Conference swim meets kick off Halloween night. The Badger Conference, split between north and south divisions, should be home to some especially good meets. In the Badger North, defending state D2 champs DeForest will host Sauk Prairie, Baraboo, and McFarland, among others. DeForest is currently ranked first in the latest state coaches poll, while Sauk is ranked 3rd, Baraboo 7th, and McFarland 9th. In the Badger South, 10th-ranked Monona Grove plays host to 2nd-ranked Milton, 11th-ranked Edgewood, and Div. 1 Oregon, ranked 13th among the larger schools. Conference swim meets, with far more entries allowed than at the sectional swim meets, reward teams with plenty of depth, so look for DeForest and Oregon to do well against their conference foes.
Saturday will be the state's most competitive conference meet -- the Big Eight Conference, featuring top-ranked Madison East, 3rd-ranked Madison Memorial, 5th-ranked Middleton, and 6th-ranked Madison West. Verona and Janesville Craig will also bring some talented swimmers to the conference meet, held at the UW Natatorium.
Traditional D2 powers Shorewood and Whitnall will hook up in the Woodland Conference swim meet Saturday as well, while the North Shore Conference swim meet in suburban Milwaukee will feature 7th ranked D1 Homestead going up against D2 Whitefish Bay and an emerging Grafton team that has risen to 8th in the latest D2 state rankings and could be a real threat at the state meet.
Much is at stake in these conference meets -- conference titles for many, of course, but it's also the last meet before the state-qualifying sectional meets for both D1 and D2. Coaches will often use the conference meets to fine-tune relays, and it also serves as a final warm-up for the individual events that swimmers often swim at sectionals.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Switching seasons -- Chap. 2
Here's the WIAA's Tom Shafranski on switching boys and girls swim seasons (from the 10/24/08 WIAA Bulletin):
"Seasonal Placement
Question: I read in the Wisconsin State Journal that boys and girls swimming is switching seasons. Is this a “done deal” or is this in discussion? When will it be implemented?
"There are significant consequences with moving sports -including participation, etc. Interpretation: First of all, please understand the issue of flip-flopping WIAA girl’s and
boy’s swimming and diving is currently being discussed by school administrators at WIAA Area Meetings. No decisions have been made. If a decision is made, it will be at least four years before implementation of the change is made. This is a good time for coaches to discuss this issue with their athletic director. At our WIAA Area Meetings, we are hearing concerns from athletic directors regarding boy swimmers having difficulties with fall sport opportunities. I am organizing a survey of the WIAA boy’s swimming programs that will identify the number of swimmers who participate in fall sports. This survey is intended to help identify quantifiable data for this issue. Moving girl’s swimming to the winter and keeping boy’s swimming there as well creates a facility issue for swimming pools across the State. As you know, pools have many recreational and community programs at their sites along with high school swimming and diving programs. In addition, it does not solve the “preferred seasons” issue. This “preferred seasons” problem developed this past summer when the Michigan High School Athletic Association lost their suit on seasonal placement and had to pay over $7 million in legal fees. Currently, the WIAA is not balanced with the number of girls and boys sports in their “preferred seasons.” The “preferred season” for girl’s swimming and diving is the winter season. Switching girl’s swimming to the winter and boy’s to the fall will place the WIAA membership in compliance. Swimming and diving have been chosen because the least amount of conflict exists with the number of participants and school teams that could be affected."
Interpretation (there are several):
-- If the WIAA decides to switch girls and boys swim seasons, everyone will be "grandfathered" in, i.e. no one currently swimming will be forced to switch seasons during their high school career. For instance, if the WIAA announces in the fall of 2009 that swimming seasons will switch (girls will move to winter, boys to fall), all freshmen swimmers (girls and boys) will be permitted to finish their high school careers in the same season in which they began.
-- The WIAA wants some hard data to support the current argument being made by (mainly) boys swim coaches that a switch in seasons would potentially damage boys swimming. The state high school swim coaches association (WISCA) is already organizing a survey of coaches; the WIAA is looking beyond opinions to get some idea of how many boy swimmers (and girls, presumably) participate in sports in the season to which they would be switched.
-- The WIAA would do well -- and coaches and ADs concerned about the switch should push for -- better defining what it means by "preferred seasons." Preferred by whom? Is this all about avoiding the kind of expensive lawsuit seen in Michigan? Or are there more substantial issues at play? The WIAA's use of the word "compliance" is also somewhat vague. In compliance with what, exactly?
One prediction: outgoing WIAA executive director Doug Chickering -- who earns praise from most quarters of athletic observers in the state -- won't make this decision. Instead, look for his predecessor to take it on and make the eventual decision on season switching.
"Seasonal Placement
Question: I read in the Wisconsin State Journal that boys and girls swimming is switching seasons. Is this a “done deal” or is this in discussion? When will it be implemented?
"There are significant consequences with moving sports -including participation, etc. Interpretation: First of all, please understand the issue of flip-flopping WIAA girl’s and
boy’s swimming and diving is currently being discussed by school administrators at WIAA Area Meetings. No decisions have been made. If a decision is made, it will be at least four years before implementation of the change is made. This is a good time for coaches to discuss this issue with their athletic director. At our WIAA Area Meetings, we are hearing concerns from athletic directors regarding boy swimmers having difficulties with fall sport opportunities. I am organizing a survey of the WIAA boy’s swimming programs that will identify the number of swimmers who participate in fall sports. This survey is intended to help identify quantifiable data for this issue. Moving girl’s swimming to the winter and keeping boy’s swimming there as well creates a facility issue for swimming pools across the State. As you know, pools have many recreational and community programs at their sites along with high school swimming and diving programs. In addition, it does not solve the “preferred seasons” issue. This “preferred seasons” problem developed this past summer when the Michigan High School Athletic Association lost their suit on seasonal placement and had to pay over $7 million in legal fees. Currently, the WIAA is not balanced with the number of girls and boys sports in their “preferred seasons.” The “preferred season” for girl’s swimming and diving is the winter season. Switching girl’s swimming to the winter and boy’s to the fall will place the WIAA membership in compliance. Swimming and diving have been chosen because the least amount of conflict exists with the number of participants and school teams that could be affected."
Interpretation (there are several):
-- If the WIAA decides to switch girls and boys swim seasons, everyone will be "grandfathered" in, i.e. no one currently swimming will be forced to switch seasons during their high school career. For instance, if the WIAA announces in the fall of 2009 that swimming seasons will switch (girls will move to winter, boys to fall), all freshmen swimmers (girls and boys) will be permitted to finish their high school careers in the same season in which they began.
-- The WIAA wants some hard data to support the current argument being made by (mainly) boys swim coaches that a switch in seasons would potentially damage boys swimming. The state high school swim coaches association (WISCA) is already organizing a survey of coaches; the WIAA is looking beyond opinions to get some idea of how many boy swimmers (and girls, presumably) participate in sports in the season to which they would be switched.
-- The WIAA would do well -- and coaches and ADs concerned about the switch should push for -- better defining what it means by "preferred seasons." Preferred by whom? Is this all about avoiding the kind of expensive lawsuit seen in Michigan? Or are there more substantial issues at play? The WIAA's use of the word "compliance" is also somewhat vague. In compliance with what, exactly?
One prediction: outgoing WIAA executive director Doug Chickering -- who earns praise from most quarters of athletic observers in the state -- won't make this decision. Instead, look for his predecessor to take it on and make the eventual decision on season switching.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
DeForest turns the tide on Baraboo
At the start of the season, Baraboo surprised a few swim observers by winning the Badger North Conference relays -- an all-relay meet that is often a good indicator of a team's strength and depth. In doing so, they knocked off Badger Confernce North rival (and two-time defending state D2 champs) DeForest.
Nearly two months later, the teams finally met in their conference duel meet -- and DeForest turned the tables in a big way, winning 102-68 at Baraboo Tuesday night. The Norskies won eight of the 11 events in the meet, including two impressive wins in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Sophomore Casey Wolter and junior Lindsey Verhulst led the way for DeForest, with two individual wins each (Wolter 200/100 frees; Verhulst 50 free/100 breaststroke), and strong relay legs on the winning freestyle relays.
The two teams will see each again later this month at the Badger Conference North season-ending meet, hosted by DeForest, and then at the D2 sectional meet, hosted by Baraboo Nov. 8.
Nearly two months later, the teams finally met in their conference duel meet -- and DeForest turned the tables in a big way, winning 102-68 at Baraboo Tuesday night. The Norskies won eight of the 11 events in the meet, including two impressive wins in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Sophomore Casey Wolter and junior Lindsey Verhulst led the way for DeForest, with two individual wins each (Wolter 200/100 frees; Verhulst 50 free/100 breaststroke), and strong relay legs on the winning freestyle relays.
The two teams will see each again later this month at the Badger Conference North season-ending meet, hosted by DeForest, and then at the D2 sectional meet, hosted by Baraboo Nov. 8.
East vs. Memorial: Memorial wins; East looks sharp
The much-anticipated duel meet between two of the state's best D1 teams -- Madison East and Memorial -- lived up to its billing: a packed house at East High School, television crews from the Madison TV stations, and some great swimming. It also went according to form: Memorial's superior depth trumped East's top-flight talent.
Details: Memorial won 93-77, giving the team its fourth straight Big 8 conference dual-meet title and 23rd overall. But East won 8 of the 11 events, and demonstrated why it will be a force at the state D1 meet. East stars Ruby Martin (swimming in her last home meet of her career), Becca Soderholm, and Aja Van Hout all won two individual events, and the trio combined with Ruby's sister Ivy to win both the 200 and 400 free relays. Van Hout continues to just dominate opponents this year; she swam a state-season best 1:52.31 in the 200 free, breaking her previous team record in the process, and then turned around for a 4:56.57 500 free, swimming alone for much of the race. (In the 200, she beat Memorial's Jackie Powell, holder of the state's third-best 200 free time this year and one of the state's best all-around swimmers, by nearly four seconds.) Soderholm was also impressive, winning both the 200 IM and the 100 fly quite easily over Memorial's Kelsie Saxe. Memorial won the medley relay by more than two seconds with a strong lineup (seniors Kayla Smith and Kendra Loch, along with Saxe and Powell), but East came back with wins in the freestyle relays.
In all candor, East looked like the sharper squad Wednesday night. Some of the times East swam were quite impressive -- Soderholm's fly time (58.71) was not that far off her 4th-place time last year at state (57.99) and her IM time was the third-fastest posted this year in the state, topped only by teammates Van Hout and Ruby Martin. East's 400-free relay time of of 3:32.78 was two seconds better than the next-fastest time posted this year, and came within .05 seconds of the team-record time set by East last year at state -- and left Memorial's 400 free relay behind by nearly four seconds at the conclusion of the duel meet.
Of course, there are three weeks left before the state D1 meet -- an enternity in the minds of most swim coaches aiming to get their swimmers to peak the right time. Memorial head coach Jason Verhelst in well-known for doing just that, and indicated that's his focus.
"Our primary goal is the state meet," he told the Wisconsin State Journal after the winning effort against East. "Everything we have done this year has been focused on that for our varsity girls."
Details here from the State Journal:
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/wiaa//310834
Details: Memorial won 93-77, giving the team its fourth straight Big 8 conference dual-meet title and 23rd overall. But East won 8 of the 11 events, and demonstrated why it will be a force at the state D1 meet. East stars Ruby Martin (swimming in her last home meet of her career), Becca Soderholm, and Aja Van Hout all won two individual events, and the trio combined with Ruby's sister Ivy to win both the 200 and 400 free relays. Van Hout continues to just dominate opponents this year; she swam a state-season best 1:52.31 in the 200 free, breaking her previous team record in the process, and then turned around for a 4:56.57 500 free, swimming alone for much of the race. (In the 200, she beat Memorial's Jackie Powell, holder of the state's third-best 200 free time this year and one of the state's best all-around swimmers, by nearly four seconds.) Soderholm was also impressive, winning both the 200 IM and the 100 fly quite easily over Memorial's Kelsie Saxe. Memorial won the medley relay by more than two seconds with a strong lineup (seniors Kayla Smith and Kendra Loch, along with Saxe and Powell), but East came back with wins in the freestyle relays.
In all candor, East looked like the sharper squad Wednesday night. Some of the times East swam were quite impressive -- Soderholm's fly time (58.71) was not that far off her 4th-place time last year at state (57.99) and her IM time was the third-fastest posted this year in the state, topped only by teammates Van Hout and Ruby Martin. East's 400-free relay time of of 3:32.78 was two seconds better than the next-fastest time posted this year, and came within .05 seconds of the team-record time set by East last year at state -- and left Memorial's 400 free relay behind by nearly four seconds at the conclusion of the duel meet.
Of course, there are three weeks left before the state D1 meet -- an enternity in the minds of most swim coaches aiming to get their swimmers to peak the right time. Memorial head coach Jason Verhelst in well-known for doing just that, and indicated that's his focus.
"Our primary goal is the state meet," he told the Wisconsin State Journal after the winning effort against East. "Everything we have done this year has been focused on that for our varsity girls."
Details here from the State Journal:
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/wiaa//310834
Monday, October 20, 2008
The big duel meet of the season
It's almost here -- the most anticipated duel meet of the season. That would be Madison East hosting Madison Memorial, 5 p.m. Wednesday. Get there early -- East High's pool isn't exactly overflowing with seating.
The duel meet features the two teams that battled back and forth last year for the Div. 1 state title. East won its first state title by 3.5 points over Memorial by extracting nearly as many points as possible out of its six swimmers. Both teams returned a strong core of swimmers from last year's meet, and have been ranked among the top three teams all season long.
Truth be told, Memorial is the favorite to win the meet between the two teams. The Spartans are the kind of team that dominates duel meet -- lots of depth to go along with strong relays and solid swimmers in every event. It's the kind of lineup designed to win duel meets. East counters with some of the state's very best swimmers, and three top-flight relays.
In the end, the final score may matter less than some of the individual matchups -- will Memorial's Jackie Powell and East's Aja Van Hout go head-to-head in the 200 free, where they own the state's top two times? Or the 500 free, which Van Hout won last year at state and Powell finished 4th? How will Memorial sprinter Kayla Smith match up against the Martin sisters, Ruby and Ivy, in the freestyle sprints? Or the potential match-up between Memorial's Kelsie Saxe and East's Becca Soderholm in both the 200 IM and the 100 fly?
Still, the individual races may pale in comparison to what promises to be a real shoot-out in the relays. East won state last year in large part because two of its three relays finished ahead of Memorial at the state meet. Notably, the eight-hundreths-of-a-second win by East over Memorial in the 200 free relay -- and the four-point swing it produced -- proved to be the difference between first and second place.
It should be a great start to what will be a series of matchups between these two top squads in the coming weeks -- they'll face off again at the Big Eight Conference meet Nov. 1, the Middleton sectional Nov. 8, and the state Div. 1 meet Nov. 15.
The duel meet features the two teams that battled back and forth last year for the Div. 1 state title. East won its first state title by 3.5 points over Memorial by extracting nearly as many points as possible out of its six swimmers. Both teams returned a strong core of swimmers from last year's meet, and have been ranked among the top three teams all season long.
Truth be told, Memorial is the favorite to win the meet between the two teams. The Spartans are the kind of team that dominates duel meet -- lots of depth to go along with strong relays and solid swimmers in every event. It's the kind of lineup designed to win duel meets. East counters with some of the state's very best swimmers, and three top-flight relays.
In the end, the final score may matter less than some of the individual matchups -- will Memorial's Jackie Powell and East's Aja Van Hout go head-to-head in the 200 free, where they own the state's top two times? Or the 500 free, which Van Hout won last year at state and Powell finished 4th? How will Memorial sprinter Kayla Smith match up against the Martin sisters, Ruby and Ivy, in the freestyle sprints? Or the potential match-up between Memorial's Kelsie Saxe and East's Becca Soderholm in both the 200 IM and the 100 fly?
Still, the individual races may pale in comparison to what promises to be a real shoot-out in the relays. East won state last year in large part because two of its three relays finished ahead of Memorial at the state meet. Notably, the eight-hundreths-of-a-second win by East over Memorial in the 200 free relay -- and the four-point swing it produced -- proved to be the difference between first and second place.
It should be a great start to what will be a series of matchups between these two top squads in the coming weeks -- they'll face off again at the Big Eight Conference meet Nov. 1, the Middleton sectional Nov. 8, and the state Div. 1 meet Nov. 15.
D2 down the stretch
The state's best D2 times were in separate venues this weekend -- most swam at the Small School Invitational, while DeForest, Sauk Prairie and Monona Grove took on Div. 1 Oregon and Badger-Big Foot at the Fort Atkinson Invitational.
DeForest cleaned up at Fort Atkinson in a meet (scored to 16 places, both A and B relays scoring) that played to the team's strength -- depth of talent. DeForest won just one event -- sophomore Casey Wolter in the 500 free -- and didn't finish higher than 3rd in any relay. But the Norskies depth carried them to a 462-397 over Oregon. Sauk edged MG for third place (306.5 to 288) behind a strong showing from sophomore Alison Meng, who won the 100 fly and finished second in the 100 back. MG's Hayley Martin continued her strong season, with wins in the 100/200 frees, and a come-from-behind anchor leg in the 200 free relay that gave the Silver Eagles a win in the event. MG, which has lost the last two 200 free relays at state by a combined time of .34 seconds, swam a 1:42.32, the fastest D2 time posted this year.
Over at Shorewood, two teams made a strong statement that they will be contenders at the state D2 meet -- Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol and Grafton. They finished a close 1-2 at the meet, with SB/S edging Grafton by just three points, 271-268. McFarland finished third with 207.5 points, followed by Plymouth and Madison Edgewood. Traditional D2 powers Whitefish Bay, Shorewood and Whitnall finished 7th-through-9th.
For SB/S, strong showings in the relays helped cement 1st place, with a win in the 200 free relay and runner-up finishes in the medley and 400 free relays. Grafton was paced by junior standout Sadie Nenning, two-time defending state champ in the 100 back. She won both the back and the 100 fly (the latter in a thrilling race with Plymouth's Kate Criter and Shorewood's Elli Sellinger), and swam the leadoff leg's on Grafton's winning medley and 400 free relays.
DeForest cleaned up at Fort Atkinson in a meet (scored to 16 places, both A and B relays scoring) that played to the team's strength -- depth of talent. DeForest won just one event -- sophomore Casey Wolter in the 500 free -- and didn't finish higher than 3rd in any relay. But the Norskies depth carried them to a 462-397 over Oregon. Sauk edged MG for third place (306.5 to 288) behind a strong showing from sophomore Alison Meng, who won the 100 fly and finished second in the 100 back. MG's Hayley Martin continued her strong season, with wins in the 100/200 frees, and a come-from-behind anchor leg in the 200 free relay that gave the Silver Eagles a win in the event. MG, which has lost the last two 200 free relays at state by a combined time of .34 seconds, swam a 1:42.32, the fastest D2 time posted this year.
Over at Shorewood, two teams made a strong statement that they will be contenders at the state D2 meet -- Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol and Grafton. They finished a close 1-2 at the meet, with SB/S edging Grafton by just three points, 271-268. McFarland finished third with 207.5 points, followed by Plymouth and Madison Edgewood. Traditional D2 powers Whitefish Bay, Shorewood and Whitnall finished 7th-through-9th.
For SB/S, strong showings in the relays helped cement 1st place, with a win in the 200 free relay and runner-up finishes in the medley and 400 free relays. Grafton was paced by junior standout Sadie Nenning, two-time defending state champ in the 100 back. She won both the back and the 100 fly (the latter in a thrilling race with Plymouth's Kate Criter and Shorewood's Elli Sellinger), and swam the leadoff leg's on Grafton's winning medley and 400 free relays.
D1 down the stretch
While Madison East and Madison Memorial took the weekend off from competition, Hartland-Arrowhead was busy dominating the field at the Highlander Invitational at Mequon-Homestead's pool. H-A won 8 of 11 events at the meet to win in a romp (405 points) over runner-up Waukesha South/Mukwonago (264) and third-place Middleton (228.5). Leading the way for H-A was freshman Haley Pietila (100/200 free victories) and sophomore Emma Goral, who continues to rack up impressive times a year after winning the D1 state title in the 100 fly. With its win, H-A moved up to second in the latest WISCA (state coaches association) poll, behind East and ahead of Memorial. H-A will certainly be the favorite in their tough Waukesha South/Mukwonago sectional Nov. 8; they are a very balanced team, with the real possibility of qualifying swimmers for state in each of the eight individual events, along with all three relays and at least one diver.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Fast freshmen
Every year, several freshmen make a big impact on the state high school swim scene -- a product, it seems, of girls maturing sooner as swimmers than boys (rare is the state title won in the boys divison by a freshman; it occurs frequently in girls swimming). Last year, it was Aja Van Hout of Madison East, Hartland-Arrowhead's Emma Goral, and Middleton's Katie Delaney making the big impact in D1, with Shorewood's Clare Chamberlain, Brookfield Academy's Kelsey Hojan-Clark, and Monona Grove's Kelsey Millin making a strong showing in D2.
This year, look for three freshmen in D1 to make a strong showing at sectionals and the state meet -- Hartland-Arrowhead's duo of Haley Pietila and Kate Jones, and Muskego's Jessica Wolf. Pietila has two times in the top three so far this season (200 and 100 frees), and could be a strong contender for the 200 free title, depending on who swims what at the sectional meets. Jones has a top-five time in the 100 back, and the two freshman and Goral are the reason H-A is considered a strong contender for the D1 state title it held for five straight years before finishing 5th last year. Wolf, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the top distance swimmers in the state, with top-five times in the 200 and 500 frees.
In D2, Plymouth's Kate Criter has made a sensational debut, with the state's leading breaststroke time so far this season (1:05.96, which would've won state last year), plus top-three times in the 50 free and 100 fly. Her coaches will have a tough decision to choose her two individual events for a Plymouth team that has climbed to 7th in the latest WISCA D2 poll and could surprise some folks at the sectional and state meets. Meanwhile, Anna Meinholz has joined big sister Ellie at Waukesha Catholic Memorial, currently ranked 9th. Anna has the third-best breaststroke time posted so far this season.
This year, look for three freshmen in D1 to make a strong showing at sectionals and the state meet -- Hartland-Arrowhead's duo of Haley Pietila and Kate Jones, and Muskego's Jessica Wolf. Pietila has two times in the top three so far this season (200 and 100 frees), and could be a strong contender for the 200 free title, depending on who swims what at the sectional meets. Jones has a top-five time in the 100 back, and the two freshman and Goral are the reason H-A is considered a strong contender for the D1 state title it held for five straight years before finishing 5th last year. Wolf, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the top distance swimmers in the state, with top-five times in the 200 and 500 frees.
In D2, Plymouth's Kate Criter has made a sensational debut, with the state's leading breaststroke time so far this season (1:05.96, which would've won state last year), plus top-three times in the 50 free and 100 fly. Her coaches will have a tough decision to choose her two individual events for a Plymouth team that has climbed to 7th in the latest WISCA D2 poll and could surprise some folks at the sectional and state meets. Meanwhile, Anna Meinholz has joined big sister Ellie at Waukesha Catholic Memorial, currently ranked 9th. Anna has the third-best breaststroke time posted so far this season.
State rankings
The latest state rankings are out from the WISCA (state high school coaches) website. The rankings are devised by assinging points to teams who have swimmers and relays in the top 30 time list compiled by WISCA (diving not included in the poll rankings). Here they are...
D1:
1) Madison Memorial; 2) Madison East; 3) Hartland-Arrowhead; 4) Waukesha South-Mukwanago; 5) Middleton; 6) Oregon; 7) Oshkosh West; 8) Appleton East; 9) Wauseu East; 10) Madison West.
No surprises here; Memorial, defending state champs East, and H-A have been the top teams all season long. The only mild surprise is Oregon, which swims against mainly D2 competition in the Badger South Conference but is D1 for state qualifying. The Panthers have a very good group of swimmers, and are the favorites for the conference title later this month. But their Middleton sectional is brutally difficult -- Memorial, East, West, Middleton and Verona all swim in the same sectional along with Oregon. The key for Oregon may be their relays -- they have the talent depth to qualify three relays for state. There is a good chance all five teams ranked ahead of them will qualify all three of their relay teams for state.
D2:
1) DeForest; 2) Milton; 3) Shorewood; 4) Baraboo; 5) Sauk Prairie; 6) Monona Grove; 7) Plymouth; 8) McFarland; 9) Waukesha Catholic Memorial; 10) Whitefish Bay.
The WISCA poll, based on top-30 times, heavily weights teams with considerable depth, and that's DeForest's strength. Few teams in D2 can boast the kind of depth that the Norskies can. Plus, the Norskies return a bevy of swimmers who have considerable experience at the state meet. The question for DeForest -- can their swimmers put up the top finishes needed at state to put them in the running for a third straight title? Right now, only one DeForest swimmer -- sophomore Casey Wolter in the 500 free -- has a top-five time in the statewide top-30 list. Meanwhile, Shorewood, Milton, Plymouth and Monona Grove all have swimmers with times in the top three of individual events.
One thing's for sure -- the Baraboo D2 sectional promises to be a barn-burner. Six of the top eight teams in the latest state poll swim there, plus an Edgewood team that finished 5th last year at state. It wouldn't be surprising to see individuals and relays placing 7th or even 8th at the sectional qualifying for state.
One more note -- the D2 poll probably understates the strength of Plymouth and unranked Grafton. Both teams will qualify some strong individuals and -- unlike most of the teams ranked ahead of them -- place some divers at the state meet.
D1:
1) Madison Memorial; 2) Madison East; 3) Hartland-Arrowhead; 4) Waukesha South-Mukwanago; 5) Middleton; 6) Oregon; 7) Oshkosh West; 8) Appleton East; 9) Wauseu East; 10) Madison West.
No surprises here; Memorial, defending state champs East, and H-A have been the top teams all season long. The only mild surprise is Oregon, which swims against mainly D2 competition in the Badger South Conference but is D1 for state qualifying. The Panthers have a very good group of swimmers, and are the favorites for the conference title later this month. But their Middleton sectional is brutally difficult -- Memorial, East, West, Middleton and Verona all swim in the same sectional along with Oregon. The key for Oregon may be their relays -- they have the talent depth to qualify three relays for state. There is a good chance all five teams ranked ahead of them will qualify all three of their relay teams for state.
D2:
1) DeForest; 2) Milton; 3) Shorewood; 4) Baraboo; 5) Sauk Prairie; 6) Monona Grove; 7) Plymouth; 8) McFarland; 9) Waukesha Catholic Memorial; 10) Whitefish Bay.
The WISCA poll, based on top-30 times, heavily weights teams with considerable depth, and that's DeForest's strength. Few teams in D2 can boast the kind of depth that the Norskies can. Plus, the Norskies return a bevy of swimmers who have considerable experience at the state meet. The question for DeForest -- can their swimmers put up the top finishes needed at state to put them in the running for a third straight title? Right now, only one DeForest swimmer -- sophomore Casey Wolter in the 500 free -- has a top-five time in the statewide top-30 list. Meanwhile, Shorewood, Milton, Plymouth and Monona Grove all have swimmers with times in the top three of individual events.
One thing's for sure -- the Baraboo D2 sectional promises to be a barn-burner. Six of the top eight teams in the latest state poll swim there, plus an Edgewood team that finished 5th last year at state. It wouldn't be surprising to see individuals and relays placing 7th or even 8th at the sectional qualifying for state.
One more note -- the D2 poll probably understates the strength of Plymouth and unranked Grafton. Both teams will qualify some strong individuals and -- unlike most of the teams ranked ahead of them -- place some divers at the state meet.
D2--Midway through the season
While D1 looks like a three-way race for the state title, D2 looks like a logjam. DeForest and Baraboo have been impressive in winning some invitationals (DeForest -- Fond du Lac, Baraboo its own invitational), while Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Whitnall have all looked solid coming out of the Milwaukee suburbs (all three schools have swimmers who are likely contenders for state titles -- Shorewood's duo of Clare Chamberlain and Elli Sellinger, Whitefish Bay's Maggie Smith, and Whitnall's Liz Boshop). Meanwhile, Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol has been putting up some solid performances, including the highest finish of any D2 team at the D1-heavy Wisconsin Invitational held earlier this season at the UW Natatorium. Last year's third-place finisher, Monona Grove, is led by sprinter Hayley Martin, who has the state's leading D2 times this year in the 50 and 100 frees, and Milton has had a solid year led by state champion Jennah Haney and senior Hailey Foss. Meanwhile, both Plymouth and Grafton have strong swimmers poised by qualifying for the state meet, and an added weapon -- divers who will likely qualify and score team points at the state meet.
The difficulty with predicting D2 this year is that so many of the defending champions in individual events -- DeForest's Kelly Winckler, New Berlin West's Beckie Thompson, and Greendale's Jenna Lennertz won five of the eight invidual events last year -- graduated, leaving a void to be filled. Several D2 teams have swimmers ready to take the place on the winner's podium; the winning team in D2 is likely to emerge from a squad that can put together a few top finishers in individual events, and qualify three relays for state.
The difficulty with predicting D2 this year is that so many of the defending champions in individual events -- DeForest's Kelly Winckler, New Berlin West's Beckie Thompson, and Greendale's Jenna Lennertz won five of the eight invidual events last year -- graduated, leaving a void to be filled. Several D2 teams have swimmers ready to take the place on the winner's podium; the winning team in D2 is likely to emerge from a squad that can put together a few top finishers in individual events, and qualify three relays for state.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Midway point of the season
We're halfway through the 2008 girls season, so here's a quick rundown of what to expect at the D1 and D2 state meets Nov. 14-15.
D1:
The race for the D1 team state title appears to be between last year's state champs (Madison East), East's Big Eight Conference rival and last year's runner-up (Madison Memorial), and the team whose five-year run as state champs was broken last year (Hartland Arrowhead). Call it a matchup among the few (East), the many (Memorial), and the young guns (Arrowhead).
East's chances of defending its title center on senior Ruby Martin and sophomore Aja Van Hout. Martin is the defending state champ in the 50 free, and with defending champ Stephanie Armstrong not swimming this year, the favorite in the 100 free. Van Hout is the defending state champ in the 200 IM and 500 free, and has been tearing through meets this season (setting four East High team records already). In short, they are probably the two best swimmers in the state; put them together on any two relays, and those relays are unlikely to lose, given the quality swimmers East can use to augment the duo. It's not inconceiveable to suggest East would go into the state meet favored to win six events (four individual events, two relays) -- that's 160 points right there, or a pretty good foundation upon which to defend the state title.
Memorial relies on depth and more depth, although junior Jackie Powell is a threat to win the D1 100 back title. The Spartans will certainly qualify three top relay teams for the state meet; their relays last year finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd last year at state, and all but two of the swimmers on those relays return, augmented by some new additions to the team. Memorial may be the only D1 team in the state with a legitimate shot at qualifying a swimmer in each of the eight individual swimming events.
Arrowhead's been strengthened with an influx of freshmen, notably freestyler Haley Pietila and backstroker Kate Jones. They join sophomore Emma Goral, defending state champ in the 100 fly, to provide a solid core of young swimmers who will likely qualify with fast times for the state meet and form the foundation for the team's relays.
At the Wisconsin Invitational held in mid-September at the UW-Madison Natatorium, Arrowhead beat out Memorial 337-297, with East in third with 262 points. Two weeks later, however, Memorial turned the tables on Arrowhead at the Middleton Invitational, edging them by a 408-402.5 margin. Of course, down the stretch of the season, East and Memorial will face off three times in two weeks before the state meet -- their dual meet Oct. 22 at East, the Big Eight Conference meet Nov. 1, and the Middleton sectional Nov. 8.
D1:
The race for the D1 team state title appears to be between last year's state champs (Madison East), East's Big Eight Conference rival and last year's runner-up (Madison Memorial), and the team whose five-year run as state champs was broken last year (Hartland Arrowhead). Call it a matchup among the few (East), the many (Memorial), and the young guns (Arrowhead).
East's chances of defending its title center on senior Ruby Martin and sophomore Aja Van Hout. Martin is the defending state champ in the 50 free, and with defending champ Stephanie Armstrong not swimming this year, the favorite in the 100 free. Van Hout is the defending state champ in the 200 IM and 500 free, and has been tearing through meets this season (setting four East High team records already). In short, they are probably the two best swimmers in the state; put them together on any two relays, and those relays are unlikely to lose, given the quality swimmers East can use to augment the duo. It's not inconceiveable to suggest East would go into the state meet favored to win six events (four individual events, two relays) -- that's 160 points right there, or a pretty good foundation upon which to defend the state title.
Memorial relies on depth and more depth, although junior Jackie Powell is a threat to win the D1 100 back title. The Spartans will certainly qualify three top relay teams for the state meet; their relays last year finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd last year at state, and all but two of the swimmers on those relays return, augmented by some new additions to the team. Memorial may be the only D1 team in the state with a legitimate shot at qualifying a swimmer in each of the eight individual swimming events.
Arrowhead's been strengthened with an influx of freshmen, notably freestyler Haley Pietila and backstroker Kate Jones. They join sophomore Emma Goral, defending state champ in the 100 fly, to provide a solid core of young swimmers who will likely qualify with fast times for the state meet and form the foundation for the team's relays.
At the Wisconsin Invitational held in mid-September at the UW-Madison Natatorium, Arrowhead beat out Memorial 337-297, with East in third with 262 points. Two weeks later, however, Memorial turned the tables on Arrowhead at the Middleton Invitational, edging them by a 408-402.5 margin. Of course, down the stretch of the season, East and Memorial will face off three times in two weeks before the state meet -- their dual meet Oct. 22 at East, the Big Eight Conference meet Nov. 1, and the Middleton sectional Nov. 8.
Wisconsin Invitational--prelims-final preview?
The second annual Wisconsin Invitational is in the books, and chief organizer Jason Verhelst (main swim job: head girls coach, D1 power Madison Memorial) pronounced it a success. The meet featured several top D1 and D2 teams, and was held at the UW-Madison Natatorium, site of the annual D1 and D2 state swim meets. More importantly, it served as a trial for something Verhelst would like to see implemented at the state meet: a preliminary-finals format.
"It's something we've been pushing for with the WIAA," Verhelst told the Wisconsin State Journal. "Thirty-five other states have prelims-finals (state meets) and somehow Wisconsin doesn't. So we're trying to demonstrate that you can run a quality prelims-finals meet in one day at the same venue that we hold state at."
The main argument in favor of a prelims-finals format at the state swim meet (beyond most states doing it) seems to be that it more closely parallels the experience that swimmers have during their non-high-school club seasons. All but the longest of races are swum prelims-finals during the club season, and it's a fair bet that most swimmers who have the ability to qualify for state -- certainly at the D1 level, and increasingly at the D2 level -- are swimming part of the year at the club level.
There are, however, several arguments that have been raised in swimming circles against a prelims-finals approach for the state meet. Chief among them is that is doesn't replicate what swimmers experience at the club level. High school swimming, goes this argument, is by design different than club swimming, and therefore the culmination of the high school season -- the state meet -- ought to be different than what's offered at the club level. In addition, it makes for a very long day for the swimmers, particularly the top swimmers. Madison East, last year's D1 state champs, had four swimmers last year qualify for the state meet in two individual events and two relays. That's potentially eight swims at a one-day meet for those swimmers.
"It definitely pushes your endurance to see how many times you can perform in a row," East staet champ Ruby Martin told the Wisconsin State Journal after the Wisconsin Invitational.
Expect to hear more about this idea at the WIAA level in the coming years.
"It's something we've been pushing for with the WIAA," Verhelst told the Wisconsin State Journal. "Thirty-five other states have prelims-finals (state meets) and somehow Wisconsin doesn't. So we're trying to demonstrate that you can run a quality prelims-finals meet in one day at the same venue that we hold state at."
The main argument in favor of a prelims-finals format at the state swim meet (beyond most states doing it) seems to be that it more closely parallels the experience that swimmers have during their non-high-school club seasons. All but the longest of races are swum prelims-finals during the club season, and it's a fair bet that most swimmers who have the ability to qualify for state -- certainly at the D1 level, and increasingly at the D2 level -- are swimming part of the year at the club level.
There are, however, several arguments that have been raised in swimming circles against a prelims-finals approach for the state meet. Chief among them is that is doesn't replicate what swimmers experience at the club level. High school swimming, goes this argument, is by design different than club swimming, and therefore the culmination of the high school season -- the state meet -- ought to be different than what's offered at the club level. In addition, it makes for a very long day for the swimmers, particularly the top swimmers. Madison East, last year's D1 state champs, had four swimmers last year qualify for the state meet in two individual events and two relays. That's potentially eight swims at a one-day meet for those swimmers.
"It definitely pushes your endurance to see how many times you can perform in a row," East staet champ Ruby Martin told the Wisconsin State Journal after the Wisconsin Invitational.
Expect to hear more about this idea at the WIAA level in the coming years.
Switching seasons
The idea that the boys and girls swim seasons would switch -- raised by WIAA officials earlier this year -- appears if not exactly dead, certainly dormant for a while. WIAA officials, at their regional meetings held this fall, have not exactly been overwhelmed with support for the idea. In fact, just the opposite has occured, as several school district officials weighed in to oppose the idea. Verona athletic director Mark Kryka at one of the WIAA meetings raised the possibility that switching boys swimming from its current winter season to the fall could force the school to drop swimming -- an amazing statement, when you think of it, given the strong tradition of swimming at Verona. Other objections raised at the meetings -- that it would make Wisconsin different than its neighboring states, whose girls and boys seasons now parallel with Wisconsin; and that it could pose schedulding problems with local club teams for schools dependent on community-based pools for practice and competition.
The WIAA raised the possibility in light of litigation in Michigan that has resulted in some sports there switching seasons. The organization has said it wants to head off any possible lawsuits over the placement of sports here in Wisconsin. It has also said it wants to make sure it balances athletic opportunities for boys and girls throughout the school year. Right now, girls swimming competes with volleyball, tennis, cross country, and golf as sports offered in the fall. Winter sports for girls are limited to basketball, gymnastics, and the nascent but growing hockey programs. Swim coaches generally opposed hosting boys and girls swimming during the same time, because of the stress it would place on school and community-based pools for use.
WIAA executive director Doug Chickering certainly didn't sound determined to force the change in recent comments. "If we hear enough opposition to swimming and diving, we might come back with tennis next year," he told the Wisconsin State Journal, citing concerns that participation in swimming might fall off with a season switch. "So maybe we are creating more problems than we solve with this."
The WIAA raised the possibility in light of litigation in Michigan that has resulted in some sports there switching seasons. The organization has said it wants to head off any possible lawsuits over the placement of sports here in Wisconsin. It has also said it wants to make sure it balances athletic opportunities for boys and girls throughout the school year. Right now, girls swimming competes with volleyball, tennis, cross country, and golf as sports offered in the fall. Winter sports for girls are limited to basketball, gymnastics, and the nascent but growing hockey programs. Swim coaches generally opposed hosting boys and girls swimming during the same time, because of the stress it would place on school and community-based pools for use.
WIAA executive director Doug Chickering certainly didn't sound determined to force the change in recent comments. "If we hear enough opposition to swimming and diving, we might come back with tennis next year," he told the Wisconsin State Journal, citing concerns that participation in swimming might fall off with a season switch. "So maybe we are creating more problems than we solve with this."
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