Short-handed Hodag swimmers still have plenty to down Tomahawk

Despite having a number of swimmers out of the lineup, the Rhinelander High School boys’ swim team still had plenty of depth Thursday as it closed out the dual meet portion of the Great Northern Conference schedule.

Judson O’Malley and Dean Gillingham were both four-event winners, and the Hodags won 10 events overall as they cruised past Tomahawk 115-43 at the Heck Family Community Pool.

Rhinelander’s team of 14 was down to 10 on Thursday. Charlie Antonuk, Espen McMahon and Konner Bex all were scratched due to illness and Kaleb Lehmann was out due to a family commitment. Still eight of the 10 who remained were able to find the winner’s circle as the Hodags improved to 4-0 in the GNC. 

“Having four out, it’s not ideal. We did a lot of switching around, but it also gives other guys opportunities, and that’s fun too,” coach Jenny Heck said. “Good to have (duals) finished before the Christmas break. We had a really hard practice once again yesterday, so a tough week. I was pleased with the times. I saw a lot of good effort. I saw a lot of things we could work on.”

Judson O’Malley scored individual wins for the Hodags in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 11.60 seconds) and the 100 butterfly (59.30) while Gillingham took the 50 freestyle (23.40) and led a Hodag 1-2-3 finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.07), followed by Broden Wagner and Paul Denis. 

Both Judson O’Malley and Gillingham were also on the Hodags’ swimming 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay squads, along with freshman Elias Simonsen. Denis joined them on the medley (1:51.78), while Matthew Wood rounded out the quartet in the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.76).

“It was fun to watch that breaststroke. Dean, (it) was nice to see him get such a fast time. I know he wants to be under that minute in no time soon. He’s got some goals,” coach Heck noted. “Elias has been doing great. Once we figure his starts out, he’s gonna be really tough in all of his events.”

Kellen O’Malley won three events on the night, including a pair of individual races. The younger of the O’Malley brothers claimed the 200 freestyle (2:07.05), the 100 backstroke (1:02.81) and was on the winning 400 freestyle relay with Wood, Daniel Meier and Chris Larson. 

Meier scored Rhinelander’s other individual win, beating Larson in a 1-2 finish in the 100 freestyle (57.70).

“I thought Kellen had a really great meet. He’s really kind of taken a big jump right here in his events, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Heck said. “Daniel had a good meet, some good drops in his events.”

Wood and Thorsen completed a top three sweep in the 200 while Meier and Simonsen took second and third behind Kellen O’Malley in the 100 backstroke. Kellen O’Malley, Wagner, Meier and Thorsen swam to a runner-up finish in the 200 medley relay. 

Tomahawk’s only win came courtesy of Bruce Peetz in the 500 freestyle (5:32.26). Wood (5:58.13) and Thorsen (6:08.00) both shaved several seconds from their seed times as they finished second and third in that event. 

“The 500 guys, those were good drops for both those guys. That was Matthew’s taper time from last year, and, for Finn to keep dropping time, I think he enjoys it and is doing good at it,” Heck said.

The Rhinelander-Tomahawk boys’ swim meet was the only Great Northern Conference event in any sport that went off as planned Thursday as a weather system brought rain that switched to snow to the area, creating icy road conditions in the evening. 

Heck said she was happy the team was able to get the meet in as scheduled and to have the first half of its competition schedule completed. Rhinelander is not due back in the pool until Thursday, Jan. 8 when it swims a non-conference exhibition meet at Lakeland. Heck said the nearly three-week holiday break will serve as a key training time for her squad. 

“It’s kind of hectic when you have those Tuesday, Thursday meets, and then if you have a Saturday meet there, too, it feels like you’re never getting into a groove,” she said. “So we’ll be happy to get in the groove. We’re gonna just keep everyone healthy, and then that’s priority one, and then priority two is just working out all the kinks and getting some serious training in.” 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].