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.