Greyhounds looking for state Division 2 honors behind 11 entries

Shorewood - Plymouth and Milton look good on paper heading into Friday's WIAA State Division 2 girls swim meet at the UW-Madison Natatorium, but Brown Deer/University School coach Bob Van Lieshout said everyone should be taking a hard look at Shorewood, which has qualifiers in eight individual slots and three relays.

"(Greyhounds coach) Rob McCabe is the best taper coach in the world," Van Lieshout said. "I tell you, Milton and the others better have their 'A' games rolling Friday night, because I think Shorewood is really in the catbird seat. They will roll and they will have a big meet."

McCabe himself is a little more cautious about his team's chances, but agrees with Van Lieshout about the fun factor that should be in place during what should be a very fast meet.

"This is about what I expected to send to the state meet, and I think we can swim even better at the meet," he said. "Ellen Stello, Genevieve Hayes, Rachel Munson and Kristin Malone will be going into the state meet fully rested while Melissa Clausen and Diana Yakshimamedova have enough training behind them to hang on.

"Plus the environment, crowd, thrilling storylines and the excitement always seems to aid in peak performances. Friday night is going to be hoot."

Shorewood has won six state D2 titles, the last two in 2001 and 2003 under McCabe. Milton is the defending state champion.

Swimming timed finals start at 6:30 p.m. Friday and competing for the Greyhounds are Malone in the 50 free (second seed) and 100 free (top seed), Stello in the 200 individual medley (eighth) and 500 free (sixth), Munson in the 200 IM (seventh) and 100 breaststroke (sixth), Hayes in the 500 free (10th seed) and Clausen in the 100 backstroke (16th seed).

In addition, the 200 medley relay team of Clausen, Munson, Stello and Malone is the second seed, while the 200 free crew of Clausen, Munson, Yakshimamedova and Hayes enters as the 15th seed and the 400 free team of Stello, Hayes, Clausen and Malone enters as the seventh seed.

Team places second

The Greyhounds earned the slots in the WIAA sectional meet at Plymouth on Saturday. The host Panthers edged Shorewood, 332-318, for the team title in the 13-school event.

The 200 IM was the team's best event as Munson (2:12.7) and Stello (2:14.18) went one-two, respectively, while Chloe Borut was fifth (2:19.02) and Leila Kane 14th (2:32.79). All but Stello's effort was a best time.

Malone also easily won the 100 free (pool record 52.74) while taking second in the 50 free (24.28).

Both the 200 medley (season best 1:51.09) and 400 free relays (3:41.32) took seconds while the 200 free crew earned its berth with a third (1:43.58).

Stello (5:13.48) and Hayes (personal best 5:20.05) earned their state berths in the 500 free by taking third and fourth, respectively. Munson claimed her slot in the breaststroke by taking third (1:07.27). Clausen earned her individual ride with a fourth in the backstroke (SB 1:02.56).

Prep helps swimmers succeed

McCabe said the athletes who were tapered had great meets.

"We swam exceptionally well Saturday in a tough sectional," he said. "These girls got to see what some of the state's best teams can bring to championship meet like this. The taper kids, especially Diana Yakshimamedova, Chloe Borut, Melissa Clausen and Lucy Petrick, were on fire all day in their races."

"The girls (Anna Gruber, Hannah Miller and Leila Kane) who rested for conference continued to swim well by going best times again at sectionals. Performances shown by their teammates can only boost the confidence level of the girls still swimming this week."

Other places by event included the following: 200 free: Hayes, fifth (2:02.28); Yakshimamedova, eighth (SB 2:07.1); 100 butterfly: Yakshimamedova, seventh (SB 1:04.23); Petrick, 10th (1:06.42); 500 free: Hannah Miller, 15th (SB 6:03.14); 100 backstroke: Borut, eighth (SB 1:04.73); Petrick, 12th (SB 1:08.16); and 100 breaststroke: Anna Gruber, 15th (SB 1:19.34).