December 28, 2020 at 7:40 a.m.
RHS swimmers handle Tomahawk 136-28
RHS swimmers handle Tomahawk 136-28
The Hodags were dominant again in their home pool, taking first and second in all 11 events as they cruised to a 136-28 win over a depleted Tomahawk squad at the Heck Family Community Pool.
Rhinelander coach Jenny Heck said the meet itself was fairly anticlimactic, with Tomahawk (0-2) getting a late start to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the meet allowed the Hodags (5-0) one more chance to race in competition before the holidays.
"Tomahawk has been out with COVID and their top swimmer still is out with COVID. But it was an opportunity to race and we raced each other mostly. At least we're getting times," she said. "We're kind of in the midst of our peak training week. I wasn't sure what was going to happen tonight. Yesterday's workout was a little rough, but I think they did well."
The Hodags spread the wealth last Tuesday, with 11 different swimmers playing a role in at least one victory for the team - including wins by six different swimmers in the eight individual races.
Jack Antonuk took the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 59.48 seconds) and the 100 breaststroke (1:03.93) for Rhinelander, while Zacha King scored wins in the 200 individual medley (2:27.57) and the 100 backstroke (1:06.60).
Joseph Heck was a winner in the 50 freestyle (23.41), Gavin Ostermann won the 100 butterfly (1:03.73), Daniel Gillingham won the 100 freestyle (54.41) and Charlie Heck won the 500 freestyle (5:51.17).
The Hodags honored both of their seniors - Joseph Heck and Billy Berwig - at intermission.
The two started the contest on the winning 200 medley relay team (1:54.53) with Antonuk and Jacob Schoppe.
"It was a nice tribute night for the seniors, Joseph and Billy," coach Heck said. "Billy, who hasn't been able to swim too much, swam really well. He had a great 50 free time and that was nice. It was good to celebrate them and their careers."
Gillingham, Marcus O'Malley, Zacha King and Joseph Heck (1:39.07) won the 200 freestyle relay, edging teammates Antonuk, Ostermann, Eli Lundt and Charlie Heck by 1.22 seconds. Gillingham, Carter Gaber, Lundt and O'Malley made up the winning foursome in the 400 freestyle relay (3:51.29).
The Hodags swept the top three spots in four events. Antonuk, Gillingham and Charlie Heck went 1-2-3 in the 200 freestyle; Joseph Heck, O'Malley and Ostermann controlled the 50 freestyle; Ostermann, Schoppe and Gaber swept the top three in the 100 butterfly and the Hodags scored maximum points in the 500 freestyle with Charlie Heck, Ashton Cole and Lundt.
"I was pleased with Eli Lundt and Ashton Cole," coach Heck noted. "They got their automatic lettering times in the 500 free. That was a success. Those guys are shooting for automatic letter times in different events. That's always a goal they can have for these kinds of meets. Marcus O'Malley had a real solid meet in his sprints and did well."
Lundt added a runner-up finish for Rhinelander in the 200 IM, O'Malley was second in the 100 freestyle, Schoppe took second in the 100 backstroke and Joseph Heck was second in the 100 breaststroke.
Rhinelander returns to the pool Wednesday to take on Ashwaubenon in the team's lone non-conference meet of the year. Coach Heck said she's looking forward to what will likely be Rhinelander's toughest remaining test prior to the WIAA tournament.
"We're looking forward to that. We really want to go for it and go for good times in some of our better events at that meet," she said. "We will be having more competition than we've had within the conference. It's a shame we don't have more competition right now but, with COVID and the way everything is falling, it is what it is and we're thankful and looking forward to Wednesday."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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