December 9, 2020 at 1:18 p.m.
Hodag swimmers down Shawano 130-40
Hodag swimmers down Shawano 130-40
The Hodags won in 10 of 11 events, securing maximum points in eight of those, as they cruised to a 130-40 victory over Shawano at the Heck Family Community Pool.
Rhinelander swept the top two spots in all three relay races, and scored 1-2-3 finishes in five individual events as they moved to 2-0 in GNC duals.
"I was really pleased with those B relays, really fighting for that second place. That was fun to watch," coach Jenny Heck said. "I had the guys swim some events that they've never swam before, or not for a very long time. That was really some successful swims as well."
Two examples coach Heck pointed to, regarding swimmers competing in different events, were sophomore Daniel Gillingham and junior Gavin Ostermann. Gillingham won the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1 minute, 10.28 seconds, while Ostermann finished third in his maiden swim in the 200 individual medley.
"Gavin has never swam the 200 IM, great job and I think he was close to the automatic lettering time in the first time he's ever swam it," she said. "Daniel Gillingham didn't have a time in the breaststroke. Because his IM is so good, he's got to have a good breaststroke. It's great to see some of those times from guys who don't usually swim those events."
Joseph Heck and Jack Antonuk were both four-event winners on the night for the Hodags. Heck swept the sprint freestyle races, winning both the 50 (23.27) and the 100 (52.39). Antonuk captured the 200 IM (2:12.69) and the 100 butterfly (57.19). Both were on Rhinelander's victorious 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.
Carter Gaber won the 100 backstroke for the second straight meet, posting a winning time of 1:05.44. Charlie Heck captured the 200 freestyle (2:04.72).
Gaber, Joseph Heck, Antonuk and Ostermann (1:50.48) made up the winning 200 medley relay; Charlie Heck, Antonuk, Joseph Heck and Gillingham (1:35.36) took the 200 freestyle relay and Marcus O'Malley, Ostermann, Charlie Heck and Gillingham (3:52.75) were the winning foursome in the 400 freestyle relay.
"Splits on the relays were also pretty good, pretty fast. For the training and how we're going after this, I think the times were reflective," coach Heck noted.
The swims of the night may have been for the runner-up spot in the 200 and 400 free relays. In both instances Rhinelander's second entry rallied from behind to edge Shawano's top entry. In the 200 freestyle relay, Jacob Schoppe went 25.79 in the anchor leg to beat Shawano's Josh Bergmann for second place by 0.33 seconds. Gaber went 58.74 in the last leg of the 400 to fend off Bergman by 0.63 seconds.
"My two favorite events were that 200 free relay and the 400 free relays, those Bs both battling," coach Heck said. "That's when they really have to dig deep. Jacob Schoppe coming from behind for second place (in the 400) was awesome, and Carter Gaber, after swimming 500 free and 100 back, had three events in the second half and had a strong finish."
Charlie Heck, Zacha King and Lundt went 1-2-3 for the Hodags in the 200 freestyle. O'Malley and Schoppe finished second and third behind Joseph Heck in the 50. Gillingham also cracked the minute mark as he finished second to Antonuk in the butterfly, with Schoppe taking third for the Hodags. Gaber, Zacha King and Charlie Heck made it a 1-2-3 for the Hodags in the backstroke and Gillingham, Ostermann and Daniel King took the top three spots in the breaststroke. O'Malley added a runner-up finish in the only event the Hodags didn't win, the 500 freestyle.
"Zacha King had a great meet. He did really well in the 200 free and that 100 back time was really fast," coach Heck said. "Jack Antonuk's 100 fly, really fast, and Daniel Gillingham's, both of those guys under a minute this time of year, and I think both are all-time best times. That was really good."
The Hodags will see the Hawks again this coming Tuesday in Shawano, but first Rhinelander will host Lakeland and Marshfield in the Hodag Relays tomorrow morning in the Heck Pool. The field has been limited to three teams this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but coach Heck said she's glad to still have an opportunity to compete in the unique relay-only format.
"We're doing a little bit of a different format than normal because we only have three teams but, nonetheless, it's a great time for some different events, fun races, but also getting some useable times out of it as well," she said.
The event gets underway at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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