January 20, 2020 at 12:23 p.m.
Hodag swimmers take third at Lightning Invite
Hodag swimmers take third at Lightning Invite
The Hodags collected seven podium finishes for finishing in the top four, had several other top eight finishes and ended the night as the highest-scoring Division 2 team in the field - ahead of Ashwaubenon who beat the Hodags in last week's Ashwaubenon Invite.
"I was overall pleased, with the team short-handed, plus a lot of the guys who were swimming weren't feeling the best, so I was proud of their effort," Rhinelander coach Jenny Heck said. "They really had to fight through and get through four events. I was really impressed with their effort and ability to do that."
Depth helped the Hodags on Friday night as the Hodags edged Ashwaubenon by 21 points for third place.
"We were really able to place multiple people in most events," Heck said. "I think that's what really contributed to the third place."
The Hodags had a trio of runner-up finishes on the night, beginning with freshman Jack Antonuk in the 200-yard individual medley (2:12.04). Devon Gaber finished tied for second in the 50 freestyle (23.17) and the 200 freestyle relay team of Daniel Gillingham, Joseph Heck, Charlie Heck and Devon Gaber finished second with a season-best time of 1:33.87.
Rhinelander finished third in the 200 medley relay with the team of Joseph Heck, Antonuk, David King and Devon Gaber (1:45.96). Gaber added a third-place swim in the 100 freestyle (51.73) and Joseph Heck was third in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.91). King took fourth in the 100 butterfly (55.75 and fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:01.23).
Rhinelander added a fifth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay with the team of Gillingham, Gavin Ostermann, Antonuk and David King (3:38.55). The Hodags' B entry in the 200 medley relay of Carter Gaber, Jacob Schoppe, Ostermann and Charlie Heck finished sixth (1:56.24).
"We weren't sure how that would end up for us, but it turned out our B relays really did a nice job and scored a lot of points," coach Heck said. "We figured they scored 42 points, which really was substantial for us. Ashwaubenon's scored 32 points (with its B relays) and I think that was really a big part of us being the top D2 team at the meet."
Gillingham took sixth in the 100 freestyle and eighth in the 50 freestyle; Joseph Heck was seventh in the 200 IM; Antonuk took seventh in the 500 freestyle and Charlie Heck finished eighth in the 100 freestyle.
Appleton North/East edged Green Bay United 454-447 for the team title. Rhinelander finished third with 325 points in its final non-conference meet of the season.
"Everybody had someone to swim with to see where we fit in with some of these fast swimmers in the state and who will be competing with at the sectionals and state meet," coach Heck said. "We're in a great place right now. We saw some things we were looking for overall from a lot of our guys and our relays are coming together. I think we're in great position for championship season."
The Hodags will return to the pool Thursday at Shawano.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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