Prep swimmers, divers set for sectionals
Milwaukee-area boys swimming and diving teams will compete in WIAA sectionals throughout southeast Wisconsin this weekend. Diving competitions take place Friday, while swimming events are Saturday.
Sectionals involving area teams will be held at Greenfield High School, Racine Case High School and the Fond du Lac Community Center for Division 1, while Division 2 schools from the area will be competing at Whitefish Bay and Plymouth.
Here are several storylines to follow:
Reigning D1 champ Brookfield Central/East has six top sectional seeds
The defending WIAA Division 1 champion, Brookfield Central/East, will be competing in the Greenfield Sectional with two individuals and two relay teams holding a combined six top seeds. Junior Thomas Bergin holds the top time in the 50-yard freestyle (21.40 seconds) and 100 freestyle (48.08) after finishing third and 19th, respectively, at WIAA state last year in those events. Senior Stuart Seymour also holds the top 100 backstroke (49.16) and 100 butterfly (48.90) times after finishing first and second, respectively, in those events at state last season. Brookfield East/Central also holds the top sectional seed among Greenfield competitors in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, which it finished seventh and second in, respectively, last year.
Franklin a program on the rise?
A year after finishing 30th at the D1 state meet with eight points, Franklin returns some perennial contenders as well as some rising stars. Junior Mason Bruhn, a four-time individual and fourtime relay state qualifier, looks to return for the third straight season in events including: the 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. A talented Sabers freshman class also includes three divers: Amico Anderson, Colin Gannon and Cole Waldron competing Friday, as well as fellow freshman Gabe Cheng (200 and 500 freestyle, 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay) and Enzo Velasco (100 butterfly and 200 medley relay). Franklin has three sets of brothers competing at the sectional, including Noah and Gabe Cheng, Cole and Max Waldron and Enzo and Iker Velasco.
Muskego’s Slonac vying for top state finish
A name to watch in the Racine Case Sectional is University of Minnesota commit Ryan Slonac. The Muskego senior finished fourth at state last year in the 200 IM, as well as fifth in the 100 backstroke. He is the top seed in both events at the sectional, entering with a seed time of 1:52.99 in the 200 IM and 50.97 in the 100 backstroke. Junior teammate Mason Wendt is just behind in second for each event, with times of 54.21 in the 100 backstroke and 2:02.43 in the 200 IM. Other top seeds for Muskego include its 200 medley relay team, 400 freestyle relay team, sophomore Carter Jewell in the 200 freestyle and sophomore Eli Wichman in the 500 freestyle.
Senior-led Shorewood looks to defend top ranking in D2
Shorewood has climbed from ninth to first during the season in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Division 2 poll, finally taking the top spot in the most recent poll Feb. 5. For the Greyhounds, who finished fourth at the D2 state meet last season, an experienced group of seniors will be looking to lead the way to a return trip. Upperclassman Aiden Strath is the top seed in the 200 IM at the Whitefish Bay Sectional (1:54.77), as well as the second seed in the 100 freestyle (47.14). Fellow senior Thomas
Yatso is just behind Strath in the 200 IM seeding (1:59.70) and is the third seed for the 100 butterfly (55.42). Will Phillips, another senior, comes in just behind Strath in the 100 freestyle (48.32) and is the second seed in the 50 freestyle (22.24). Defending top seeds will be critical for Shorewood in their quest for a team sectional win.
Freshman Prince hoping to secure crown for Port Washington
A breakout performer to watch in the Plymouth Sectional is Port Washington's Charlie Prince. The freshman is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.05) and the third seed in the 100 butterfly (55.94). He is one of only two freshmen qualifying in each event, which each have 15 competitors. Other Port Washington sectional qualifiers include junior diver Cory Riel looking for his second trip to state, as well as the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams. Both relay teams consist of Prince and seniors Jack Sickles, Ben Falkenberg and Finn Ritter.