Shawano Community High School junior Zack Soper is the top-ranked swimmer in two events in the WIAA Division 2 sectional Saturday in Stevens Point.
The Hawks’ 200-yard medley relay team, which includes Soper, received a No. 2 seed.
Event winners and the top 12 individuals and relay teams from across the state will qualify for the state meet Feb. 21-22 at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium.
Shawano coach Walberto Colon said Wednesday that his team is excited and focused.
“I’m very optimistic,” Colon said. “We’ve worked hard for it. We’ve been talking about it, putting mind, body and heart into what we do. I told them today that I want them to honor themselves, their school and the team.”
Soper, a two-time state qualifier, has the top times in the 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly.
“It’s a good challenge,” Colon said. “He’s mentally and physically ready for that type of challenge. He’ll be pushing through it the whole time. He has his own personal goal to make that happen.”
Soper will be familiar with most of his opponents, but he hasn’t faced Wausau East senior Garrett Richetto, who is the second seed in the butterfly with a time of 54.94 seconds. Soper has the top spot with a time of 53.57.
“Life challenges you, and you have to be ready to step up,” Colon said. “He has to be ready.”
Soper’s time in the backstroke is 52.23. His closest competition is Ashwaubenon junior Aaron Stange at 59.03.
The 200 medley relay team of Soper, Griffin Rades, Jake Klister, Rolondo Colon and Christian Kane — one swimmer will be an alternate Saturday — has a time of 1:49.30, just behind Ashwaubenon’s mark of 1:44.01. River Falls is a close third, clocking in at 1:51.07.
“Whoever wants it the most is going to get it,” Walberto Colon said. “Do they have a chance for state? It’s in their hands.”
The Hawks 400 freestyle relay team of Rolondo Colon, Klister, Rades, Soper and Christian Kane is the No. 4 seed, clocking in at 3:40.18. Ashwaubenon holds the top time at 3:24.48.
No other Hawks are seeded in the top five.
The other seedings are Rades, 500 freestyle, sixth, and 100 backstroke, eighth; Christian Kane, 200 individual medley, eighth, and 100 breaststroke, eighth; Adrian Tetting, 100 freestyle, eighth, 50 freestyle, 19th; Rolondo Colon, 200 freestyle, 1oth, and 500 freestyle, 10th; Klister, 50 freestyle, 10th, and 100 freestyle, 10th; 200 freestyle relay (Easter, Nathan Kane, Kraning, Alex Retzlaff and Christian Kane), 10th; Nathan Kane, 200 freestyle, 21st, 500 freestyle, 18th; Kraning, 50 freestyle, 25th; Retzlaff, 100 butterfly, 16th, 100 breaststroke, 16th; Cayman Kunschke, 100 breaststroke, 22nd.
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