Here's a nice story from a former colleague of mine, Andy Hall, in the Wisconsin State Journal about a very smart high school senior:
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/303197
Wouldn't you know it -- he's a swimmer! Everts swam the opening backstroke leg on Edgewood's state-qualifying medley relay team last season.
Showing posts with label D2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label D2. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Baraboo makes a statement
Heading into the Badger Conference North relays Tuesday night, Baraboo might have been excused for thinking it had a steep hill to climb. After all, the relay meet featured two-time defending state champs DeForest, a strong McFarland team newly moved to the Badger North, and a Sauk Prairie team poised to move into the state's elite D2 teams.
But the Thunderbirds, swimming in their home pool, showed they will certainly be a team to contend with this year, as they won the all-relay meet with 102 points, ahead of DeForest and McFarland, which tied for second with 88 points. Sauk Prairie finished fourth with 66 points. The win comes a week after Baraboo won the season-opening Janesville Parker Relays, beating out Badger South Conference's Milton by 15 points.
Baraboo got off to a hot start at the Badger North relays, winning three of the first four events behind state-meet veterans Emily O'Rourke, Blair Murphy, Shannon Keeling, Emily Thompson, Ellie Reufer, and Raegen Trimmer. They followed that up with a series of top-three finishes, including a meet-clinching second-place finish in the final 400-free relay.
"DeForest and McFarland are great teams, and Sauk's top girls are incredible," Baraboo head coach Lynn Keeling told the Baraboo News Republic after the meet. "It's going to be a really exciting conference, and we're going to have a lot of good dual meets."
Baraboo last year was a team with solid depth; they were one of only five D2 teams (DeForest, McFarland, Monona Grove, and Whitnall were the others) to qualify all three relays for the state meet. They also qualified five swimmers in seven events for the state meet. The challenge for Baraboo has been placing in the top tier of swimmers; the highest finish for a relay last year at state was 9th, and their highest individual placer was O'Rourke (6th) in the back. The T-Birds appear ready to take that next step.
(Information and quotes courtesy of Baraboo News Republic.)
But the Thunderbirds, swimming in their home pool, showed they will certainly be a team to contend with this year, as they won the all-relay meet with 102 points, ahead of DeForest and McFarland, which tied for second with 88 points. Sauk Prairie finished fourth with 66 points. The win comes a week after Baraboo won the season-opening Janesville Parker Relays, beating out Badger South Conference's Milton by 15 points.
Baraboo got off to a hot start at the Badger North relays, winning three of the first four events behind state-meet veterans Emily O'Rourke, Blair Murphy, Shannon Keeling, Emily Thompson, Ellie Reufer, and Raegen Trimmer. They followed that up with a series of top-three finishes, including a meet-clinching second-place finish in the final 400-free relay.
"DeForest and McFarland are great teams, and Sauk's top girls are incredible," Baraboo head coach Lynn Keeling told the Baraboo News Republic after the meet. "It's going to be a really exciting conference, and we're going to have a lot of good dual meets."
Baraboo last year was a team with solid depth; they were one of only five D2 teams (DeForest, McFarland, Monona Grove, and Whitnall were the others) to qualify all three relays for the state meet. They also qualified five swimmers in seven events for the state meet. The challenge for Baraboo has been placing in the top tier of swimmers; the highest finish for a relay last year at state was 9th, and their highest individual placer was O'Rourke (6th) in the back. The T-Birds appear ready to take that next step.
(Information and quotes courtesy of Baraboo News Republic.)
Shorewood 2-for-2
Shorewood certainly isn't shy about scheduling tough non-conference foes. A week after knocking off Grafton, the Greyhounds toppled state runner-up Whitefish Bay 94-82 Tuesday night. Shorewood's Clare Chamberlain and Elli Sellinger continue to impress with strong early-season swims, with Chamberlain going 2:10.53 in the 200 IM (less than two seconds off her D2 state-winning time last year) and 1:08.23 in the breaststroke, while Sellinger dropped down to the 50/100 frees and won each (25.07 50, 53.95 100). Look for Shorewood and traditional D2 power Whitnall to fight it out for top honors in the Woodland Conference this year.
Oregon wins Badger Conference opener
Is Oregon the team to beat in the Badger South Conference? With Verona's departure to the Big Eight Conference, the race for the Badger South appears wide open. Oregon laid claim to the top spot with a strong performance at the Badger Conference South Relays Tuesday night at Stoughton. Oregon won five of the 11 events at the meet, and revealed some added depth that the Panthers -- which have always had a cadre of strong swimmers -- have lacked in the past. They scored 151 points to win the meet over second-place Milton.
Of course, it's early in the season, with two months to go before the conference swim meet. But the all-relay meet at Stoughton is often a good indicator of a team's depth, as it requires teams to put together 11 separate relays. Oregon qualified two relays for state last year (200/400 free) out of the very tough D1 Middleton sectional, and returns all of the swimmers who swam on these relays. State qualifiers Maddie Schwartz (back, 500 free) and sprinter Rachel Walsh also return for the Panthers, and the team has added some quality freshmen.
As for the rest of the Badger South teams, Milton won three relays led by state-meet veterans Hailey Foss and Jennah Haney, and finished second with 140 points. Monona Grove finished third (127 points), with Edgewood fourth (118 points). Edgewood's Beth Schramka, a three-time state qualifier who is recovering from a soccer injury from last spring, did not swim at the meet but is expected to begin swimming again for Crusaders this week.
Of course, it's early in the season, with two months to go before the conference swim meet. But the all-relay meet at Stoughton is often a good indicator of a team's depth, as it requires teams to put together 11 separate relays. Oregon qualified two relays for state last year (200/400 free) out of the very tough D1 Middleton sectional, and returns all of the swimmers who swam on these relays. State qualifiers Maddie Schwartz (back, 500 free) and sprinter Rachel Walsh also return for the Panthers, and the team has added some quality freshmen.
As for the rest of the Badger South teams, Milton won three relays led by state-meet veterans Hailey Foss and Jennah Haney, and finished second with 140 points. Monona Grove finished third (127 points), with Edgewood fourth (118 points). Edgewood's Beth Schramka, a three-time state qualifier who is recovering from a soccer injury from last spring, did not swim at the meet but is expected to begin swimming again for Crusaders this week.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Early-season match-ups
Coaches sometimes loathe big early-season matchups -- swimmers are pounding on the yards, individual events are being sorted out, and relays may not have taken shape yet.
But D2 saw two big early season meets between teams that should find themselves near the top of the state meet standings in November.
On Thursday, Monona Grove took on DeForest at the Norskies' home pool. DeForest is the two-time defending state champs, but lost several top swimmers -- including 7-time state champ Kelly Winckler -- to graduation. MG, meanwhile, returns five of the six swimmers that scored last year at the state meet to help the Silver Eagles finish 3rd.
In the end, DeForest emerged with a win, 96-74, despite MG winning two of the three relays and five of the eight individual events. MG's Hayley Martin, one of the state's top swimmers, handily won her two events (50 free in an impressive 24.78; 100 free in 54.39) and sophomore Kelsey Millin doubled up in winning the fly (a solid 1:00.74) and back. But DeForest usually features good depth and good distance swimmers, and Thursday was no different -- picking up lots of 2nd and 3rds, while sweeping the first two spots in both the 200 and 500 frees. Freshman Leah Winckler also had an impressive meet, with solid efforts in the fly and breaststroke and an impressive fly split on the winning medley relay.
The same night, over in Milwaukee's northern suburbs, Shorewood took on Grafton in a non-conference meet. Shorewood emerged victorious, 92-86, led by its super twosome of Elli Sellinger and Claire Chamberlain. The pair each won two individual events with impressive times (Sellinger: 200 free -- 1:57.64; fly -- 59.41; Chamberlain: IM -- 2:15.54; back -- 1:01.11) and swam on the team's winning medley and 400-free relays. For Grafton, Brianna Dietz -- 5th last year at state in the 500 free -- won her speciality in 5:24.35.
But D2 saw two big early season meets between teams that should find themselves near the top of the state meet standings in November.
On Thursday, Monona Grove took on DeForest at the Norskies' home pool. DeForest is the two-time defending state champs, but lost several top swimmers -- including 7-time state champ Kelly Winckler -- to graduation. MG, meanwhile, returns five of the six swimmers that scored last year at the state meet to help the Silver Eagles finish 3rd.
In the end, DeForest emerged with a win, 96-74, despite MG winning two of the three relays and five of the eight individual events. MG's Hayley Martin, one of the state's top swimmers, handily won her two events (50 free in an impressive 24.78; 100 free in 54.39) and sophomore Kelsey Millin doubled up in winning the fly (a solid 1:00.74) and back. But DeForest usually features good depth and good distance swimmers, and Thursday was no different -- picking up lots of 2nd and 3rds, while sweeping the first two spots in both the 200 and 500 frees. Freshman Leah Winckler also had an impressive meet, with solid efforts in the fly and breaststroke and an impressive fly split on the winning medley relay.
The same night, over in Milwaukee's northern suburbs, Shorewood took on Grafton in a non-conference meet. Shorewood emerged victorious, 92-86, led by its super twosome of Elli Sellinger and Claire Chamberlain. The pair each won two individual events with impressive times (Sellinger: 200 free -- 1:57.64; fly -- 59.41; Chamberlain: IM -- 2:15.54; back -- 1:01.11) and swam on the team's winning medley and 400-free relays. For Grafton, Brianna Dietz -- 5th last year at state in the 500 free -- won her speciality in 5:24.35.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
D2 preview
Can DeForest three-peat in D2? Hardly, you might think, with 7-time state champion Kelly Winckler graduated, along with veteran state meet contributers Lauren Caruso, Haley Oosterhoff, and Jennifer Karpinsky.
But don't count out the Norskies too soon. The two-time defending state champs return a solid nucleus of swimmers, including seniors Molly Anderson and Karmyn Vandewettering, juniors Lindsay Verhulst and Ruby Engen, and sophomores Casey Wolter and Lark Engen, all of whom swam at the state meet last year. Incoming freshmen Leah Winckler and Megan Engelhardt also will play key roles on the team this year. DeForest features a versatile group of swimmers, and with their depth, the team has the ability to send all three relay teams to state.
DeForest won two state titles in a row in part because Kelly Winckler was a lock to win both the 200 and 500 frees; with those 40 points, the team counted on its depth and relays to garner enough points for the team title. The key question for the Norskies this year -- can anyone step into her role?
Other strong teams and contenders:
-- For the past two years, Whitefish Bay has finished as state runner-up. Can WB climb atop the winner's podium this year? Their chances rest in part on the shoulders of junior sprinter Maggie Smith. She had top-three finishes in both the 50 and 100 frees last year at state, and with top D2 sprinter Beckie Thompson now swimming for UW, Smith will certainly contend for state titles in both events. The team from Milwaukee's North Shore will look for state meet performers Lauren Van Loon and Annie Maercklein to step into the shoes left by departed state veterans Danielle Levings and Sarah Harper.
-- For years, the Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol girls team has operated in the shadows of the SB boys powerhouse. But watch out this year; the Clippers are serious candidates for a run at a state title. The SB/S co-op finished sixth last year at state, but returns every single swimmer who scored points at the state meet. They also add McKenzie Trelka, expected to be one of the top freshmen in the state this year. Leading the way for Clippers are seniors Cassidy Smith and Taylor Trelka, junior Alexa Statz, and sophomores Michaela Rabas and Sierra Townsend. Statz has finished runner-up the past two years in the 100 breastroke, and contributes solid legs on relays. A key question for SB/S -- can it put together three relays to qualify for state? Last year, the team's medley and 200 free relays each finished with strong 3rd-place finishes at state, but the team did not qualify a 400 free relay.
-- Monona Grove finished 3rd last year at state, the program's highest finish ever and just eight points out of second place. MG should be strong again this year, with senior Hayley Martin vying with Whitefish Bay's Maggie Smith for top sprint honors in the state. Martin finished 5th in both the 50 and 100 frees last year, and is coming off a strong summer campaign. The Silver Eagles also return sophomore state qualifiers Elizabeth Emmerich (breaststroke) and Kelsey Millin (who finished 2nd in the fly last year coming out of the first heat). The key to MG's success is its strength in relays; the team finished 9th (medley), 2nd (200 free) and 1st (400 free relay) last year at state.
-- Madison Edgewood -- 5th at state last year -- returns a solid group of swimmers, led by senior Beth Schramka (4th in both the 200/500 frees at state). The Crusaders always seem to save their best swims of the year for the state meet, but will be looking to replace the 20 points they earned at the state meet last year from first-place diver Morgan Hearn, who graduated.
-- Grafton, McFarland, Whitnall, New London, Milton, Sauk Prairie, and Shorewood finished 7th-through-13th last year at state, separated by a mere 13.5 points. All return strong performers from last year's state meet. Among them: Grafton's Sadie Nenning (state champ, backstroke) and distance swimmer Brianna Dietz are back, and the team also returns three divers who placed at state; McFarland features a strong junior class led by state qualifiers Chloe Bartuska (100/200 free), Stirling Smith (breast, IM), Ally Schmaling (breast) and Hannah Bristol (back), and welcomes new head coach Bill Martin; Whitnall is led by senior Liz Bishop (4th in the breaststroke at state) and returns a good share of all three relays that qualified for state; New London graduated half of their state-winning medley relay, but returns sophomores Taylor Crain and Taylor Kindschy; Milton returns two-time state champ (breaststroke) Jennah Haney and state qualifier Hailey Foss; Sauk Prairie -- similar to Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol -- returns all of its swimmers who scored points at the state meet last year, led by senior sprinter Abby Diehl; Shorewood features perhaps the best one-two punch in the state in junior Elli Sellinger and sophomore Claire Chamberlain, who between them had a 1st (Chamberlin, IM), a 2nd, and two 3rd-place finishes at state.
Other individuals to watch this year: Brookfield Academy sophomore Kelsey Hojan-Clark, who had two runner-up finishes (IM, 500 free) at state last year; Berlin/Green Lake sophomore Siri Smits, 3rd in the back at state; and Baraboo sophomore Emily O'Rourke, 6th at state in the back.
But don't count out the Norskies too soon. The two-time defending state champs return a solid nucleus of swimmers, including seniors Molly Anderson and Karmyn Vandewettering, juniors Lindsay Verhulst and Ruby Engen, and sophomores Casey Wolter and Lark Engen, all of whom swam at the state meet last year. Incoming freshmen Leah Winckler and Megan Engelhardt also will play key roles on the team this year. DeForest features a versatile group of swimmers, and with their depth, the team has the ability to send all three relay teams to state.
DeForest won two state titles in a row in part because Kelly Winckler was a lock to win both the 200 and 500 frees; with those 40 points, the team counted on its depth and relays to garner enough points for the team title. The key question for the Norskies this year -- can anyone step into her role?
Other strong teams and contenders:
-- For the past two years, Whitefish Bay has finished as state runner-up. Can WB climb atop the winner's podium this year? Their chances rest in part on the shoulders of junior sprinter Maggie Smith. She had top-three finishes in both the 50 and 100 frees last year at state, and with top D2 sprinter Beckie Thompson now swimming for UW, Smith will certainly contend for state titles in both events. The team from Milwaukee's North Shore will look for state meet performers Lauren Van Loon and Annie Maercklein to step into the shoes left by departed state veterans Danielle Levings and Sarah Harper.
-- For years, the Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol girls team has operated in the shadows of the SB boys powerhouse. But watch out this year; the Clippers are serious candidates for a run at a state title. The SB/S co-op finished sixth last year at state, but returns every single swimmer who scored points at the state meet. They also add McKenzie Trelka, expected to be one of the top freshmen in the state this year. Leading the way for Clippers are seniors Cassidy Smith and Taylor Trelka, junior Alexa Statz, and sophomores Michaela Rabas and Sierra Townsend. Statz has finished runner-up the past two years in the 100 breastroke, and contributes solid legs on relays. A key question for SB/S -- can it put together three relays to qualify for state? Last year, the team's medley and 200 free relays each finished with strong 3rd-place finishes at state, but the team did not qualify a 400 free relay.
-- Monona Grove finished 3rd last year at state, the program's highest finish ever and just eight points out of second place. MG should be strong again this year, with senior Hayley Martin vying with Whitefish Bay's Maggie Smith for top sprint honors in the state. Martin finished 5th in both the 50 and 100 frees last year, and is coming off a strong summer campaign. The Silver Eagles also return sophomore state qualifiers Elizabeth Emmerich (breaststroke) and Kelsey Millin (who finished 2nd in the fly last year coming out of the first heat). The key to MG's success is its strength in relays; the team finished 9th (medley), 2nd (200 free) and 1st (400 free relay) last year at state.
-- Madison Edgewood -- 5th at state last year -- returns a solid group of swimmers, led by senior Beth Schramka (4th in both the 200/500 frees at state). The Crusaders always seem to save their best swims of the year for the state meet, but will be looking to replace the 20 points they earned at the state meet last year from first-place diver Morgan Hearn, who graduated.
-- Grafton, McFarland, Whitnall, New London, Milton, Sauk Prairie, and Shorewood finished 7th-through-13th last year at state, separated by a mere 13.5 points. All return strong performers from last year's state meet. Among them: Grafton's Sadie Nenning (state champ, backstroke) and distance swimmer Brianna Dietz are back, and the team also returns three divers who placed at state; McFarland features a strong junior class led by state qualifiers Chloe Bartuska (100/200 free), Stirling Smith (breast, IM), Ally Schmaling (breast) and Hannah Bristol (back), and welcomes new head coach Bill Martin; Whitnall is led by senior Liz Bishop (4th in the breaststroke at state) and returns a good share of all three relays that qualified for state; New London graduated half of their state-winning medley relay, but returns sophomores Taylor Crain and Taylor Kindschy; Milton returns two-time state champ (breaststroke) Jennah Haney and state qualifier Hailey Foss; Sauk Prairie -- similar to Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol -- returns all of its swimmers who scored points at the state meet last year, led by senior sprinter Abby Diehl; Shorewood features perhaps the best one-two punch in the state in junior Elli Sellinger and sophomore Claire Chamberlain, who between them had a 1st (Chamberlin, IM), a 2nd, and two 3rd-place finishes at state.
Other individuals to watch this year: Brookfield Academy sophomore Kelsey Hojan-Clark, who had two runner-up finishes (IM, 500 free) at state last year; Berlin/Green Lake sophomore Siri Smits, 3rd in the back at state; and Baraboo sophomore Emily O'Rourke, 6th at state in the back.
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