January 14, 2021 at 7:57 a.m.
RHS swimmers down Lakeland, finish undefeated in GNC
RHS swimmers down Lakeland, finish undefeated in GNC
Lakeland's Liam Hogan had a hand in four victories for the T-Birds, but Rhinelander's depth ruled the night as the Hodags won their 28th consecutive conference dual dating back to the start of the 2018-19 season. The Hodags went undefeated in duals for the third year in a row.
"The season has gone so fast and, before you know it, you're 8-0," Rhinelander coach Jenny Heck said. "We were really excited about continuing on and finishing off the conference season. We were pleased with how we went.
"We kind of attacked this meet (differently), more so we wanted times from guys. We mixed up our relays, trying to put kids under pressure that aren't always under pressure in the relays and get some times. We need to see how we can configure the lineup come conference, sectionals and state."
The result of the dual was never really in question as the Hodags opened by scoring maximum points in each of the first three races. Carter Gaber, Charlie Heck, Gavin Ostermann and Joseph Heck (1 minute, 46.90 seconds) beat teammates Daniel King, Jack Antonuk, Zacha King and Marcus O'Malley to win the 200 medley relay. Charlie Heck (2:03.50) led a top three sweep of the 200 freestyle with Jacob Schoppe and Gaber. Zacha King (2:24.18), Eli Lundt and Daniel King went 1-2-3 in the 200 individual medley.
Antonuk won two individual events for the Hodags, taking the 500 freestyle (5:16.63) and leading a 1-2-3 sweep in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.59) with Joseph Heck and Ashton Cole. Daniel Gillingham recorded Rhinelander's other victory, leading a 1-2 finish in the 100 butterfly (57.58) with Gavin Ostermann.
"Daniel Gillingham had a really great 100 fly," coach Heck noted. "He dropped some time in that and that was good to see. I was pleased with that race for him. Jack Antonuk had a real solid meet with both the 500 and the breaststroke."
Gillingham finished second to Hogan, Lakeland's top freestyler, in the 50, while Joseph Heck was the runner-up to Hogan in the 100. Gaber added a runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke with a personal best time of 1:00.74.
"Carter Gaber had a fast relay split in our medley plus his 100 back was a best time," coach Heck said. "He really swam it smart. Our goal is to learn how to swim these races the way we want to be swimming them at the end. He took it out fast and he gave it his all. That was a personal goal for him to see if you could take it out that fast and hang on, and he did. He's close to getting under that minute mark and I think he's right there."
Lakeland loaded its 200 and 400 freestyle relays for the dual with the quartet of Hogan, Max Novak, Avery Tucker and Maverick Metzger. They defeated the Rhinelander quartet of Gillingham, Ostermann, Schoppe and Joseph Heck in the 200 and the team of Gillingham, Charlie Heck, Gaber and Antonuk in the 400.
"Lakeland swam really well tonight, but we did too," coach Heck said. "We've been going after personal best times. Our goal was 13 and we stopped counting at 18. With the training that we're doing, that surpassed our expectations. We just have to keep remembering what our end goal is - conference, sectionals and state."
That's all that remains on the Hodags schedule. Rhinelander picked up a non-conference dual at D.C. Everest Thursday that concluded after deadline. The Hodags travel to Shawano next Friday for the GNC meet and will host sectionals the following Saturday.
The end of the season is fast approaching - two weeks earlier than a typical season due to the WIAA's COVID-adjusted sports calendar - but coach Heck said the Hodags' are ready for the stretch run.
"Some of these sprinters, they're training hard and they need to be resting a little bit more," she said. "They're ready for some fast times. We've been hitting the weight room and hitting the practices hard and I think they're ready for a little back off. They're looking forward to end of season where we can focus on swimming fast."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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