October 25, 2021 at 2:54 p.m.
RHS smashes records en route to GNC swim title
RHS smashes records en route to GNC swim title
The Hodags put an exclamation point on their third straight conference title, winning 10 events on their way to the GNC championship at the Heck Family Community Pool. Rhinelander also set six conference records and four records in its home pool on Friday while Malia Francis nabbed a pair of school records.
Add all of that to 16 all-conference performances and 27 podium finishes overall, and it equaled a whopping 231-point victory for the Hodags over runner-up Medford.
"The girls were so excited to swim with a crowd and having all the teams here in the GNC, I think it got them going," coach Jenny Heck said. "It was just fun to be swimming all together and having everyone cheer everyone on.
"It's fun to win conference, but it was just more fun to be doing this all together with the whole team. I was so glad we could do it in our home pool."
Malia Francis made her final swim in the Heck Pool memorable. The senior was a part of pool records in all four of her events and took down two school records in the process.
Francis broke the second-oldest school record on Friday, going 24.33 seconds to win the 50-yard freestyle. That not only eclipsed Lindsay Byrka's 1993 school record of 24.47 seconds, it beat the pool record (24.75) set by Stevens Point in 1982.
Francis did one better in her signature event, the 100 backstroke, breaking her own school and pool records with a time of 54.49 seconds. It's a time that is faster than the current WIAA Division 2 state meet record in the event (54.65) as she prepares to take a run at a third-straight state title in the event next month in Waukesha.
"She sat there with her mouth wide open. She was surprised she went that fast," coach Heck said. "It was awesome."
Rhinelander almost took down the oldest pool record as well. Abi Winnicki, in her second straight try in the 500, came within 2.14 seconds of Karen Burton's 1979 pool record, but had to settle for a GNC-record time of 5:15.51 in the event.
"Abi's 500 free was really (fast). I think it even surprised her," coach Heck said. "I think she was a little more prepared for the race tonight and had a lot of fun."
Rhinelander also blistered the conference record in all three relay events, setting two pool records in the process. Malia Francis, Genna Fugle, Karis Francis and Noelle St. Pierre went 1:38.43 in the 200 freestyle relay, beating their old pool record by a second and the conference record by 1.90 seconds. Winnicki, Fugle, freshman Ellyse Younker and Malia Francis went 3:38.85 in the 400 freestyle relay to beat the joint pool and conference record of 3:41.13 the Hodags set last year.
Winnicki, Karis Francis, Younker and St. Pierre went 1:50.76 in the 200 medley relay, eclipsing the conference record by 1.73 seconds.
"Our splits were really good, really fast - faster than what I anticipated," coach Heck said.
Winnicki won the 200 freestyle (1:56.76) in a time that was 0.45 seconds off the conference record. Karis Francis took both the 100 butterfly (59.84) and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.34). Younker won the 200 individual medley (2:24.65).
The top three finishers in each event earned all-conference honors. Rhinelander swept the all-conference awards in both the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. Younker, Maria Heck and Fugle led the sweep in the IM while it was Karis Francis, Sam Sundby and Lily Thorsen for the Hodags in the breaststroke.
"It was nice to get some kids in some different events. Ellyse Younker did well. We 1-2-3ed the 200 IM and the breaststroke, which was really a fun way to wrap up those events," coach Heck said.
Maria Heck, Sundby, Thorsen and Woodford were second as the Hodags swept the top two spots in the 200 medley relay. St. Pierre was second in the 50 freestyle and Younker took third in the 100 butterfly.
The fourth, fifth and sixth-place finishers were also recognized on the podium after each race. St. Pierre added a fourth-place finish in the 100 freestyle, Maria Heck was fifth in the 100 backstroke, Thorsen was fifth in the 100 butterfly, Woodford took fifth in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 100 backstroke, and Fugle was sixth in the 100 freestyle.
Thorsen, Woodford, Sundby and Maria Heck were fourth as Rhinelander's B entry in the 200 freestyle really while Gruett, Alicia Lentine, Abigail Ames and Abigale Johnson took fifth in the 400 freestyle relay.
The Hodags even added a couple of top-six finishes with their C relay teams. Lentine, Gruett, Phoebe Moran and Johnson were sixth in the 200 freestyle relay while Sadie Houghton, Ella Cordy, Claire Caselton and Ames were sixth in the 200 medley relay.
"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."
Rhinelander now has two full weeks to prepare for WIAA Division 2 sectionals in Menomonie. Friday's strong performance give the Hodags plenty of choices as they try to figure out their lineup in a bid to win their third straight sectional title.
"I haven't thought much more than I'm glad we have options now," coach Heck said. "I was really pleased with some our relay splits and the times that I saw, but I think we just have some time now to think about the direction we want to take for sectionals."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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