LAND O’LAKES — Though fully aware of hitting the milestone that no Pasco County girls swimming coach had reached, Robin Hilgenberg’s reaction Wednesday was just like after any other meet.
As the final race of Land O’Lakes’ 140-33 win over Anclote, the 100th dual meet win of Hilgenberg’s career, concluded there she was — packing up the tents.
"I’ve seen it too many times, especially with boys," Hilgenberg said. "They don’t know how to fold them up. I’m too much of a control freak."
Under her control, the Gators’ girls teams have been in pretty good shape. Hilgenberg’s teams have lost only one dual meet in her 13 seasons, in 2004 against Mitchell. The century mark is so difficult to come by simply because there are rarely as many as 10 duals on the schedule.
Hilgenberg wasn’t even thinking about the number until last year. That when she noticed friend Scot Wilcox, Mitchell’s baseball coach, being congratulated for his 100th victory on Facebook.
"I started adding up the numbers then," she said.
The mark could have been hit last week against Sunlake, but lightning postponed the meet after two events. That meet, which could end up being the Gators’ most competitive of the season, has been rescheduled for Sept. 30.
The Gators’ depth was on display Wednesday. In the relays, their third team finished ahead of the Sharks’ top unit.
In the boys meet (a 136-19 Gators victory), Jordan Wheeler broke the school mark in the 100 backstroke. His time of 54.89 seconds edged the 54.94 of Brad Morrison in 2006. Morris, a freshman that year, went on to Sunlake when it opened and won the state title in 2009 before heading to Florida State.
Wheeler specializes in the backstroke for his club team but doesn’t usually swim it during the Gators’ regular season. When he found out Wednesday he would get a chance, he decided to go for the record.
"On the last turn, I took a peek at the clock and knew it would be close," he said. "At that point, it was make it or break it."