January 11, 2021 at 8:37 a.m.
RHS swim routs Medford, now 7-0 in GNC
RHS swim routs Medford, now 7-0 in GNC
Rhinelander coach Jenny Heck used the meet as one final opportunity to juggle the lineup in front of the GNC and WIAA sectional meets later this month with strong results. The Hodags scored maximum points in eight of the 11 races and 11 different swimmers contributed to at least one event victory.
"We just had guys in different events and everyone did well and they're really improving in some of their off events," she said. "We said we wanted to try to get 13 personal best/season best times and we stopped at 18 before the last relay. We exceeded our goal and that's been what we want to do, keep improving and making these kids go out and fight for their times and improve every event."
Carter Gaber, Joseph Heck, Jack Antonuk and Daniel Gillingham all recorded three events victories for Rhinelander.
Joseph Heck was the only Hodag to win multiple individual races, leading 1-2-3 finishes in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 14.36 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (1:00.34). Gaber won the 50 freestyle (25.38), Gillingham took the 200 freestyle (2:00.19) and finished second to Antonuk (57.45) in the 100 butterfly. Gaber, Antonuk and Gillingham were all on the winning 400 freestyle relay team with Ashton Cole; Gaber, Joseph Heck, Antonuk teamed with Charlie Heck to win the 200 medley relay while Gillingham was on the winning 200 freestyle really with Marcus O'Malley, Billy Berwig and Zacha King.
Charlie Heck added a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.63), Gavin Ostermann led a 1-2 sweep with Zacha King in the 100 freestyle and Jacob Schoppe scored the win in the 500 freestyle (6:03.33), beating teammates Gaber and Ashton Cole to the wall.
"Jacob Schoppe had a really nice 500 free. He hadn't swam it in two years. We put him in it and he really went after it," coach Heck noted. "I thought he was going to get under the six-minute mark. I think he could have, had he had someone right next to him. I was really impressed with the way he was able to hold his splits. I was really pleased about Jacob's time."
O'Malley and Ostermann finished second and third behind Gillingham in the 200 freestyle; Zacha and Daniel King took second and third in the 200 individual medley. Charlie Heck finished behind Antonuk and Gillingham to complete the top three sweep in the 100 butterfly, while Antonuk and Ashton Cole finished second and third behind Joseph Heck in the 100 backstroke.
"Ashton had never swam the 100 back before, so we got him in that. Joseph was close to getting under a minute. He didn't quite get there, but it was a nice race," coach Heck noted.
The Hodags will look to finish undefeated in the GNC dual meet portion of the schedule tonight at Lakeland.
Home for sectionals
The Hodags learned Thursday learned they will have one more home meet this season, and it's a big one as the team will host a seven-school WIAA Division 2 sectional Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Heck Family Community Pool.
The Hodags will be joined by Lakeland, Medford, Menomonie, Rice Lake, Tomahawk and Wausau East. Unlike during the girls' swim season, when the WIAA split the northernmost D2 sectional into two separate locations, the entire boys' sectional will be held at Rhinelander.
"We're really pleased that we get to host the sectional and won the bid. How exciting for both girls and boys to both have sectionals in our home pool," coach Heck said. "I think it gives us another chance to swim fast in our home pool. You don't usually get those opportunities. I think the kids are excited about that. We're all really excited."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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