D1 sectionals -- what to look for

Sectional swim meets are this Saturday, Nov. 7. There is something both special and nerve-wracking about sectional swim meets. It is the only way swimmers can qualify for the state swim meet, so they can't have an off day. And given that swimmers can only automatically qualify for the state meet by winning an event, the day is prolonged by the wait for other results to pour in from around the state to find out who's qualified. In short, the intensity at sectional meet rises significantly over the regular season meets, and how a swimmer handles the one-and-done nature of sectional qualifying often determines whether they move on to the state meet.

In D1, the two big sectionals to watch will be at Middleton and Waukesha South/Mukwonago. Middleton boasts the deepest talent pool, with defending state champs Madison East (ranked 1st in the latest state coaches poll), Madison Memorial (3rd), Middleton (5th), Madison West (6th), and Oregon (7th). Last year saw Middleton edge out Memorial by just three points via a win in the last event, the 400 free relay. Of course, that was also the sectional that saw third-place East win six of the 11 swim races and emerge as a real threat for a state title, which they won a week later. Those three teams will battle it out again this Saturday, with Madison West (coming off a solid runner-up finish in the Big Eight Conference meet) and possibly Oregon also in the mix. The meet will also features several solid swimmers such Janesville Craig's Hailey Schneider, Verona's Katelyn Baltes, and Madison LaFollette's Britney Hilgendorf. Look for swimmers and relays finishing in 6th and 7th place still having a good shot at qualifying for state from this sectional.

At the Waukesha South/Mukwonago sectional, Hartland-Arrowhead and the host team will battle it out for top honors. HA defeated WS/M at the Classic 8 conference meet last week, and will be looking to qualify all of its relays and a number of swimmers for the state meet. HA is a real threat for the D1 state title, but the team has some young swimmers who will be under the pressure-cooker of sectional qualifying for the first time. Expect Brookfield Central and Muskego to round out the contenders here.

As for the other sectionals, look for:

-- Wausau East (9th in the latest coaches poll) to contend for the Hudson sectional title, and Wisconsin Rapids Becca Weiland to do well in the freestyle sprints;

-- Oshkosh West and Neenah to battle it out in the Neenah sectional.

-- Homestead and Cedarburg to lock up in the Cedarburg sectional; and

-- Badger Big Foot and Racine Case to contend for the sectional title at Kenosha Bradford.