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.