D2 preview

Can DeForest three-peat in D2? Hardly, you might think, with 7-time state champion Kelly Winckler graduated, along with veteran state meet contributers Lauren Caruso, Haley Oosterhoff, and Jennifer Karpinsky.

But don't count out the Norskies too soon. The two-time defending state champs return a solid nucleus of swimmers, including seniors Molly Anderson and Karmyn Vandewettering, juniors Lindsay Verhulst and Ruby Engen, and sophomores Casey Wolter and Lark Engen, all of whom swam at the state meet last year. Incoming freshmen Leah Winckler and Megan Engelhardt also will play key roles on the team this year. DeForest features a versatile group of swimmers, and with their depth, the team has the ability to send all three relay teams to state.

DeForest won two state titles in a row in part because Kelly Winckler was a lock to win both the 200 and 500 frees; with those 40 points, the team counted on its depth and relays to garner enough points for the team title. The key question for the Norskies this year -- can anyone step into her role?

Other strong teams and contenders:

-- For the past two years, Whitefish Bay has finished as state runner-up. Can WB climb atop the winner's podium this year? Their chances rest in part on the shoulders of junior sprinter Maggie Smith. She had top-three finishes in both the 50 and 100 frees last year at state, and with top D2 sprinter Beckie Thompson now swimming for UW, Smith will certainly contend for state titles in both events. The team from Milwaukee's North Shore will look for state meet performers Lauren Van Loon and Annie Maercklein to step into the shoes left by departed state veterans Danielle Levings and Sarah Harper.

-- For years, the Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol girls team has operated in the shadows of the SB boys powerhouse. But watch out this year; the Clippers are serious candidates for a run at a state title. The SB/S co-op finished sixth last year at state, but returns every single swimmer who scored points at the state meet. They also add McKenzie Trelka, expected to be one of the top freshmen in the state this year. Leading the way for Clippers are seniors Cassidy Smith and Taylor Trelka, junior Alexa Statz, and sophomores Michaela Rabas and Sierra Townsend. Statz has finished runner-up the past two years in the 100 breastroke, and contributes solid legs on relays. A key question for SB/S -- can it put together three relays to qualify for state? Last year, the team's medley and 200 free relays each finished with strong 3rd-place finishes at state, but the team did not qualify a 400 free relay.

-- Monona Grove finished 3rd last year at state, the program's highest finish ever and just eight points out of second place. MG should be strong again this year, with senior Hayley Martin vying with Whitefish Bay's Maggie Smith for top sprint honors in the state. Martin finished 5th in both the 50 and 100 frees last year, and is coming off a strong summer campaign. The Silver Eagles also return sophomore state qualifiers Elizabeth Emmerich (breaststroke) and Kelsey Millin (who finished 2nd in the fly last year coming out of the first heat). The key to MG's success is its strength in relays; the team finished 9th (medley), 2nd (200 free) and 1st (400 free relay) last year at state.

-- Madison Edgewood -- 5th at state last year -- returns a solid group of swimmers, led by senior Beth Schramka (4th in both the 200/500 frees at state). The Crusaders always seem to save their best swims of the year for the state meet, but will be looking to replace the 20 points they earned at the state meet last year from first-place diver Morgan Hearn, who graduated.

-- Grafton, McFarland, Whitnall, New London, Milton, Sauk Prairie, and Shorewood finished 7th-through-13th last year at state, separated by a mere 13.5 points. All return strong performers from last year's state meet. Among them: Grafton's Sadie Nenning (state champ, backstroke) and distance swimmer Brianna Dietz are back, and the team also returns three divers who placed at state; McFarland features a strong junior class led by state qualifiers Chloe Bartuska (100/200 free), Stirling Smith (breast, IM), Ally Schmaling (breast) and Hannah Bristol (back), and welcomes new head coach Bill Martin; Whitnall is led by senior Liz Bishop (4th in the breaststroke at state) and returns a good share of all three relays that qualified for state; New London graduated half of their state-winning medley relay, but returns sophomores Taylor Crain and Taylor Kindschy; Milton returns two-time state champ (breaststroke) Jennah Haney and state qualifier Hailey Foss; Sauk Prairie -- similar to Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol -- returns all of its swimmers who scored points at the state meet last year, led by senior sprinter Abby Diehl; Shorewood features perhaps the best one-two punch in the state in junior Elli Sellinger and sophomore Claire Chamberlain, who between them had a 1st (Chamberlin, IM), a 2nd, and two 3rd-place finishes at state.

Other individuals to watch this year: Brookfield Academy sophomore Kelsey Hojan-Clark, who had two runner-up finishes (IM, 500 free) at state last year; Berlin/Green Lake sophomore Siri Smits, 3rd in the back at state; and Baraboo sophomore Emily O'Rourke, 6th at state in the back.