Milwaukee-area girls swimming preview
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
Hoping to avoid a repeat: Last season was the first time since the state meet went to two divisions in 1992 that a Milwaukee-area team did not bring home a trophy from Madison for first or second place. Not only did Middleton win its first state championship a year ago, the Cardinals stopped an eight-year run of Arrowhead (five times) or Waukesha South/Mukwonago (three times) winning the Division 1 crown.
Another rarity: Last year also marked the first time since 2007 that Arrowhead did not take first or second at state. The Warhawks had won 10 championships to go with three runner-up finishes in the previous 14 seasons before they placed third in 2016. Arrowhead returns one state champion (Abby Cabush, 200-yard freestyle) and one runner-up (Alyssa Graves, 500 free) but has to replace a third-place swimmer (Maggie Held, 500 free) and a fifth-place finisher (Alyssa Lewandowski, 100 backstroke).
Steady improvement: New Berlin Eisenhower and Whitnall continue to climb the Division 2 state standings. The Lions finished fourth last season after finishing sixth the previous two seasons and taking seventh in 2013. The Falcons took seventh last year and have improved each season since placing 24th in 2012. Bella Passamani, a state champion (100 butterfly) and runner-up (500 free) returns for Eisenhower, as does a third-place finisher Maddie Guman (100 back). Whitnall features a third-place swimmer (Kelly McElvain, 500 free) and two fourth-place girls (Nicole Beckman, 100 fly; Brooke Miles, 100 back).
ATHLETES TO WATCH
Division 1
Abby Cabush, sr., Arrowhead: She is the reigning state champion in the 200 freestyle (1 minute 50.77 seconds) after finishing second as a sophomore (1:49.81).
Alyssa Graves, soph., Arrowhead: This Warhawk was state runner-up in the 500 free (4:59.19) and the champion graduated.
Gwen Gustafson, sr., Brookfield Central: Gustafson’s 23.31 in the 50 free was good for first at state and her 51.38 in the 100 free placed her fourth. In 2015, she was fifth in the 50 and sixth in the 100.
Lillie Hosack, sr., Cedarburg: The Wisconsin recruit is the two-time defending state champion in the 200 individual medley, highlighted by a record time of 1:59.47 last year to go with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay. She also took second in the 100 backstroke (54.56) and was on the runner-up 400 free relay.
McKenzie Sanchez, jr., Racine Case: This diver took fourth at state with a score of 459.15 after finishing fifth (423.05) in 2015. “She is returning in top shape,” Eagles diving coach Dave Arvai said.
Cassie Stegner, soph., Menomonee Falls/Hamilton: As a freshman, Stegner’s 1:51.58 was good for fourth at state in the 200 free.
Division 2
Dailey Albino, sr., New Berlin West: Her diving score of 458.70 was good for third at state, one year after she placed second (440.85).
Maddie Guman, jr., New Berlin Eisenhower: Guman ended the 100 backstroke at state in third (58.71) to go with a fourth-place showing (58.97) in 2015.
Katie Hayes, jr., Brown Deer/University School: As a sophomore, Hayes was a state runner-up in the 100 butterfly (56.55) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:08.95). “She’s had a great club long-course season and came in ready for a great high school season,” said the team's first-year coach, Ariana Sparapani.
Julia Larson, jr., Wauwatosa West: Larson’s 1:55.98 in the 200 free at state put her in third.
Kelly McElvain, sr., Whitnall: Her 500 free time of 5:10.25 at state was good enough for third place. She took eighth (5:15.23) the previous season.
Bella Passamani, sr., New Berlin Eisenhower: She won state in the 100 fly in 56.27 and was second in the 500 free (4:47.79) behind then-senior champion Autumn Haebig of Grafton.
EVENTS TO WATCH
Whitnall Invitational, 8:15 a.m. Saturday at Village Club in Greendale: The much-improved Falcons host New Berlin Eisenhower, another team that has been climbing the division state meet standings.
Waukesha South Invitational, 12:45 p.m. Sept. 16: One of the top meets of the season features South, Arrowhead, Cedarburg, Muskego, Brookfield Central, reigning Division 1 state champion Middleton and runner-up Verona.
Arrowhead at Waukesha South/Mukwonago, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 28: Two of the top teams in the Classic 8/Greater Metro Conference – and the state – meet for a key dual.
Homestead Invitational, 10 a.m. Oct. 7: Three weeks after the South Invite, a number of the same teams convene again, including Arrowhead, South, Middleton, Verona, Cedarburg and Muskego.