Girls Swim: Witt-Birn finishes third at Bay Conference Meet

Updated: 10:15 a.m., 11/6

CLINTONVILLE — The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School girls swim team earned a third-place finish at the Bay Conference Meet on Thursday at Clintonville High School.

Witt-Birn accumulated 358 points, trailing only Seymour (446) and Door County United (428) in the seven-team event.

“It just seemed like every time a Charger swimmer dove in, something special happened,” said Witt-Birn coach John Rudeen on his team’s big night.

“Finishing in third with such a small team is absolutely amazing,” said Witt-Birn senior Lauren Bahr. “We knew we’d have to fight for points at this meet, and the girls turned out some awesome swims that helped boost us up to third.”

The Chargers took first place in three events, with McKenna Metropulos having a role in each one.

As an individual, Metropulos won the 100-yard butterfly after posting a time of 1 minute, 1.99 seconds.

“It is a pretty great feeling knowing that all the time I put in really paid off in the end,” said Metropulos of her top finish. “Although it wasn’t a best time, I definitely am proud of the performance and know that I still have some left in the tank to use at sectionals.”

Metropulos came in second in the 50 freestyle (25.33) and helped the 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams to first-place finishes.

Bahr, Isabella Hegewald and Annika Resch formed the rest of the 200 medley team that earned a time of 1:56.83, while Bahr, Resch and Christina Thrun swam on the 200 freestyle team that had a time of 1:44.73.

“First-place finishes at conference are amazing,” said Bahr. “Stepping up on the first place podium with your relay team really fills you with pride for all of the hard work that you’ve put into your season that made you the best in your conference.”

Several Chargers turned in top-five finishes in individual events.

Resch came in second in the 200 freestyle (2:07.6) and 100 freestyle (57.83), while Bahr was third in the 100 freestyle (59.58) and 100 backstroke (1:06.19).

Thrun placed third in the 500 freestyle (6:03.83) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:34.26). Hegewald claimed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:17.58).

The Witt-Birn 400 freestyle relay team of Thrun, Hegewald, Alexa Chaney and Jessica Storlie took fifth in 4:18.96.

After its memorable night at the conference meet, Witt-Birn will now get ready to compete in the Division 2 Wisconsin Rapids Sectional on Nov. 9.

“Top finishes at conference are going to keep us all motivated going into sectionals for sure,” said Metropulos. “We all had amazing swims tonight, some that were completely unexpected. Placing in top three as a smaller team is the kind of motivation and confidence we need to ride on going into sectionals.”

Shawano/Bonduel took fifth with 199 points, while Clintonville came in seventh with 143 points.

Shawano/Bonduel’s top finish on the night came from the 200 medley relay team. The quartet of Allison Langlois, Gabi Bukoski, Isabel Colon and Macy Monfils posted a time of 2:09.03.

The same group teamed up in the 400 freestyle relay for a sixth-place finish in 4:22.3.

Individually, Colon placed sixth in the 100 freestyle (1:00.46), while Bukoski was sixth in the 500 freestyle (6:10.42). Anne Carrier took eighth in the 100 butterfly (1:18.72).

"As a team, we are all very proud of our performances at conference," said Colon. "From coming in seventh (place as a team) last year to going into fifth this year, it was a great achievement for us. Everyone on the team was consistently dropping time which allowed us to place much better this year. Our new coaching staff pushed us and really allowed us to all have our own successes which also helped us come together as a team."

Shawano/Bonduel is scheduled to swim in the Division 1 Sectional on Nov. 9.

Brianna Foth led the Truckers in the pool, placing second in the 500 freestyle (5:52.75) and third in the 200 freestyle (2:11.24).

Foth believes her strong finishes will serve as motivation for sectionals.

"The times make me want to work harder for sectionals to try and swim faster than what I did at conference," said Foth.

Foth was also on the fifth-place finishing 200 freestyle relay team. Isabella Koeppen, Kelli Smith and Emma Wittman filled out the team that earned a time of 1:57.83.

Individually, Smith came in sixth in the 200 freestyle (2:19.47) and eighth in the 500 freestyle (6:18.99).

Smith, Koeppen, Foth and Keara Denzin formed the eighth-place finishing 200 medley relay team. The group posted a time of 2:12.79.

Clintonville will compete in the Division 2 Plymouth Sectional on Nov. 9.

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