WHS competed in 5 (of 12) events at the WIAA Div 2 Swimming Championships on Friday, Nov 9. Sixteen schools compete in each event and the top six schools in each event make it to the podium and receive medals. WHS reached the podium in 4 of the 5 events in which they competed — 2 individual races and 2 relays. Sophomore Ella Houwers swam in each of these four events. Ella finished third in the 200 Yard Individual Medley and was Champion in the 100 Yard Breaststroke.
From the Janesville Gazette:
A Whitewater High athlete reached the top of the podium Friday for the first time in the 49-year history of the WIAA girls swim meet.
The performance of sophomore Ella Houwers highlighted a hugely successful night for the Whippets during the WIAA Division 2 state meet at the UW-Madison Natatorium.
Houwers won a state title and set a school record in the 100-yard breaststroke, topping a 16-swimmer field in a time of 1 minute, 5.34 seconds to become the Whippets’ first girls champion.
For the complete story at the Gazette, 
From Coach Foucault:
Whippets posted a new School Record in the 200 Medley Relay and earned medals for their 6th place finish. Congrats to Sophia Fanshaw, Ella Houwers, Brianna Zimdars, and Morgan Radaj! 1:51.94! These ladies were seeded 11th going into the race and had a plan to win their heat and throw down the best time they could to try to medal. It was great to see how confident the girls were that they could do this, they went out with incredible determination to make this happen and succeeded. This is our first girls’ relay to ever medal at State.
Ella Houwers was able to go a lifetime best in the 200 Individual Medley finishing in 3rd place with a new School Record time of 2:09.12! Way to go Ella!
Brianna Zimdars swam to an 8th place finish in the 500 Freestyle, going a lifetime best 5:19.07! Brianna also posted her best 200 time during this swim, 2:03.97! Brianna is now 6th all-time in the 200 and 4th all-time in the 500! Awesome!
DREAM BIG! We were a bit of a State Meet Cinderella story in the 200 Freestyle Relay with the girls going from the 16th seed to a 6th place medal-winning performance! Way to go Morgan, Brianna, Amber Krebs, and Ella! New School Record 1:41.13! It was a great team effort from all of the girls.
Ella Houwers – STATE CHAMP, 100 Breaststroke – 1:05.34! With not a lot of rest, Ella was able to focus and hold off a very strong field of competitors to earn the title. Ella finished the night with 4 medals at State! What a night!
The girls finished the evening in 8th place!
Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the whole season!
