More nuggets from the sectional psych sheets posted (and taken down, and then re-posted) by the WIAA this week (we crunch the numbers so you don't have to...):
Based on seed times, here's how the top 24 seed times break down by section, in Div. 1:
Middleton -- 65 swimmers/relays seeded to make state.
Waukesha South -- 56 swimmers and relays.
Neenah -- 46 swimmers and relays.
Hudson -- 36 swimmers and relays.
Kenosha -- 31 swimmers and relays.
Cedarburg -- 30 swimmers and relays.
Observation: Pretty much as expected, and similar to last year, when Middleton and Waukesha South sent large numbers of swimmers to state. The Cedarburg sectional is down from previous years, as traditionally strong teams like Mequon Homestead find themselves in a bit of a down cycle. The Neenah and Hudson sectionals, on the other hand, are on something of an upswing.
As for D2, here's how the top 16 seed times break down by section:
Baraboo -- 57 swimmers and relays.
Plymouth -- 52 swimmers and relays.
Cudahay -- 46 swimmers and relays.
Stevens Point -- 21 swimmers and relays.
Observation: Three pretty even sectionals, with the Point sectional that hosts most of the D2 teams from northern Wisconsin trailing the field. The Baraboo sectional, with the deepest field of seeded swimmers, should see quite the competition in the three relay events -- 18 relays (or an average of six teams per relay) are seeded to make it to state.
Deepest individual or relay events by seed time -- D1:
Middleton sectional: 200 medley relay -- 8 relays seeded to make state.
Waukesha South: 100 backstroke -- 8 swimmers.
Waukesha South: 200 free -- 7 swimmers.
Middleton: 200 IM -- 7 swimmers.
Neenah: 100 butterfly -- 7 swimmers.
Middleton: 500 free -- 7 swimmers.
Deepest individual or relay events by seed time -- D2:
Baraboo sectional: 200 medley relay -- 7 relays seeded to make state.
Baraboo: 100 butterfly -- 7 swimmers.
Plymouth: 500 free -- 7 swimmers.
Baraboo: 200 free -- 6 swimmers.
Cudahy: 50 free -- 6 swimmers.
Baraboo: 200 free relay -- 6 relays.
Cudahy: 100 breaststroke -- 6 swimmers.
Two other observations:
1) Based on seed times, there are a lot of fast freestyle sprinters in both divisions. The slowest (16th) time in the Div. 2 50 free seeded to make state (25.65) is already faster than last year's qualifying time for the event (25.91). The same holds true for the 200 free relay, which of course features four 50-yard sprinters (slowest seed time this year -- 1:45.17; last year's qualifying time -- 1:45.66.) In D1, the slowest time (24th) seeded to make the 50 free final (25.39) is only .25 seconds behind last year's qualifying time. There has been much speculation about how times at sectionals and state will compare to last year, when many swimmers wore the now-banned fast suits at both meets. It certainly looks like the shortest races this year may be faster overall than last year.
2) Div. 1 times have nearly always been faster than Div. 2 times, as the larger D1 teams have deeper pools of talent from which to draw. But D2 times seem to be creeping up on D1 times in a few areas. Notably, the final qualifying times seeded to make state in both D1 and D2 are remarkably close, and separated by only tenths of seconds, in a few events -- 200 medley relay, 50 free, and 400 free relay. Perhaps a sign that D2 teams are getting both better and deeper.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sectional psych sheets are posted...
...on the WIAA website; click on girls swimming, then "2009 results."
Notes, highlights, and things I'll be looking for at this Saturday's sectional meets:
-- A quick review of the psych sheets shows two defending state champs opted out of events they won last year -- Madison Memorial's Jackie Powell in D1 and Shorewood's Elli Sellinger in D2. Powell, last year's state champ in both the 200 free and 100 back, dropped the backstroke and will swim the 100 free. Sellinger, who won the 100 fly last year and finished runner-up in the 200 free, will also swim the 100 and 200 frees this year.
-- Will Hartland Arrowhead and/or Madison Memorial qualify all of their swimmers into the state meet? Memorial did it last year, and has most of its swimmers competing in the final heat at the Middleton sectional. Arrowhead's status as the season's top D1 team was certainly endorsed by their seedings for the Waukesha South sectional; they own all three of the top relay seeds, and seven of the top seeds in the eight swimming events. Every one of their 16 swimmers is seeded 4th or higher at the sectional. You know you're deep when swimmers who are a threat to win a sectional title might not end up on any of your relays -- that's Arrowhead this year.
-- How many sub-5 minute 500 frees will we see in sectional competition in D1? It used to be a notable accomplishment when anyone broke 5 minutes in the race at state. Last year, four D1 sectional swimmers broke 5 minutes. This year, with a very deep pool of returning talent in the race, there are 10 swimmers seeded at sectionals with times of 5:10 or faster. Two-time defending state champ Aja Van Hout of Madison East leads the way with a seed time of 4:56.87.
-- The once-sleepy Hudson sectional -- often overshadowed by the Madison- and Milwaukee-are sectionals -- promises some real fireworks this year. Wisconsin Rapids and Wausau East will face off the third time this year in the 200 free relay; the squads own two of the five fastest seed times in the state in the event this year. Sprinters Becca Weiland of Rapids and Lea Koenig of Wausau East will renew their rivalry in the 50 and 100 frees; they are tied for the top time in the sectional in the 100 free (53.06). And Eau Claire Memorial's terrific duo of freshman Leah Pronschinske and senior Tina DeLakis will square off in the 100 breaststroke -- they own two of the four fastest seed times in the event.
-- It's not too often a freshman claims two top seeds in a D1 sectional. But it happened four times this year. Shawano/Bonduel's Mackenzie Buss owns the top seeds in the 100 free and back in the Neenah sectional; her 57.71 in the back is the fastest seed time in the state. Pronschinske got the top seeds in both the breaststroke and IM at the Hudson sectional, while Arrowhead's Julia Mikota owns the top seeds in the freestyle sprints at Waukesha South. Finally, Anna Brooks from the Burlington co-op earned top seeds in the very tough 200 IM/500 free double.
-- Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol is the top-seeded team in D2 heading into sectionals, and coach Mike McHugh is placing the Clippers' high hopes for the coming weeks squarely on the shoulders of his outstanding crew of sprinters. McHugh used 8 of his 18 sectional slots in two events -- the 50 and 100 frees. The team earned three of the top five seeds in the 50 free, led by freshman sensation Savanna Townsend, while Savanna and sister Sierra own two of the top three seeds in the 100 free.
-- D2 sectional showdown #1 I would pay good money to see: the 200 free at the Plymouth sectional, featuring last year's top two finishers at state -- Brookfield Academy's Kelsey Hojan-Clark and Shorewood's Elli Sellinger. The pair own seed times nearly four seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
-- D2 sectional showdown #2 I would pay good money to see: the 100 breaststroke at the Cudahay sectional, where a two-time state champion can't even budge her way into one of the two top seeds. The race features Delavan-Darien's Emily McClellan, Waukesha Catholic Memorial's Anna Meinholz, and Milton's Jennah Haney, all of whom were among the five swimmers to break the D2 state record in the event at last year's state meet. McClellan owns the top seed time (1:05.31) and has twice beaten Haney this year in the event. Meinholz earned the top seed for last year's state meet (and finished 3rd), while Haney -- who won this event at state her first two years in school -- broke the state record by nearly two seconds last year only to finish runner-up to Plymouth's Kate Criter. Maybe THE sectional race of the year, either division.
-- D2 sectional showdown #3 I actually will pay good money to see: the 100 fly at the Baraboo sectional, featuring Sauk Prairie's Alison Meng and Monona Grove's Kelsey Millin, who own the top two seed times in the state in the event. They'll be joined by DeForest's Leah Wickler, third-seeded at the sectional. Both Meng and Millin have had strong and consistent seasons in the butterfly, while Winckler came on strong last year to finish 5th at state (Meng finished 6th at state, Millin 7th). Don't be surprised to see all three of these swimmers high atop the podium at the D2 state meet.
Notes, highlights, and things I'll be looking for at this Saturday's sectional meets:
-- A quick review of the psych sheets shows two defending state champs opted out of events they won last year -- Madison Memorial's Jackie Powell in D1 and Shorewood's Elli Sellinger in D2. Powell, last year's state champ in both the 200 free and 100 back, dropped the backstroke and will swim the 100 free. Sellinger, who won the 100 fly last year and finished runner-up in the 200 free, will also swim the 100 and 200 frees this year.
-- Will Hartland Arrowhead and/or Madison Memorial qualify all of their swimmers into the state meet? Memorial did it last year, and has most of its swimmers competing in the final heat at the Middleton sectional. Arrowhead's status as the season's top D1 team was certainly endorsed by their seedings for the Waukesha South sectional; they own all three of the top relay seeds, and seven of the top seeds in the eight swimming events. Every one of their 16 swimmers is seeded 4th or higher at the sectional. You know you're deep when swimmers who are a threat to win a sectional title might not end up on any of your relays -- that's Arrowhead this year.
-- How many sub-5 minute 500 frees will we see in sectional competition in D1? It used to be a notable accomplishment when anyone broke 5 minutes in the race at state. Last year, four D1 sectional swimmers broke 5 minutes. This year, with a very deep pool of returning talent in the race, there are 10 swimmers seeded at sectionals with times of 5:10 or faster. Two-time defending state champ Aja Van Hout of Madison East leads the way with a seed time of 4:56.87.
-- The once-sleepy Hudson sectional -- often overshadowed by the Madison- and Milwaukee-are sectionals -- promises some real fireworks this year. Wisconsin Rapids and Wausau East will face off the third time this year in the 200 free relay; the squads own two of the five fastest seed times in the state in the event this year. Sprinters Becca Weiland of Rapids and Lea Koenig of Wausau East will renew their rivalry in the 50 and 100 frees; they are tied for the top time in the sectional in the 100 free (53.06). And Eau Claire Memorial's terrific duo of freshman Leah Pronschinske and senior Tina DeLakis will square off in the 100 breaststroke -- they own two of the four fastest seed times in the event.
-- It's not too often a freshman claims two top seeds in a D1 sectional. But it happened four times this year. Shawano/Bonduel's Mackenzie Buss owns the top seeds in the 100 free and back in the Neenah sectional; her 57.71 in the back is the fastest seed time in the state. Pronschinske got the top seeds in both the breaststroke and IM at the Hudson sectional, while Arrowhead's Julia Mikota owns the top seeds in the freestyle sprints at Waukesha South. Finally, Anna Brooks from the Burlington co-op earned top seeds in the very tough 200 IM/500 free double.
-- Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol is the top-seeded team in D2 heading into sectionals, and coach Mike McHugh is placing the Clippers' high hopes for the coming weeks squarely on the shoulders of his outstanding crew of sprinters. McHugh used 8 of his 18 sectional slots in two events -- the 50 and 100 frees. The team earned three of the top five seeds in the 50 free, led by freshman sensation Savanna Townsend, while Savanna and sister Sierra own two of the top three seeds in the 100 free.
-- D2 sectional showdown #1 I would pay good money to see: the 200 free at the Plymouth sectional, featuring last year's top two finishers at state -- Brookfield Academy's Kelsey Hojan-Clark and Shorewood's Elli Sellinger. The pair own seed times nearly four seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
-- D2 sectional showdown #2 I would pay good money to see: the 100 breaststroke at the Cudahay sectional, where a two-time state champion can't even budge her way into one of the two top seeds. The race features Delavan-Darien's Emily McClellan, Waukesha Catholic Memorial's Anna Meinholz, and Milton's Jennah Haney, all of whom were among the five swimmers to break the D2 state record in the event at last year's state meet. McClellan owns the top seed time (1:05.31) and has twice beaten Haney this year in the event. Meinholz earned the top seed for last year's state meet (and finished 3rd), while Haney -- who won this event at state her first two years in school -- broke the state record by nearly two seconds last year only to finish runner-up to Plymouth's Kate Criter. Maybe THE sectional race of the year, either division.
-- D2 sectional showdown #3 I actually will pay good money to see: the 100 fly at the Baraboo sectional, featuring Sauk Prairie's Alison Meng and Monona Grove's Kelsey Millin, who own the top two seed times in the state in the event. They'll be joined by DeForest's Leah Wickler, third-seeded at the sectional. Both Meng and Millin have had strong and consistent seasons in the butterfly, while Winckler came on strong last year to finish 5th at state (Meng finished 6th at state, Millin 7th). Don't be surprised to see all three of these swimmers high atop the podium at the D2 state meet.
Senior profile -- Madison Edgewood's Kelsey Richards
The Badger Conference has been known in recent years for producing top-notch Div. 2 freestyle sprinters. In the past few years, Monroe's Ellie Radke, Monona Grove's Hayley Martin, and Sauk Prairie's Abby Diehl have all won D2 state titles in the 50 or 100 free races.
The latest Badger Conference sprinter joining the ranks of the state's top D2 sprinters is Madison Edgewood's Kelsey Richards. Richards, who focuses on both the 50 and 100 frees, has qualified individually for the D2 state meet each of her first three years, and last year finished 4th at state in the 50 and 8th in the 100. She also contributed strong relay legs on Edgewood's 200 (2nd place) and 400 (8th) free relays last year which hope to get back to state. She'll certainly be a threat to capture a sectional title in the sprints this Saturday at the Baraboo sectional.
Name: Kelsey Mercedes Richards
School: Edgewood High School
Year: Senior
Favorite Event to Swim: 50 free
Proudest Accomplishment as a Swimmer: I am most proud of how I have shared my love of swimming. I am a coach for the Nakoma Swim Team in the All City league. I love how I get to pass on my passion for swimming to the kids I coach. It is really fun and enjoyable to watch them fall in love with such a great sport.
Favorite Swimming Memory: Winning the 200 free relay at the Madison All City meet with my sister, Devon, and friends, Ruby and Ivy Martin. It was a blast to swim with such good friends and to have our own sister relay!
Favorite Non-Swimming Activity: Outside of swimming, I like to run a lot. I am on my school’s track team in the spring. I sprint in that sport as well. I also really like to read. My favorite book is the The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Favorite Food: Ice Cream, especially Shamrock Shakes
Favorite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Mighty Ducks Trilogy
Music You Listen to Get Psyched Up for a Meet: “Remember the Name” By Fort Minor
Role Model: My grandparents, Noni and Papa, and my close friend, Cali Stephens, for too many reasons to count.
Favorite Swimmer: Jason Lezak, after that 400 freestyle relay at the Olympics how could you pick anyone else?!?
Family: Laura (Mom), Kendall (Dad), 2 younger sisters – Devon (16) and Samantha (14).
Plans after High School: Attend a university and continue working hard, whether I’m in the pool or in the classroom.
Career Goal: Narrow down my interests to a potential major. I’m very torn at the moment. Also, I’d really like to be a mom and have a family in the future.
Favorite Quote: “Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swaps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It is yours.” – Ayn Rand
The latest Badger Conference sprinter joining the ranks of the state's top D2 sprinters is Madison Edgewood's Kelsey Richards. Richards, who focuses on both the 50 and 100 frees, has qualified individually for the D2 state meet each of her first three years, and last year finished 4th at state in the 50 and 8th in the 100. She also contributed strong relay legs on Edgewood's 200 (2nd place) and 400 (8th) free relays last year which hope to get back to state. She'll certainly be a threat to capture a sectional title in the sprints this Saturday at the Baraboo sectional.
Name: Kelsey Mercedes Richards
School: Edgewood High School
Year: Senior
Favorite Event to Swim: 50 free
Proudest Accomplishment as a Swimmer: I am most proud of how I have shared my love of swimming. I am a coach for the Nakoma Swim Team in the All City league. I love how I get to pass on my passion for swimming to the kids I coach. It is really fun and enjoyable to watch them fall in love with such a great sport.
Favorite Swimming Memory: Winning the 200 free relay at the Madison All City meet with my sister, Devon, and friends, Ruby and Ivy Martin. It was a blast to swim with such good friends and to have our own sister relay!
Favorite Non-Swimming Activity: Outside of swimming, I like to run a lot. I am on my school’s track team in the spring. I sprint in that sport as well. I also really like to read. My favorite book is the The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Favorite Food: Ice Cream, especially Shamrock Shakes
Favorite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Mighty Ducks Trilogy
Music You Listen to Get Psyched Up for a Meet: “Remember the Name” By Fort Minor
Role Model: My grandparents, Noni and Papa, and my close friend, Cali Stephens, for too many reasons to count.
Favorite Swimmer: Jason Lezak, after that 400 freestyle relay at the Olympics how could you pick anyone else?!?
Family: Laura (Mom), Kendall (Dad), 2 younger sisters – Devon (16) and Samantha (14).
Plans after High School: Attend a university and continue working hard, whether I’m in the pool or in the classroom.
Career Goal: Narrow down my interests to a potential major. I’m very torn at the moment. Also, I’d really like to be a mom and have a family in the future.
Favorite Quote: “Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swaps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It is yours.” – Ayn Rand
Monday, November 2, 2009
Last state poll before sectionals
The latest WISCA (state coaches association) poll is out, and it shows Hartland Arrowhead (D1) and Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol (D2) on top (and thanks to all the Div. 2 coaches for posting results, making the D2 poll complete for the first time this season).
The polls -- based on top-30 times posted by coaches, and utilizing only the two best times of any given swimmer -- are a good reflection of where the two divisions sit on the eve of sectional qualifying competition. HA owns a big lead in Div. 1 -- 860 points to 334 for second-ranked Madison Memorial. One interesting development this season in D1 has been the emergence of a number of teams outside the Milwaukee-Madison orbit of swimming to move into the top 10. Here's the D1 poll:
1 -- Arrowhead: 860
2 -- Madison Memorial: 334
3 -- Madison East: 306
4 -- Waukesha South-Mukwonago: 304
5 -- Burlington-Catholic Central-East Troy-Waterford-Wilmont Union: 271
6 -- Muskego: 266
7 -- Wausau East: 248
8 -- Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln: 248
9 -- Oshkosh West: 226
10 -- Neenah: 214
In D2, the poll is a pretty accurate reflection of what appears to be a wide-open race this year for the state team title. Sturgeon Bay, which has swum well all season long and won the Small State Invite at Shorewood earlier this season, deserves the top spot in the poll. But titles are won in the water, not on paper, and there are a host of teams chasing the Clippers. It wouldn't be surprising to see any of the top half-dozen or so teams in the latest D2 poll come away with hardware from the state meet. Here's the D2 poll:
1 -- Sturgeon Bay-Sevastopol: 433
2 -- Milton: 399
3 -- Shorewood: 371
4 -- McFarland: 342
5 -- DeForest: 337
6 -- Madison Edgewood: 329
7 -- Sauk Prairie: 315
8 -- Whitefish Bay: 305
9 -- Plymouth: 243
10 -- Grafton: 216
The polls -- based on top-30 times posted by coaches, and utilizing only the two best times of any given swimmer -- are a good reflection of where the two divisions sit on the eve of sectional qualifying competition. HA owns a big lead in Div. 1 -- 860 points to 334 for second-ranked Madison Memorial. One interesting development this season in D1 has been the emergence of a number of teams outside the Milwaukee-Madison orbit of swimming to move into the top 10. Here's the D1 poll:
1 -- Arrowhead: 860
2 -- Madison Memorial: 334
3 -- Madison East: 306
4 -- Waukesha South-Mukwonago: 304
5 -- Burlington-Catholic Central-East Troy-Waterford-Wilmont Union: 271
6 -- Muskego: 266
7 -- Wausau East: 248
8 -- Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln: 248
9 -- Oshkosh West: 226
10 -- Neenah: 214
In D2, the poll is a pretty accurate reflection of what appears to be a wide-open race this year for the state team title. Sturgeon Bay, which has swum well all season long and won the Small State Invite at Shorewood earlier this season, deserves the top spot in the poll. But titles are won in the water, not on paper, and there are a host of teams chasing the Clippers. It wouldn't be surprising to see any of the top half-dozen or so teams in the latest D2 poll come away with hardware from the state meet. Here's the D2 poll:
1 -- Sturgeon Bay-Sevastopol: 433
2 -- Milton: 399
3 -- Shorewood: 371
4 -- McFarland: 342
5 -- DeForest: 337
6 -- Madison Edgewood: 329
7 -- Sauk Prairie: 315
8 -- Whitefish Bay: 305
9 -- Plymouth: 243
10 -- Grafton: 216
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Conference meet round-up -- Greater Wisconsin
A quick round-up of conference swim meets last week from around the state:
-- Wausau East, 7th in the last state coaches poll, won the Wisconsin Valley conference swim meet, with 489 points to 394 for runner-up D.C. Everest 394. Wisconsin Rapids finished 3rd with 351 points. The meet featured some terrific relay races between Wausua East and Wisc. Rapids, with Rapids winning both the 200 medley and free relays over East, thanks to strong legs by junior Becca Weiland. Rapids' 1:38.56 in the 200 free relay is the fastest posted this year in D1; East's runner-up time of 1:39.56 is the 4th-fastest D1 time this year in the relay. Weiland also won an exciting race against East's Lea Koenig (23.65 to 24.07) in a match-up between two of the best sprinters in the state. Weiland added a win in the 100 fly (57.97), while sister Racheal added a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.24) and a 2nd in the 100 free to Koenig (53.06.) Koenig's proved to be the only one for East, which utilized a strong showing in the relays (two 2nds and a 3rd from its top relays) to win its fourth straight conference championship.
-- Neenah won the Fox Valley Association conference meet, parlaying 78 points from its usual strong crew of divers to win 557.5-467.5 over Oshkosh West. The Rockets were led by Ally Crum and Amy Spaay; Crum won the 100 fly (58.28), Spaay the 100 breaststroke (1:06.90), and the two swam on the team's winning medley relay (1:51.01 -- the 4th-fastest D1 medley time posted this year). Oshkosh West's distance duo of Hilary Woldt and Natalie Bolin each had a win (Woldt in the 200 free -- 1:57.43; Bolin in the 500 free -- 5:14.07), while Berlin/Green Lake's Siri Smits continued her oustanding season in the 100 backstroke, winning with a time of 58.45.
-- The Burlington girls co-op, ranked 5th in the lastest D1 state coaches poll, won the Southern Lakes conference swim meet that featured a number of close and exciting races. Leading the way were sisters Anna and Sara Brooks; Sara had runner-up finishes in the 50 free and 100 back, while Anna took the 500 free (5:09.97) and finished third in the 100 breaststroke. The two also joined Serena Wanasek and Morgan Briggs in taking the 400 free relay (3:43.07). Wanasek added a win in the 200 free (1:59.11) and a second in the 500 free. Two of the best races of the meet featured Badger-Big Foot-Williams Bay's Emily Russart -- the two-time defending D1 state champ in the 100 breaststroke -- going up against Delavan-Darien's Emily McClellan in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. McClellan topped Russart in the IM (2:11.84, just five-hundreths of a second ahead of Russart), but Russart came back with a win in the breaststroke (1:04.76). McClellan's runner-up time of 1:05.31 is the fastest posted by a D2 swimmer in the event this year by more than a second.
-- Plymouth and Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol easily won their conference championships, with Plymouth taking the Eastern Wisconsin Conference championship 204-73 over the Kohler co-op, while SB/S won 8 of 11 events to win the Bay Conference championship. Plymouth sophomore Kate Criter was a double winner (100 fly -- 1:00.97; 100 breaststroke -- 1:08.09) and contributed legs on the team's winning medley and 200 free relays. Up in the Bay Conference SB/S won all three relays, and sisters Sierra and Savanna Townsend contributed three wins between them -- Sierra in the 100 free (54.61) and 100 back (1:01.90), with Savanna winning the 50 free in 24.98.
-- Wausau East, 7th in the last state coaches poll, won the Wisconsin Valley conference swim meet, with 489 points to 394 for runner-up D.C. Everest 394. Wisconsin Rapids finished 3rd with 351 points. The meet featured some terrific relay races between Wausua East and Wisc. Rapids, with Rapids winning both the 200 medley and free relays over East, thanks to strong legs by junior Becca Weiland. Rapids' 1:38.56 in the 200 free relay is the fastest posted this year in D1; East's runner-up time of 1:39.56 is the 4th-fastest D1 time this year in the relay. Weiland also won an exciting race against East's Lea Koenig (23.65 to 24.07) in a match-up between two of the best sprinters in the state. Weiland added a win in the 100 fly (57.97), while sister Racheal added a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.24) and a 2nd in the 100 free to Koenig (53.06.) Koenig's proved to be the only one for East, which utilized a strong showing in the relays (two 2nds and a 3rd from its top relays) to win its fourth straight conference championship.
-- Neenah won the Fox Valley Association conference meet, parlaying 78 points from its usual strong crew of divers to win 557.5-467.5 over Oshkosh West. The Rockets were led by Ally Crum and Amy Spaay; Crum won the 100 fly (58.28), Spaay the 100 breaststroke (1:06.90), and the two swam on the team's winning medley relay (1:51.01 -- the 4th-fastest D1 medley time posted this year). Oshkosh West's distance duo of Hilary Woldt and Natalie Bolin each had a win (Woldt in the 200 free -- 1:57.43; Bolin in the 500 free -- 5:14.07), while Berlin/Green Lake's Siri Smits continued her oustanding season in the 100 backstroke, winning with a time of 58.45.
-- The Burlington girls co-op, ranked 5th in the lastest D1 state coaches poll, won the Southern Lakes conference swim meet that featured a number of close and exciting races. Leading the way were sisters Anna and Sara Brooks; Sara had runner-up finishes in the 50 free and 100 back, while Anna took the 500 free (5:09.97) and finished third in the 100 breaststroke. The two also joined Serena Wanasek and Morgan Briggs in taking the 400 free relay (3:43.07). Wanasek added a win in the 200 free (1:59.11) and a second in the 500 free. Two of the best races of the meet featured Badger-Big Foot-Williams Bay's Emily Russart -- the two-time defending D1 state champ in the 100 breaststroke -- going up against Delavan-Darien's Emily McClellan in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. McClellan topped Russart in the IM (2:11.84, just five-hundreths of a second ahead of Russart), but Russart came back with a win in the breaststroke (1:04.76). McClellan's runner-up time of 1:05.31 is the fastest posted by a D2 swimmer in the event this year by more than a second.
-- Plymouth and Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol easily won their conference championships, with Plymouth taking the Eastern Wisconsin Conference championship 204-73 over the Kohler co-op, while SB/S won 8 of 11 events to win the Bay Conference championship. Plymouth sophomore Kate Criter was a double winner (100 fly -- 1:00.97; 100 breaststroke -- 1:08.09) and contributed legs on the team's winning medley and 200 free relays. Up in the Bay Conference SB/S won all three relays, and sisters Sierra and Savanna Townsend contributed three wins between them -- Sierra in the 100 free (54.61) and 100 back (1:01.90), with Savanna winning the 50 free in 24.98.
Conference meet round-up -- Milwaukee area
A quick round-up of Milwaukee-area conference meets:
-- Hartland Arrowhead, the top-ranked team in Div. 1, romped to a win in the Classic 8 conference meet, trumping second-place (and #3 ranked) Waukesha South/Mukwonago 731-581. HA won all but one of the 12 events (only sophore Anna Meinholz of Waukesha Catholic Memorial prevented the sweep with a 1:06.21 win in the 100 breaststroke), and posted some very fast times in (it must be said) the very fast Waukesha South pool. Star freshman Julie Mikota swept the free sprints (24.01 in the 50, 52.46 in the 100), while Tracy Vogel swept the two long free races (1:53.72 in the 200, 5:01.53 in the 500). Two-time state champ Emma Goral won her specialty -- the 100 fly -- in a very fast 56.63, and contributed legs on all three winning relays. In an interesting twist, sophomore Haley Pietila won both the 200 IM (2:06.72) and 100 back (58.01) -- times competitive with the best in the state in races she normally doesn't swim. When sectional psych sheets are posted this week, it will be interesting to see what Pietila chooses for her two races -- she was state runner-up in the 200 and 100 frees last year, and has swum the 50 free on occasion this year. Her conference showing certainly gives her plenty of options. With all of its depth, internal team competition for relay spots has been fierce this year at Arrowhead. All three relays are a threat to win at state, with the 400 free relay team of Goral, Pietila, Mikota and Kate Jones -- which ripped off a 3:33.66 at the conference meet -- looking especially tough.
-- Menomonee Falls/Hamilton capped a terric day for the M.Falls athletic programs (the football team knocked off defending D1 state champs Mequon Homestead the same afternoon) with a thrilling win at the Greater Metro conference meet, edging Brookfield Central 572-562, with Brookfield East in third with 448 points. MF/M clinched the conference meet championship with a win in the final event, the 400 free relay, swum by Haley Lucas, Amanda Siehs, Briana Botros, and Grace Devine. MF/H won all three relays at the meet, while Siehs captured both free sprints (25.40 in the 50 free and 54.92 in the 100 free). Brookfield East's Sara Brzozowski was a double winner, taking the 200 free (1:56.11) and the 500 free (5:10.50). Brzozowski, a sophomore, has shown solid improvement this season from her freshman campaign; she's a threat to swim in the final heat of both events at D1 state this year.
-- Mequon Homestead continued its strong run of conference championships at the North Shore meet, with an easy win over Whitefish Bay 475-336. Grafton finished 3rd with 298 points, followed by Cedarburg with 250. For Homestead, the largest school in the conference, it was a case of superior depth triumphing; Miaya Hillard was the lone individual winner for Homestead, with a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.48). The team also got a win from its 200 free relay. Double-winners at the meet included Cedarburg's Molly Piepenburg in the 200 and 500 frees (1:58.16 and 5:12.36 -- the senior had two podium finishes in these two events last year at D1 state) and Grafton senior Sadie Nening in the 200 IM (2:12.14) and 100 back (58.59).
-- Muskego, ranked #6 in the latest state coach's poll, swam to an easy victory at the Southeast Conference meet with a 603-351 win over Kenosha Bradford. Distance ace Brittany Walsh was a double winner for Muskego, winning her specialties (1:59.20 in the 200 free, 5:06.12 in the 500 free). Muskego also got a double win from sophomore Sami Pochowski (100 free -- 54.15; 100 breaststroke -- 1:10.97) and a win from sophomore Emma Szczupakiewicz in the 100 fly (1:01.23). The two sophomores also swam on the team's winning medley and 400 free relays. Muskego may not have the depth to tangle with the very top tier of D1 teams, but their top swimmers can compete with the best of the D1 field.
-- Shorewood topped D2 rival Whitnall in the Woodland conference meet, 415-319. New Berlin West finished 3rd with 266 points, followed by Pewaukee and Wauwatosa West tied for 4th with 237 points. Shorewood junior Clare Chamberlain won two events, one of them notably. She won her specialty -- the 200 IM (2:09.58) -- where she's the two-time defending state champ. But then she switched over to the 100 breaststroke, which she won with a 1:06.56, the second-fastest time posted this year in the event. Chamberlain has finished 2nd and 3rd the past two years at state in the 500 free, but she may be contemplating a switch. She's a very solid breaststroker, and with Kelsey Hojan-Clark looming in the D2 500 free (Hojan-Clark beat Chamberlain by 17 seconds earlier this season in the 500 at the Small School State Invite), she may be thinking the breaststroke is a better option. Senior teammmate Elli Sellinger added a win in the 100 free (54.09); she, too, may switch into this event this year for sectionals, after finishing 2nd in the 200 free at state last year and winning the 100 fly. Freshman Ellen Stello also had a terrific conference meet for the Greyhounds, with a win in the 500 free (5:21.18) and joining Chamberlain and Sellinger on the team's winning medley and 400 free relays. Shorewood is emerging as a real threat to bring home some hardware from what looks to be a very competitive D2 state meet this year.
-- Hartland Arrowhead, the top-ranked team in Div. 1, romped to a win in the Classic 8 conference meet, trumping second-place (and #3 ranked) Waukesha South/Mukwonago 731-581. HA won all but one of the 12 events (only sophore Anna Meinholz of Waukesha Catholic Memorial prevented the sweep with a 1:06.21 win in the 100 breaststroke), and posted some very fast times in (it must be said) the very fast Waukesha South pool. Star freshman Julie Mikota swept the free sprints (24.01 in the 50, 52.46 in the 100), while Tracy Vogel swept the two long free races (1:53.72 in the 200, 5:01.53 in the 500). Two-time state champ Emma Goral won her specialty -- the 100 fly -- in a very fast 56.63, and contributed legs on all three winning relays. In an interesting twist, sophomore Haley Pietila won both the 200 IM (2:06.72) and 100 back (58.01) -- times competitive with the best in the state in races she normally doesn't swim. When sectional psych sheets are posted this week, it will be interesting to see what Pietila chooses for her two races -- she was state runner-up in the 200 and 100 frees last year, and has swum the 50 free on occasion this year. Her conference showing certainly gives her plenty of options. With all of its depth, internal team competition for relay spots has been fierce this year at Arrowhead. All three relays are a threat to win at state, with the 400 free relay team of Goral, Pietila, Mikota and Kate Jones -- which ripped off a 3:33.66 at the conference meet -- looking especially tough.
-- Menomonee Falls/Hamilton capped a terric day for the M.Falls athletic programs (the football team knocked off defending D1 state champs Mequon Homestead the same afternoon) with a thrilling win at the Greater Metro conference meet, edging Brookfield Central 572-562, with Brookfield East in third with 448 points. MF/M clinched the conference meet championship with a win in the final event, the 400 free relay, swum by Haley Lucas, Amanda Siehs, Briana Botros, and Grace Devine. MF/H won all three relays at the meet, while Siehs captured both free sprints (25.40 in the 50 free and 54.92 in the 100 free). Brookfield East's Sara Brzozowski was a double winner, taking the 200 free (1:56.11) and the 500 free (5:10.50). Brzozowski, a sophomore, has shown solid improvement this season from her freshman campaign; she's a threat to swim in the final heat of both events at D1 state this year.
-- Mequon Homestead continued its strong run of conference championships at the North Shore meet, with an easy win over Whitefish Bay 475-336. Grafton finished 3rd with 298 points, followed by Cedarburg with 250. For Homestead, the largest school in the conference, it was a case of superior depth triumphing; Miaya Hillard was the lone individual winner for Homestead, with a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.48). The team also got a win from its 200 free relay. Double-winners at the meet included Cedarburg's Molly Piepenburg in the 200 and 500 frees (1:58.16 and 5:12.36 -- the senior had two podium finishes in these two events last year at D1 state) and Grafton senior Sadie Nening in the 200 IM (2:12.14) and 100 back (58.59).
-- Muskego, ranked #6 in the latest state coach's poll, swam to an easy victory at the Southeast Conference meet with a 603-351 win over Kenosha Bradford. Distance ace Brittany Walsh was a double winner for Muskego, winning her specialties (1:59.20 in the 200 free, 5:06.12 in the 500 free). Muskego also got a double win from sophomore Sami Pochowski (100 free -- 54.15; 100 breaststroke -- 1:10.97) and a win from sophomore Emma Szczupakiewicz in the 100 fly (1:01.23). The two sophomores also swam on the team's winning medley and 400 free relays. Muskego may not have the depth to tangle with the very top tier of D1 teams, but their top swimmers can compete with the best of the D1 field.
-- Shorewood topped D2 rival Whitnall in the Woodland conference meet, 415-319. New Berlin West finished 3rd with 266 points, followed by Pewaukee and Wauwatosa West tied for 4th with 237 points. Shorewood junior Clare Chamberlain won two events, one of them notably. She won her specialty -- the 200 IM (2:09.58) -- where she's the two-time defending state champ. But then she switched over to the 100 breaststroke, which she won with a 1:06.56, the second-fastest time posted this year in the event. Chamberlain has finished 2nd and 3rd the past two years at state in the 500 free, but she may be contemplating a switch. She's a very solid breaststroker, and with Kelsey Hojan-Clark looming in the D2 500 free (Hojan-Clark beat Chamberlain by 17 seconds earlier this season in the 500 at the Small School State Invite), she may be thinking the breaststroke is a better option. Senior teammmate Elli Sellinger added a win in the 100 free (54.09); she, too, may switch into this event this year for sectionals, after finishing 2nd in the 200 free at state last year and winning the 100 fly. Freshman Ellen Stello also had a terrific conference meet for the Greyhounds, with a win in the 500 free (5:21.18) and joining Chamberlain and Sellinger on the team's winning medley and 400 free relays. Shorewood is emerging as a real threat to bring home some hardware from what looks to be a very competitive D2 state meet this year.
Memorial dominates Big 8 conference meet
Madison Memorial affirmed its undefeated duel-meet season with a big win at the Big 8 conference meet at Middleton Saturday, winning 538-389 over the runner-up host team.
Senior Jackie Powell was a double-winner for the Spartans, taking the 100 backstroke (59.01) by 2-1/2 seconds, and setting a meet record in the 100 free (52.09). The Spartans also used their superior depth to rack up lots of points in the relays; when your B relay finishes third in the 200 free relay at a meet as strong as the Big 8 conference, you know you have a lot of depth. Memorial picked up wins in the 200 and 400 free relays, the latter in a thrilling match-up with the defending state champs, Madison East. Memorial edged East 3:36.67 to 3:36.86, with Powell anchoring her relay to victory.
East, not the deepest of teams, still performed quite well at the meet, getting wins from four-time state champ Aja Van Hout in meet-record times of 2:03.65 (200 IM) and 4:56.87 (500 free), and a meet-record time of 24.06 in the 50 free from Ivy Martin. The Purgolders also captured the 200 medley relay, edging Memorial by just over a second as Van Hout swam the breaststroke leg for East.
Madison West's third-place finish (296 points, 14 more than 4th-place Verona) was highlighted by junior Ilsa Feierabend, who continued her strong season with a win in the 200 free (1:55.76) and a runner-up finish in the 500 free (5:05.34.)
A few other observations from the meet:
-- If, as often happens, coaches use the conference meet to set up their lineups for sectional qualifying this coming Saturday, look for Powell in the 100 free and back for Memorial. She's the defending D1 state champion in the back and 200 free, but has been swimming a lot of 100 frees this season. Her conference-record win in the 100 free suggests strongly that's the freestyle event she'll focus on for sectionals.
-- Meanwhile, Van Hout certainly appears set for the two events in which she's captured titles her first two years at D1 state -- the IM and 500 free. The junior had been swimming a lot of 200 frees this year, leading to some speculation she might switch from the IM to the 200 free. But her IM time at conference certainly indicates she'll swim that at sectionals -- only Van Hout herself, last year at state (2:01.69), has swum a faster 200 IM in the past four years in state competition.
-- In what was a very fast meet, with five meet records in the 11 swimming events, Janesville Craig senior Hailey Schneider set the last one of the day in winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.93 -- not that far off from the time she swam last year (1:05.52) to finish 5th at state last year. She added a runner-up finish in the 200 IM (2:09.64) in a race that featured the top three finishers from last year's D1 state meet -- Van Hout, Schneider, and East's Becca Soderholm (who finished 3rd -- 2:11.38).
-- In the past two years, there has not been been a better match-up in relays than the 400 free relay battles between East and Memorial. Two years ago at state, Memorial topped East by 2-1/2 seconds, but East's second-place finish allowed it to clinch the state team title by a mere 3.5 points over Memorial. Last year, East turned the tables on Memorial at state, winning with a state-record time of 3:24.80. While Memorial can probably count on getting all three of its relays to state, East this year will probably focus on two relays, and the conference results suggest it will be the medley and 400 free relays for the Purgolders. With Memorial edging East by less than two-tenths of a second at the conference meet, it certainly sets up (in all probability) two more match-ups between the two powerful relays.
Senior Jackie Powell was a double-winner for the Spartans, taking the 100 backstroke (59.01) by 2-1/2 seconds, and setting a meet record in the 100 free (52.09). The Spartans also used their superior depth to rack up lots of points in the relays; when your B relay finishes third in the 200 free relay at a meet as strong as the Big 8 conference, you know you have a lot of depth. Memorial picked up wins in the 200 and 400 free relays, the latter in a thrilling match-up with the defending state champs, Madison East. Memorial edged East 3:36.67 to 3:36.86, with Powell anchoring her relay to victory.
East, not the deepest of teams, still performed quite well at the meet, getting wins from four-time state champ Aja Van Hout in meet-record times of 2:03.65 (200 IM) and 4:56.87 (500 free), and a meet-record time of 24.06 in the 50 free from Ivy Martin. The Purgolders also captured the 200 medley relay, edging Memorial by just over a second as Van Hout swam the breaststroke leg for East.
Madison West's third-place finish (296 points, 14 more than 4th-place Verona) was highlighted by junior Ilsa Feierabend, who continued her strong season with a win in the 200 free (1:55.76) and a runner-up finish in the 500 free (5:05.34.)
A few other observations from the meet:
-- If, as often happens, coaches use the conference meet to set up their lineups for sectional qualifying this coming Saturday, look for Powell in the 100 free and back for Memorial. She's the defending D1 state champion in the back and 200 free, but has been swimming a lot of 100 frees this season. Her conference-record win in the 100 free suggests strongly that's the freestyle event she'll focus on for sectionals.
-- Meanwhile, Van Hout certainly appears set for the two events in which she's captured titles her first two years at D1 state -- the IM and 500 free. The junior had been swimming a lot of 200 frees this year, leading to some speculation she might switch from the IM to the 200 free. But her IM time at conference certainly indicates she'll swim that at sectionals -- only Van Hout herself, last year at state (2:01.69), has swum a faster 200 IM in the past four years in state competition.
-- In what was a very fast meet, with five meet records in the 11 swimming events, Janesville Craig senior Hailey Schneider set the last one of the day in winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.93 -- not that far off from the time she swam last year (1:05.52) to finish 5th at state last year. She added a runner-up finish in the 200 IM (2:09.64) in a race that featured the top three finishers from last year's D1 state meet -- Van Hout, Schneider, and East's Becca Soderholm (who finished 3rd -- 2:11.38).
-- In the past two years, there has not been been a better match-up in relays than the 400 free relay battles between East and Memorial. Two years ago at state, Memorial topped East by 2-1/2 seconds, but East's second-place finish allowed it to clinch the state team title by a mere 3.5 points over Memorial. Last year, East turned the tables on Memorial at state, winning with a state-record time of 3:24.80. While Memorial can probably count on getting all three of its relays to state, East this year will probably focus on two relays, and the conference results suggest it will be the medley and 400 free relays for the Purgolders. With Memorial edging East by less than two-tenths of a second at the conference meet, it certainly sets up (in all probability) two more match-ups between the two powerful relays.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)