Hodag swimmers take third at Small School State

If the Rhinelander High School girls’ swim team is going to repeat as WIAA Division 2 state champions, it will not be the romp the Hodags had last season. 

Rhinelander got a look at two of its chief rivals on the state landscape Saturday, placing a close third behind Whitefish Bay and Madison Edgewood at the 17-team Small School State Invite hosted by Shorewood High School.

Whitefish Bay was the runner-up behind Rhinelander at last year’s D2 state meet while Edgewood — which had won eight straight state titles prior to last season — came home third. Both teams have reloaded and appear poised to challenge the Hodags for the state crown next month in Waukesha. The Blue Dukes finished with 335 points Saturday while the Crusaders had 323. The Hodags finished at 305. Shorewood was fourth with 273 points.

“Whitefish Bay and Edgewood I thought both showed their depth today, did a really nice job,” Hodag coach Jenny Heck said. “This meet is invaluable. It’s mostly the mental preparation. You kind of get an eye on some of these swimmers we don’t swim against. You get a feel for just what your competition might be. A lot of the teams put in their best lineup, some people play around with it a little bit. To come down here is so worth the trip. It’s a long day going there and back on the same day, but it’s definitely worth it. I’m glad we did it.”

The Hodags more than held their own, winning two events and scoring 10 top-five finishes overall. The team’s depth showed through in the two events it won — the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. 

Sophomore Celia Francis, the reigning D2 state champ in the IM, won that race comfortably with a time of 2 minutes, 11.17 seconds, more than five seconds ahead of runner-up Sylvia Thompson of Edgewood. The Hodags placed three other swimmers in the top eight in that event with Lily Thorsen, Emma Houg and Ellyse Younker finishing sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. 

Another sophomore, Ella Heck, won the 100 breaststroke (1:09.54) as she beat Edgewood’s Grace Charles to the wall by 0.26 seconds. Thorsen took third there and Lamers was fifth to give Rhinelander three swimmers in the top five. 

Francis was the runner-up in the 100 backstroke (57.55), roughly a second behind Whitefish Bay freshman Maggie Dickinson. Lamers took third in the 50 freestyle (25.46). 

Rhinelander scored top-three finishes in all three relays. Francis, Heck, Millie Gruett and Thorsen took second in the 200 medley relay (1:51.50); Lamers, Thorsen, Younker and Heck were third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:43.26) and Francis, Kiley Pooch, Younker and Lamers were third in the 400 freestyle relay (3:45.38).

“Celia had a really fantastic meet. She was ready for a drop,” coach Heck noted. “Celia swam strong and confident next to Olympic Trial qualifier Maggie Dickinson (in the 100 backstroke). Ella had a tight race against Grace Charles and finished strong the last 12 1/2 yards and our relay members all fought hard for top-three finishes.”

June Chiamulera added a fourth-place swim in the 100 freestyle for Rhinelander and took eighth in the 200 free. Pooch was eighth in the 100 backstroke. Rylee Mickevicius finished ninth in the 100 butterfly and 12th in the 200 freestyle. Younker was ninth in the 100 freestyle, Ella Heck took 12th in the 50 freestyle and Gruett was 14th in the 100 butterfly.

“We had some highlights today, but we also had some struggles, too,” coach Heck said. “It’s that time of year where you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get. It’s a game of mental toughness and keeping the eyes on the prize, and that’s (the state meet) Nov. 15.” 

Hodags 130, Colby/Abby 40

    Rhinelander’s Kyree McMahon competes in the 500-yard freestyle during a GNC girls’ swimming dual meet against Colby/Abbotsford at the Heck Family Community Pool Thursday, Oct. 17. McMahon won the race and scored her first career individual varsity victory. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

While Rhinelander will have a fight on its hands for another state title, the Hodags put themselves in the driver’s seat for a sixth straight Great Northern Conference championship this past Thursday with a 130-40 victory over Colby/Abbotsford at the Heck Family Community Pool. 

Rhinelander won all 11 events, claimed eight 1-2 finishes and had 10 different swimmers visit the winners’ circle in its final home meet of the year. 

“We had some good races,” coach Heck noted. “We have some swimmers who are starting to taper a little bit who are feeling a little bit better than other people. We’re kind of all at different points in our training. We’re kind of seeing that tonight. It was a special night, a good night and a helpful night, thinking about what to do for conference and sectionals and state.”

The Hodags’ two seniors — Younker and Thorsen — had strong performances in their final home swim. Younker was Rhinelander’s lone four-event winner. She took the 200-yard freestyle (2:07.40) and the 100 butterfly (1:02.16) individually and was on the team’s winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Thorsen claimed the 100 breaststroke (1:12.59) and was part of the winning 200 freestyle relay. 

“It was a fun meet and one of those emotional meets being senior night, our last home meet,” coach Heck said. “We’ve had such great leadership from Ellyse and Lily and they’ve been such strong leaders in and out of the pool. We celebrated them.”

Francis took the 200 individual medley (2:14.56) and the 100 backstroke (59.09), Lamers claimed the 50 freestyle (25.21), Ella Heck took the 100 freestyle (57.43) and Kyree McMahon captured the 500 freestyle (6:05.87), for her first individual race win of the year. 

“It was really great to see Kyree win the 500 free. That was her first varsity win. That was pretty great,” coach Heck said of the sophomore transfer from Wisconsin Rapids. “She just moved here, new to the district and is swimming varsity in that 500. I was very proud of her for that. I can see a lot of potential with her in the future. Hopefully she continues to enjoy it.” 

Rhinelander’s winning relays squads were Pooch, Heck, Mickevicius and Lamers in the 200 medley relay (1:52.74); Francis, Lamers, Thorsen and Younker in the 200 freestyle (1:43.36) and Younker, Houg, Gruett and Heck in the 400 freestyle relay (3:58.07).

Rhinelander finished the conference duals a perfect 7-0 and will enter the GNC meet two points up on second-place Medford (6-1) while Colby/Abbotsford (5-2) will come in third. The Hodags need only to finish first or second at the conference meet next Friday in Colby to claim at least a share of the conference crown. 

“We’re going to have a group of girls that are going to be suiting up and going after some best times,” coach Heck said. “We’re working our lineup right now and seeing what we need to see and get some times on some girls in other events. Every meet is a piece of the puzzle we try to figure. We’re looking forward to Friday night.” 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].