Spartans look sharp

The defending D2 champs, McFarland, took to the water for the first time this season at the Badger Conference (North and South combined) Relays Tuesday night at a crowded Waunakee pool, and had no trouble coming away with a win.

The Spartans easily topped the 11-team field with 166 points, 48 more than runner-up (and defending Badger Conference South champs) Milton. It was close for the next few spots, as Fort Atkinson (106), Edgewood (104) and Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights (104) all finished within two points of each other.

McFarland won four of the 10 events at the all-relay meet, and never finished lower than 4th in any of the relays. Of all things, the Spartans stacked their 4 X 25-yard free relay, which led to the interesting site of defending state champ Brian Heiser (200 free) doing an in-water start ala an 8-year-old for his 25-yard anchor leg.

Sauk won the opening and closing events -- the 400 medley and the 400 free relay -- with lineups that may look very familiar come sectional and state meet time. In the medley, it was backstroker Stephen Hanko leading off, followed by Paul Ballweg (breaststroke), Tyler Lentz (fly) and Matt Friede (free). The relay won by nearly seven seconds over an Edgewood relay that included stars Drew teDuits and Chase Stephens; don't be surprised to see that same Sauk line-up in the regular 200 medley relay toward season's end. The same four swimmers for Sauk then clocked in a respectable 3:23.94 to win the 400 free relay.

UPDATE: Results here...

2009 Badger Conf Relay Results

In other D2 swim news, Ashwaubenon traveled to the Door County Y and beat Sturgeon Bay/Southern Door 106-75 in a non-conference matchup between two traditionally strong D2 programs. Full story here from the Door County Advocate:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091202/ADV02/912020527/0/adv&theme=ADVSPORTS