Those Warhawks did it again.
Merrill native Jenny Leider led her Arrowhead team to a third consecutive WIAA State Girls Swimming D1 title in just her third season at the head of the program.
Arrowhead crushed Waukesha South/Mukwonago by a 260-204.5 score to finish as best of 46 competing teams in D1. The Warhawks earned nearly 100 points more than third-place teams Middleton and Madison East.
Oftentimes coaches point to their first title as the most special, but this one garners Leider’s vote.
“It was a magical season, probably the best state championship season we’ve had,” she said. “It was pretty special just because we had a few surprises with girls missing due to various reasons, including a couple of top girls.
“What was unique was we had no individuals state champions. When they interviewed me after the meet the first question they asked was how did you win without any (individual) state champs.”
Teamwork was her answer.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a team that bonded so well,” Leider said. “We won the 200 medley and 200 free relays, and several of our girls placed high but didn’t win.
“The girls swam out of their minds on Saturday in Madison and we usually don’t swim as well in Madison.”
How about #4?
“I think we have good chance,” Leider said. “We’ve got some good freshmen coming in again, so we’re reloading.”
Leider was an assistant coach for the girls program for two years before taking over the reigns in 2008.