All-GNC roundup: Hodags’ Winnicki voted GNC swimmer of the year

This week, Rhinelander High School senior Abi Winnicki added one more accolade to her already decorated resume — Great Northern Conference swimmer of the year.

Winnicki received the nod on Monday in a vote of the conference’s swim coaches. 

Statistically speaking, Winnicki had an iron-clad case for the award. She won all four of her events during last Friday’s GNC meet — all in conference record-breaking fashion. She also had the fastest, or second-fastest time in all eight individual events during the conference regular season. 

Still, Winnicki had as strong of, if not a stronger, body of work last year and was passed up for the award. 

The conference coaches voted for Lakeland’s Olivia Mickle, who won two events at last year’s conference meet while not racing head-to-head against Winnicki and posting times slower than what Winnicki had during the regular season in the events she won.

It was not a slam dunk this year, either. Sources told the River News that four swimmers were nominated, including Rhinelander teammate Karis Francis. Winnicki ultimately won in a split decision over Tomahawk’s Paige Dekiep.

“I was happy with the outcome,” coach Jenny Heck said. “You never know how those things are going to go when it’s a voting situation, but I’m really happy both Karis and Abi were nominated.”

Winnicki has dominated the GNC during her four-year career, losing only three races in conference play during that span. She was undefeated the last two years in conference and, last Friday, set GNC marks in the 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter freestyle. Though those records were set in Antigo’s short course meter pool, the times converted to faster than the previous conference marks in standard short course yard pools. She was also part of GNC records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. 

Additionally, Winnicki held the fastest time of the season this year in the GNC all four freestyle races — the 50, 100, 200 and 500.

“She’s just a great girl, really deserving, hard working, a great leader, a team captain,” Heck said. “I think with all of that being said, I think she was a great choice for conference swimmer of the year.”

If there was anyone with a resume to challenge Winnicki, it was her teammate Francis. She swam with Winnicki in the conference record-breaking swims in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and set another conference record in the 100 breaststroke. Francis also had the top times in the regular season in the 200 individual medley, the 100 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke.

“Karis was equally strong in a number of events,” Heck said. “I think it was a nice honor for Abi. I’m glad Karis was nominated as well and they’re both great leaders and important to the GNC. When you have great swimmers like that who are very devoted and dedicated, going on to swim college, those girls are really serious about their swimming and that reflects upon the other team members. That makes other girls want to be like them, keep up with them and learn from them. To have swimmers on your team like that is invaluable.”

Dekiep, who received votes in the swimmer of the year race, won the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly at conference — in times that converted to slower than the top marks held by Winnicki and Francis in those events, respectively, during the season. 

The conference coaches also voted for coach of the year on Monday night, with Heck taking the honor. 

Those were the only two matters left to decide for the all-conference team in girls’ swimming. The all-conference positions were set at last Friday’s GNC meet in Antigo. Twelve different Hodags earned spots on the all-conference team by placing in the top three in at least one event. 

Winnicki, Karis Francis, Celia Francis, Lily Thorsen, Millie Gruett and Vivian Lamers all earned multiple all-conference honors, including at least one first-team award by winning an event at conference. Emma Houg, Ella Heck, Rylee Mickevicius, Kiley Pooch and June Chiamulera were part of runner-up relays and scored at least one second-team honor.

Rhinelander had nine first-place, eight second-place and four third-place finishes in all at the meet. 

Hodag volleyball earns two awards

    In this Oct. 12, 2023 file photo, Rhinelander’s Lily Treder goes up for an attack during the first set of a non-conference volleyball match against Crandon at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. Treder, and senior teammate Emma Chiamulera both received honorable mention from the Great Northern Conference coaches when the all-conference team was announced on Sunday. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

For the second straight year, the RHS volleyball team received two awards when the all-conference honorees were announced on Sunday. Middle Lily Treder and libero Emma Chiamulera both received honorable mention from the conference coaches. 

“Only being able to get three nominations in there for where we finished in conference, to be able to get two girls (honored) really says something about where this program’s heading,” coach Dan Wolter said.

Treder was the team’s most-efficient hitter. Her .194 attacking percentage was ninth overall in the GNC as she finished with 55 kills, second most on the team in conference play. She was also second on the team in total blocks (13) and fifth on the team in digs (42).

“Lily was a six-rotation player for us, captain out there as well,” Wolter said. “She didn’t lead our team in kills, but she did lead our team in hitting percentage and with just the amount of digs that she had, going six rotations, her numbers were just solid numbers. That and being a leader for us kind of got her that nod there. That was good to see.”

Chiamulera received honorable mention at libero for the second straight year. She ranked third in the conference with 4.4 digs per set.

“I thought she deserved a little bit higher, but she had a couple of good liberos and it was a tough field this year in her position,” Wolter said. “She works hard and if you ever watched us play, her in the back of that court is always fun to watch. She gets around the court quick, pops up a lot of balls and keeps us in points. A lot of the coaches throughout the year, after playing, always gave her very high praise for what she does back there.”

Lakeland’s Meg Pfannerstill and Mosinee’s Tristan Wicklund shared player of the year honors while Mosinee’s Justin Jacobs took home coach of the year. 

Other sports

While the Great Northern Conference boys’ soccer coaches voted on all-conference awards last week, the GNC has chosen to withhold the release of that team until all conference teams have concluded tournament play. The winner of Thursday’s Lakeland-Mosinee game, which concluded after press time, will play in the WIAA Division 3 sectional finals on Saturday with a trip to state on the line. 

The Hodags had six players earn all-conference honors in girls’ tennis. Tori Riopel (No. 1 singles) and Shayla Coppenger (No. 3 singles) made the second team based on runner-up finishes at the GNC meet in Rhinelander Sept. 21. Evelyn Sawyer/Brooke Sisel (No. 2 doubles) and Teagan Turcotte/Willow VanDenHeuvel (No. 3 doubles) received honorable mention. 

Rhinelander had five runners make the all-GNC lists in cross country. Greyson Gremban earned first-team honors by virtue of his fourth-place finish at the conference meet in Wausau Oct. 15. Avrom Barr earned second-team honors on the boys’ side while Jackson Weinzatl received honorable mention. Leah Jamison and Sophie Miljevich received honorable mention on the girls’ side. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].