Competing at state is the goal for Grafton swimmers

About the same number of swimmers and divers are on this year’s Grafton High School swim and dive team as last year, but second-year coach Bailey Bodart is hoping for a few different results.

After not qualifying anyone for the state meet last season, Bodart hopes that changes.

“I’m hoping to get one or two relays to state. Maybe the 200-yard medley relay is our best chance,” he said.

“I’d like to see Todd O’Connor get the 50 and 100 freestyle to state.”

O’Connor, fellow junior Andrew Slagter  and senior Lance Greicar are the team’s captains.

Other returning swimmers from last season include Dawson Memmel and Chase Mueller.

Many swim in the offseason, putting them a lap up on competition to start the season. O’Connor had a club meet the first week of high school practice.

“He’s been staying in good shape,” Bodart said.

Greicar ran cross country, so “he was doing something” aerobic, Bodart said.

Younger swimmers who are contributing include Gabe Salko, Luca Nicoli and Tyler Swenson, Bodart said.

Tristan Sohr is trying diving as well as swimming. The Black Hawks lost diver Caden Starr, who qualified for state last season, to graduation.

One difference in training this season is the team is spending one hour per week in the weight room. The school initiated the requirement for all varsity sports after a new weight room was included in a referendum a couple of years ago. The team, Bodart said, is working on swim exercises with weights.

Being a second-year coach, Bodart knows his way around the non-swimming-related details a little better, such as bus schedules.

“One of my triumphs was we had team suits by the first meet,” he said.

The Hawks opened their season at Homestead Nov. 23, swam at Hartford/Slinger on Nov. 30 and in the Chuck Walters Invite at Nicolet on Dec 4. Final scores weren’t available.

Grafton was to host Port on Tuesday before competing in the North Shore Conference Relays in West Bend on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

Port Washington’s young boys’ swim and dive team ran into a tough opponent in Homestead at home on Nov. 30.

The Pirates lost, 147-25.

Jack Sickles was third in the 100-yard butterfly in 1 minute, .63 seconds.

The 200 medley relay of Elliot Hadacek, Finn Ritter, Sickles and Tim Zein was third in 2:11.32.

Diver Conner Cowen was third with 120 points.

The Pirates were to swim at Grafton on Tuesday and in the NSC Relays on Tuesday, Dec. 14.