Hodag Highlights: Swim team captures 8th consecutive sectional title

The Rhinelander High School boys swim team continued their dominance on Saturday, claiming their eighth straight sectional championship with a narrow 15-point victory over Ashwaubenon in Rice Lake. The sectional title comes on the heels of the Hodags’ eighth consecutive conference championship, cementing the program’s status as a sustained powerhouse in Wisconsin high school swimming.
Rhinelander captured two event victories at the sectional meet. The 200-yard medley relay team of Dean Gillingham, Charlie Antonuk, Kellen O’Malley, and Elias Simonsen touched the wall first, while Gillingham also claimed individual gold in the 200-yard individual medley.
The Hodags will send a strong contingent to the state meet, qualifying in seven total events.
In relay competition, Rhinelander will compete in three events. The 200-yard freestyle relay features Antonuk, Simonsen, and brothers Kellen and Judson O’Malley. The 400-yard freestyle relay will consist of Judson O’Malley, Gillingham, Daniel Meier, and Chris Larson. The championship 200-yard medley relay team will also compete at state.
Individual state qualifiers include Charlie Antonuk in both the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke, demonstrating his versatility. Dean Gillingham will swim the 100-yard breaststroke in addition to his relay duties. Judson O’Malley earned a double qualification, competing in the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard individual medley. The state meet will be held Feb. 20-21 in Waukesha.