By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School boys swimming team finished in the top three in all but two events and came in second Dec. 3 in the Southern Lakes Conference Relays at Lake Geneva Badger High School.
The Elks swim Saturday at home in their own Elkhorn Invitational.
The Elks finished fifth Dec. 5 in the Cougar Relays at Janesville Craig High School and lost 94-76 Dec. 1 in a non-conference dual meet at Fort Atkinson High School.
“I think just the solid showing in all events is key in a meet like that,” Elkhorn coach Jamie Richardson said of the Elks’ performance in the SLC Relays. “You’ve got swim strong in every event. The boys stepped up and did that, and swam some really great times.”
Richardson said the Elks finished with 33 personal best times in the SLC Relays.
Elkhorn’s Ben Davis, Brett Schmieden, Connor LaFavor and William Pyle won the 100-yard freestyle relay in 47.63 seconds and Jacob Truesdale, William Pyle, Logan Radlein and Brevin Kruse won the 400 backstroke relay (4:21.22) for the Elks’ event victories in the SLC Relays.
Richardson said Kruse, a freshman, finished strong on the anchor leg of the 400 backstroke relay.
“We just swam really well,” Richardson said. “I was actually really impressed with a lot of the times. Some of my new kids swam really well.”
Kruse, Kalib Gorecki, Schmieden and Pyle finished second in the 200 medley relay (1:54.55) and Kruse, Truesdale, Dakota Biefeld and Radlein finished second in the 400 individual medley relay (4:28.47).
In the team standings, Badger Co-op won the meet with 185 points. Elkhorn scored 177 points.
Burlington Co-op finished third (176), Jefferson-Cambridge fourth (133) and Whitewater fifth (132). Delavan-Darien finished sixth (121) and Platteville-Lancaster seventh (50).
The Elks posted 34 personal bests at the Cougar Relays, and competed as one of two WIAA Division 2 teams in the six-team field.
“I think it’s good for us,” Richardson said. “We need that competition to push us to the next level. You need that, like a rabbit to chase, to make you better.”
Richardson said Davis, in his second year swimming, is already faster than last season in the 50 and 100 relays.
Elkhorn finished third in the 400-yard medley relay (4:14.13), the 200 freestyle relay (1:46.64) and the 300 backstroke relay (3:16.68).
The Elks “A” team scored a total of 112 points and their “B” squad finished with 36. Greenfield/Greendale/Milwaukee Pius XI won the meet (164).
The Elks finished with 52 personal bests against Fort, which fielded a lineup that included three returning state qualifiers.
Truesdale won the 500 freestyle (6:00.45) and Kruse won the 100 backstroke (1:02.60). Radlein won the 200 individual medley (2:22.49).
