Tomasiewicz leads nine Shorewood entries to state D2 swim meet

Shorewood - Having the taper work almost perfectly was a wonderful thing to see for Shorewood boys swim coach Rob McCabe, as the Greyhounds advanced seven individuals and two relays to this Friday's WIAA State Division 2 meet in Madison.

"Watching tapered swimmers is great thing," McCabe said. "The boys swam really well with several lifetime best swims and inspiring races. We finished third as team, which is where we were seeded to finish but sectionals is a meet of individuals. Individuals and relay teams qualifying for the state meet."

The Greyhounds advanced their swimmers out of an intensely competitive sectional meet at Cudahy on Saturday, as they finished a close third behind Elkhorn and Whitefish Bay.

Heading up the qualifying effort for Shorewood is Jay Tomasiewicz, who will be the sixth seed in the 200 individual medley and the fourth seed in the 100 butterfly while teammate Kirill Korolev will be the 10th seed in the 200 free and the fifth seed in the 500 free.

In addition, Henry Sanders will take part in both the 200 IM and the 100 breast stroke and Philip Clausen earned a spot in the 100 butterfly.

The 200 medley relay team of Tomasiewicz, Sanders, Andrew Clokey and Clausen will be the ninth seed and the 400 free unit of Tomasiewicz, Clausen, Suhith Bayana and Korolev will be the 10th seed.

"Looking ahead to the state meet I think all the boys and relays can improve on their seeding and are peaking at the right time," McCabe said. "The WIAA State meet is a special experience that kids remember for a lifetime. The meet brings out the best in the athletes and the electricity that fills the Natatorium is contagious. Friday night is going to fun!"

McCabe said he will make an adjustment to the 200 medley relay to maximize its scoring potential. Shorewood was sixth at state last season. Swimming timed finals at the Natatorium start at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The Greyhounds earned their spots in the highly intense 11-team sectional at Cudahy, as Elkhorn won with 360, Bay was second with 355 and Shorewood third with 346.

Tomasiewicz had a monster meet to lead the Greyhounds. He won the 200 IM in 2:02.81 and then turned around and claimed the 100 butterfly in 55.02. He started his day by leading the 200 medley team to a victory in a season-best of 1:43.96 and closed it by helping the 400 free crew earn its spot with a third-place effort of 3:26.77.

In addition, the Greyhounds had two other event winners including Korolev in the 500 free (4:52.38) and Sanders in the 100 breast stroke (1:04.02).

Korolev earned another spot by taking second in the 200 free (1:50.33) while Sanders claimed another slot himself with a runner-up showing in the 200 IM (2:07.62). Clausen claimed a position in the 100 butterfly with a third (56.83).

McCabe was just as pleased for the swimmers who did not make state including Kevin Weisling (two best times), Devon Brusnahan (personal best in the 100 backstroke), Charlie Hawks (personal best 100 breast stroke), Carlo DeSando (PB in the 100 free) and Clokey (good finish in the butterfly).

The 200 free relay team of Clausen, Sanders, Bayana and Korolev was third in 1:34.86 and missed out on state by less than .8 of a second.

Other top 16 places included the following: 200 free: Weisling, eighth (1:58.47); Bayana, ninth (1:58.53); 200 IM: Clokey, 10th (2:17.31); 100 butterfly: Clokey, sixth (59.14); 100 free: Bayana, ninth (53.45); DeSando, 13th (55.47); 500 free: Weisling, fifth (5:14.75); 100 backstroke: Brusnahan, fifth (59.9); and 100 breast stroke: Hawks, sixth (1:07.69); DeSando, 12th (1:13.83).