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Parker and Craig tune up swim teams

JANESVILLE — Janesville Parker High School’s boys swim team is expecting a growth spurt this season.

Parker defeated Beloit, 101-69, in a Big Eight Conference dual meet opener on Tuesday.

The Vikings will rely on six seniors.

Senior Marcus Genrich finished ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke at the 2008 WIAA state meet and was a member of Parker’s state-qualifying 200 freestyle relay team.

Rhodes said Genrich is aiming for a top-five finish in the state breaststroke this season.

“That would be nice,” Rhodes said. “That is kind of the goal.’’

Genrich has the makeup to be successful.

“He did some club swimming, but he is not in the kind of shape he would like to be at this point,” Rhodes said. “Marcus is very hard working and a great leader by example.’’

Genrich and senior Nick Olin are the Vikings’ captains.

Olin wants to leave the Parker program on a high note.

“Nick has a chip on his shoulder,” Rhodes said. “He has been to state as an alternate, but he wants to be in state the meet and not just in a relay, but in an individual event.’’

Olin will concentrate on the 100 breaststroke and the 200 freestyle. He is ranked ninth with a 58.5 among the top 10 breaststroke times at Parker.

“We switched Nick from the 200 individual medley to the 200 free because we saw a better opportunity for the team,” Rhodes said. “He liked the 200 free because he got pretty worn out doing the 200 IM.”

Rhodes expects senior Phillip Yahnke to pick up the Vikings, too.

“I’m really impressed with Yahnke,” Rhodes said. “He stayed with swimming after the high school season was over, and I look for some big improvements from him.”

Rhodes is hoping senior Ryan Turner can boost the Vikings.

“Ryan is a sprinter,” Rhodes said. “He didn’t swim his junior year, but he’s back, and he is the kind of sprinter I’m counting on to be an integral part of the relays.’’

Other seniors expected to contribute are Steven Hudy and Alex Tadt.

Parker will have to fill a huge gap left by graduated David Dvorak, a three-time state qualifier, now a member of the University of Iowa swim team.

“D.J. was a special guy,” Rhodes said. “He had a knowledge of the competition in the events because he swam against them all year.’’

Caleb Sigmund and Jacob Johnson will be key members of Parker’s junior class.

“Jacob is a big, long boy that will be in the longer freestyle events,” Rhodes said.

Caleb and his sophomore brother, Nate, are conditioned well.

“They spent most of the summer in the pool,” Rhodes said. “I know they have been in the water for a good period of time, and they should do neat things this year.’’

Hayden Simonis, Cody Speaker and Caleb Williams round out Parker’s junior competitors.

Along with Nate Sigmund, Markus Murdy should step up for the sophomores.

“He swam the 50 to the 500 freestyle and lettered as a freshman,” Rhodes said. “He spent time in the water this summer and went to a camp in Michigan.

“He came back with a shirt full of autographs from Olympic swimmers and a butterfly (stroke),” Rhodes said. “I’m looking to use him there. It’s nice to see. He put in the work this summer.’’

Jon Hammon, Jacob Oldenburg, Blaze Hollibush, Jordan Dean and Christian Stackle complet Parker’s sophomore competitors.

Top Parker freshmen include Alex Thompson, Kyle Amundson, Richard Garcia and Brandon Jackson.

The remaining Parker varsity schedule:

DECEMBER: 5—At Madison East. 6—Craig Invitational. 12—Madison West. 13—Parker Relays. 19—At Verona.

JANUARY: 9—At Janesville Craig. 16—Madison La Follette. 17—Manitowoc Invitational. 23—At Madison Memorial. 27—Middleton. 29—At Spartan Invitational. 31—At Racine Case.

FEBRUARY: 7—Big Eight Meet at Middleton. 14—WIAA sectionals at Middleton. 21—WIAA state meet at UW Natatorium

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Coach Brian Kitzman is counting on experience to pay dividends this season for his Janesville Craig High School boys swim team.

Kitzman thinks Craig’s nine seniors will make a big splash in Big Eight Conference meets and beyond.

“The core of our team is the senior class,” Kitzman said.

Nick Hazekamp leads the solid senior contingent.

“He is the only returning state qualifier in an individual event,” Kitzman said.

Hazekamp finished eighth in the 100-yard backstroke at last season’s Division 1 state meet in a school-record time of 53.88 seconds.

If Hazekamp meets his goals this season, he will break his school mark in the backstroke en route to a top three finish at the 2009 state meet.

Adding icing to Hazekamp’s cake would be qualifying for state in a second individual event.

“His best shot will be in the 100 freestyle,” Kitzman said.

Matt Enloe joined Hazekamp on Craig’s state-qualifying 400 freestyle relay team and swam in the state 200 freestyle relay.

Enloe is out to make a name for himself this season.

“Matt’s goal is to make state in the 50 and 100 freestyles,” Kitzman said. “Those are the events he does best.’’

Kitzman said Enloe will have to break 23-flat to qualify in the 50 and break 50 seconds in the 100.

“He has a good chance,” Kitzman said.

Also expected to make sizeable contributions, including meeting lofty goals in the three relay events, are seniors Sam Waddell, Taylor Pyne, Austin Dostalek, Sean Davis, Aaron Bagley, Scott Frye and Frank Wang.

Craig has just two juniors on the roster, Zac Austin and John Maginot. Top sophomores are Nick Strub and Alex Loftus.

“Loftus is only a couple seconds away from swimming to what made it to state in the breaststroke last year,” Kitzman said.

Besides the goals of individuals, Kitzman said the Cougars want to make a mark in the relay events.

“The boys would like to take down all three of the (school) relay records,” Kitzman said. “A couple are 15-20 years old, and one is 26 years old.

“If we bring those relay records down, we should have some very good relay teams at state,” Kitzman added.

Craig won three Big Eight dual meets out of seven last season, defeating Beloit, Parker and co-op La Follette/Sun Prairie. With the addition of Verona, the Big Eight is back to eight teams and Craig is shooting for five victories in the duals.

“We are going to try and improve in the conference,” Kitzman said. “We are going to do the best we can.’’

The Craig varsity schedule:

DECEMBER: 5—Beloit. 6—Craig Invitational. 12—Madison La Follette. 19—Madison Memorial.

JANUARY: 6—At Middleton. 9—Janesville Parker. 16—At Madison East. 17—At Middleton/Cardinal Invitational. 23—Madison West. 24—Menomonee Falls Invitatational. 29—Spartan Invitational. 30—At Verona.

FEBRUARY: 7—Big Eight meet, at Middleton. 14—WIAA sectional. 21—WIAA state meet, at UW Natatorium.