Shawano boys swim team claims 3rd at GNC Championships

2 relays, Langlois place 3rd to lead Hawks
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The Shawano Community High School boys swim team placed third at the Great Northern Conference Championships on Jan. 22 in Shawano.

The Hawks earned 13 personal records on the night in what was the team’s final event before the postseason.

“It’s exciting to see that we’re continuing to improve knowing that sectionals is a week away,” said Shawano coach Robyn Bartal.

“These kids are pumped about it. It keeps their mental focus where it needs to be, which helps them keep their physical focus where it needs to be, so it’s very exciting.”

Shawano started strong when the 200-yard medley relay team of Michael Dickmann, Brenden Stempa, Camden Kroll and Jack Reed posted a time of 1 minute, 56.56 seconds to place third.

Later on, Stempa, Reed, Kroll and Josh Bergmann teamed up to take third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:41.05).

Shawano’s top individual finish came from freshman Ben Langlois, who came in third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:09.89. Langlois also placed sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:10.06).

Shawano has several fifth- and sixth-place finishes on the night.

Kroll finished fifth in the 100 butterfly (1:02.3) and sixth in the 50 freestyle (24.67), topping his seed times in both events.

“It feels pretty good,” said Kroll of all the team’s personal records. “Every day we spend practice together, and it’s just great to see people who are swimming for their first year just grow. It’s a great feeling, especially being a senior when you can trust that your team is going to be in good hands.”

Dickmann claimed fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:10.38), while Stempa took fifth in the 200 IM (2:32.06). Bergmann placed sixth in the 200 freestyle (2:13.47).

Braden Barkley came in sixth in the 200 IM (2:47.94) and 100 backstroke (1:12.23).

Barkley also teamed up with Carson Cummings, Brady Hannes and Langlois for a sixth-place finish in the 200 medley relay (2:08.51). The quartet shaved nearly 12 full seconds off its seed time.

Barkley, Cummings, Hannes and Adan Reedy also finished better than their seed time in the 200 freestyle relay (1:53.5), carving almost three seconds off.

To end the night, Dickmann, Langlois, Bergmann and Reed formed the 400 freestyle relay team that placed fifth in 4:02.52.

The Hawks will now gear up for the postseason, which starts on Jan. 30 at the Division 2 Ashwaubenon Sectional. This year, state will be held at the Waukesha South High School Natatorium, with Division 2 events being held Feb. 5.

“It’s going to be fun because we’ll get to see new teams outside of our conference and we get to see how we do,” said Barkley of the team entering the postseason. “We’ll just have to work harder (leading up to the sectional).”

Team scores: 1. Rhinelander 414; 2. Lakeland 239; 3. Shawano 219; 4. Tomahawk 199; 5. Medford 103

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