Panther-Hawks seek conference crown

Greendale - Head coach Dale Schrank thinks his Greendale/Greenfield boys swimming team has a good chance at the championship in the Woodland Conference Meet on Saturday.

First, the meet will be held in 'home waters,' at the Greenfield Natatorium, with diving beginning at 9:30 a.m. and swimming events at 1 p.m.

Also, the Panther-Hawks appear to be in fine form heading into it, coming off a 101-85 victory over New Berlin on Jan. 25 and a strong third-place finish with 321 points in Saturday's Bob White Invitational at Wauwatosa West.

"The swimmers were a little flat this weekend," Schrank admitted, "but I really think, with our taper now in full swing, we should be ready for the weekend. I certainly cannot promise a win, but I can guarantee another very exciting Woodland Conference Meet."

The Greendale/Greenfield divers stole the show at the White Invite. Will Kivlin claimed third place with 340.4 points, while Liam Duffy was sixth at 301.25 and Jake Howard 13th with 229.3.

"All year long, we have been able to get some great dives at practice and then be very inconsistent at the meets," diving coach Cheryl Weber said. "On Saturday, we did a much better job of not only being more consistent, but also much better at cleaning up a number of the little things that have been holding us back all year."

She added Duffy's final dive scored more than 45 points, and that Duffy finished just two points out of fourth and Howard one point out of 10th place.

"This is a great springboard going into the conference meet on Saturday," Weber said.

Andrew Staszak won the 500 freestyle with 5 minutes, 5.65 seconds, while seconds were taken by Ross Rybakowicz in the 100 breaststroke at 1:05.76 and the 200 medley relay team of Rick Perez, Rybakowicz, Staszak and Adam Fleischhacker with 1:44.03.

Snaring third were Staszak in the 200 freestyle (1:55.24), Rybakowicz in the 200 individual medley (2:07.11) and the 200 freestyle unit of Rybakowicz, Shaun and Adam Fleischhacker and Shaun Lucchesi (1:34.88).

Finishing fourth were Perez in the 200 freestyle (1:55.29) and the 100 backstroke (1:00.00) and the 400 freestyle squad of Lucchesi, Shaun Fleischhacker, Staszak and Perez (3:34.28).

In the New Berlin dual on Jan. 25, Perez won the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, Rybakowicz the 100 breaststroke, Adam Fleischhacker the 50 freestyle, Staszak the 500 freestyle and Kivlin the diving.

New Berlin's 200 medley relay team was disqualified and had to forfeit first place; otherwise, the margin would have been only 95-91 for Greendale/Greenfield.

Taking that score into account, along with the 91-91 tie the Panther-Hawks had with Shorewood, it appears that a good battle between those three teams is looming for Saturday.