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Milton junior seeks another state swimming title

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Milton High's Jeff Maxwell is one of the state's top freestyle swimmers.

MILTON — Jeff Maxwell loves to hunt.

The Milton High junior bagged three bucks and a doe during the gun and bow season.

But with the boys WIAA Division 2 state swimming and diving meet less than a month away, Maxwell hopes to trade his deer stand for an award stand. His sights are set on another state title.

Maxwell won the 500 freestyle in Division 2 a year ago and was second in the 200 freestyle. With two of the top times in both events this year, Maxwell is locked and loaded in his bid to repeat.

“I’ve put in a lot of extra time in the pool this season,” he said. “Other than Wednesday, I’m pretty much swimming two times a day during the week.

“It’s all part of the plan I have to get back to state, and hopefully, do even better than I did last year.”

When Maxwell says he increased his workload this season, he means it. According to longtime Milton High boys swim coach Tom Lieder, Maxwell put in over 115,000 yards during the Christmas break. That should be enough to earn him frequent flyer miles.

“Jeff’s dedication to the sport, and to school, is remarkable,” Lieder said of the honor student. “He has a really strong work ethic, and what really sets him apart is that he sets very realistic goals. He knows what he’s capable of achieving and where he wants to end up.’’

Lieder said Maxwell’s accomplishments are heightened by the fact that he doesn’t have the typical swimmer physique. Maxwell is not tall and lanky, like a Michael Phelps, but is average in height with a stocky build. Lieder says Maxwell makes up for any physical deficiencies with a ton of natural ability and “nice buoyancy in the water.”

“Out of the water, Jeff doesn’t look like a kid that would swim when he gets to college. But once he gets in the water, it’s pretty obvious that he’ll swim at the next level.”

Lieder’s son, Craig, held almost every Milton High swim record when he graduated in 1990. Coach Lieder wasn’t sure he’d ever see those records fall, but Maxwell is now the record-holder in seven of the nine individual events.

Maxwell won last year’s 500 freestyle state title with a time of 4:42.72 and is hoping to chase the Division 2 state record of 4:32.44 set by Austin Ramirez of Brookfield Central in 1995. He finished second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:44.54 a year ago, and like the 500, is hoping to make a run at the 200 freestyle record time of 1:39.0 set by John Cahoy of Hudson in 1995.

The long-term goal is to qualify for the U.S. Junior Nationals in Florida, along with classmate and good friend, Jennah Haney.

“I need to swim about a 1:40.5 to qualify for nationals in the 200, and 4:39 to make it in the 500,” Maxwell said. “I know I’m never going to qualify for the Olympic Trials, but I would love to go to Junior Nationals.

“And because Jennah is always kidding me about having won more state titles than me, I want to at least try and make it to Nationals with her.”

Maxwell, the son of Jeff and Monica, started swimming when he 6 and progressed rapidly. He swam for the Marlins Swim Club when he was younger and now competes with the J-Hawks out of Whitewater.

When Maxwell’s not swimming, he’s hunting at the family’s cabin in Prairie du Chien. Bow hunting is his favorite way to hunt, but as long as he’s tracking down a deer, a squirrel, a rabbit or a turkey, he’s happy.

Later this month, Jeff Maxwell hopes to track down another state title or two.