November 7, 2022 at 8:51 a.m.
Rhinelander swims to sectional four-peat
Winnicki sets two school records, Hodags send nine entries to state
Rhinelander swims to sectional four-peat
The Hodags matched their GNC four-peat by doing the same at sectionals on Saturday, winning five events and defeating Wausau East by 96 points for the title.
"That's really something to be proud of," Hodag coach Jenny Heck said. "They all had a hand in that championship win. To do this four years in a row, just like the conference win, is really sweet. These girls, they all contributed. That made it even more special."
Junior Abi Winnicki smashed her own school records in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle races and was also on a pair of state-qualifying relays. In all, Rhinelander advanced nine entries to this Friday's WIAA Division 2 state meet in Waukesha by virtue of either winning a race at sectionals or being among the top 16 performances in the state overall.
"It's crazy and I'm so blessed to be a part of this team," Winnicki said. "It's been awesome, bringing home a fourth sectional win with pool records and we're super close to our varsity records (in the relays) with really fast people on it. I think this is a special year for sure."
Winnicki will be joined at state by Lily Thorsen, Genna Fugle and Ellyse Younker, who qualified in individual races, as well as freshmen Emma Houg and Camilla Gruett, who were part of sectional-winning relays.
Winnicki looked like the best swimmer in the pool Saturday in a 14-team sectional that included all eight Great Northern Conference programs. She started her day with a blistering time of 1 minute, 53.06 seconds in the 200 freestyle, beating her previous school record by 0.92 seconds. She then knocked 0.88 seconds off her varsity record in the 100 freestyle, clocking in at 51.83 to win that event going away.
"I definitely was nervous before my 200 free but, after that swim, I was just really excited with the rest of the race," Winnicki said. "I've been training hard and I was just really excited to be here. It's the end of the season. It's my favorite time of the year."
Winnicki was second fastest statewide in D2 Saturday in the 100 and third-fastest in the 200, putting her in the middle lanes for Friday's state meet.
"We wanted to have her feel good today but swim faster next week and that's still the plan," Heck said. "I think she was optimistic after today, felt good about her times. She looked strong, looked really solid."
Rhinelander swept all three relay races, including a come-from-behind win in the 200 medley. Fugle, a senior, entered the water third, but rallied over the final 50 yards to edge Merrill by 0.44 seconds and Rice Lake by 0.74 seconds. Houg, Thorsen and Gruett made up the rest of the quartet.
"It was touch and go with the top three teams," Heck said. "Genna is seasoned and she's experienced and I knew that, if anyone could do it, it would be Genna. She just powered through that and looked amazing. I think even with the safe starts and just being cautious, I think they've got more in them for next week."
Rhinelander dominated both freestyle relays. Younker, Thorsen, Fugle and Winnicki went 1:39.53 in the 200 freestyle relay to win by 3.37 seconds over Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Their time was third-fastest in the state. The Hodags then went 3:40.01 in the 400 freestyle relay by Younker, Gruett, Fugle and Winnicki to win that event by a whopping 11.66 seconds over Wausau East in a time that was fifth-best statewide.
"We just want to get there and then next week really explode," Heck said. "They did what we needed them to do. The goal is to go faster next week."
Thorsen, a sophomore, went from not swimming any events at last year's state meet to earning a full four-event program this time around. She placed fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:02.08) and third in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.22) to earn one of the 12 at-large berths available in each event.
"Lily has improved. I just can't believe how much she has improved all along," Heck said. "She's really worked hard since last year and her times have all just really come down. She just had a dynamite year. To qualify in four events - two individual and two relays - is just beautiful. She has a lot to be proud of. Her hard work has paid off."
In addition to swimming on all three relays Fugle qualified individually as she finished second behind Winnicki in the 100 freestyle. Her runner-up time of 55.58 seconds was 0.27 faster than the state cutline.
"She's just so dynamite on the relays that we knew that was needed in the medley. I think that was the right decision," Heck said. "She was just very impactful in the three relays, and to make it individually then, I think she also has some room to move up. She just looked strong and powerful and confident today. That was just fun to see."
Younker was the runner-up in the 100 butterfly (1:00.45) and will add that event to her program at state. She was hoping to make it in the 200 freestyle as well, but finished fourth at sectionals (2:01.96) and missed out, despite posting a time faster than the 2021 cutline in the event. Rice Lake's Hannah Miller, who finished one spot and 1.16 seconds ahead of Younker in the event, earned the final at-large berth.
"You never know how that's going to be, some events are faster, some not," Heck said. "Ellyse's free has been amazing and it's been really important for the relays too. Her fly's been great. As much as she wanted to make it (in the 200 freestyle) she can really concentrate on those events she qualified in."
That was one of several near misses for the Hodags, whose nine state entries are down from 12 from last year when the team finished runner-up at the state meet.
Gruett was sixth in the butterfly (1:03.80), missing the cut by 0.83 seconds. Houg missed state in the 500 by 5.80 seconds, despite finishing third at sectionals in the event (5:37.70). Junior Sam Sundby was seventh in the breaststroke (1:13.91), but only 1.27 seconds off the cutline. Junior Margaret Lambert was fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:06.39) and missed state by 2.24 seconds.
"We had a couple that we were hoping would have gotten through and were right on the edge," Heck said. "That's always the worrisome part at this meet. You got to get in that top 16 and we had a few right on the edge, but we still had some really good times and I feel, really, a lot of success. Even if they weren't in, some of these girls had best times and achieved their personal goals. In the end, that's what you really hope for."
Rhinelander scored three additional top 10 finishes in the meet. Gruett was eighth in the 50 freestyle, Houg took eighth in the 200 freestyle and Eva Heck was ninth in the 200 individual medley. All 21 of Rhinelander's entries in the meet placed in the top 16, contributing points to the Hodags' team score.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.