March 15, 2021 at 8:15 a.m.
RHS girls' swim finally celebrates championship season
RHS girls' swim finally celebrates championship season
The 2020 WIAA Division 2 state champions put a bow on their historic campaign last Tuesday with a banquet in the RHS commons. Only within the last month has the school relaxed restrictions and allowed teams to hold in-person banquets despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"I'm thankful to even have to banquet here, even though it's much later, to celebrate the success of these girls," Hodag coach Jenny Heck said. "This isn't something that happens very often at all. I know that these girls were looking at records from 30 years ago they were looking to break, and how fast those girls were. Thirty years from now, there's going to be girls that are trying to beat your times."
Every member of the team was given a gold medal from the WIAA as a state champion, regardless of whether they were part of the crew that went to Waukesha Nov. 13 and captured the D2 state title by 27 points over Shorewood.
"All of these girls were an important part of the team, not just the ones who swam at state. It took all of these girls and all these girls were part of it," Heck said.
All 10 swimmers - the seven qualifiers and three alternates - who made the trip to the state meet were further recognized as the team had co-winners for each of its five awards.
Junior Malia Francis and freshman Abi Winnicki shared the team's most valuable player award; seniors Makenna Winnicki and Lisa Kennedy won the dedication award; junior Noelle St. Pierre and freshman Karis Francis won the clutch award; sophomore Genna Fugle and freshman Sam Sundby received the improvement award; and juniors Maria Heck and Sierra Woodford received the team's Hodag award.
Malia Francis and Abi Winnicki both had seasons worthy of most valuable honors, according to Jenny Heck. Both were members of the team's state-champion 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays. Malia Francis also repeated as state champion in the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke while Abi Winnicki set school records at state in a runner-up finish in the 200 freestyle and a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle.
The two combined had a hand in 13 school, Heck Pool or Great Northern Conference records this season. By the numbers, Malia Francis led the team with 290 points scored during the season to Abi Winnicki's 274. Francis won 43 times in 44 total races during the high school season. The only person in the state to beat her this season was Abi Winnicki, who out-touched Francis in the 50 freestyle during a dual meet Sept. 17 at Lakeland. Abi Winnicki had 36 race wins in 44 starts.
"Without these two girls we would not have had the success at the state meet, the conference meet, the sectional meet," coach Heck said. "They really pushed each other. They were just amazing and I'm glad they have another year to swim together."
The same cannot be said for the two dedication award winners, Makenna Winnicki and Kennedy, who closed out their high school careers this past November.
The elder of the two Winnicki sisters went out a state champion as part of the 400 freestyle relay at state. She was also part of a third-place swim in the 200 medley relay and finished fourth in the 500 freestyle. Kennedy, meanwhile, became only the third girl in RHS history to crack the 1-minute mark in the 100 backstroke this year, culminating with a fourth-place finish in the event at state. Like Makenna Winnicki, Kennedy was also on the Hodags' third-place state team in the 200 medley relay.
"Their dedication to not only this year, but years of swim, they've really done a lot for swimming in general," coach Heck said. "They've dedicated just many, many years, many, many miles in the pool to swimming."
The clutch award was new to the team this year and presented to a pair of swimmers who were part of the state-champion 200 freestyle relay as well as the third-place 200 medley relay. St. Pierre posted top 10 finishes at state in the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke while Karis Francis, Malia's younger sister, also qualified for state in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly as a freshman.
"These were two girls who were really critical in the process, mostly the end of the season. We really needed these girls to make everything happen," coach Heck said.
Fugle emerged toward the end of the season, and swam the leadoff leg of the Hodags' championship-winning 400 freestyle relay while Sundby, a breaststroke specialist, finished sixth in the event at conference and eighth at sectionals.
Maria Heck and Woodford, alternates for the state meet, were presented the Hodag Award which, as coach Heck explained, is presented to, "girls who are dedicated in hard work and leadership, are supportive of their teammates and have good attitude." Both were members of the Hodags' B relay that took second in the Great Northern Conference meet while Maria Heck added a third-place finish in the conference in the 500 freestyle.
In addition to the state championship - the first WIAA girls' team state title in Rhinelander High School history - the Hodags dominated regular season competition this year. Rhinelander won all seven of its GNC dual meets by 60 or more points, becoming the first GNC team to win every race in every conference dual meet. The Hodags also repeated as WIAA sectional champions, winning eight of the 11 events and beating Rice Lake by 86 points.
"I'm just so proud of all these girls," coach Heck said. "It was such a crazy year with COVID and all the negative things that went with it. It was so fun to have something positive and something to look forward to. These girls really enjoyed and embraced every moment. That made it really special for me too."
All of the success was cause for celebration, even if it was a few months delayed.
"You are a great team, so keep it up and always look back, celebrate and enjoy this year. I hope you do, because it's something not many people get to experience," coach Heck said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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