January 9, 2023 at 8:11 a.m.
Hodag swimmers take 2nd at Jaguar Invite
RHS also cruises in home double dual
Hodag swimmers take 2nd at Jaguar Invite
Depth was perhaps the only thing that kept Rhinelander from catching Division 1 school Bay Port for the overall title. Still, Rhinelander managed 15 top-five finishes and scored points with all 25 of its entries on the day.
"It was a really good meet today," Hodag coach Jenny Heck said. "The kids really swam fast and smart. We were really happy with the results overall. I'm thinking about times and what our goals were and everyone was right at their goal times for this point of the season, or just slightly off."
Rhinelander dominated the sprint freestyle races on Saturday. The Hodags went 1-2 in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle while also claiming wins in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Charlie Heck (22.63) held off teammate Carter Gaber by 0.22 seconds to win the 50 freestyle. Mathias Fugle (50.69) edged Heck by 0.15 seconds to win the 100.
Fugle, Charlie Heck and Daniel Gillingham were also on both winning relays. They were joined by Gaber in the 200 freestyle relay (1:29.72) and by Jack Antonuk in the 400 freestyle relay (3:22.54).
"We need all those for the relays at the end of the year. It gives us a lot of options and we're celebrating all those fast times," coach Heck said. "It was fun watching the close races, Bubba (Fugle) getting the 100 free in the race with Charlie. Charlie was ahead until the end and Bubba was strong and finished really well. That was really fun to watch. Charlie taking the 50, he was ready for a fast event and had a good, solid time."
Gaber added a win for the Hodags in the 100 backstroke (56.47) while Antonuk won the 100 breaststroke (1:02.25) and was second in the 200 freestyle (1:52.67). Fugle was third behind Antonuk in the 200, while Zacha King scored a third-place finish in the backstroke.
Rhinelander was the runner-up in the 200 medley relay with the tema of Gaber, Antonuk, King and Shawn Denis.
"Zacha had a really big time drops," coach Heck noted. "Every time he gets in the pool he seems to be dropping some more time. It was another good meet for him. Jack's breaststroke was just what his goal, to get that 1:02. If we can get those fast times before we taper, that makes everyone feel a little more optimistic come end of season."
Gillingham added a fourth-place swim for Rhinelander in the 100 butterfly and was fifth in the 200 individual medley. Rhinelander's second entry of Dolan O'Malley, Eli Lundt, Marcus O'Malley and Denis was fifth in the 200 freestyle relay. King, Lundt and the O'Malley brothers finished sixth as Rhinelander's second entry in the 400 freestyle relay.
"I was really pleased with the A and B relay times, all the guys on their splits," coach Heck said. "We're making some of the changes we've been working on and that's what it takes in those sprint events. They had some great success."
Rhinelander will be back in Ashwaubenon's pool Feb. 11 for WIAA Division 2 sectionals.
Hodag double dual
Rhinelander cruised Thursday night in the first Great Northern Conference double dual of the year. The Hodags won all 11 events as they simultaneously defeated Antigo 123-38 and Lakeland 122-18.
It was also the final home meet of the season for Rhinelander, making a bittersweet moment for this year's group of six seniors.
"We still have a lot of season left, but we won't be swimming here. But that's OK. We went out with a bang," coach Heck said. "That's what we wanted to do, have some good times, go for some best times and I think most every kid had a season-best. What more can you ask for after all that grueling Christmas training."
The Hodags spread the wealth around on Thursday, with all 10 of their swimmers playing a role in at least one victory.
Charlie Heck swept the 50 (22.91) and the 100 (51.60) for the Hodags and was also on the team's winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.
The Hodags went 1-2 in every event that they had at least two entries. King (1:54.87) beat Dolan O'Malley in the 200; Antonuk (2:06.49) and Denis went 1-2 in the 200 IM; Heck beat Gillingham in the 50 while Gillingham (50.60) edged Antonuk in the butterfly. Heck beat Dolan O'Malley in the 100 freestyle, Gaber (55.48) beat Lundt in the 100 backstroke (55.48) and Fugle edged King in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.36).
The closest race of the night was the 500, where Denis (5:30.74) edged Fugle by 0.06 seconds for the win.
"When we can provide racing opportunities like that, it makes them better and pushes each other," coach Heck noted. "Those two seem to love to battle it out. They've done that before and it made them both better. They both swam very well. The butterfliers were good too, Jack and Daniel and Eli all had good time for that."
Gillingham, Antonuk, Lundt and Charlie Heck (1:45.86) edged Gaber, Denis, Marcus O'Malley and Fugle by 0.51 seconds to win the 200 medley relay. Gillingham, Denis, Lundt and Fugle (3:37.63) beat Antonuk, Dolan O'Malley, King and Gaber by 0.99 seconds in the 400 freestyle relay. Heck, King and the O'Malley brothers captured the win in the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.14).
Thursday's GNC double dual did not count toward the conference standings, but it was a format that coach Heck said she enjoyed.
"We had a couple more heats of everything. I think it was a great way to do it. I hoped they liked to do it as well," she said. "I think there were some good races between Antigo and Lakeland. I think it was something new and hopefully everyone else enjoys them and we do it again."
Rhinelander returns to action this coming Friday night in the Appleton North Invite.
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.