in the 200 freestyle and the Hodags took second in the 400 freestyle relay with Maria Heck, Schiek, Woodford and St. Pierre.
Rhinelander (2-0 Great Northern) is back in action this afternoon in the Chippewa Falls Invite, a competition the team won a season ago.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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