By Chris Bennett
Sports correspondent
Paige Murphy finished as the best junior in the field and helped the Elkhorn Area High School girls swim team to a fourth-place finish Sept. 16 in the Hono Bash at Hononegah (Ill.) High School.
The Elks competed Tuesday in a Southern Lakes Conference triangular at Whitewater High School against Whitewater and Platteville/Lancaster. Elkhorn competes Saturday in an invitational at Fort Atkinson High School.
The Hono Bash is split by classes. Swimmers in the same class in high school compete against each other. Medals were awarded through sixth place.
Murphy, a junior, won the 100-yard backstroke in 1:02.67, the 100 freestyle (58.18) and 100 butterfly (1:03.34). Murphy finished second in the 50 freestyle (26.23).
Murphy scored the most points of any junior at the meet (350).
Anna Manak finished fourth among sophomores with a total of 251 points.
Manak finished third in the 100 backstroke (1:09.92). Manak finished fourth in three events – the 50 freestyle (27.33), 100 freestyle (1:00.95), and 100 butterfly (1:09.86).
Senior Sarah Broga finished sixth in the 50 freestyle (28.72).
Sophomore Alyssa Ambrose finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:23.20).
Freshman Sydney Balboni finished sixth in the 50 freestyle (28.46) and freshman Megan Weinstock finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:24.54).
Richardson also praised several Elks for dropping significant time from their personal bests. Balboni dropped three seconds in the span of a week in the 100 butterfly.
“To drop three seconds in a week’s time span is pretty good,” Richardson said. “In her 50 freestyle, she dropped .43 seconds. In a 50 freestyle, you’re getting to the point where you’re not going to be dropping five or six seconds anymore.”
Weinstock dropped 2.86 seconds off her personal best in the 100 butterfly.
Richardson said the meet at Hononegah served as a good-bounce back from a dual meet rout at the hands of Southern Lakes Conference foe Burlington Co-op Sept. 12 at the Aurora Wellness Center in Burlington.
The Demons beat Elkhorn 122-48. Richardson said the Elks posted 38 personal best times against Burlington Co-op.
Murphy won the 50 freestyle (26.71). Richardson also praised Allison Schopf, who dropped 51.70 seconds off her previous best in the 500 freestyle.
