By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Lake Geneva Badger girls’ swim team clinched its first Southern Lakes Conference championship
since 2002 by winning the SLC Conference Meet on Saturday. The Badgers had already gone a perfect 7-0 in SLC dual meets.
Senior Anna Brooks led the way for Badger winning the 100 Yard Backstroke (59.35, besting her own SLC Meet record), and the 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:08.45). Brooks was also part of the winning 200 Yard Freestyle (1:40.08, also a meet and pool record) and 400 Yard Freestyle (3:38.84, also a meet and pool record) relays. Carly O’Brien, Kaarin Quaerna, and Evelyn Edge also swam both relays.
O’Brien also won the 200 Yard IM (2:12.14) and the 100 Yard Butterfly (1:00.16).
Quaerna took second in the 50 Yard Freestyle (25.64) and the 100 Yard Freestyle (55.61). Liz Carlson took third in the 100 Yard Butterfly (1:04.97). Brooklyn Carlson took third in the 500 Yard Freestyle (5:31.31).
Badger won the SLC meet with 498 total points. Burlington was the closest competitor with 410.
“We knew we had a shot (at the SLC title) because we have a great team,” Coach Glen Biller said. “It was a great opportunity.”
Biller said he was not sure how good Burlington was going to be but his team beat Burlington in dual meet action and again at the SLC meet.
“We developed a lot of depth over the year,” Biller said. “That was the key.”
Biller said the team has at least 13 solid competitors and many others with valuable experience. He also said the team gelled and had no internal destructive issues to deal with.
With that depth came versatility. Biller said he could always field a nice balanced lineup and still had the flexibility mix things up as situations called for it. He said many of his girls can swim multiple events.
Biller also said the conference meet seemed to light a fire under the girls which was what they needed heading into the Sectional on Saturday at Kenosha Tremper.
Rest will also help. Biller was able to rest four swimmers heading into the conference meet and can now rest some more before Saturday. Biller said the girls saw how much that benefitted the girls who already received the rest after 13 weeks of work and know they can benefit as well.
Biller said the team has worked so well together he has even given them some input on lineups. Now he says he just has to get them to believe they have a chance to win the Sectional, something no Badger team has ever accomplished. The goal will not come easy as Badger always sacrifices some points because its does not have a dive team, but Biller said the task is not impossible.
Pecha and Adams compete at State
Badger had two representatives at the State Cross Country Meet on Saturday.
Senior Tomas Pecha represented the boys’ team and finished 84th out of 190 competitors with a time of 16:57.17. Coach Mike Butscher said it was a great accomplishment for someone who had missed going to State by just one place each of the last two years.
“It was a great way to end his high school career,” Butscher said. “Tomas’ race emulated his career as he had to fight through struggles to reach his goals.”
Pecha got pinched by the large pack during the first 300 meters and had to work his way through a mass of runners.
“He kept fighting to the end and finished in a respectable place and time,” Butscher said. “Badger will miss his leadership, work ethic, and fun loving personality next year.”
Junior Elle Adams represented the girls’ team. Adams finished 164th (16:31.23).
