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Win at Antigo sets up today’s duel between GNC unbeatens

Win at Antigo sets up today’s duel between GNC unbeatens Win at Antigo sets up today’s duel between GNC unbeatens

MEDFORD GIRLS SWIMMING

The Medford Raiders will be the underdogs, but they have made their Great Northern Conference swim meet tonight, Thursday, a headliner event.

With a dominant 111-57 win at Antigo last Thursday, the Raiders improved to 3-0 in GNC duals to remain one of two league unbeatens. The other, the Rhinelander Hodags, visits the MASH pool tonight for a mid-season clash to break the tie.

Rhinelander has emerged as the GNC’s dominant boys and girls swim program the past few years. The girls are aiming for their third straight conference title and won the WIAA’s Division 2 fall state championship in 2020. The Hodags currently hold the conference’s topranked times in all 11 events.

For the Raiders, it’s a chance to see how they match up while pushed by the best competition they’ll see in the regular season.

“We are excited to host this meet in our pool and have our home fans help cheer us on as we go head-to-head with the other leaders in the conference,” Medford head coach Betsy Meinel said. “We are hoping our depth will make it even more competitive. It should be a great meet.”

The meet starts at 5:30 p.m.

Last week, Medford won nine of 11 events, including convincing wins in all three relays, at Antigo’s pool, which is the only 25-meter pool in the conference. That makes time comparisons for individuals difficult, but the placements speak for themselves.

“We let the girls help decide their events again this week and they continue to surprise us in what they want to try swimming,” Meinel said. “It is giving us even more depth as we go into the middle of the season.”

Sophomore Jackie Williams was one of those swimmers trying a new event. She won the 50-meter freestyle in 33.07 seconds, edging Antigo’s Myah Bolder by 1.07 seconds. Raiders Colby Bergman (35.92) and Cadance Haenel (36.22) were fifth and sixth. Junior Aiden Denzer took on a long-distance swim and won the 400-meter freestyle at 5:21.64, while senior teammate Lydia Pernsteiner was second in 5:57.14 and senior Shaniah Brandt got the fifth-place point at 6:40.27.

“Jackie had a great 50 freestyle time,” Meinel said. “She does not normally swim this event so it was nice to give her a chance in a meet where we’re able to. Aiden swam the 400 again at Antigo, which was what she swam two years there as well. She is showing her depth in many different events this year.”

Freshman Sydney Sperl took on the 100-meter backstroke and came out a winner in 1:19.81, 2.55 seconds ahead of Red Robin Chloe Tainter. Medford’s Tana Rappe was third in 1:25.79 and Kassidy Koncel was fifth in 1:34.18. Senior Lacey Brandner won the 100-meter freestyle in 1:11.15, just ahead of senior teammate Maddie Williams (1:14.03). Freshman Mackenzie Petersen was fourth in 1:21.38.

Freshman Chelsea Gebauer stayed in her usual breaststroke and won that 100-meter race in 1:29.11. She added a second- place time of 2:57.57 in the 200-meter individual medley, just behind Antigo’s Alyssa Tincher (2:52.98). Colby Bergman was third in 3:05.11. In the breaststroke, Medford’s Kirsten Weix was fourth in 1:50.46 and Madisyn Pilgrim was fifth at 2:00.26.

Typically a swimmer in shorter sprints, senior Kami Razink won longer in this meet, taking the 200-meter freestyle in 2:39.48, just ahead of teammate Jordyn Johnson (2:44.14). Koncel added two fourth-place points at 2:59.36. Freshman Erica Brandner turned in another solid race in the 100-meter butterfly, taking second in 1:28.5, while Raiders Breanna Kraemer (1:30.74) and Jackie Williams (1:41.21) were third and fourth in their first butterfly races of 2021.

Denzer, Gebauer, Sperl and Razink swam the 200-meter medley relay in 2:21.09 to beat Antigo’s lone team by 10.97 seconds. Kraemer, Johnson, Erica Brandner and Cadence Haenel took the third-place points at 2:32.33, 0.27 seconds behind Antigo. Petersen, Weix, Brandt and Pilgrim were third at 3:01.78.

Rappe, Johnson, Maddie Williams and Lacey Brandner won the 200-meter freestyle relay in 2:13.2, while Kraemer, Weix, Haenel and Pernsteiner finished in 2:23.29 to take second, 1.49 seconds ahead of the Red Robins. Pilgrim, Koncel, Brandt and Bergman were fourth in 2:31.16.

Sperl, Denzer, Gebauer and Razink closed out the meet with a winning time of 4:49.5 in the 400-meter freestyle relay, while Lacey Brandner, Jackie Williams, Rappe and Maddie Williams were next at 5:00.32, 4.5 seconds ahead of Antigo’s top team. Brandt, Pernsteiner, Haenel and Petersen were fourth in 5:37.71.

“We continue to adjust our relays as girls continue to improve,” Meinel said. “I don’t think we will have the final relay lineup until sectionals again this year.”

Pernsteiner (34.34), Petersen (36.68) and Pilgrim

(38.17) swam in a JV 50-meter freestyle.

After today’s Rhinelander meet, the Raiders will head to Tomahawk for a 5:30 p.m. meet on Sept. 30.

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