March 1, 2019 at 10:46 a.m.
Every 'dag has its day
Mayor Frederickson honors success, proclaims RHS boys' swim team day
Every 'dag has its day
Rhinelander mayor Chris Frederickson proclaimed Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 as Rhinelander High School Boys Swim Team Day in the city, in honor of the Hodags' best performance at the WIAA state meet in a quarter century.
Rhinelander won two state titles on Feb. 15 at the UW Natatorium in Madison, breaking a 25-year championship drought. The Hodag team of Joseph Heck, Nolan Francis, Devon Gaber and Russell Benoy won the Division 2 title in the 200-yard freestyle relay and Francis added a state title in the 100 backstroke. In all, the Hodags had six podium finishes at state and tied for third in the final team standings.
It was the capper on an incredible season in which the Hodags won both the Great Northern Conference and D2 sectional titles, went undefeated in dual meets, set seven Heck Family Community Pool records, five RHS varsity records and four GNC records.
"I'm proud to be able to celebrate that with you," mayor Frederickson said during a presentation in the John and Dori Brown Performing Arts Center at RHS.
Mayorial proclamations are not all that common for Rhinelander sports teams. The last known proclamation was in 2010 when then mayor Richard Johns celebrated the Wisconsin American Legion Class AA state championship won by the Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels.
In his address to the team, Frederickson said he was not only recognizing the team's accomplishments, but the legacy this year's team has established for future RHS boys' swim teams.
"What you build right now is a legacy for the people that come after you," he said. "Having fans, having kids in the pool, sharing what you've done with them, giving them that work ethic, the character it takes to actually show up, work, be on time and be part of a team. Team has to do with sacrifice in a lot things and I'm proud of you. It's good to know we have a generation of excellence coming up through our high school. It's pretty cool because we dented a pretty good piece of history here."
Rhinelander High School activities director Brian Paulson also took the floor to honor the team and challenge the returning swimmers to strive for greater accomplishments next year.
"I'm very proud of you guys," he said. "Dreams come true. It's unbelievable. Many of you are going to be coming back next year and know what it's like to take the next step.
"Don't settle. I'm sure some of you in your mind are already going to be pushing yourselves, but don't settle. Some of you individuals are coming back and have a chance to get to the next step."
All 10 members of the team were honored during the mid-morning ceremony. Coach Jenny Heck said it was appropriate because all 10 members of the team contributed to this year's success - whether they were a state qualifier or not.
"It was really a great season overall," she said. "It wasn't just the state meet. It was the conference, the sectionals, our dual meets, everything. We really did well this year and a lot of it was because of, it doesn't seem like it but, our depth of 10 swimmers. We did have depth."
Frederickson said all 10 members of the team pushed each other, striving for excellence.
"It takes a culture where you don't accept mediocrity," he said. "You shoot for excellence. I'm pretty sure you know the times when you disappointed yourself in the water and when you didn't. You also had people around you that felt the same thing. In that team, when you create that culture of excellence, when you're always pushing each other, that's when you're going to gain more than you ever thought yourself."
In addition to the state titles, Francis added runner-up finishes in the 100 butterfly and as part of the 200 medley relay with Thaddeus Heck, David King and Benoy. Benoy finished fourth in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle at state while Gaber finished eighth in both events. King was 12th in the 100 butterfly and Thaddeus Heck was 15th in the 100 breaststroke.
Senior Martin Hoger, sophomore Cooper Kovac and freshmen Jacob Schoppe and Ashton Cole rounded out the team's roster this year. Hoger was part of a conference-record in the 200 medley relay, Schoppe earned all-conference honors in the 200 individual medley. Kovac and Cole scored valuable conference meet points as first-year swimmers.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.