Nennig caps record-setting career with two Div. 2 state-meet victories for senior-led Grafton boys’ team

What can a swimmer who holds virtually every record at his high school do to punctuate his career?

If you’re Grafton’s Al Nennig, you make sure to come home from your final meet as a double state champion.

“It was a great day. Everything went really well,” said Nennig, who capped his senior season by winning the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke in the WIAA Division 2 finals at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Natatorium last Friday.

“This year was really special for the team and me. We had a great group of guys who worked hard all season.”

Nennig successfully defended his state title in 50 freestyle with a winning time 21.08 seconds. The time, the fourth-fastest in Division 2 state-meet history, was well ahead of runner-up Lew Hollman of Fort Atkinson (21.76) and lowered Nennig’s own school mark.

In the backstroke, Nennig was clocked in 52.65, holding off a serious challenge from Shawano’s Zach Soper, a sophomore who took second in 52.77.

“He’s a great sophomore. He really pushed me,” Nennig said of Soper. “By then, my legs were a little tired after swimming in the (200-freestyle) relay.”

Although Nennig’s gold-medal day stole the show, it wasn’t the Black Hawks’ lone bright spot. He was joined by three fellow seniors on a pair of relays that turned in top-three finishes.

The 200 freestyle team of Nennig, Brad Kempka, Kieran Paddock and Ben Gosselin placed second (1:27.82), narrowly losing to Monona Grove (1:27.28). In the 400 freestyle, the team of Gosselin, Paddock, Nennig and Kempka was third (3:18.94).