Sectional qualifying by the numbers

Here's how many swimmers qualified for the boys state meets from each sectional:

D1

Waukesha South/Catholic Memorial -- 98
Middleton -- 71
Neenah -- 38
Hudson -- 37
Greenfield/Greendale -- 26
Marquette (Schroeder) -- 19

D2

Baraboo -- 73
Cudahy -- 52
Plymouth -- 39
Stevens Point -- 28

A few observations:

-- The two sectionals thought to be the deepest -- Waukesha South and Baraboo -- proved out, as both led the way in qualifying swimmers/relays to the state meet.

-- Greenfield/Greendale tied Waukesha South for qualifying the highest number of divers -- six from each sectional. Taking out divers, the G/G sectional qualified 20 swimmers/relays, and Marquette 17 (and each was guaranteed 11 swimmers/relays with the automatic qualifier provision). In the Marquette sectional, seven of the 11 swimming events saw only one swimmer/relay from the sectional -- the automatic winner -- qualify for the state meet. G/G had five solo event qualifiers. Given that Waukesha South qualified more than a third of the D1 field, it certainly raises a question about the competitive balance (or imbalance) of the three Milwaukee-area sectionals.

-- The depth of the Waukesha South sectional was exceptional. In four events -- the 200 free, the 50 free, the 100 free, and the 500 free -- the sectional qualified 10 swimmers, reaching well into the next-to-last heat at the sectional meet. The sectional also sent nine 200 free relays to state. The sectional qualified at least six swimmers, relays, or divers in every event.

-- Baraboo was not quite as deep as Waukesha South, but impressive nonetheless. The sectional qualified six or more swimmers and relays in every swimming event save one -- the breaststroke, where it sent five swimmers to state. Nine of the 50 free qualifiers to state came from Baraboo.

-- The Cudahy sectional will be sending nearly half of the D2 dive field -- seven divers total -- to the state meet. It was an event where Nicolet's presence in Division 2 was notable -- the school was moved down to D2 this year from the D1 sectional it used to host. Nicolet qualified three divers to the state meet.