August 6, 2019 at 1:24 p.m.
The power of 3: RHS swimmers look to build on last year's success
The power of 3: RHS swimmers look to build on last year's success
Following a strong girls' season last year and the best boys' swim season in a quarter century, the Hodag swimmers want to ride that momentum into the next school year, and they're doing more than hoping for success.
A large group of Hodag swimmers has been in the Heck Family Community Pool at RHS throughout the summer for the P3 swim program. The Ps stand for power, precision and performance - which has been the goal of the program run by RHS boys' and girls' swim coach Jenny Heck, along with a host of assistants.
"It's a way to keep the swimmers in the water, work on technique and strength and endurance and some of the things we really don't have time for during the season," she said.
The program wraps up Thursday.
While offseason training can help in any sports, it's imperative in swimming, a sport in which as little as a week or two out of the water can erase weeks, even months worth of gains. A number of RHS swim team members are taking that to heart.
For members of the girls' squad, like senior Riley Miller, the program has been essentially an eight-week head start to the season. The girls' swim team's first practice is Aug. 13 and the first meet of the fall is Aug. 21.
"It's been very helpful to work on technique that I might not have time to work on during season and just get that little extra help that's going to make a difference in my races during season," she said.
The boys' swim team does not begin practice until mid-November. Still, seniors Devon Gaber and Thaddeus Heck said it's never too early to start preparing for a repeat performance of last season in which the Hodags won two event state championships, recorded four other podium finishes and placed third overall in the WIAA Division 2 state meet.
"I'm kind of looking at this as an early start to season," Thaddeus Heck said. "I'm trying to get back into shape and back into fast times by the beginning of season, if not around there. We're looking to be in tip-top shape at the start of season, and then work even harder during season for better results."
In addition to time in the pool, the group has also spent time in the weight room. Ken Heck, Jenny's husband, has worked with RHS strength coach Tyler Figureora to incorporate some of the same Volt workout programs the swim teams successfully utilized in dryland training last fall and winter. Assistant coaches Bill Bolden, Jon Koch and Marna Winnicki have helped with the in-water training.
"I think the swimmers enjoy have the variety in training. You get a little bit of technique, a little bit of strength and a little different perspective from coaches," Jenny Heck said.
Gaber said the extra time has allowed him a chance to fine-tune technique - something he might not be able to do in season while the team is building an endurance base and competing in meets sometimes twice of three times in a week.
"I've definitely been fixing all my technique stuff - my starts and turns we've been helping a lot," he said. "Even my stroke I can feel it improving. It's definitely beneficial for me."
Jenny Heck said roughly 30 kids signed up for the program, which was geared toward high school and upper-level middle school swimmers. The vast majority of the swimmers in the program are from the School District of Rhinelander.
"The kids are really consistent and motivated," she said. "They swim. They hit the weight room afterward and they're having fun too."
That number is up from last year for the program, which Heck attributes to the success of the swim teams. The RHS girls were second in the GNC behind Tomahawk for a second straight year while the boys' swim team won the GNC and sectionals, and shattered several school records in a dominant 2018-19 campaign.
"Swimmers are seeing the success we've been having and they know they want to be part of it," Jenny Heck said. "All the kids who had a lot of success also put in a lot of time during the offseason. Not one swimmer can do well in season if they're not putting in the time offseason. I think they're seeing that and seeing the results."
Thaddeus Heck said results breed greater expectations, and a lofty standard for the boys' squad to live up to this winter.
"We had an excellent season last year, great placing (at state) and the question might be in the air, 'Can you top that?' Well, we're thinking we're going to go right back to that, if not better," he said. "We're looking at podium finishes this year. We've got a lot of strong freshmen coming in. We took a pretty big hit with the seniors leaving, of course, but us (incoming) seniors are really trying to set up to fill that gap and we're looking to go right back up to the top where we left off and do even better."
Miller said the returning high school swimmers are not the only ones who see a benefit.
"I think it's helpful for the freshmen to be able to come in and kind of get a taste of what high school swimming is really like," she said. "It just gives them that extra practice they may need going into season."
Of course, the program cannot be all hard work. A couple of weeks ago, following a morning swim session, the program participants went out to Buck Lake for a beach party. Keeping things fun is part of what keeps the swimmers coming back.
"It's not that fun waking up (early) every morning, but it's fun being with your friends, post-season," senior David King said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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