BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING SEASON PREVIEW
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
STRONG UNIT: Last year Waukesha South / Catholic Memorial snapped Madison Memorial’s six-year run as Division 1 state champion. What is left from that squad could be formidable. Five-hundred-yard freestyle champion John Acevedo, UW-Milwaukee recruit Conrad Farrell and a strong sophomore class led by Jacob Carlson and Caleb Blischke give the team a chance to make an impact state-wide again.
TOUGH FIELD: Brookfield Central / East's Ryan Linnihan leads what might be the most loaded event of the season in Division 1, the 50 freestyle. Linnihan, the defending champion, is one of the eight top-10 finishers from state back this season. The list from the area includes Farrell, Carlson and Arrowhead senior Lucas Farrar.
BACK-TO-BACK: Defending one state title is hard enough, Brown Deer/University School senior Ben Hayes is back to defend titles in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. The Brown recruit won both races convincingly last year.
ATHLETES TO WATCH
John Acevedo, sr., Waukesha South/ Catholic Memorial: After state appearances in the 500-yard freestyle as a freshman and sophomore, the Cincinnati recruit won the Division 1 title last season in 4 minutes 30.12 seconds. His third-place finish in the 200 free makes him the top returner in that event.
Ben Davis, sr., Greenfield Co-op: One of the state’s top freestylers is back for what should be a fourth trip to state. He qualified in both the 200 and 500 the past two seasons, and last year he finished fifth in both events in Division 1.He’ll swim at Oakland University in Michigan.
Lucas Farrar, sr., Arrowhead: A third state appearance could be in the cards for Farrar, who took third in the 50 free in Division 1 last season and tied for fifth in the 100 free.
Conrad Farrell, sr., Waukesha South / Catholic Memorial: The UW Milwaukee recruit will be a factor in what figures to be a very competitive races in the freestyle sprints He was seventh and fifth, respectively, in the 50 and 100 free at D1 state last season.
Bryan Fitzgerald, sr., West Bend West: He has specialized in the 200 individual medley and 500 free and shined at both. He fifth third and fifth, respectively, in D1 last season.
Ben Hayes, sr., Brown Deer / University School: The Brown recruit is the defending Division 2 state champion in the 200 individual medley (1:52.43) and 100 breaststroke (57.94).
Sam Kult, sr., Brookfield Central / East: A seventh-place finisher in the Division 1 100 breaststroke, Kult is the No. 2 returner in the event. He was also 11th in the 200 IM.
Ryan Linnihan, sr., Brookfield Central: The Harvard recruit is the defending Division 1 state champion in the 50 free and the top returner in the 100 free, in which he finished fourth.
Brandon Spencer, sr., Kenosha Tremper: The two-time defending Division 1 state champion diver is trying to become the first individual to win three straight titles in the division since Homestead’s Mike Oxman (2000-'02). He’ll swim at Eastern Michigan.
Evan Szablewski, jr., Shorewood: He finished second in the 500 free to Division 2 state record-holder Ben McDade and took 10th in the 200 free.
EVENTS TO WATCH
Homestead Invitational, 10 a.m. Dec. 28: The Highlanders' annual meet features some unique races and a field that provides a nice mix of schools from outside the area going up against the likes of Arrowhead, Greenfield Co-op, Muskego, Shorewood
Marquette Invitational, 10 a.m. Jan. 6 at Schroeder Aquatic Center: Arrowhead, Brookfield Central and Waukesha South are among the local teams competing in a meet that also draws Madison-area schools from the Big Eight.
Bulldog Invitational, 1 p.m. Jan. 6 at Cedarburg: Brown Deer, Grafton, West Bend East and Shorewood are among the team expected to compete. Diving starts at 8:30 a.m.