Nov. 15, 2019
By Scott Williams
WESTON – Winning a Wisconsin Valley Conference regular season dual meet championship is really neat.
To follow that accomplishment up with a winning effort at the Valley Meet is a hoot.
Showing the western part of the state D.C. Everest girls swimming is a force by claiming a narrow runner-up finish at the Hudson Sectional championship is extremely cool.
Now the Evergreens get to experience the ultimate reward Saturday when a large contingent of swimmers compete at the Division 1 state meet at the UW Natatorium.
DCE will be represented by Bethany Rahn and Sara Mayer, each of whom qualified for state in a pair of individual events, along with Madelynne VanErmen.
But the list of state participants doesn’t end there. The Evergreens also sent all three relay teams to Madison. The 200-yard medley relay and 400 freestyle relays broke school records to get there with respective times of 1:47.69 and 1:36.94.
“We are very excited and trust the girls will swim even better at state,” first-year DCE coach Garrett Richetto said. “The ladies swam fantastic (at sectionals).”
Richetto is convinced his swimmers will add to their special season at the state meet.
The Evergreens are seeded eighth in the 200 medley relay and the quartet of Mayer, Rahn, VanErmen and Marina Schinker have an excellent chance to find a spot on the podium with a top six finish Saturday.
Claire Tesch, VanErmen, Schinker and Katelin Hall enter the 200 freestyle relay event seeded 20th but Richetto firmly believes a top five showing is within reach.
Even more success could be enjoyed by the three individuals who reached state. Mayer will compete in the 50 and 100 freestyle while Rahn will look to make a splash in the 200 and 500 freestyle.
VanErmen will cap off a fantastic season with a berth in the 100 breaststroke.
No matter what happens Saturday, the Evergreens have enjoyed a special season, and the future looks extremely bright.
“We created an environment where the girls were not just teammates but a swim family,” Richetto said. “Overall, it has been an incredible season filled with fun memories, breaking records and creating a new family.”
Division 2
MADISON – Emma Clifford turned in a number of strong performances for Wausau East during the state competition held Friday night.
Clifford, a junior, finished seventh in the 100 butterfly with a time of 58.54 seconds and added an eighth-place result in the 100 backstroke (59.82).
She was joined by Sydney Schjoneman, Lucy Gilles and Alison Gillesto who combined to grab a 10th-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay in a time of 3:42.36.
The 200 medley relay team of Clifford, Schjoneman, Morgan Forbes and Alison Gilles teamed up to place 11th 1:52.0. In the 200 freestyle relay, the Lumberjacks’ Chloe Kremnitzer, Morgan Forbes, Lucy Gilles and Alison Gilles turned in a 13th place showing (1:41.86).
Lucy Gilles also helped the Lumberjacks cause with a tie for 13th in the 50 freestyle (25.36).
East finished 17th in the final team standings with 60.5 points. Madison Edgewood cruised to the state championship with 290 points.
