SPASH swimmers qualify for state at Hudson sectional

By Patrick Lynn

HUDSON — The Stevens Point Area Senior High boys swim team secured multiple state meet qualifications Saturday at the WIAA Division 1 sectional in Hudson, finishing third overall behind Hudson and the Eau Claire Alliance.

Teams from across Central and Northwest Wisconsin competed for a chance to advance to the WIAA State Championship Meet, with sectional champions in each event earning automatic berths and the next fastest times statewide also qualifying.

SPASH opened the meet with a strong showing in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Jacob Faust, Mason Soik, Tony Raczek and Henry Bowling finished second in 1 minute, 38.57 seconds, a time fast enough to qualify for the state meet.

Raczek followed with an individual victory in the 200 freestyle, touching the wall in 1:49.64 to secure an automatic berth. Faust kept the momentum going in the next event, winning the 200 individual medley in 1:58.50, giving the Panthers back-to-back wins.

In the 100 backstroke, Raczek placed fourth in a competitive field with a time of 54.81, earning his second individual state qualification of the day based on time.

Faust added his second win of the meet in the 100 breaststroke, setting a SPASH team record with a time of 59.90 and securing another individual state berth.

The Panthers closed the meet with a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay. Raczek, Bowling, Noah Quisler and Faust combined for a time of 3:17.44, giving SPASH its sixth state qualification of the day.

The Panthers will compete at the WIAA State Championship Meet on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Waukesha South High School.