November 8, 2022 at 1:42 p.m.
Hodag swim team still has high hopes at state
Hodag swim team still has high hopes at state
Bringing home more team hardware will likely be a longshot this season. The Hodags have fewer state entries than the past two seasons, and are projected to finish sixth Friday night, based on their sectional-qualifying performances.
Still, coach Jenny Heck said that will not change the Hodags' mission at the Waukesha South Natatorium.
"Every year is different and you make the most of what you can with what you have every year," she said. "This year, we'll shoot for top five. That would be an awesome finish for us. That's nothing to be ashamed of. If we can swim faster than we're going into that meet, that will be a lot to celebrate."
Rhinelander has nine entries at state this year, including five that are seeded inside the top six, putting them in line for a spot on the podium should they hold on to or improve their seed. That's easier said than done, but the Hodags know they can only control how they perform on Friday and, hopefully, the rest will fall into place.
"We're just trying to swim fast," said junior Abi Winnicki. "No matter what happens, have fun, swim fast and place as well as we can. I think if we just leave it in the pool, you can't really be mad with the outcome of how you do."
Here are five storylines going into Friday's meet.
Abi's aspirations
Winnicki will be swimming the 200- and 100-yard freestyle double in Waukesha for a third straight year. She's hoping to match her finishes at state as a freshman, when she was the runner-up in the 200 and finished third in the 100. She took ninth and sixth, respectively, in those two races last year.
Winnicki is in position to replicate her results from two years ago. She comes in seeded third in the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 53.06 seconds) and second in the 100 (51.83) after breaking her own school records in both events in last Saturday's sectional meet in Merrill.
"I haven't rested yet. I've been going hard all this week," Winnicki said after sectionals. "I'm excited to see what happens what comes with next week, laying it off. Definitely going to go crazy again."
Winnicki will likely need two crazy-fast performances maintain her qualifying spot, or perhaps vie for the state title in either of those events.
Izzy Enz and Brynn Stacey, seniors for D2 state powerhouse Madison Edgewood, are seeded first and second in the 200 free. Though Winnicki is seeded only 0.57 seconds behind Enz as the top qualifier, Enz set a D2 state record in the event last year, going 1:47.65 to win the title and Stacey was the runner-up at 1:48.66.
"Some of those girls went four seconds faster than they're seed at the state meet. We know that they're going to be fast," Heck said. "We know that Abi can be faster too. It's just a matter of if she can maintain her place or edge out someone. That would be great. She's going to go for her time and we'll let the end result as far as place fall into place."
Winnicki will have some extra motivation in the 100 as she swims alongside top qualifier and 2021 D2 state runner-up Bry Bellile of Ashwaubenon. The two swam together on the same club team over the past several offseasons and will now be going head-to-head potentially for a state title.
"I definitely think it's going to be a lot of fun, but it definitely will be competition," Winnicki said. "It will be good for both of us to swim against each other and it will just be a good race."
Bellile's Ashwaubenon teammate, Sienna Nitke, will also be in the running. She's seeded third in the event and placed third in the 100 at state last year. Stacey is also a darkhorse, seeded fifth in the event. She had an unofficial split of 50.47 seconds in the 400 freestyle relay last year at state, which would have been fast enough to win the state title.
Relays are ready
In addition to Winnicki's individual events, the Hodags are well within podium contention in the two relay races she will likely be a part of - the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Rhinelander comes in seeded third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:39.53) and fifth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:40.01). That was despite a very conservative approach to exchanges last week at sectionals to avoid running the risk of getting disqualified for leaving too soon.
"You just want to make it there," Heck said. "Now's the time to really work on all the specifics and really show our specific skill level when we're down there on Friday."
A common thread on all three state qualifying relays is senior Genna Fugle. She also helped the team's 200 medley relay to a sectional title and a 12th overall qualifying spot for state last weekend. Fugle said it was worth sacrificing an individual event to help get all three relays through.
"I can't be unhappy because I have three gold medals from sectionals now," she said. "Nothing turned out badly. I think being on three relays, it's not any less special than doing an individual event."
"We're really depending on her on Friday to be really solid in those relays, not only with her times but as a leader and helping those younger kids along the way," Heck added.
Fugle does have one individual event, the 100 freestyle, where she's seeded 12th. She finished 15th in the event last year at state.
"I'm seeded higher now. I'm looking to drop a lot of time, though, that's what I'm hoping for," Fugle said.
Gonna fly now
Sophomore Ellyse Younker was also a part of the team's 200 and 400 freestyle relay wins last week, though she has podium aspirations of her own. She comes in seeded sixth in the 100 butterfly following a runner-up finish at sectionals in the event last week (1:00.45).
"Now podium is in reach in that event," she said.
"Ellyse, we've got to get her under that minute," Heck said. "She can do it and we'll see where that places as far as overall place. I think if we can get her out a little faster, she's a strong girl and that's going to be a close race. That could be definitely a podium opportunity for her."
Younker narrowly missed out on qualifying for state in the 200 freestyle, though that could potentially allow her to swim all three relays, should the Hodags elect to go that route.
Four for Thorsen
Last year Lily Thorsen watched from on deck as an alternate on a couple of relays for the Hodags at the state meet. This year the sophomore will have a full four-event program to her name. She qualified 11th in the 100 breaststroke, 12th in the 100 butterfly and was on Rhinelander's winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays last week at sectionals.
"Last year, sitting at state as an alternate, it's an unreal experience and it was my ultimate goal to get here individuals and on relays this year," Thorsen said. "There was a lot of hard work put in this winter but I couldn't do it without the help of all the coaches and I had a lot of fun while working hard to get here too."
Freshman debuts
Like Younker did last year, two freshmen will make their WIAA state meet debuts for Rhinelander on relays tomorrow night. Camilla Gruett was on Rhinelander's 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams at sectionals while Emma Houg was on the 200 medley relay.
Though it will be the first state appearance for both swimmers, Heck said their background at the club level has helped prepare them for this moment.
"I don't worry about them at all. I think they're going to be just fine," she said. "They're used to the pressure, used to doing big meets down in Waukesha, other club meets. Of course it's a louder, it's definitely very different, but I think they're so excited to be a part of this, something they've been looking forward to for many years in club swimming. Here, they can get a taste of it and have a chance to be on some really powerful relays as freshmen."
Both freshmen said they will be leaning on Winnicki, Fugle and Younker this week leading up to state.
"Seeing a lot of upperclassmen is really awesome, and being on a team with them is also awesome just to be with them. It makes you realize how important a team is," Houg said.
"You realize how you have to push yourself harder so you don't let down the rest of your team, being on a relay, but you're also there to have fun and support you teammates," Gruett added.
Junior Margaret Lambert and Sam Sundby will round out the contingent as relay alternates. The WIAA D2 state meet gets underway at 5:30 tomorrow evening in Waukesha. Live video coverage of the meet is available on the subscription-based WIAA.TV portal of the NFHS Network.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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