By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
A reader shared this suggestion with the Banner:
“I am writing to offer an idea for you to consider for the future Mid-November issues of the Banner. Every year when I return to my hometown to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, I am always excited to grab the Clark County Press off the coffee table and pull out the Hunters’ Guide. This Seasonal sectional to the paper showcases the past year’s hunters and fishers and their success participating in our wonderful outdoor Wisconsin traditions. A first time hunter with their first deer, a young angler catching their first fish, a family group picture of “buck camp” or “fishing trip,” seasoned veterans landing a big musky, black bear, or whitetail buck…it is always exciting to see friends, family, and neighbors enjoying our great outdoors with family, and inspiring the next generation of Wisconsin Outdoorsmen. The success isn’t always in or near my hometown either. Many former members of town (myself included) have sent back photos and stories to share. I hope you will give the idea some thought and maybe help inspire some of our citizens to get outdoors and join in our wonderfully unique fall traditions!”
We would have been happy to share this reader’s name, but since we haven’t received permission to do so, you’ll have to ponder whether you know someone who hails from Clark County.
We’re happy to try this idea, so we encourage sportspeople to submit photos and/or stories related to your 2020 outdoor experiences. Although some of the stories will likely be featured in our “news” area, most will probably be found in the “sports” section. In particular we will not be featuring photos on our homepage that some non-hunters/fishers may prefer not to see. Let the boasting begin! Send your submissions to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks.
The Whippets started out strong at State! Our Medley relay (Sophia Fanshaw, Ella Houwers, Grace Foucault, Amber Krebs) finished in 9th place with a 1.63 second time drop and moved up one place from where they were seeded with a time of 1:54.54.
Grace Foucault raced well in the 200 Freestyle, placing 13th overall! It was great to see this sophomore qualify in two individual events plus two relays!
After finishing in second place last year in the 200 Individual Medley, Ella Houwers took charge and raced hard to win this year. Way to go Ella! Ella’s time of 2:06.90 was a season best time!
Grace Foucault rocked her 2nd individual event, the 100 Backstroke. Grace continued to drop time after a great Sectional race and re-broke her own School Record with a 1:00.97 winning her heat and finished in 9th overall!
Ella raced to her third State Title in the 100 Breaststroke! Ella posted a 1:05.27 season best time! Congratulations on four very successful years of swimming at Whitewater High School.
A Pre-State Celebration at the Whitewater Aquatic Center – Photo courtesy of Tom Ganser Grace Foucault Gets Set for the Backstroke
The Whippets ended the night on a high note finishing 8th in the 400 Freestyle Relay (Foucault, Krebs, Fanshaw, Houwers) dropping 4.79 seconds from last week’s Sectional time with a 3:47.68. All four swimmers posted best times with their splits. Grace Foucault is now 3rd overall on the Top Ten All Times list in the 100 Freestyle with her lead off split of 56.27. Seniors Amber Krebs and Sophia Fanshaw both dropped under a minute on their splits finishing their high school swim careers with fantastic swims. Ella Houwers rounded out a great day anchoring the relay in a 52.98. I am so proud of these ladies and Brooke Bazeley our alternate for their hard work this season and for their success at the State meet.
Article and Photos Submitted by Coach Gina Foucault
It was certainly a great day to be a Whippet! The Whippets won 5 of 11 races and posted 17 out of 19 best times! Every team member scored points toward our team total. Event winners at each of the 4 Sectionals are automatic qualifiers for the State meet with the next 12 fastest times in all Sectionals combined also qualifying.
The 200 Medley Relay team started the meet off with a win ensuring a trip to the State meet next Friday. The team of Sophia Fanshaw, Ella Houwers, Grace Foucault, and Amber Krebs posted a season best time with their splits dropping over 2 seconds.
In the 200 Freestyle, Grace Foucault placed 2nd dropping over 2 seconds off her season best time. Amber Krebs raced to a 5th place finish, while teammate Karime Velazquez placed 12th with an 8 second drop, and Ashly Xochipa placed 14th with a best time scoring points for our team. The top 16 places in each event score points for our team.
Ella Houwers was the repeat Champion in the 200 Individual Medley with a season best time and earned a trip to State in this event.
Vicki Ramirez, Josie Treder and Brooke Bazeley all swam best times in the 50 Freestyle. Brooke Bazeley was able to finish in 11th place.
Vicki Ramirez and Karime Velazquez both dropped time in the 100 Butterfly with Vicki finishing in 10th place and Karime finishing in 9th, scoring points for the team.
Brooke Bazeley raced to a 6th place finish in the 500 Freestyle with a 14 second drop. What a great swim!
Our 200 Freestyle Relay of Ashly Xochipa, Karime Velazquez, Josie Treder, and Brooke Bazeley finished in 6th place with all splits being their personal best to finish with a season best time overall.
Ashly Xochipa continued to race well in the 100 Backstroke along with teammates Sophia Fanshaw and Grace Foucault. Sophia went a best time and placed second. Grace Foucault earned a trip to State with her win in the 100 Backstroke. Grace was also able to break the School Record formerly held by Ella Houwers, with her 1:01.36 in the 100 Backstroke.
Josie Treder continued to swim well dropping 10 seconds in the 100 Breaststroke and placed 11th. Sophia Fanshaw raced 3 events in a row and did well with a best time in the 100 Breaststroke placing 4th overall. Ella Houwers won the Breaststroke again with a 1:06.87 earning an automatic trip to State in this event also.
With very little rest, Sophia Fanshaw and Ella Houwers were joined by teammates Grace Foucault and Amber Krebs to win the last race of the day, the 400 Freestyle Relay. These four swimmers have automatically qualified both their relays for State today by winning their races.
We will await the final results of all the Sectionals to see if any more events qualify for the State meet. State will take place on Friday at Waukesha South High School.
Congratulations to the Whippets on a great team effort today!
UPDATE:
It’s official, the Whippets have added another event to the list of events headed to State this Friday. Congratulations to Grace Foucault on adding the 200 Freestyle to our list events for State on Friday!
Whitewater Qualifiers:
- 200 Medley Relay: Sophia Fanshaw, Ella Houwers, Grace Foucault, Amber Krebs, Alternate Brooke Bazeley
- 200 Freestyle – Grace Foucault
- 200 Individual Medley – Ella Houwers
- 100 Backstroke – Grace Foucault
- 100 Breaststroke – Ella Houwers
- 400 Freestyle Relay: Grace Foucault, Amber Krebs, Sophia Fanshaw, Ella Houwers, Alternate Brooke Bazeley
Sophia Fanshaw, Grace Foucault, Ella Houwers, Amber Krebs Grace Foucault Ella Houwers
Article Submitted by Coach Gina Foucault
Whitewater entered the Southern Lakes Conference swim meet on Saturday, October 31, with no chance at medals or a Conference Championship due to a late start to their season. In the SLC Conference, dual meets count towards the Conference title. Whitewater was unable to have dual meets until October 6. Despite this unfortunate situation, the girls raced hard and posted some great times! Listed below is the meet recap along with where they placed in the meet, had they been allowed to place and score. Top 16 places normally score points.
The 200 Medley Relays started the meet off strong with all 8 relay splits being best times. The B Medley Relay of Ashly Xochipa, Josie Treder, Karime Velazquez, and Brooke Bazeley finished in 9th place. The A Medley Relay of Sophia Fanshaw, Ella Houwers, Grace Fanshaw, and Amber Krebs raced to a third place finish with their season best time.
Grace Foucault continued to race well, placing 2nd in the 200 Freestyle with a best time. Ella Houwers won the 200 Individual Medley, beating the field by over 4 seconds. Ashley Xochipa had an outstanding day finishing in 14th place in the 50 Freestyle with a 1.5 second time drop. Brooke Bazeley raced to a 9th place finish in the 50 Freestyle.
Karime Velazquez and Vicki Ramirez both swam well in the 100 Butterfly. Karime posted a best time and finished in 12th place, with Vicki taking 14th place with her 6 second drop.
Amber Krebs raced the 500 Freestyle with a well split race to finish 6th overall, while teammate Brooke Bazeley swam to an 8th place finish with her best time by over 7 seconds.
Our 200 Freestyle Relay of Brooke Bazeley, Vicki Ramirez, Ashly Xochipa, and Karime Velazquez swam to a 9th place finish.
All four backstroke swimmers finished in the top 16. Grace Foucault finished 2nd with a nice 2 second drop, Sophia Fanshaw posted her season best time finishing in 6th place overall, Ashly Xochipa finished in 12th with a best time, while teammate Karime Velazquez finished in 15th.
Ella Houwers secured 2nd place in the 100 Breaststroke with a season best time. Josie Treder finished in 13th and Vicki Ramirez dropped 5 seconds to finish in 14th place in the 100 Breaststroke.
Rounding out the day was the 400 Freestyle relay of Grace Foucault, Amber Krebs, Sophia Fanshaw, and Ella Houwers swimming to a season best time and 4th place finish.
I am very proud of these girls and their swims. We will be at it again next Saturday for Sectionals at our own pool. Watch us race on the Whitewater High School Facebook page starting at 11:30 a.m.
Article Submitted by Coach Gina Foucault