November 24, 2021 at 7:31 a.m.
Team review: RHS girls' swimming
2021 another chapter in Hodags' budding dynasty
Team review: RHS girls' swimming
The Hodags were state runners-up three straight years from 1992 to 1994, winning five individual state titles in state stretch. Rhinelander has placed in the top five at state each of the last three years, winning the state title last season and the state runner-up this season, winning eight individual championships.
No matter how you slice it, 2021 was another banner year for the Hodags.
"Coming into the year I thought top three would just be amazing. To take second place overall is just really, wow, it's just really amazing," coach Jenny Heck said following the team's performance at state. "I'm so proud of these girls. They really pulled together and did what they needed to do to make that happen. They worked really hard and were up against some fast girls. They kept it all together and really pulled it off."
Along the way the Hodags won their third straight Great Northern Conference championship, as well as their third straight WIAA Division 2 sectional crown. The record board at the Heck Family Community Pool also got another makeover, with a trove different pool, varsity or conference records going by the boards - along with a state record.
Led by senior Malia Francis, who leaves Rhinelander as the most decorated athlete in a single sport in school history, the Hodags continued to be one of the top teams in the state.
Here are five things to know about this year's season.
Francis' finale
Francis, who will swim next year at Division I Liberty University, cemented her legacy as the greatest Rhinelander High School swimmer of all-time with her performance at the state meet two weeks ago.
She won the state title in the 200-yard individual medley - coming within 0.61 seconds of the school record her sister, Kiah, set went she won the state title in the event in 2016. She followed that up by finally breaking the D2 state record in the 100-yard backstroke after narrowly missing the mark at state each of the previous two years.
By the numbers, Francis' three-year career at RHS includes eight individual state titles, 12 sectional and conference titles, seven GNC records, seven Heck Pool records and six RHS varsity records.
"She's brought so much to this team," Heck said. "She's taught us all a lot her work ethic, her time have been amazing. She's elevated the entire team, not just her times, but he hard work, her dedication and her love for swimming. It's just been a blessing for all of us."
Postseason success
Of course, Rhinelander's success in the postseason hinged on much more than just one swimmer. All 10 of Rhinelander's sectional participants scored points as the Hodags beat Rice Lake by 48 points for the sectional title.
And all six of Rhinelander's state qualifiers ended up on the podium at the WIAA D2 state meet. The Hodags placed in the top six in six events at state. That was enough for Rhinelander to beat Baraboo by 32 points for the runner-up spot.
Sophomore Abi Winnicki finished sixth and set a school record in the 100 freestyle. Senior Noelle St. Pierre posted lifetime-best times in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke at state. Ditto sophomore Karis Francis in the 100 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke. Junior Genna Fugle and freshman Ellyse Younker were key pieces in a pair of top-four finishes in relays.
Madison Edgewood, which opted out of the 2020 season with its powerhouse program due to COVID-19 restrictions, won the D2 title going away. But the Hodags more than validated their 2020 state title with their performance this year.
"It's very sweet," coach Heck said. "People are like, 'well, that's a once in a lifetime thing. That won't happen again.' We didn't have Edgewood last year, so we were able to have the win. Edgewood was here and strong this year, but it's just as sweet."
GNC domination
Prior to the postseason, the Hodags blasted the field in the GNC once again. Rhinelander went undefeated in league play for the third straight year. Though the Hodags did not win every single race in conference duals, like they did in 2020, they more than made up for it at home during the conference meet. Rhinelander set all-time marks for most points scored (435) and margin of victory (231).
"Our depth really was amazing," coach Heck said. "These girls were happy to swim so well and be on these relay teams that were so successful. That's how it was for all three of our relays. I was just very pleased overall."
For the record
The following are the 18 records set by the Hodags during the 2021 season:
State record:
• 100 backstroke, Malia Francis, 54.39 seconds
Varsity records:
• 200 medley relay, Malia Francis/St. Pierre/Karis Francis/Winnicki, 1:45.72
• 50 freestyle, Malia Francis, 24.33
• 100 freestyle, Winnicki, 52.89
• 100 backstroke, Malia
Francis, 54.39 seconds
• 400 freestyle relay, Fugle/Winnicki/Younker/Malia Francis, 3:34.37
Heck Pool records:
• 200 medley relay, Malia Francis/St. Pierre/Karis Francis/Winnicki, 1:50.12
• 200 individual medley, Malia Francis, 2:08.98
• 50 freestyle, Malia Francis, 24.33
• 200 freestyle relay, Malia Francis/Fugle/Karis Francis/St. Pierre, 1:38.43
• 100 backstroke, Malia Francis, 54.49
• 400 Freestyle relay, Winnicki/Fugle/Younker/Malia Francis, 3:38.85
GNC records:
• 200 medley relay, Winnicki/Karis Francis/ Younker/St. Pierre, 1:50.76
• 50 freestyle, Malia Francis, 24.33
• 500 freestyle, Winnicki, 5:15.51
• 200 freestyle relay, Malia Francis/Fugle/Karis Francis/St. Pierre, 1:38.43
• 100 backstroke, Malia Francis, 54.49
• 500 Freestyle relay, Winnicki/Fugle/Younker/Malia Francis, 3:38.85
"That's not just one or two girls. That takes a whole team of really fast, strong, dedicated girls to make that happen," Heck said.
What's next
In total, five seniors graduate for the Hodags, including Malia Francis and Noelle St. Pierre, Maria Heck, Sierra Woodford and Emily Tinsman.
"I can't even think about the future with the girls because it seems like it's still going on," coach Heck said. "It hasn't really hit me. It's going to be much different without the group of seniors. They were so important for the team, not just in the water, but out of the water. Their leadership, what they brought for ideas."
Just because Malia Francis is graduating, don't expect the Hodags to take a major step backward next season. The Hodags have four swimmers returning from this year's state team, along with sectional participants Sam Sundby and Lily Thorsen. The team is also set to bring in a couple of solid swimmers from its middle school and club programs.
If you're looking for a glimpse of what Rhinelander's capable of next year, consider the team's fourth-place finish at state in the 200 freestyle relay with Fugle, Younker, Karis Francis and Noelle St. Pierre at state. Though St. Pierre graduates, Winnicki posted similar, if not slightly faster, times than St. Pierre much of the season in the 50 freestyle.
"We have a lot of great possibilities still," coach Heck said. "I'm not worried that we're not going to be fast. We're just going to have to think about things a little bit in a different way."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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