Hodags swimmers rout Mosinee, move to 6-0 in GNC

The Rhinelander High School girls’ swim team had no trouble with last-place Mosinee Thursday in a home GNC dual meet. 

Rhinelander went 1-2 in all 11 events as it defeated Mosinee 139-19 at the Heck Family Community Pool. Eight different Hodags scored at least one victory on Thursday and Rhinelander finished one point away from a perfect dual meet score of 140 points.

That wasn’t the objective, Hodag coach Jenny Heck said. But, with only two meets remaining in the regular season following the Mosinee dual, she said her squad is getting down to business as it gets set to make a run to defend its conference, sectional and state titles. 

“I thought they swam really well tonight, better than I saw from a lot of them in a little bit,” she said. “I was pleased. I think they were happy to swim at home, to have the home pool.

“We’re looking at times, where we can move people for relays, for conference, for sectionals and state. We’re getting splits, seeing what people can do. We’re not sure on anything for end of season yet. We’re still looking for those swims from the girls. They know it and they’re giving it their all.” 

Celia Francis, Ellyse Younker and Vivian Lamers were all four-event winners for the Hodags. Individually, Francis claimed the 50-yard freestyle (25.64) and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.18) on Thursday, setting season-best times in both events. Coach Heck said the reigning D2 state champ in the 200 individual medley swam with confidence and strength Tuesday as she begins progress into late-season form. 

“I thought Celia had a really great meet tonight. She had some fast times that we were looking for. That was fun to see her kind of take off in some of those events,” she said.

Lamers claimed the 200 freestyle (2:05.89) and the 100 freestyle (55.51) for Rhinelander while Younker took the 100 butterfly (1:00.42) and the 100 backstroke (1:04.94). Heck said Lamers, “displayed speed & quickness in the 200 and 100 free with fast starts and strong swims,” while Younker was right at season-best times in both the back and fly, which will also help her in the 200 individual medley.

Francis and Younker were on the winning 200 medley relay team with Ella Heck and Lily Thorsen (1:52.01); Francis and Lamers were on the winning 200 freestyle relay team with Millie Gruett and June Chiamulera (1:44.10) and Younker and Lamers won the 400 freestyle relay with Heck and Thorsen (3:52.59).

    Rhinelander’s Emma Houg swims the breaststroke portion of the 200-yard individual medley during a GNC girls’ swim meet against Mosinee at the Heck Family Community Pool Thursday, Oct. 10. Houg won both the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle as part of the Hodags’ 139-19 win over Mosinee. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Junior Emma Houg added two individual wins for Rhinelander, capturing the 200 individual medley (2:22.94) and the 500 freestyle (5:42.86). 

“Emma had a good meet. I was pleased with her 500 and her 2IM. She had some longer events and attacked them really well,” coach Heck noted.

Rhinelander got runner-up finishes individually from Rylee Mickevicius in both the 200 and 500 freestyle, Ella Heck in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, Kiley Pooch in the 200 IM, Thorsen in the 100 butterfly, Kyleigh Kennedy in the 100 backstroke and Gruett in the 100 breaststroke. 

The Hodags also took second with their B entry in all three relays. Houg, Pooch, Gruett and Craig made up the runner-up team in the 200 medley; Kennedy, Kyree McMahon, Jordyn Kecker and Mickevicius were second in the 200 freestyle and Houg, Pooch, Mickevicius and Chiamulera took second in the 400 freestyle. 

Coach Heck noted that virtually every swimmer on the squad has competed in all eight of the individual races at some point during the season. Not only does this give the team plenty of data to draw from when determining a lineup for championship season, it’s a credit to the versatility of the swimmers on the squad. 

“I’m really proud of all the swimmers, even the new swimmers, for trying all of the events — even the ones that are difficult like the 200 IM, the 500 and that,” she said.

The Hodags will look to wrap-up sole possession of first place in the GNC entering the conference meet on Thursday when they host second-place Colby/Abbotsford at the Heck Family Community Pool. Colby/Abby sits tied for second with Medford at 5-1 in the GNC after losing to the Raiders head-to-head Oct. 3. 

Thursday’s meet will be the final home swim of the season for Rhinelander, which will then travel to the Small School State Invite next Saturday at Shorewood before heading to Colby for the conference meet Oct. 25.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].