Team preview: RHS boys’ swimming

The Rhinelander High School boys’ swim team has not needed to rebuild much over the past seven years as it has excelled at the Great Northern Conference, sectional and state levels. 

With nary a senior on the team, this might be as close to a rebuilding year as the Hodags have had in some time, but coach Jenny Heck said her young squad is eager to make a name for itself.

“I think some teams are probably expecting us to be kind of struggling this year after losing such strong seniors,” she said. “I think it’s going to be different, but I think it’s gonna be a fun challenge.”

The Hodags have had three straight top-two finishes as state, including their lone Division 2 state title back in 2023. Repeating that team success at the state level will likely be the most difficult feat, considering that the team graduated four seniors who all stood on the podium at state — Shawn Denis, Mathias Fugle, Dolan O’Malley and Samson Shinners. 

The cupboard is far from bare, however. This year’s team will be led by a trio of swimmers who return state meet experience in juniors Judson O’Malley and Charlie Antonuk and sophomore Dean Gillingham. 

    In this Feb. 21, 2025 file photo, Rhinelander’s Dean Gillingham takes off in an exchange in the 200-yard freestyle relay during the WIAA boys’ D2 state swim meet in Waukesha. Gillingham, a sophomore, swam three events at state last year for the Hodags. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

Gillingham narrowly missed the podium in both of his individual events at state this past February, taking seventh in the 200-yard individual medley and eighth in the 100 breaststroke. He was also part of a runner-up finish for the team in the 200 freestyle relay.

Judson O’Malley was 11th in the 100 backstroke and was part of the team’s 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams, while Antonuk was 13th in the 100 butterfly and also the 200 medley relay squad. 

“Those guys, they know what to expect. They have to state-level experience, and the other guys have been watching them and would like to be there with them,” Heck said. “We have a lot of opportunity here, a lot of opportunity for kids to get a sectional spot. So I think we’ll see, who’s up for the challenge.”

The Hodags have a roster of 14 swimmers, several of whom are looking to take a step up from a season ago. They include junior Chris Larson and sophomores Daniel Meier, Matthew Wood, Paul Denis and Broden Wagner. 

All five of those swimmers earned all-conference honors in at least one event last year, mainly on relays. Wood also made the all-conference squad with a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle. Meier was fourth in the 500 freestyle and fifth in the 200 individual medley, Wagner took fourth in the 100 breaststroke, Paul Denis was fifth in the 100 breaststroke and Larson was fifth in the 100 backstroke. 

With the exception of Denis, each of them competed in one event last February at sectionals. Larson, Meier and Wagner all finished ninth in the 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, respectively.

“I think there’s a lot of potential from all of them to be on some relays or make some, make some state impact,” Heck said. “Matthew Wood really came on strong last year. Chris Larson, if he puts his mind to it, he can do it as well. Daniel Meier is really strong, Broden (Wagner). A lot of these guys who were really new and just looked like they were deer in headlights last year, I think are going to make a big difference this year in the conference standings and even further than that, if all plays out. Paul Denis, too, the breaststroke has been looking really fast.”

Behind them are a group of five freshmen, and a first-year sophomore in Konnor Bex. Kellen O’Malley, the younger brother of Dolan and Judson O’Malley, headlines the freshman class and could make an immediate impact in the lineup.

“Those O’Malleys have been a constant on our team, which has been a real gift for all of us. They’re really hardworking guys, and they know what to expect. They’ve seen their brothers have huge success,” Heck said. “We also have Dolan helping out with the team (as a volunteer assistant coach), and he’s going to continue doing that, which is a lot of a lot of help for Brent and I, too. Having some newer kids with less experience, we can give some more one-on-one attention that way.”

The team was set to get its first data point Tuesday in the D.C. Everest Pentathlon, which concluded after the early holiday press time for today’s edition. From there, the team will jump into the heart of its dual meet schedule and will swim every other school in the GNC between Dec. 2 and Dec. 18. 

“The consistency is going to be really important now, and I’m looking forward to seeing what that does and hopefully, we’ll have a better idea after that pentathlon on Tuesday,” Heck said. “It’s a great way to see what everyone can do in all four strokes.”

As for the GNC, even with all the new faces, the Hodags will likely come in as the favorites to win an eighth straight conference title. Rhinelander won all 11 events at the GNC meet last season and romped to a 228-point win over runner-up Tomahawk. With other teams struggling for numbers — and Antigo not fielding a team this winter for that reason — Heck said the team still finds itself in a strong position within the conference. 

“I don’t really know a lot what’s going on within the GNC, but I know what we got, and we do we still have depth,” she said. “It’s a different kind of depth, but we still have it. With the numbers, that’s great, because then you can have B relays and some C relays, even. That gives us more points. 

“I think we’ll still be great and really strong in GNC and hopefully at the section level and once again, try to get as many of these kids to state, and get them on the podium, as possible.”

It’s those latter goals that remain to be seen for the Hodags, and ones that should come more into focus in January when the team travels to invites at Ashwaubenon (Jan. 10), Appleton North (Jan. 16) and Shorewood (Jan. 24). Regardless, Heck said the overarching goal will be as much team success as possible.

“It’s always about the team in my book. The individual goals as part of the team, but it’s always about how far the team can go,” she said. “And that’s what makes it fun, that’s what makes it challenging — and that’s why I love to coach, it’s not about the individual. And so the individual’s success is always just icing on the cake, and of course, we try to help everyone reach their individual goals.” 

Because Antigo did not field a team, the Hodags will have only three home meets, beginning with the annual Hodag Relays Dec. 13. Rhinelander will host last year’s GNC runner-up Tomahawk Dec. 18 and then host Medford and Shawano/Seymour in a double dual Jan. 29. 

Lakeland will host the GNC meet Feb. 6 in Minocqua. Sectionals will be staged Feb. 14 in Rice Lake, with the state meet set for Feb. 20 in Waukesha. 

“I think it’s going to be a fun season to watch and see how it all pans out,” Heck said.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].