September 26, 2022 at 8:45 a.m.
Hodag swimmers down Tomahawk 126-34
RHS takes over sole possession of GNC lead
Hodag swimmers down Tomahawk 126-34
The Hodags won nine of 11 events and cruised to a 124-36 victory at Tomahawk. That moved Rhinelander to 4-0 in the league standings. Medford knocked off previously unbeaten Colby/Abbotsford on Thursday, leaving Medford, Colby/Abby and Ladysmith all one dual behind in the GNC standings at 3-1.
"We had kids once again in other events, opportunities to get everyone in all of the eight events," coach Jenny Heck said following the Hodags' 26th consecutive GNC dual meet win. "Overall, our times were pretty decent for kind of a crazy week with homecoming and training and lots of morning swims. For this time of the year I thought, overall, the girls gave good effort."
Junior Abi Winnicki had a four-win night for the Hodags, and became just the fourth swimmer in RHS history to crack the one-minute mark in the 100-yard backstroke. She won the event in a time of 59.88 seconds to join Malia Francis, Kiah Francis and Lisa Kennedy as the only Hodag swimmers to ever finish the event in less than 60 seconds.
Winnicki added a win in the 200 individual medley (2:14.62) and was on the team's winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. Winnicki led top three sweeps for the Hodags in both of her individual events. Lily Thorsen edged Emma Houg for the runner-up spot in the IM. Sadie Houghton and Abigale Johnson were second and third in the backstroke.
Rhinelander also swept the top three in the distance freestyle races. Camilla Gruett beat her older sister, Gussie, for the win in the 200 (2:16.46), with Phoebe Moran rounding out the top three. Genna Fugle claimed the win the 500 (5:53.71) ahead of teammates Abbie Ames and Alicia Lentine.
"I was really happy about our 500," Heck noted. "It was good to see Genna have a really nice drop in her time. The girls in the IM did a good job. I was happy to see some of the kids who scored points - first, second or third - that aren't always in those events got a chance tonight and did really well."
Sam Sundby added a win for the Hodags in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.93). Tomahawk scored individual wins with their two fastest swimmers. Paige Dekiep took the 50 freestyle (25.41) and Joanna Phillips won the 100 freestyle (58.26).
The Hatchets paired those two together in all three relays in hopes of stealing another event win from a deeper Hodag squad, but Rhinelander prevailed each time. Fugle, Winnicki, Thorsen and Younker took the 200 medley relay (2:00.59) by 3.19 seconds over Tomahawk. Thorsen, Gussie Gruett, Camilla Gruett and Younker swam to a 1.56-second win in the 200 freestyle relay (1:48.46). Fugle, Houg, Camilla Gruett and Winnicki won the 400 freestyle relay (3:52.76), routing Tomahawk by more than 20 seconds.
Camilla Gruett and Houg finished 2-3 for the Hodags in the 100 freestyle. Younker and Fugle were second and third in the 50.
"We had a couple in there with the 100 free, putting a freshmen into some really tough positions and I thought Millie did a great job tonight," Heck noted. "That's a lot of swimming in an hour and 10 minutes. It was kind of a training experience as well as time to try something new. I think we held on better than we have in the past, which means our training is working. Sometimes, some of them are holding on better than others by the time we get to that 400 free relay, but that's the goal, that whatever events they're doing, they're pushing hard to the end. I see we're improving in that."
Though the season is only half over, the number of meets begins to taper as the team nears the month of October. The Hodags host Mosinee Tuesday in a GNC dual, and then will have only three more meets ahead of the GNC meet back in Tomahawk Oct. 21.
"We only have two more home meets left and one invitational and then it's championship season," Heck noted. "We don't have much time, so we've got to hit it hard and there's no letting up the next month."
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.