Hodag swimmers cruise past Mosinee, remain unbeaten in GNC

The toughest competition the members of the Rhinelander High School girls’ swim team had on Thursday night might have been themselves during a Great Northern Conference dual meet at Mosinee.

The Hodags swept the top two spots in all 11 events and cruised to a 137-24 victory. 

In additional to battling teammates for wins, Hodag coach Jenny Heck said Thursday’s meet was also an internal battle for a number of team members, fighting through the fatigue of homecoming week and some of the team’s toughest practices of the year.

“Sometimes, these kind of meets we have to attack a little bit differently, in a different mindset, and I think that’s what they really did their best to do tonight,” coach Heck said. “It was a very challenging meet and the fact that the girls are extremely tired, not just because of the training — which I did not let up on them at all this week — but just homecoming and all the events. You want them to have fun and enjoy the school events, but it’s such a critical time in our training. We just can’t let up.”

Juniors Rylee Mickevicius and Vivian Lamers were four-event winners for the Hodags. Mickevicius won the 100-yard freestyle (57.95), the 100 backstroke (1:06.07) and was on the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. Lamers took the 200 freestyle (2:07.29), the 100 butterfly (1:02.86) and was on the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Mickevicius won both of her individual races in close fashion. She edged Ella Heck to the wall by 0.08 seconds in the 100 free and beat Millie Gruett by 0.92 seconds in the 100 back.

“Rylee gave the last 10 yards a strong punch for the win in the 100 free,” coach Heck noted. “Vivian had also another strong meet with even a personal best and a season best.”

Senior Emma Houg won two individual races and was part of three wins overall on the night. She claimed the 200 individual medley (2:21.28) and the 500 freestyle (5:44.41) and was on the winning 200 medley relay team.

“Emma Houg’s turns and transitions in her events were faster and powerful, leading to season bests,” coach Heck noted.

Gruett added a win in the 50 freestyle (26.79) and Kiley Pooch claimed the 100 breaststroke (1:16.66).

In total the Hodags had 10 different swimmers play a role in at least one victory. Houg, Chiamulera, Pooch and Mickevicius made up the winning quartet in the medley relay (2:02.53), beating teammates Lola Beach, Kyree McMahon, Ella Heck and Gruett by 2.25 seconds. Mickevicius, Lamers, Maria Craig and Beach took the 200 freestyle relay (1:53.59), Kyleigh Kennedy, Lamers, Chiamulera and Aubree Edwardson won the 400 freestyle really (4:05.96).

In addition to the 100 freestyle, Ella Heck was also the runner up in the 200 IM. Chiamulera was second in the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. Freshman Hailey Novak was second in the 50 freestyle, McMahon was second in the 100 butterfly and Beach added a runner-up swim in the 100 breaststroke. 

“There were really some good things that happened. There were also some struggles. They were all giving their best, but sometimes there’s just not a lot in the tank,” coach Heck said. “It’s interesting this time of year to see how everyone’s responding to the training. It makes our job a little more challenging to figure out what’s the best way to train them.”

Coach Heck said the meet gave swimmers an opportunity to work through the fatigue of the second half of the regular season while improving technique and race strategy and noted several highlights in that regard.

“It was nice to see some of the hard work paying off. Maria Craig’s improvements in her flip turns gave her a 20-second drop in the 500. Hailey Novak had a really great 50 freestyle split. Lola Beach has smoothed out her strokes and has become stronger off the walls,” she said.

The win assured Rhinelander (7-0) of at least a share of first place in the GNC heading into the conference meet Oct. 24, hosted by Ladysmith at the new Rice Lake Natatorium. The Hodags can lock up sole possession of first entering the conference meet with a win at home against Merrill this coming Thursday.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].