Hodag swimmers reflect on successful season

The Rhinelander High School boys’ swim team put a bow on its 2025-26 season with its season-ending banquet Tuesday, March 3. Even though the Hodags had a young squad, devoid of any seniors, the season continued a long run of dominance for the program in the northern half of the state.

Rhinelander won its eighth consecutive Great Northern Conference championship this winter, and eighth straight WIAA Division 2 sectional title as well. The team parlayed those performances to a couple of podium finishes and an eighth-place showing overall at the WIAA D2 state meet. 

“We weren’t sure really how the season would go, how we would develop, but the goal is always the same every year — and that’s to take a team we have, work hard, increase our strength, become better in the water, technically, get stronger and be the best that we can be as a team,” coach Jenny Heck said during the banquet. “The goal has always been the same every year that we have been coaching. And I think that you guys just showed what you can do if you stick together and work together as a team.”

While the Hodags celebrated all 14 members of the squad, the team reserved three outstanding swimmer awards for its most accomplished athletes. 

Sophomore Dean Gillingham, junior Charlie Antonuk and junior Judson O’Malley all received the honor. All three were four-event winners at the Great Northern Conference meet, swam four-event programs at the WIAA state meet and were part of a fourth-place finish at state for the Hodags in the 200-yard medley relay. 

“The reason these guys are getting these three outstanding swimmer awards is because, without them and their versatility, we would not have had all the success that we had. Of course, they are part of the team, but these three guys were huge in the amount of points they provided for the team,” Heck explained. “If we needed them to swim a different event or, use them sporadically, in different ways to try to do the best we could, it always involved these three. We are really pleased with their dedication. I think they help make the whole team better.”

Gillingham, who broke the conference record in the 100-yard breaststroke last month, was voted the GNC’s swimmer of the year. In addition to the fourth-place swim in the medley relay at state, he took third in the 100 breaststroke, was seventh in the 200 individual medley and was part of a seventh-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay.

“You know, Dean is so versatile,” Heck said. “He could swim any event. If we needed him to win or go for win or beat someone in the conference who was top (ranked), we were like, ‘Well, we can put Dean in that.’ And, you know what, he could. He could beat anyone really in the conference that we set him up against. That’s incredible. We’re really pleased with this versatility, his work ethic. He’s young and fun, but worked really hard too, and did amazing.”

Judson O’Malley swam his first four-event program at state last month, scoring eighth-place finishes in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke to go along with a pair of top-seven relay finishes. Individually, he won the 50 and 100 freestyle at conference. 

“All of his events were faster and he was also really versatile and important for the team,” Heck said before addressing O’Malley directly. “I really appreciate your leadership and also that we could put you in anything and know you were going to go for the win, because you’re extremely competitive, and that helps a lot.” 

Antonuk came home 10th in the 100 butterfly and 13th in the 100 backstroke at state and, like Judson O’Malley, was swimming four events for the first time at state. 

“It’s been fun to see him step up as not only a great swimmer to fill those roles, but also as a captain,” Heck noted. “It’s not easy being a captain as a junior. You know, you’re thinking, ‘Oh, I usually have seniors,’ but it’s not always the case. Sometimes, you know, those juniors are great captains, and I think he showed that.”

All 14 members of the team — Antonuk, Chris Larson, Judson O’Malley, Gillingham, Konnor Bex, Paul Denis, Daniel Meier, Broden Wagner, Matthew Wood, Kaleb Lehmann, Espen McMahon, Kellen O’Malley, Elias Simonsen and Finn Thorsen —  earned varsity letters. All 14 also earned all-Great Northern Conference honors in at least one event. Heck and the coaching staff took time during the banquet to highlight the time drops that each of the swimmers achieved during the course of the season. 

“I think this has been just a crazy and unusual year of improvements. We’re really proud and happy. Congratulations all,” Heck said. “There was so much energy, but we loved it too. And you guys brought a lot of challenges to us and coaches, but also a lot of fun to the team, and that’s all been great.”

Freelancer Bob Mainhardt contributed to this report.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].