RHS swimmers take second at Jaguar Invite

The Rhinelander High School boys’ swim team turned in a strong performance Saturday at a venue it will visit again in five weeks time, with tickets to the WIAA state meet on the line.

The Hodags won three events and garnered 11 top-five finishes overall as they took second at the Jaguar Invite in Ashwaubenon. Rhinelander was beaten by only Division-1 Bay Port in the meet and placed ahead of hosting Jaguars, who figure to be the Hodags’ chief rival when the sectional round of the WIAA D2 tournament is conducted in Ashwaubenon on Feb. 15. 

“I think we had kind of a little bit of a slower start, kind of built into the meet as the meet was going on. I felt like we were getting faster and faster and really took off,” coach Jenny Heck said. “I was really pleased with the meet, top D2 school is great. Ashwaubenon was close behind. So you know, it’s always good to see where you are compared to the other schools. Plus, I thought it was just such a fun time because everyone had someone to race.”

Sprint freestyle proved to be Rhinelander’s strong suit on Saturday. Seniors Shawn Denis and Mathias Fugle finished 1-2 in the 50-yard freestyle, Fugle added a victory in the 100 freestyle and both were on the Hodags’ victorious 200-freestyle relay team with fellow senior Samson Shinners and sophomore Judson O’Malley. 

Heck said the 1-2 sweep in the 50 free sparked a strong second half of the meet for the Hodags. Denis hit the wall in 22.61 seconds, just 0.05 seconds ahead of Fugle. Waunakee’s Max Richardson was the only other swimmer to post a sub 23-second time in the event. 

“That 50 free was a ton of fun with Shawn then Bubba (Fugle) going 1-2,” she said. “Really, it was just the Hodags in control that whole race. That was really fun to watch, which kind of led us into the second half of the meet.”

Fugle then rallied over the final 50 yards to catch and pass Bay Port’s Carter Tebon for the win in the 100. Fugle hit the wall at 49.25 seconds and went 24.94 over the final 50 yards to Tebon’s 25.25 as he eked out a 0.13-second victory.

“He had just an amazing finish and it really came down to the finish,” Heck said. “The officials even said it was all in the finish. We’ve been really working on that, trying to get there. We spend lots of time on those little things. That was one of the things that I think really paid off today.”

Fugle came back with a 21.79-second split in the anchor leg of the 200 free relay as his squad won that event (1:30.45) by 1.45 seconds over Bay Port. All four Hodags swimmers posted splits in the low 23s or faster.

“All four of those guys had just great season-best times, so that was really fun and just a strong win,” Heck said.

The Hodags wound up third in a close race in the 400 freestyle relay with Shinners, Dolan O’Malley, Dean Gillingham and Fugle (3:21.82). They finished only 0.40 seconds out of first. That was one of several close races on the day. Denis took fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.74), but finished only 0.47 seconds off the win in a tight four-way battle to the wall.

“Shawn had a really great time, 1:01. We were looking for that drop from him,” coach Heck said. “When you have that kind of competition, that’s what brings out the best in you.”

Shinners scored a runner-up finish in the 200 freestyle (1:49.07) and was fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:10.60). The O’Malley brothers both finished in the top five in the 100 backstroke — with Dolan taking second (55.12) and Judson placing fifth (58.21).

“Samson had a really great 200 freestyle. He was really strong on that and the second place, and it was good to see him swim with such confidence. So that was that was really optimistic for end of season. The 500 was a season best. Once he got his groove, he did really well,” Heck said. “Judson just came out of the relay and got back in and did a great 100 back. Dolan looked really strong and great season-best time for him.”

The quartet of Dolan O’Malley, Denis, Charlie Antonuk and Judson O’Malley took third in the 200 medley relay (1:42.64), Gillingham added an eighth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke, Dolan O’Malley was ninth in the 200 individual medley and Antonuk took 10th in the 100 butterfly.

Rhinelander will return to action Thursday is it takes on Lakeland and Antigo in a double dual in Minocqua. That will be followed by an invite in Appleton this Friday. 

“I think we’re you know in a great position to keep going to work hard this week,” Heck said. “The season, you know, after Ashwaubenon, I feel like it really goes fast. So that’s where we’re at and hopefully that everyone feels like I do, you know relieved after getting through this meet and seeing how well we did.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].