Freshman phenom lone Elk to advance to Madison
By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
Paige Murphy is the only member of the Elkhorn Area High School girls swimming team to advance to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 Girls State Swimming and Diving Meet, but the freshman will not be alone.
Coach Jamie Richardson said the friends, parents and alumni that are the Elks’ swimming family will turn out in force to watch the freshman compete in the 100-yard backstroke Friday at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium in Madison.
“They’ll stop by to support a fellow Elk, which is the fun part,” Richardson said of her Elkhorn swimming alums. “You look in the stands and see some of your past swimmer supporting your kids.”
Murphy qualified for state Nov. 7 at a WIAA Division 2 sectional meet at Cudahy High School. Murphy finished third in the backstroke in 59.56 seconds.
Greendale’s Carolyn Jungers won the event (59.09) and New Berlin Eisenhower’s Maddie Guman finished second (59.46).
The winner of each event at each of the four Division 2 sectional meets and the next fastest 12 times statewide advanced from the sectional to the state meet.
“She was really focused, and just in her zone and ready to go,” Richardson said of Murphy. “She’s a competitor, and she was mentally prepared, physically prepared and ready to go.”
Richardson said Murphy has competed in large meets in the past through club team swimming.
“She’s had that experience, being in big meets,” Richardson said. “That’s going to help her.”
Murphy is seeded in the second of two heats at state. Murphy is in the heat with the eight-fastest swimmers, and her time is the seventh-fastest among those eight. A total of sixteen are competing in the backstroke at state.
Lauren Bergmann of Edgewood Sacred Heart in Madison is the top seed, with a qualifying time of 57.76 seconds. Bergmann finished second in the event at last year’s state meet.
Richardson said the Elks turned in a lot of strong performances at Cudahy.
Murphy finished fourth in the 50 freestyle (25.77). Audrey Earle finished seventh (27.42) and Sarah Broga eighth (27.43) in the same event.
Murphy, Avonlea Odling, Gabby Pinnow and Earle finished fifth in the 200 medley relay (1:58.86). Josie Longhorn, Broga, Pinnow and Murphy finished seventh in the 400 freestyle relay (3:56.53).
Odling, a senior, finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.86) and dropped 1.41 seconds off her previous best.
“That was a great way for her to finish her season,” Richardson said. “She’s been a top breaststroker for us this year in the Southern Lakes Conference, and we’ll miss that from her.”
Larson finished 10th (1:19.13) and Maegan Gorecki finished 13th (1:20.13) and dropped 1.41 seconds in the breaststroke.
Earle, Larson, Longhorn and Broga finished eighth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:50.06).
Josie Longhorn finished 12th in the 200 freestyle (2:12.33) and dropped 2.49 seconds. Abby Partington finished 18th (2:21.25).
Pinnow finished 15th in the 200 individual medley (2:32.56) and dropped 1.92 seconds and Rachel Larson finished 16th (2:33.46) and dropped 2.03 seconds.
Allison Schopf finished 16th (1:14.46), Julia Los 17th (1:15.79) and Emily Kruse 18th (1:15.96) in the 100 butterfly. Los’ reaction to dropping 2.22 seconds from her previous best touched Richardson.
“As a coach, it’s one of those things you work for – to see them happy about their success,” Richardson said. “It’s one of those coaching moments, where you’re proud of her because she was proud of herself.”
Longhorn finished 12th in the 100 freestyle (1:00.56) and Broga finished 14th (1:01.11).
Pinnow finished 10th in the 100 backtroke (1:07.47) and Calin Jacobs finished 19th (1:12.22).
In team standings, the Elks finished seventh with a total of 176 points. New Berlin Eisenhower won the sectional (330).
