By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
A quartet of Stevens Point Area Senior High girls swimmers will compete in a total of three events Saturday at the WIAA state meet in Madison.
Kara Martin, Callie Wild, Megan Golla and Liz Potter will team in the 200 freestyle relay while Martin and Wild will compete in individual events.
Martin, a senior in her fourth trip to the state meet, is seeded 24th in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:03.71. Wild, a sophomore making her first state meet appearance, is seeded 24th in the 50-yard freestyle in 0:26.07.
The 200 freestyle relay is also seeded 24th in 1:45.49. The Panthers will be in the first heat in all three events.
"It's a unique opportunity," SPASH coach George Klingbail said. "We need to come in being prepared and being relaxed. It's just us and the watch.
"There's only one way to go. We're going to swim faster."
The Panthers hope to enjoy their state meet experiences. "I really just wanted to go down there and have fun," Martin said. "It really puts us in a no-pressure situation.
"We'll see how we can do against the best in the state. Hopefully that will push us faster."
For Martin, she reached her goal of qualifying for four straight state meets. "I was hoping once our medley relay made it my freshman year that I would have the chance," Martin said.
Last year Martin finished ninth in the 100 backstroke in 1:00.66. She also was on the 10th-place 400 freestyle team that included Potter and the now graduated April Burant and Jacci Menzel.
"Kara's a seasoned veteran," Klingbail said. "There's not a lot of girls who have qualified all four years. That's quite an accomplishment."
Potter, also a senior, is making her third trip to state. "It's something else. There's so much energy.
"Since we're not in a lot of events, we get to sit back and watch. There's so many fast swimmers."
Wild and Golla are making the trip for the first time. The pair has competed in major swimming meets before, though. Both have competed at the state and national level while swimming with the YMCA.
"Callie's been our go-to gal in the 50. She knows what she needs to do," Klingbail said. "There's not too many events Megan hasn't swam," Klingbail said. "Megan struggled through some health problems and to get down to state is a great accomplishment. I'm sure she's looking to bust loose on some good times."
Klingbail hopes all four can continue to swim at the high level they have. They have had tough challenges the last three weeks with the Mequon Homestead, Valley Conference and WIAA sectional meets, Klingbail said.
"It's awful tough to come back a week later and do it again. All of them had season-best times (at sectionals), so we'll see.
"It's a nice group of deserving kids. They've worked very, very hard for this."
At the WIAA sectional last Saturday at Menomonie, SPASH finished fourth with 197 points. Eau Claire Memorial (415), Menomonie (302) and Hudson (227.5) were first, second and third, respectively.
Martin was fifth in the 100 backstroke, Wild was fifth in the 50 freestyle and the 200 freestyle relay was sixth, qualifying for state.
The 200 medley relay took sixth and was a couple hundredths of a second from qualifying. Martin was also fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:05.82) and Heather Wallner took sixth in the 500 freestyle (5:53.28).
Potter was seventh in the 200 freestyle (2:08.65), Hillary Loomis finished eighth in the 100 fly (1:06.89) and Jesse Thompson took eighth in the 200 individual medley (2:28.84). The 400 freestyle relay also finished eighth (3:58.37).