“Our senior and junior classes ….

“Our senior and junior classes are really big and really strong,” Wilson said. “It’s really good to have some good role models for our younger girls. We don’t have quite as many younger girls. Our freshmen got into the pool last week and have been working really hard. They’re not complaining about anything, they’re just putting their heads down and going which is really nice to see because it can be intimidating to come into it. It’s nice that they’re putting in that work and they seem eager to get going.”

“They’re doing really good for having it being their first high school experience,” Sperl said of the freshmen.

Medford went 6-1 in 2022 in Great Northern Conference dual meets and 6-2 overall, losing to Merrill and Rhinelander. The Hodags finished fifth as a team at state. One of the Raiders’ goal is to give the Hodags a fight when they come to Medford on Sept. 7 and in the GNC meet late in the year.

“It’s a goal every year,” Bergman said. “We at least want to come close.”

“We’re going to try our best,” said Wilson, who feels another top-two finish in the GNC is Medford’s to lose. “Rhinelander is always a big powerhouse, but hopefully we can stick with them for the most part. We beat Merrill at sectionals, so I feel like that was a big booster. We’ll see how that non-conference meet goes right off the bat.

“We’re hoping to get some girls back to state, we’ll see how we do,” Wilson added. “I know Markki and I have high expectations and high goals. We just have to get the girls there. It’s only one week in. They’re just worried about how tough it is to start right now. But they’ll get there.”