Posted: Nov. 16, 2009 |(0) Comments

Brookfield East sophomore Sara Brzozowski stole the show for the local swimmers Saturday at the Girls Division 1 Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Wisconsin-Madison natatorium.

Powerful Arrowhead scored 303 points and easily won the state title, well ahead of second-place Madison East (181). East tied for 23rd with Menomonee Falls/Hamilton, D.C. Everest and Janesville Craig with 21 points. Brookfield Central and Oregon tied for 36th with nine points.

Brookfield East

Brzozowski took eighth place in the 500-yard freestyle in 5 minutes, 3.54 seconds and took 12th in the 200 free (1:54.60). She totaled 11 and five points, respectively, giving her 16 of her team's 21 points.

A closer look at Brzozowski's swims shows both were lifetime bests and her performance in the 500 was a school record and automatic all-state time.

"The state meet is tough because, unless it is pretty certain a swimmer can qualify in an event, the kids need to be tapered for sectionals, which makes it more difficult to drop time at state," Lady Spartans coach Michael Rose said. "We were able to taper Sara for state, and she swam very well with best times in both her events."

Senior Elisabeth Grisa scored East's other five points with a 12th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.78). Grisa also finished 23rd in the 200 individual medley (2:15:42).

"Elisabeth did a great job getting to the state meet," Rose said, "and although she did not drop time, she attacked her races and improved both her seeded places."

The 400 free relay of freshman Carley Stewart, Grisa, senior Amy Boritzke and Brzozowski took 21st (3:45.12), and the 200 free of Grisa, senior Allie Banks, Boritzke and Brzozowski was 22nd (1:43.08).

"The girls swam well on the relays and had a very good meet," Rose said. "We graduate three girls from our state team with Elisabeth, Amy and Allie, and they will be difficult to replace.

"Sara will be returning as one of Wisconsin's best swimmers, and we look forward to some great developments from our freshman swimmers."

Brookfield Central

Brookfield Central senior Kristin Becker finished 12th in 1-meter diving (325.65), as she scored five of the Lady Lancers' nine team points.

Senior Katie Schroeder finished 15th in the 100 butterfly (1:00.29) for two points, and the 200 medley relay of senior Kelsey Johnson, junior Beth Twitchell, Schroeder and freshman Lauren Flatley earned Central's other two points by taking 16th (1:53.73).

Kelsey Johnson was 20th in the 100 backstroke (1:01.28), and Twitchell was 23rd in the 100 free (54.66).

Central's 400 free relay of Johnson, Flatley, Twitchell and Schroeder finished 23rd (3:45.84).

"State is always a tough meet for us," Central coach Bill Twitchell said. "We focus on the team aspect all year long, and then at state we compete as individuals. Maybe the spotlight is a little too bright for us."

Coach Twitchell was proud of his athletes' performances all year as well as at state.

"We had strong showings out of our seniors - Kristin Becker, Katie Schroeder and Kelsey Johnson - all year long, and state was no exception," he said.

"Beth Twitchell, Elizabeth Tzortszos and Lauren Flatley performed well, but they will have another chance next year and I know they are thinking about next season already."