RHS third at D2 Sectional

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The Rhinelander High School boys swimming team qualified for state in six events in Saturday’s WIAA Division 2 Sectional at Hudson.

Lakeland Union High School won the sectional team title with 290.5 points, followed by River Falls (272), RHS (262), Tomahawk (239) and Pulaski (199) rounding out the top five out of 11 teams scoring points.

RHS advanced to state with two relays and five spots in four individual events. In addition to the winner of each swimming event automatically qualifying, the 12 fastest individuals/relay teams (not including the sectional winners) from the four sectionals also advanced to Friday’s WIAA Division 2 State Meet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Natatorium.

The Hodags’ 200-yard medley relay with sophomores David King and Thaddeus Heck and juniors Martin Hoger and Russell Benoy placed first in 1 minute, 44.62 seconds, which is the 12th-fastest state qualifying time in Division 2. The Sturgeon Bay co-op holds the fastest qualifying time of 1:39.61.

RHS’s 200 freestyle relay of Hoger, Benoy, freshman Joseph Heck and sophomore Devon Gaber placed second in 1:31.62, the fourth-fastest state qualifying time. LUHS’s winning sectional time of 1:30.5 is the third-fastest to qualify for state. The Sturgeon Bay co-op also holds the fastest qualifying time in that event of 1:28.99.

Benoy qualified individually in two events by placing third in both the 50 freestyle (22.41) and 100 freestyle (49.83), giving him the eighth- and 12th-fastest qualifying times, respectively. Sturgeon Bay co-op senior Max McHugh has the fastest 50 freestyle qualifying time of 20.57, while Fort Atkinson junior Jeremiah Mansavage is the fastest qualifier in the 100 freestyle at 48.48.

RHS qualified two swimmers for state in the 100 breaststroke with a 1-2 sectional finish by Joseph and Thaddeus Heck in 1:05.19 and 1:05.25, respectively, for the 12th- and 13th-fastest state qualifying times. The Sturgeon Bay co-op’s McHugh is the fastest qualifier at 53.09.

King also advanced individually after placing second in the 100 butterfly (55.64), the 12th-fastest state qualifying time. Brown Deer/University School of Milwaukee senior Eric Storms is the fastest qualifier at 50.56.

At the state meet, medals will be awarded to the top-six individuals/relays in all events. Trophies will be awarded to the championship and runner-up teams.