The Hatchet swimmers waited for the final results of Saturday’s WIAA Swim Sectional filled with anticipation, although tinged with dread that they had come up a hair short.
But the team-scoring countdown at the UW-SP pool named off Ladysmith as the runner-up squad, leaving the top spot for Tomahawk.
“It is late Sunday afternoon, and I still cannot believe we won sectionals,” THS coach Theresa L’Esperance said. “When we lost the 200 free relay to Ladysmith, I shook Coach Gerry’s hand and conceded the win to him. I was not giving up the chance to still pull some relay’s through to state, but I did not think we could win sectional.
“When they announced second place, pandemonium took place. Somehow, there was a mouse in the stands close to the score table. The parents were shaking #1 fingers in the air to the team, but we did not understand. Even after the meet, I had to double check at the scorer’s table to make sure no errors had occurred.
“Apparently, Ladysmith had a DQ (disqualification) in the 500, and it cost them the championship. If that swimmer had not DQ’d, we would have finished with a tie, virtually unheard of in swimming. But, we walked away with the championship!”
Tomahawk edged Ladysmith 313-310, and River Falls finished third (250).
Five THS records fell by the wayside, with Lauren Hilt dropping the 50 (:24.18) and 100 free (:52.90) marks in victory, and anchoring the runner-up 200 (with Morgan Weber, Rachel Dallman, Mikhayla Kleich, 1:41.49) and winning 400 free relays (with Baylee Dallman, R. Dallman, Weber, 3:44.61).
Weber ranked third in the 50 free in a state-qualifying time of :25.19, and R. Dallman (:25.92) hit the podium in sixth.
Annaluz Fox broke the diving mark (323 point) with a fourth-place finish and state berth.
Other medal-stand performances came from: R. Dallman in the 100 free (4th, :56.34); Kleich in the 500 (5th, 5:49.48); the 200 medley relay (5th, Katherine Russell, Karli Cecil, Michaela Galganski, Kleich, 1:59.12); B. Dallman in the 200 (6th, 2:08.80); Cecil in the 100 fly (7th, 1:08.30); and Kirsten Marcks (7th, 1:14.62) and Galganski (8th, 1:14.89) in the 100 brea.
Additional top finishes came from: Russell (9th, 100 fly, 1:09.63)/10th, 100 back, 108.19); B. Dallman (9th, 100 free, :58.68); Klech (11th, 50 free, :26.56); Jackie Elliott (12th, 100 back, 1;09.01); Taylor Hansen (15th, 100 fly, 1:11.54).
L’Esperance pointed out the squad set other firsts besides time, including the initial time every swimmer scored sectional points, the first time THS qualified two to state in the same event (the 50 free with Hilt and Weber) and the only time they have been undefeated in D2 competition through the sectional level.
Team standings – Tomahawk 313, Ladysmith 310, River Falls 250, Menomonie 207, Lakeland 205, Medford 200, Rice Lake 179, Wittenberg 143, Clintonville 123, Antigo 88, Merrill 48, Rhinelander 42, Colby/Abby 33, New London 26.