Five years of dual-meet defeats ends

More girls are drawn to the water as Port swim program shows growth

THE GIRLS’ SWIM team at Port Washington High School last week stopped a five-year dual-meet losing streak, taking advantage of its depth. The team includes (front row, from left) Emmalee Schmutzler, Allison Schmutzler, Olivia Heinecke, Sydney Hannert, Maria Wichmann, Leah Sheriff Julia Burke, (middle row) Nolari Hingiss, Avery Phillips, Shannon McConahy, Ashley Bensen, Emma Huber, Sarah Howell, Kamryn Lapacek, Caroline Hadacek, Amanda Nolasco, Ari Camilo, (back row) Taylor Peiffer, Eva Perez, Kelly Ball, Josie Tetzlaff, Maddi Klein, Serena Baumann, Ellie Meyer, Reese Crandall, Erin Grisar, and Audyn Setzer. Photo by Sam Arendt
By 
MITCH MAERSCH
Ozaukee Press staff

Port Washington High School’s girls’ swimming team has tripled its numbers in three years, and the exploding participation has already paid off.

The Pirates won their first dual meet in more than five years on Aug. 22, beating Kohler, 94-89.

“As we came to the last few events of the meet and we continued to outscore Kohler, we knew we had pulled off the win and the girls were ecstatic,” coach Danielle Peiffer said.

Of this year’s 33 girls, nearly half are freshmen or new to the team, Peiffer said.

Nine letter-winners return, including Julia Burke, Erin Grisar, Caroline Hadacek, Sydney Hannert, Olivia Heinecke, Sarah Howell, Kamryn Lapacek, Allison Schmutzler and Leah Sheriff.

Lapacek is swimming the 50 and 100 meter freestyle races, Hannert the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle and Schmutzler the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

Juniors Heinecke, Grisar, Howell and Burke are expected to tally points as well.

Freshmen Abbey Lotz will swim the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly and Josie Tetzlaff the 200 individual medley.

“It’s early in the season, and there are a lot of girls with great potential that we expect to be major contributors as the season progresses,” Peiffer said.

This year’s focus, Peiffer said, is having new swimmers fill in some gaps in the less-popular events.

“Improving depth in all the events will give us the best shot at winning a meet this year. We are up against a lot of large schools with combined swim programs which makes it very difficult to outscore them but we are on the right track,” Peiffer said.

The Pirates are already developing camaraderie.

“The strength of our team is their positive attitude and team bonding. They like to work hard but also have fun and in my opinion, that is key to performing well,” Peiffer said.

Even Peiffer, however, didn’t see the result of last week’s meet coming.

“As coaches, we have been so focused on growing the team and working on fundamentals that putting together a winning lineup wasn’t on our radar for this season.  We knew winning would be in our future but certainly didn’t expect it so soon,” she said.

Lapacek scored 10 points and Tetzlaff had nine. Lotz and Hadacek each scored eight.

Port used its depth to its advantage. The Pirates only won three events but a host of seconds, thirds and fourths racked up points.

Port scored 12 of 16 points in the 200 freestyle. Lapacek won in 2 minutes, 20.2 seconds. Hadacek was second in 2:35.43. Howell was fourth in 2:41.69.

Port took the top two spots in the 200 medley relay. Tetzlaff, Hadacek, Hannert and Lapacek won in 2:17.97. Freshmen Emma Huber and Audyn Setzer and juniors Grisar and Howell were second in 2:20.73.

Port swept the 100 backstroke. Tetzlaff won in 1:18.81. Taylor Peiffer was second in 1:19.4 and freshman Emma Huber was third in 1:26.36.

In the 200 individual medley, Lotz was second in 2:41.56 and Tetzlaff was third in 2:44.09.

Eva Perez was third in the 50 freestlye in 30.22 and Setzer was fourth in 31.03.

Port went 2-3-4 in the 100 butterfly. Lotz was second in 1:10.87, Hannert was third in 1:19.23 and Grisar was fourth in 1:22.25.

Lapacek was second in the 100 freestyle in 1:00.76 and Huber was third in 1:08.56.

Hannert was third in the 500 freestyle in 7:03.16. Sheriff was fourth in 7:14.14.

The 200 relay team of Lapacek, Hadacek, Tetzlaff and Lotz was second in 1:56 and Setzer, Perez, Kelly Ball and Peiffer were third in 2:04.46.

 The Pirates finished strong by taking second in the 400 freestyle relay. Lotz, Leah Sheriff, Grisar and Hannert were second in 4:40.9.

“It was a great start to the season for all our girls,” coach Peiffer said.

Port hosts North Shore Conference foe Nicolet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.

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