Shawano Community High School junior Zach Soper celebrated atop the podium twice Friday, winning both the 100-yard backstroke and 100 butterfly at the WIAA Division 2 state swim meet in Madison.
This was Soper’s third trip to the state meet, held at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium, in both events. As a freshman, he finished 11th in the butterfly and 13th in the backstroke. Last year, he was fourth in the butterfly and second in the backstroke.
“It feels really, really good,” Soper said. “It feels like all the work I put in really paid off. It just feels great, standing up on the podium in the first-place position.”
Soper won the 100-yard butterfly Friday in 52.24, a hair slower than his sectional-best time of 52.23, edging Shorewood sophomore Michael Perry (52.51) and Monona Grove senior Andrew Sackett (52.85).
He said, of the two events, he was more nervous about the butterfly.
“That was closer as far as the times,” Soper said. “I would say it was my harder event. It was great to get that one out of the way and get the first place.”
The race featured four of last year’s top five finishers. Soper got off to a very quick start, covering the first 50 yards in 24.26 and leading Sackett (24.64) at the midway point. Perry, who also placed second last year, finished strong, turning in the best second 50 (27.65) to overtake Sackett. Soper swam the second half in 27.78.
He saved his best for the backstroke, winning in a personal-best 50.79 — the fifth fastest time in state meet history.
“I felt really good. My legs and my arms, I was really relaxed,” Soper said. “I felt like I would do a good job.”
Soper and Beaver Dam senior Jan Hanson, who won the 100 freestyle title Friday, battled from start to finish, with Hanson clocking the first 50 in 25.21 and Soper in 25.25. But Soper took control on the second turn and was the only swimmer to finish the final 50 in under 26 seconds, clocking a 25.55 to Hanson’s 26.37.
Hanson finished second in 51:58 and Edgewood senior Payton tuDuits was third in 52.82.
“When I finished, for both races, I just looked up and I saw my mom and I just started smiling,” Soper said. “It just meant so much to me, having my mom and my sister and everybody there.”
Soper was the top seed in the event after winning the Stevens Point sectional in 51:06, more than two seconds better than any of the other 16 state finalists’ best times.
He did miss the podium in one event as Shawano’s 200-yard medley relay team placed 15th in 1:45.46. The squad included Soper, freshman Griffin Rades, junior Rolando Colon and junior Jake Klister. Edgewood won the event in 1:36.89.
The Hawks finished with 44 points, 18th of the 34 teams at the meet, which was won by Edgewood (294). Each of Soper’s victories was worth 20 points, and the relay team added four.
Soper’s performance was more than an individual triumph, however.
“It’s great for the school, it’s great for him and the swimming program in Shawano as a whole,” Shawano coach Walberto Colon said. “They were pretty exciting races. … He competed tough. It was a tough competition.”
Going into his senior season next year, in addition to his two state titles, Soper will be a three-time sectional champion in the backstroke and back-to-back sectional titlist in the butterfly.
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