By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
Kady Ruemmele and the Elkhorn Area High School girls’ swimming team finished their season with a flourish.
Ruemmele finished third in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 200 individual medley and helped lead the Elks to a 14th-place finish Nov. 15 in the WIAA Division 2 Girls’ State Swimming and Diving Meet at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium in Madison.
“We were there in eight of 11 events, which is a highlight in and of itself,” coach Jamie Richardson said. “It was a fun meet to be there and watch. We weren’t waiting around for something to happen.”
Ruemmele, who will swim next season at UW-Milwaukee, also swam on two relays.
The 200 medley relay of Rachel Anderson, Lilly Remington, Ruemmele and Emily Ames finished 11th (1:53), and the 400 freestyle relay of Megan Leahy, Bethany Buikema, Anne Blackbourn and Ruemmele finished 12th (3:43).
The 200 freestyle relay of Leahy, Remington, Ames and Blackbourn finished 13th (1:42).
Blackbourn finished 14th in the 100 freestyle (54.59 seconds) and 16th in the 50 freestyle (25.36). Anderson finished 16th in the 100 breaststroke (1:10).
Ruemmele set a team record with her finish in the 200 individual medley.
“That was exciting,” Richardson said. “She’s been working hard all season. She had a good taper. She trained during the offseason, and I think that helps, too.”
Richardson said the 200 medley relay also posted a school record. “We squeezed some more time out of them,” Richardson said.
Ruemmele and Blackbourn, both seniors, qualified for state in each of their four seasons at Elkhorn.
“I’m going to miss both of them,” Richardson said. “They lead by example, with hard work and good leadership. They’re very driven, both of them.”
Buikema posted her best time of the season in her 400 freestyle relay split. Leahy did the same in her splits in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
“They’re both juniors,” Richardson said. “They’re going to have to step-up and take that leadership role.”
Richardson said the team tapered well and peaked at the right time.
“And that is sometimes a tough thing to do – to have everyone peak at the right time,” Richardson said.
Last season at state Ruemmele finished fifth in the 100 backstroke (59.52) and 12th in the 200 individual medley (2:15.61).
Last season, Ruemmele also swam on each of the Elks relay teams. The 200 medley relay of Ruemmele, Remington, Ames and Savanna Kreiser finished 14th (1:56.57), and the 400 freestyle relay of Emma Glogovsky, Buikema, Blackbourn and Ruemmele finished 14th (3:47.07).
Blackbourn finished ninth last season in the 100-yard freestyle (54.86).
Grafton won this season’s Division 2 team title with 286 points. Elkhorn finished with 65 points. Waukesha South/Mukwonago won the Division 1 team title with 337 points. Southern Lakes Conference foes Badger finished 10th (68 points) and Burlington Combined placed 32nd (10).
