Bs key Baraboo's win
BERLIN — Facing Berlin's strong squad, which featured four state-experienced swimmers, the Baraboo High School girls swimming team had to relay on its depth to pull out a win Thursday. In every relay race of the meet, the Thunderbirds' second team or "B team" took third, behind the Baraboo A team and Berlin's top team in a 92-78 victory. "Our B relays were key to the victory," BHS coach Lynn Keeling said. The meet was held in a 50-meter pool, so all events were slightly longer than those held in 50-yard pools, such as at the Baraboo Indoor Pool. Keeling said it's usually a tough adjustment, but her team didn't seem to be affected by it on Thursday. Baraboo took first in the first relay of the meet, with Emily O'Rourke, Blair Murphy, Shannon Keeling and Emily Thompson finishing the 200-meter medley relay in 2 minutes, 10.32 seconds. The T-Bird 200 freestyle relay team of Ellie Ruefer, Lacey Craker, Raegen Trimmer and Thompson continued to perform well in the event, winning with a time of 1:59.51. "Our 200 free relay seems to be dominating at every meet," coach Keeling said. The Thunderbirds also had three individual winners. Shannon Keeling won the 100 butterfly in 1:10.22. Ruefer took the 100 freestyle in 1:04.14, with O'Rourke making it a one-two finish at 1:06.58. Kayla Steinhorst came in first in the 400 freestyle race with a time of 5:03.11. Coach Keeling said the result of the meet was even more pleasing because her team had gone through a tough week of practice leading up to it. "This was a sweet victory because I had told the girls we were going to treat it as a practice," she said. "We completed the most yards we have ever done at a single practice just the day before, and they still swam well." Coach Keeling and the team have attributed their strong start this season to the intense work ethic during practices. A day after the meet, there was not sign of the team resting on their laurels. "All 30 girls got up for 6 a.m. practice Friday in spite of the long drive back from Berlin Thursday night," the coach said. "I think that is what I am most proud of." Results 200 Medley relay: 1st 2:10.32 O 'Rourke, Murphy, Keeling, Thompson; 3rd: 2:18.60 Kayla Hanson, Steinhorst, Craker, Raegen Trimmer. 200 Freestyle: Ruefer-2nd 2:20.39; Pillsbury 3rd: 2:22.42. 200 Individual Medley: Keeling-2nd: 2:34.51; Murphy-3rd: 2:45.04; Steinhorst-5th: 2:49.95 50 Freestyle: Trimmer-3rd: 30.86; Schwarz 4th: 31.24. 100 Butterfly: Keeling-1st: 1:10.22; Craker -3rd: 1:15.59; Kayla Hanson-4th: 1:18.01. 100 Freestyle: Ruefer-1st: 1:04.14; O'Rourke 2nd: 1:06.58; Schwarz 5th: 1:10.61. 400 meter Free: Steinhorst-1st: 5:03.11; Hanson-4th: 5:15.29. 200 Free relays: 1st: 1:59.51 Ruefer, Craker,Trimmer, Thompson; 3rd: Blair Murphy, Schwarz, Aleah Kuchta, Gemma Pillsbury 2:05.05. 100 Backstroke: O'Rourke-2nd: 1:10.31; Hanson 3rd: 1:15.99; Austin Hanger-5th: 1:20.66. 100 Breaststroke: Murphy-2nd: 1:22.05; Pillsbury-3rd: 1:25.61; Lacey Craker-5th: 1:29.87. 400 Free Relay : A-2nd Ruefer, Thompson, O'Rourke, Keeling; B-3rd: Steinhorst, Kayla Hanson, Schwarz, Pillsbury.