Grafton makes splash at sectional

Grafton High School is heading into Friday’s Division 2 state swim and dive meet with three sectional event victories and seven participants in nine events.

The Black Hawks last Saturday took second at the 12-team Plymouth Sectional with 350 points, just behind Kohler Co-op, which scored 354.

Among the state qualifiers are senior Sophia Scolman, who broke her own school record with 464.95 points to beat out 10 other divers. She set the school record with 458.05 points in the North Shore Conference meet last month.

Sophomore Libby Michel won the 13-competitor 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 16.15 seconds.

Senior Elaine Proefrock will compete in four events, two individual ones and two relays. She was second in the 500 freestyle in 5:28.26 and fourth in the 200 freestyle in 2:04.17.

The Hawks’ 200 medley relay of sophomore Halle Grimm, senior Claire Agnew, Michel and Proefrock won in 1:54.61, just .02 seconds ahead of Kohler Co-Op.

The 200 freestyle relay of Proefrock, Grimm, Michel and senior Allison Garncarz was second in 1:42.93. Kohler Co-Op won in 1:41.6.

Sophomore Maranda Uttke will join Scolman in diving at state after taking second with 448.1 points.

Grimm took second in the 100 backstroke in 1:01.2.

Garncarz took third in the 100 freestyle in 56.58.

The state meet, usually held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Natatorium, will be at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Friday.

The Hawks had a few other impressive finishes that didn’t quite qualify for state.

Michel was third in the 100 butterfly in 1:03.03.

The 400 relay team of senior Emily Lutz, junior MaKenna Slaminski, freshman Anna Krol and Garncarz was third in 4:05.84.

Garncarz was fourth in the 50 freestyle in 25.48.

Agnew was fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.65.

Slaminski was sixth in the 200 individual medley in 2:34.27 and seventh in the 100 butterfly in 1:11.05.

Grimm was seventh in the 50 freestyle in 25.8.

Sophomore Gretchen Gehrke was ninth in diving with 260.25 points.

Junior Sofia Salko was ninth in the 100 backstroke in 1:13.02, and freshman Lindy Nelson was ninth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.55.

Port Washington girls take sixth

Port Washington’s girls scored 192 points for sixth place. Plymouth scored 247 for third, Seymour had 223 for fourth and Marinette/Peshtigo had 210 for fifth.

“The girls swam well at sectionals despite the majority just coming back from quarantine or injury,” co-coach Danielle Peiffer said.

“They missed a critical two weeks of swimming but we were thankful they were able to return just before conference and sectionals.”

Sixth was an improvement over finishing eighth in the sectional last season.

Sophomore Emma Huber was the Pirates’ top finisher, taking fifth in the 100 freestyle in 1:02.07.

The Pirates’ 200 freestyle relay of Maddi Klein, Josie Tetzlaff, Huber and Abbey Lotz was sixth in 1:54.65.

Lotz was sixth in the 500 freestyle in 6:03.46 and seventh in the 200 freestyle in 2:13.

Tetzlaff was sixth in the 100 butterfly in 1:08.35 and eighth in the 200 individual medley in 2:43.74.

Klein was seventh in the 100 freestyle in a personal record 1:02.3.

Sophomore Audyn Setzer was ninth in the 200 freestyle in 2:18.42.

“She just missed a best time, which was remarkable considering she missed almost all of October due to quarantine and then got sick and missed the conference meet,” Peiffer said.

Senior Erin Grisar swam a personal record by two seconds in the 100 butterfly, finishing 11th in 1:14.42.

“They overcame some adversities and did their best despite the setbacks. Even though things were challenging, the girls made significant improvement and are determined to come back stronger and better next year,” Peiffer said.