‘Hodag proud forever’

The limelight still shined brightly on the Rhinelander High School girls’ swim team on Monday, just days after arguably its greatest achievement, and the Hodags continued to bask in the glow.

    Abi Winnicki brings in the WIAA Division 2 state championship trophy during a pep assembly celebrating the Hodag girls’ swim team’s triumph at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium Monday, Nov. 13. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

The newly-crowned WIAA Division 2 state champions were honored with a pep assembly Monday morning in front of the RHS student body and presented ceremonial keys to the city as mayor Kris Hanus proclaimed it Rhinelander High School Girls’ Swim Team Day in the city. 

The proclamation was delivered by city administrator Patrick Reagan on Hanus’ behalf. Reagan remarked that it was the second time this year he’s had the honor of congratulating a Hodag swim team, as the city made a similar proclamation following the boys’ state championship back in February. He also noted the rarity of the achievement, noting his high school alma mater had only one state championship in his four years.

“Be proud of what you have here,” Reagan said. “This is not something that comes along all the time. It is not a constant but, the cool thing in Rhinelander, is that we don’t hope for excellence. We expect it, and that’s awesome.”

One by one the 16 swimmers and three coaches on the team marched into the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium under the spotlight, parading their newly-won hardware. Senior Abi Winnicki had the honor of bringing the trophy into the gym for all to see. 

“Not only was this a special year because we came home Friday with a shiny gold trophy, but because of the endless support within our team,” she said. “I can’t explain how proud I am of this team.”

Three team captains spoke during the ceremony. Senior Margaret Lambert read off the team’s laundry list of accomplishments this year, including its fifth straight Great Northern Conference and fifth straight WIAA Division 2 sectional title. The Hodags only lost one meet all year, in Waukesha back in September when it took third behind the teams that eventually finished first and second in the WIAA D1 state meet — Middleton and Verona. 

Senior Sam Sundby said the team reciprocated the appreciation that has been shown to it all season by the school and the community. 

“On behalf of the team, I would like to just share how much we appreciate everything that everyone has done for us this year,” she said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support we were given from everyone. 

“Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, relatives and friends who have come to our meets and cheered their hearts out.”

Winnicki, who also swam at state in 2020 when the Hodag girls won their first state championship, said this year felt different, especially considering the manor in which the team dominated all season.

“This has been a special year,” she said. We had a group of hard-working girls that were able to be very successful while having a lot of fun. I think the chemistry of our team is one of the building blocks that lead to our state title. 

“We all had personal goals we were all excited to reach toward. Early in the season we were able to unite under the goal of winning state.”

    Rhinelander High School girls’ swim coach Jenny Heck addresses the student body during a pep assembly celebrating the Hodags’ WIAA Division 2 state championship at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium Monday, Nov. 13. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

After winning all 11 swimming events at the sectional meet, the Hodags won six events at state and beat Whitefish Bay by 87 points for the championship — an honor coach Jenny Heck said belongs to the entire Rhinelander community. 

“It’s such an honor to bring home this team trophy for all of you and all of Rhinelander,” she said. “It’s our trophy and I’m very proud. A lot of people are talking about Rhinelander. Not only do we have the No. 1 mascot, we have the No. 1 swim team too. We’re really happy about that.”

Heck used the team as an example that the entire student body can follow. She spoke of setting goals, working hard to achieve those goals and how success or failure is not determined by whether those goals were achieved, rather the effort put forth in trying to reach them.

“Whatever you’re doing, make something great happen the rest of the school year so you can come out and say, ‘I gave it my all, I did my best,’ and you’ll be Hodag proud forever,” she said.

The roughly 30-minute ceremony concluded with two of the team’s top swimmers, Winnicki and Karis Francis, officially announcing their collegiate swimming plans. As previously reported by the River News, Winnicki has committed to UCLA and Francis is moving on to Liberty University in Virginia.

“It feels good to have it all work out and to be able to do it with my team,” Francis said of being able to sign on a day when her team celebrated a state championship. “I’m definitely on cloud nine right now. It’s very exciting.” 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].