January 7, 2019 at 1:08 p.m.
Francis breaks two school records; Hodags take 5th at Jaguar Invite
Francis breaks two school records; Hodags take 5th at Jaguar Invite
Francis beat two of his own school marks Saturday as he won a pair of events and the Hodags placed fifth out of 12 teams overall at the Jaguar Invite in Ashwaubenon.
It was part of a strong day for the Hodags that included seven top-five finishes and six more finishes inside the top 10.
"It was really a great meet. The guys swam fast, faster than I anticipated that they would. They had great races, great time drops, best times of the season and some overall best times. We were really pleased with their performance," coach Jenny Heck said. "The times were fast, it was great competition. Overall, just a lot of fast guys but that was good because you're swimming in a different kind of race when you're swimming in the waves and wake of kids in front of you instead of being out in front. It was a good experience."
Francis already held the school records in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke, and bettered both of his times in those events, setting a Jaguar pool record in the backstroke in the process.
Francis posted a time of 1 minute, 58.73 seconds in the IM, beating the mark of 1:59.08 he set during the 2017 WIAA Division 2 state meet, as he cruised to a victory over nearly 5 1/2 seconds in the event. Later in the program, Francis went 52.97 in the backstroke, eclipsing the school record of 53.56 seconds he set Nov. 27 in a dual meet win over Tomahawk.
"His times, I was really pleased with those and I think it puts him in a good seeding for end of season," coach Heck said.
The Hodags were nearly on the top step of the podium in a couple of relay races as well. Rhinelander took second in the 200 medley relay with the team of Francis, Thaddeus Heck, David King and Russell Benoy (1:42.07) and was third in the 200 freestyle relay with Joseph Heck, Devon Gaber, Francis and Benoy (1:31.58), only four-tenths of a second out of first place.
"(The medley relay) ended up second but their splits were really good," Jenny Heck said. "Thaddeus' 50 breast was fast, the best of the season. That was good to see all the times to come down in every relay."
Benoy finished fourth for the Hodags in both the 50 and 100 freestyle. King added a fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly.
Rhinelander placed sixth in the 400 freestyle relay with the team of Martin Hoger, Gaber, Thaddeus Heck and Joseph Heck. The Heck cousins placed sixth and eighth in the 100 breaststroke with the elder Thaddeus leading the way. Gaber placed ninth in the 100 freestyle and 10th in the 50 freestyle. King finished 10th in the 100 backstroke.
"All the guys were able to point at this meet. That was really cool for such a big and fast meet for all of them to be able to contribute," coach Heck noted.
Rhinelander was the second-best D2 school in the field, finishing only 20 points behind the host Ashwaubenon for fourth. The Hodags were also the top Great Northern Conference school in the field, ahead of Lakeland (sixth), Tomahawk (11th) and Shawano (12th).
Heck said invites like Saturday's serve as a nice gauge ahead of next month's championship races.
"It gets us all excited because we see the potential that we have," she said. "I think the kids have seen the time drops and it gets them mentally prepared and ready to swim fast. It also helps us decide which events to put the guys in. We're trying to figure out where they're going to swim the best."
It's a similar schedule for Rhinelander this week. The Hodags host Antigo in a GNC dual Thursday night at the Heck Family Community Pool before heading to Appleton on Friday for an invitational.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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