By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School boys swimming team won five events to Badger Co-op’s six Dec. 15 in a Southern Lakes Conference meet at Lake Geneva Badger High School and lost 97-73.
The Elks next competition is a Southern Lakes Conference meet Jan. 5 at Delavan-Darien High School against Delavan-Darien and Platteville/Lancaster.
“We had some close races,” coach Jamie Richardson said of Elkhorn’s dual meet vs. Badger Co-op. “If they go our way it would have been a lot closer.
“We had a couple of relays, like the medley relay and the 200 freestyle, that were really close.”
Teams earn six points for finishing first in individual events and eight for winning a relay. Badger Co-op won every relay.
Elkhorn is a WIAA Division 2 comprised solely of swimmers from Elkhorn Area High School. Badger Co-op is a WIAA Division 1 cooperative team of swimmers from Badger, Westosha Central, Wilmot, Big Foot and Williams Bay high schools.
Richardson said the Elks finished with 37 personal bests against Badger Co-op.
“We swam well again,” Richardson said. “We’re going in the right direction, with the time drops.”
The Elks’ Brevin Kruse, Kalib Gorecki, Brett Schmieden and William Pyle won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:52.72.
Jacob Truesdale won the 100 freestyle (2:07.52) and 500 freestyle (5:44.06).
“He swam really well,” Richardson said. “He’s been really focused in practice. He’s set some goals for himself for the season.
“He’s one of the first people in the pool. He just wants his senior year to be the best year he can have.”
Richardson said Truesdale trailed in the 200 until the final 50, when he pushed and secured the victory for the Elks. He swam a similar race in the 500, turning it on over the final 100 yards for the win.
Gorecki won the 100 breaststroke (1:10.15) and Kruse won the 100 backstroke (1:02.99).
“He always finishes his race really strong, which is good to see,” Richardson said of Kruse. “Sometimes you get kind of tired over the last 50 of your race, and that’s where I think he really excels – pushing himself.”
Schmieden, Connor LaFavor, Logan Radlein and Pyle finished second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:40.88).
Radlein finished second in the 100 butterfly (1:04.09) and 200 individual medley (2:20.09). Pyle finished second in the 50 freestyle (25.12).
