The boys high school swim season is winding down, and two big meets this weekend will help set the stage for conference and sectional swim meets to come.
In Madison, Madison West will host the Madison Invitational at the UW-Madison Natatorium Saturday, site of the state meet. The meet will feature most of the major Madison-area Div. 1 teams, including the host Regents and the #1 ranked Memorial Spartans, along with a strong contingent of Div. 1 squads, including #4 Milwaukee Marquette, #10 Neenah, and a small but solid squad from Wausau East. With a solid field, it will be interesting to see how Memorial in particular matches up to its top ranking.
Meanwhile, Shorewood will host the Small School Invite, featuring most of the state's top D2 squads, including top-ranked McFarland, #2 Whitefish Bay and the host team, currently ranked third. McFarland has really only been tested by D1 teams this year; most of its competition Saturday will be the folks trying to prevent the Spartans from capturing a third straight state title in a few weeks.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A great 500
Last weekend saw a terrific three-way race in the 500 free at the Platteville-Lancaster Hillmen Invitational at UW-Platteville. The race featured defending D2 state champ Jeff Maxwell, Muskego's Bobby Wolf (4th in the 500 at last year's D1 state meet), and Madison Edgewood's Chase Stevens, one of the most consistent D2 500 swimmer this year.
In the end, Stephens pulled off a mild upset, winning with a time of 4:49.37, with Maxwell second in 4:50.23 and Wolf just behind in third with a 4:50.69. It's closing in on conference and sectional time, but three swimmers going around 4:50 and under at a meet doesn't happen all that often.
The trio also faced off in the 200 free, with Maxwell emerging as the winner in 1:47.54, Stephens in second in 1:48.57, and Wolf in third in 1:49.53 -- again, very solid times for a non-conference/non-sectional meet. What was evident during the girls high school season is readily evident for the boys -- times have gotten quicker this year, and qualifying times for state are surely to drop from last year.
In the end, Stephens pulled off a mild upset, winning with a time of 4:49.37, with Maxwell second in 4:50.23 and Wolf just behind in third with a 4:50.69. It's closing in on conference and sectional time, but three swimmers going around 4:50 and under at a meet doesn't happen all that often.
The trio also faced off in the 200 free, with Maxwell emerging as the winner in 1:47.54, Stephens in second in 1:48.57, and Wolf in third in 1:49.53 -- again, very solid times for a non-conference/non-sectional meet. What was evident during the girls high school season is readily evident for the boys -- times have gotten quicker this year, and qualifying times for state are surely to drop from last year.
Driving toward success
Madison Memorial's Michael Drives is one of the most unassuming top swimmers in the state. Away from the pool, there is little to distinguish Drives from hundreds of others participating in high school swimming. He's not tall and lanky or muscular -- just fast.
He currently owns the three fastest times swum this year in the 200 free, 200 IM, and 500 free. His 500 free time of 4:37.55 is particularly noteworthy, as he set a new Memorial team and pool record (which, given the legacy of swimming at Memorial, are awfully good records to top) at last week's dual meet against Janesville Parker. He's the defending state champ in the 200 IM, and notably his 200 free time of 1:41.29 is nearly a second faster than the winning time last year at the D1 state meet in that event. Last weekend at the West Bend Invitational (25-meter pool), Drives faced off against Hartland-Arrowhead's Ryan Hansen, the defending D1 state champ in the 500 free, and came away with an easy win in the 400-meter free (Drives swam a 4:07.74 to Hansen's 4:13.12).
Drives will likely face a tough choice in deciding between the 200 free and the 200 IM for sectional qualifying. But either way, he'll be leading a Memorial team that appears set for a drive for a 10th state championship. The Spartans have held the state's top ranking in the state coaches poll for most of the season, and has won several big invites over chief competitors like Hartland-Arrowhead, Milwaukee Marquette, and Big Eight rivals Middleton and Madison West.
He currently owns the three fastest times swum this year in the 200 free, 200 IM, and 500 free. His 500 free time of 4:37.55 is particularly noteworthy, as he set a new Memorial team and pool record (which, given the legacy of swimming at Memorial, are awfully good records to top) at last week's dual meet against Janesville Parker. He's the defending state champ in the 200 IM, and notably his 200 free time of 1:41.29 is nearly a second faster than the winning time last year at the D1 state meet in that event. Last weekend at the West Bend Invitational (25-meter pool), Drives faced off against Hartland-Arrowhead's Ryan Hansen, the defending D1 state champ in the 500 free, and came away with an easy win in the 400-meter free (Drives swam a 4:07.74 to Hansen's 4:13.12).
Drives will likely face a tough choice in deciding between the 200 free and the 200 IM for sectional qualifying. But either way, he'll be leading a Memorial team that appears set for a drive for a 10th state championship. The Spartans have held the state's top ranking in the state coaches poll for most of the season, and has won several big invites over chief competitors like Hartland-Arrowhead, Milwaukee Marquette, and Big Eight rivals Middleton and Madison West.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Chasing down Chase
Madison Edgewood's Chase Stevens is a good case-study in how swimmers can develop over their high school careers by finding the right events, and improving over time.
Stevens, a junior, started out as a freshman swimming mainly the sprints. He finished 18th at the Baraboo sectionals his freshman year in the 50 free, and 13th in the 100 free -- respectable for a first-year swimmer, but nothing spectacular. But then he grew, and grew some more, geared up his training, and switched to distance events.
His development over the past two years has been remarkable. The lanky swimmer -- he's one of the tallest swimmers in the Badger Conference -- made it to the D2 state meet last year in both the 200 and 500 frees, finising 8th in the 200 (1:50.86) and 5th in the 500 (4:56.36).
This year, he's already zoomed past those times, and put on a terrific showing at the D1-dominated Marquette Invitational this past weekend. Swimming in the next-to-last heat in the 200 free, Stephens ripped off a season-best 1:47.84, and ended up missing out on first place by the narrowest of margins -- .01 seconds. He then came back and swam a 4:48.55 to win the 500 free -- nearly eight seconds faster than his time last year at the state D2 meet.
For the past two years, the Madison-area D2 sectional 200 and 500 frees have been dominated by the McFarland tandem of Graham Thoresen and Brian Heiser. Look for the lanky Stephens to try to elbow his way into the top two spots -- maybe even the winner's podium -- at this year's sectional meet at Waunakee.
Stevens, a junior, started out as a freshman swimming mainly the sprints. He finished 18th at the Baraboo sectionals his freshman year in the 50 free, and 13th in the 100 free -- respectable for a first-year swimmer, but nothing spectacular. But then he grew, and grew some more, geared up his training, and switched to distance events.
His development over the past two years has been remarkable. The lanky swimmer -- he's one of the tallest swimmers in the Badger Conference -- made it to the D2 state meet last year in both the 200 and 500 frees, finising 8th in the 200 (1:50.86) and 5th in the 500 (4:56.36).
This year, he's already zoomed past those times, and put on a terrific showing at the D1-dominated Marquette Invitational this past weekend. Swimming in the next-to-last heat in the 200 free, Stephens ripped off a season-best 1:47.84, and ended up missing out on first place by the narrowest of margins -- .01 seconds. He then came back and swam a 4:48.55 to win the 500 free -- nearly eight seconds faster than his time last year at the state D2 meet.
For the past two years, the Madison-area D2 sectional 200 and 500 frees have been dominated by the McFarland tandem of Graham Thoresen and Brian Heiser. Look for the lanky Stephens to try to elbow his way into the top two spots -- maybe even the winner's podium -- at this year's sectional meet at Waunakee.
Weekend round-up
After a brief holiday lull, high school swimmers were back in action this past weekend in full force. A recap of the major invites and meets:
-- Marquette won its own invitational at the very fast Waukesha South High School pool, just ending Waukesha South/Catholic Memorial, 229-221. Verona finished third with 192, just edging out fourth-place Madison West by one point. Marquette, perhaps a contender for the Division 1 state title next month, got wins from its 200 medley relay, strong performances from its other two relays, and some solid depth for the win. Notable for Marquette is that it won without top sprinter Andrew Berger, who the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported sat out the meet nursing a sore shoulder. The other noteworthy development coming out the invite was the strong showing by Greenfield/Greendale's trio of Mike Lucchesi, Jack Lennertz, and Matt Jungers. Lucchesi won both freestyle sprints (21.90 50 free; 47.42 100 free), Lennertz the 100 fly (51.84) , and Jungers -- in something of a surprise -- the 200 IM (1:59.60) and 100 back (53.76). The three also helped G/G win the 400 free relay (3:21.94). The G/G co-op will be worth following down the stretch; any team that can win six of the 12 events at a meet with as much depth as the Marquette Invitational bears watching.
-- Cedarburg won its own Bulldog Invite, edging Shorewood 415-388. Carl Newenhouse led the way for Cedarburg with wins in the 200 IM (2:03.31) and 100 free (49.54), and contributing a leg on the winning 400 free relay. Will Mathee, the Bulldog's defending state dive champ, won his specialty as well. With several state-quality divers and a strong nucleus of swimmers in Newenhouse, Jim Akkala, and Connor Neuville, Cedarburg will make some noise at the D2 level next month at sectionals and likely the state meet.
-- Bayport edged out D2 Ashwaubenon for the title at the Ashwaubenon Invitational, 498-466. Leading the way for Bayport was sprinter Ryan Keuler, who won the 200 and 100 frees (1:48.68 and 49.44) and swam legs on two of the team's winning relays. Look for Bayport and Neenah to duke it out at the Neenah sectional next month.
-- McFarland dominated the Stoughton College Events Invite, winning with 743 points, or 267 more than runner-up Sauk Prairie-Wisconsin Heights. The meet features events usually swum at the collegiate level, which fits in well with a McFarland team that boasts a number of top distance swimmers and swimmers able to move up to a 200-yard race with ease. The Spartans dominated from the start, going 1-2-3 in the 1,000-yard freestyle, and eventually winning 8 of the meet's 16 events. Last month we highlighted the team's 400 free relay, which posted four sub-50 splits at the Fort Atkinson Invite. The same foursome were at it again in the 800-yard free relay, with all four swimmers posting sub-1:50 splits: Brandon O'Donnell -- 1:47.27; Brian Heiser -- 1:46.79; Ryan O'Donnell -- 1:49.98; and Graham Thoresen -- 1:48.01. The sectional and state meets are a month away, and anything can happen between now and then, but it's hard to imagine a D2 team matching up with McFarland's depth of talent.
-- New Berlin West/Eisenhower won the Rocket Invitational at South Milwaukee, coming away with wins in all but two events to coast to an easy win.
-- Sturgeon Bay/Southern Door won the Sheboygan North Relays, edging out second-place Sheboygan South 68-57.
-- Marquette won its own invitational at the very fast Waukesha South High School pool, just ending Waukesha South/Catholic Memorial, 229-221. Verona finished third with 192, just edging out fourth-place Madison West by one point. Marquette, perhaps a contender for the Division 1 state title next month, got wins from its 200 medley relay, strong performances from its other two relays, and some solid depth for the win. Notable for Marquette is that it won without top sprinter Andrew Berger, who the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported sat out the meet nursing a sore shoulder. The other noteworthy development coming out the invite was the strong showing by Greenfield/Greendale's trio of Mike Lucchesi, Jack Lennertz, and Matt Jungers. Lucchesi won both freestyle sprints (21.90 50 free; 47.42 100 free), Lennertz the 100 fly (51.84) , and Jungers -- in something of a surprise -- the 200 IM (1:59.60) and 100 back (53.76). The three also helped G/G win the 400 free relay (3:21.94). The G/G co-op will be worth following down the stretch; any team that can win six of the 12 events at a meet with as much depth as the Marquette Invitational bears watching.
-- Cedarburg won its own Bulldog Invite, edging Shorewood 415-388. Carl Newenhouse led the way for Cedarburg with wins in the 200 IM (2:03.31) and 100 free (49.54), and contributing a leg on the winning 400 free relay. Will Mathee, the Bulldog's defending state dive champ, won his specialty as well. With several state-quality divers and a strong nucleus of swimmers in Newenhouse, Jim Akkala, and Connor Neuville, Cedarburg will make some noise at the D2 level next month at sectionals and likely the state meet.
-- Bayport edged out D2 Ashwaubenon for the title at the Ashwaubenon Invitational, 498-466. Leading the way for Bayport was sprinter Ryan Keuler, who won the 200 and 100 frees (1:48.68 and 49.44) and swam legs on two of the team's winning relays. Look for Bayport and Neenah to duke it out at the Neenah sectional next month.
-- McFarland dominated the Stoughton College Events Invite, winning with 743 points, or 267 more than runner-up Sauk Prairie-Wisconsin Heights. The meet features events usually swum at the collegiate level, which fits in well with a McFarland team that boasts a number of top distance swimmers and swimmers able to move up to a 200-yard race with ease. The Spartans dominated from the start, going 1-2-3 in the 1,000-yard freestyle, and eventually winning 8 of the meet's 16 events. Last month we highlighted the team's 400 free relay, which posted four sub-50 splits at the Fort Atkinson Invite. The same foursome were at it again in the 800-yard free relay, with all four swimmers posting sub-1:50 splits: Brandon O'Donnell -- 1:47.27; Brian Heiser -- 1:46.79; Ryan O'Donnell -- 1:49.98; and Graham Thoresen -- 1:48.01. The sectional and state meets are a month away, and anything can happen between now and then, but it's hard to imagine a D2 team matching up with McFarland's depth of talent.
-- New Berlin West/Eisenhower won the Rocket Invitational at South Milwaukee, coming away with wins in all but two events to coast to an easy win.
-- Sturgeon Bay/Southern Door won the Sheboygan North Relays, edging out second-place Sheboygan South 68-57.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Whitefish Bay wins big dual meet
In a matchup of two of the Milwaukee area's top D2 teams, Whitefish Bay handily won its meet against Shorewood this past Tuesday.
Led by Chuck Prestigiacomo, Whitefish Bay won all three relays on its way to a 112-70 win over the next-door rivals. Although the two neighboring schools swim in different conferences, they have for years maintained one of the best small-school rivalries in the state. Prestigiacomo won the 50 and 100 frees (23.25; 52.35), as well as swimming legs on the winning medley and 400 free relays. For Shorewood, state meet veteran Karl Weisling won both the 200 and 500 frees (1:55.19; 5:17.30).
The two teams will hook up again next month at the Cudahay sectional, which is shaping up as one of the most competitive this year in D2. In addition to Whitefish Bay and Shorewood, the sectional features Delavan-Darien, Milton and Whitnall -- that's five of the top 10 D2 teams in the latest state coaches website poll.
Led by Chuck Prestigiacomo, Whitefish Bay won all three relays on its way to a 112-70 win over the next-door rivals. Although the two neighboring schools swim in different conferences, they have for years maintained one of the best small-school rivalries in the state. Prestigiacomo won the 50 and 100 frees (23.25; 52.35), as well as swimming legs on the winning medley and 400 free relays. For Shorewood, state meet veteran Karl Weisling won both the 200 and 500 frees (1:55.19; 5:17.30).
The two teams will hook up again next month at the Cudahay sectional, which is shaping up as one of the most competitive this year in D2. In addition to Whitefish Bay and Shorewood, the sectional features Delavan-Darien, Milton and Whitnall -- that's five of the top 10 D2 teams in the latest state coaches website poll.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Maxwell's Hammer
The Beatles once wrote a song called "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," about a youngster who goes around walloping things. It might be an apt theme song for Milton's Jeff Maxwell, one of the most talented and versatile D2 swimmers in the state.
In Milton's 105-62 win over Monona Grove Tuesday night, Maxwell took aim at two MG pool records -- and easily hammered both of them. He swam a 1:47.99 200 free, topping the record of former Baraboo star Nate Keeling by about a second, then turned around and swam a 4:47.31 500 free -- eight seconds better than the pool record held by one of his chief D2 distance rivals, McFarland's Graham Thoresen. Maxwell's 500 time is the fastest posted yet this year in D2 (and would rank second-fastest in D1); his 200 free time is the second-fastest D2 time posted this year.
Maxwell, a junior and defending state champ in the 500 free, is not just a distance ace. He owns top-three times in six of the eight individual events (200 IM, 100 fly, 100 free -- where he owns the top time in the state -- and 100 back). He can probably qualify for state in any of those, and it will be interesting to see which ones he picks. He'll almost certainly try to defend his 500 title; last year, he finished second at state in the 200 free to Cedarburg's Tommy Radtke, now graduated. But Maxwell also qualified for state as a freshman in the 200 IM, when he finished second, and he truly doesn't have a weak stroke.
In Milton's 105-62 win over Monona Grove Tuesday night, Maxwell took aim at two MG pool records -- and easily hammered both of them. He swam a 1:47.99 200 free, topping the record of former Baraboo star Nate Keeling by about a second, then turned around and swam a 4:47.31 500 free -- eight seconds better than the pool record held by one of his chief D2 distance rivals, McFarland's Graham Thoresen. Maxwell's 500 time is the fastest posted yet this year in D2 (and would rank second-fastest in D1); his 200 free time is the second-fastest D2 time posted this year.
Maxwell, a junior and defending state champ in the 500 free, is not just a distance ace. He owns top-three times in six of the eight individual events (200 IM, 100 fly, 100 free -- where he owns the top time in the state -- and 100 back). He can probably qualify for state in any of those, and it will be interesting to see which ones he picks. He'll almost certainly try to defend his 500 title; last year, he finished second at state in the 200 free to Cedarburg's Tommy Radtke, now graduated. But Maxwell also qualified for state as a freshman in the 200 IM, when he finished second, and he truly doesn't have a weak stroke.
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