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No. 1-ranked Milton wants to make a splash at Division 2 state meet

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Milton swimmers Bridgette Alexander, left, and Katelyn Holmquist are both threats to win at Friday's state swim meet.

MILTON — Milton’s High School’s girls swim program has been a fixture in the top 10 at the state meet the last 10 years.

The Red Hawks have finished as high as fourth in Division 2 in 2006 and were fifth in that division last year.

Heading into WIAA Division 2 state meet Friday at the UW Natatorium in Madison, the Red Hawks could make an even bigger splash.

Thanks to top-seeded Bridgette Alexander in the 200 individual medley and top-seeded Katelyn Holmquist in the 100 backstroke, Milton is the No. 1 ranked team coming into the state meet and a definite threat to unseat defending champion Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol.

First-year Milton coach Kristin Lehman said winning a state title is always the ultimate goal, but not anything the team has talked about.

“The emphasis for Friday night is still about the kids,” Lehman said. “I want them to go up there and improve their times, and hopefully, that will be good enough to get a spot on the podium. Winning state (as a team) would be icing on the cake.”

Milton won its first Badger South Conference title this season and followed that up by winning the tough Baraboo Sectional last Saturday. The Red Hawks edged DeForest to win the sectional title. The Norskies were Division 2 state champions in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and were second last year.

Holmquist and Alexander will play vital roles in the Red Hawks’ hopes of a state title. Holmquist, who was second at state in the 100 backstroke last year, is the top seed this year. The sophomore enters the state meet with a time of 56.77 seconds, while Alexander is right behind at 57.27.

Sauk Prairie’s Alison Meng is the defending champion in the event and is seeded fourth with a time of 58.96. Holmquist also is entered in the 100 butterfly and will swim on Milton’s 400 freestyle relay team that is seeded first with a time of 3:37.24.

Could a Milton win in the 400 freestyle relay cap off a state title for the Red Hawks?

“I don’t think anyone is really thinking about that right now, but if we did win state, it would be nice to have it wrapped up before the last event,” Holmquist said. “Then there is no pressure.

“I think state is within our grasp, but all of us have to swim up and have our best times.”

Alexander enters the state meet as the heavy favorite in the 200 individual medley. The freshman bettered Jennah Haney’s school record of 2:08.29 in the event with a time of 2:08.27, and as the top seed, is more than three seconds ahead of second-seeded Ellen Siello of Shorewood (2:11.85). She’s also a gold-medal threat in the 100 backstroke.

“It’s nice to have Katelyn pushing me in the backstroke, but for the most part, I don’t even notice who is next to me during a race,” Alexander said.

Holmquist’s twin sister, Abby, is seeded second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:55.75 and the fifth-seed in the 100 freestyle (54.01). Milton freshman Chelsea Calhoon is the fourth seed 200 freestyle and the fourth-seed in the 500 freestyle. Milton junior Stacy Kincade is also in the fast heat of the 500 freestyle.

The Red Hawks have depth, experience and abundance of talent heading into state.

And with the majority of the team underclassmen, a state title seems inevitable in the near future—if not this year.