Hodags 13^th in D2

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Rhinelander High School senior Kiah Francis closed out her high school swimming career Friday when she placed first twice in the WIAA Division 2 State Meet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Natatorium.

Francis, who plans to swim at the collegiate level next year with Liberty University, entered this year’s state meet as the top seed in the same two individual events she finished runner-up in 2015. This time she won the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 3.30 seconds) by almost a second and a half over her nearest competitor, Kohler/Sheboygan Area Lutheran junior Jenna Silvestri, and tied for first with Silvestri in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.09).

Francis was also part of both of the Hodags’ state-qualifying relays. She joined freshman Marisa McGuire, sophomore Grace Heck and junior Taylor Macak to tie for ninth place in the 200 freestyle relay (1:42.42. Francis, Heck, McGuire and sophomore Maddie Quinn finished 14^th in the 200 medley relay (1:55.58).

RHS, which only had state qualifiers in those four events, ended up with 60.5 points to place 13^th out of 38 Division 2 teams. Madison Edgewood won the team title with 337 points, while McFarland finished runner-up at 224.