By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School girls swim team did not win a title in a single event Saturday in the Southern Lakes Conference Varsity Swim Meet at Jefferson High School.
But the Elks still finished third in the eight-team field on the strength of their depth. Coach Jamie Richardson attributed a great deal of the Elks’ success to the performance of the team’s second relays, or “B” relays.
“Those guys have come through all season for us,” Richardson said. “They were part of the success for us this season. On Saturday, our depth was key for us in solidifying that third-place finish.”
The Elks swim Saturday in a WIAA Division 2 sectional tournament at New Berlin Eisenhower High School. The winner of each event at each of four Division 2 sectional meets and the next 12 fastest individuals and relay teams, statewide, advance to the state meet.
The Division 2 State Girls Swimming & Diving Championships are Nov. 11 & 12 in Madison at University of Wisconsin Natatorium.
The Elks’ best showing in any event relay at the SLC meet is the third-place finish posted by Paige Murphy, Rachel Larson, Gabby Pinnow and Anna Manak in the 200-yard medley relay. The quartet finished in 2:00.44.
Individually, Murphy also finished third in the 100 backstroke (1:04.24). Murphy finished fourth in the 50 freestyle (26.56).
The 400 freestyle relay of Josie Longhorn, Sarah Broga, Gabby Pinnow and Murphy finished fifth (4:08.03).
Competitors earned medals through sixth place in individual events and third place in relays.
Richardson said Longhorn turned in a splendid performance in finishing seventh in the 100 freestyle (1:01.37) and 200 freestyle (2:13.49).
“She got her best times in both of the races,” Richardson said. “Especially in her 200 heat. She just commanded the lead right away and never looked back and had a really great, strong showing.”
Richardson paid particular acclaim to the Elks’ seniors, and said she likes when those individuals perform well in the final meets of the season.
Larson finished eighth in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.42) and 11th in the 200 individual medley (2:35.58).
Senior Sarah Krupp finished posted her season-best time and finished 13th in the 100 breaststroke (1:24.81), and senior Julia Los posted her best time by a second and a half in the 100 butterfly and finished 22nd (1:17.78).
The Elks scored 303.5 points in the team standings. Badger Co-op won the SLC title (592), and Burlington Co-op finished second (402.5).
