Pirates finally beat WB

Port Washington High School girls’ swim and dive coach Dani Peiffer said if someone told her when she started coaching that the Pirates would beat West Bend Co-op in a dual meet she wouldn’t have believed it.

She does now.

Port, with an enrollment of 800, topped 1,800-student West Bend, 103-81, on the road last Thursday.

“Their size alone makes them very difficult to compete with, but we did it,” Peiffer said.

Port won five events, mostly courtesy of star sophomore Amanda Lotz, who already has multiple school records. She won the 200-meter freestyle in 2 minutes, 11.48 seconds, the 400 freestyle in 4:37.72 and anchored the 200 freestyle relay, which won  in 2:02.18, and the 400 freestyle relay, which won in 4:28.

The 200 relay also included Lily Kerbel, Harper Walber-Yoshioka and Anna Nisiewicz. The 400 had Kerbel, Sophia Schicker and Nisiewicz.

Lotz took the lead on the 400 relay halfway through her leg and thought, “I need to hold it.”

Nisiewicz won the 100 butterfly in 1:23.56. Gwen Jerome was second in 1:26.77 and Amanda Crass was third in 1:27.32.

Schicker won the 100 backstroke in 1:17.66. Kerbel was second in 1:20.44.

Sophia Panek was second in the 100 freestyle in 1:08.47. Walber-Yoshioka was second in the 200 individual medley in 2:56.1. The 200 medley relay of Schicker, Walber-Yoshioka, Crass and Edynn Strube was second in 2:25.23.

“We have a lot of talent, but they are also working hard. A win isn’t as important as work ethic and consistency, and the girls are delivering in both those areas at a high level right now,” Peiffer said. “All I care about is what they are doing at practice – the rest takes care of itself.”

Chloe Barber was second in diving with 180.25 points. She also does swim events.

Port has developed some of its own depth, with a 33-member team and 15 returning letter-winners.

“There’s always someone that you’ll at least connect with so everything will be enjoyable here,” Barber said. “And everyone’s so positive. I love it so much.”

Lotz said so many team members makes the sport more fun.

“There’s a lot of energy at practice,” she said.

Port hosts Whitefish Bay on Thursday, Sept. 10.