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.