November 21, 2022 at 8:25 a.m.
Team preview: RHS boys' swimming
Hodags have small team with big goals
Team preview: RHS boys' swimming
Rhinelander parlayed that dominance into a whopping 17 entries at state and a third-place finish overall. With 10 swimmers back from that squad, including eight who swam last February in Waukesha, expectations are sky-high for this year's team.
"They're all excited to do even better this year. They've made bigger and faster goals," coach Jenny Heck said. "Everyone has goals, not only for themselves but for the team. That's what really great about this group of guys. They want to do well individually but collectively they want to see how fast they can be as a team when they get to those championship meets."
The team is led by a decorated group of seniors. Jack Antonuk, Carter Gaber, Charlie Heck and Daniel Gillingham made up the 200-yard medley relay squad that placed fourth at state last year while Antonuk, Heck and Gillingham were all part of a runner-up finish in the 200 freestyle relay.
Antonuk, Gaber and Gillingham also reached the D2 state podium in individual events - with Antonuk taking fourth in the 100 breaststroke, Gillingham sixth in both the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, and Gaber sixth in the 100 backstroke.
Antonuk, the reigning GNC swimmer of the year, added a seventh-place swim in the 200 IM while Heck finished 10th in the 50 freestyle and 12th in the 100 freestyle at state.
A fifth senior, Marcus O'Malley, made it to state last year in the butterfly.
"These guys have just been swimming forever and they're just been in the pool together and friends forever," coach Heck said. "I love these guys so much that it will be sad to see them go but, at the same time, I'm going to enjoy each part of this year and I think they are too. They just seem ready and more motivated than every."
Junior Zacha King returns after swimming three events - the 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle relay - at state last year. Sophomores Dolan O'Malley and Mathias Fugle each qualified in one event last year.
Even the two returning swimmers who did not make it to state last year have plenty of accolades. Sophomore Shawn Denis was all-conference in all four of his events last year and finished fifth at sectionals in the 100 breaststroke while senior Eli Lundt was part of three all-conference relays.
"The other guys just really blend in and mold great with these guys," coach Heck said. "All together, we're covering all the events. We've got lots of diversity in stroke and distances. That's what really great and will help us."
Rhinelander will have to lean on every single swimmer more than it expected this year. Two sophomores who swam at state last year - Brock Arrowood and Samson Shinners - were not on the roster as of press time for this edition, hurting the team's depth especially in butterfly and distance freestyle.
With last year's D2 state champion Madison Edgewood graduating four seniors and runner-up Cedarburg bumping up to D1 this year, the Hodags feel they have a strong chance to compete for a top-two finish at state and perhaps even the gold trophy. Coach Heck said those goals remain unchanged, even if the team lost some of its expected depth.
"Our goal will not be altered. It's exactly what we thought it would be last year," she said. "We're going to continue with our same goals. It might be they all have to work a little bit harder to get those, but the goals are the same. We're going to go as far as we can and place as high as we can all the way through to the end.
"Even if the numbers are low, if you've got the right attitude with the guys and motivation, that makes for a great recipe, and I think that's what we have."
Rhinelander kicks off the season tonight with a pentathlon meet at D.C. Everest.
"That's always a fun one with a pentathlon," Heck said. "They can swim a 50 of each stroke and a 100 IM. It's a good way to start out. It's tiring because they swim five events in a short amount of time, but it's also fun and a good first meet."
The Hodags open Great Northern Conference action at home against Lakeland Nov. 29. Though most of the teams return the majority of their swimmers from last year, the Hodags figure to be overwhelming favorites in the GNC after dominating last year's conference meet.
The GNC is back to a six-team conference this year. Medford returns after taking last year off due to low numbers. As a result, the dual meet schedule has been slightly modified. Rhinelander will swim dual meets against all five GNC opponents by Dec. 15, when the team's winter break begins. After the start of the new year, there will be three conference triangulars in which Rhinelander will face two conference opponents simultaneously. Dual meets will count toward the final conference standings though the triangulars will not.
"It makes it a little more interesting for the team to swim that way, so I'm looking forward to the change," Heck said.
Antigo will host this year's GNC meet Feb. 3. Ashwaubenon has moved to the northern D2 section and will host sectionals Feb. 11. The WIAA D2 state meet is set for Feb. 17 in Waukesha.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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