By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
A loud and proud gang of fans helped the Elkhorn Area High School boys swim team advance to state in several events Feb. 11 at a WIAA Division 2 sectional tournament at Whitefish Bay High School.
The WIAA Division 2 State Swimming & Diving Championships are Friday in Madison at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium. It is the Elks’ first appearance at State since 2014.
“We had some phenomenal swims,” coach Jamie Richardson said. “We swam really well, and that’s what we need to do. They all came through.”
The Elks qualified for state in four events and are sending four swimmers.
Logan Radlein finished second in the 100-yard butterfly in 56.29 seconds at the sectional meet and qualified.
Radlein, Koepke, Willy Pinnow and Hunter Johnson finished third in the 400 freestyle relay (3:29.10).
Johnson finished fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:50.39), and Koepke took fifth in the 50 freestyle (23.06) to also qualify.
The winner in each event at the four Division 2 sectional meets advances to state, along with the next 12 fastest times state-wide.
The Elks turned in some strong sectional performances that did not qualify for state.
Brevin Kruse, Alex Johnson, Radlein and Koepke finished third in the 200 medley relay (1:47.13) and Derek Gauger, Ben Davis, Koepke and Hunter Johnson finished third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:35.10).
Kruse finished third in the 100 backstroke (59.73).
Radlein finished fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:08.22) and Hunter Johnson fifth (50.88) in the 100 freestyle.
Pinnow finished fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:11.09) and Dakota Biefeld finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.84).
Richardson said the Elks played the waiting game to see who might advance to state after not winning an event at Whitefish Bay, and said she was surprised by some who did not advance.
Richardson also praised a boisterous contingent of Elkhorn fans that trekked to Whitefish Bay. She said Elks fans at Whitefish Bay occupied at least one-third of the available seating, and made their presence known whenever one of their own was in the pool.
“We have very good fan support, but that was just unbelievable,” Richardson said.
