New Berlin's time?

The New Berlin boys swim co-op, comprised of students from both West and Eisenhower high schools, has usually played second fiddle to Milwaukee-area swim powers like Hartland Arrowhead, Mequon Homestead, and Marquette. But maybe not this year. Coach Paul Lutzke has assembled a strong squad that could make some noise come state meet time.

The co-op is led by senior Byron Butler, the defending state champ in the butterfly. Butler is off to a very good start already this season, with a 52.14 100 fly already on the books and a 52.68 in the backstroke (more than a second faster than he swam at state last year, when he finished 7th). But New Berlin has shown some additional depth this year, with Alexander Rodenkirk posting some strong times in the freestyle sprints, and freshman Jasen Johnson adding depth in areas such as the breaststroke, where he's already posted a state-qualifying time based on last year's time standards.

The co-op showed off its depth of talent at the Woodland Conference Relays last weekend, where the team won the meet with 344 points over a solid D2 Shorewood squad. Impressively, the New Berlin swimmers won eight of the relay events at the meet, setting meet records in six of them -- pretty impressive, as the Woodland has a strong boys swimming tradition.

With some of the Milwaukee area's traditional D1 powers hit with graduation losses this year, New Berlin could emerge from the always tough Waukesha South sectional with a strong contingent of swimmers for the state meet.