Swimmers win Beloit Invitational

It was business as usual for the Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights boys swimming team last Saturday.  The Eagles won just one event at the Battle on the Rock Invitational hosted by Beloit Memorial. But Sauk Prairie used its superior depth and a strong showing in the relays to score 498 points and finish first out of seven teams. Hononegah (Ill.) was second with 371.5 points and host Beloit Memorial was third (356.5). The Eagles’ lone victory was their 200-yard freestyle relay team of sophomore Matthew Loy, junior Jordan Chao, freshman Sam King and senior Daniel Bakhchevnikov, which posted a winning time of 1 minute, 33.97 seconds. But Sauk Prairie recorded 25 top-eight finishes, including all six of its scoring relays. “It sounds like a broken record, but it’s been the storyline of our season,” Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights coach Todd Wuerger said. “So when you have two relays in each of the relays place in the top six, that’s a lot of points because the relays count double. “We were up 22 points after the 50 freestyle and the gap kept getting wider and wider. You were limited to four entries in each race and a lot of our entries placed in the top 16, which scored points.” • Verona/Mount Horeb 129, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights 41: The visiting Wildcats dominated the non-conference dual on Jan. 28, taking first place in 11 events and second place in nine events. Sauk Prairie’s best finishes were its 200 freestyle relay of Sam King, junior Sam Beattie, sophomore Evan Leece and Matthew Loy, which was second in 1:37.22, and the 400 freestyle relay of sophomore Ryan Godwin, junior Adam Stecker, Beattie and Jordan Chao, which was runner-up in 3:35.38. • On deck: Sauk Prairie will try to secure its fourth consecutive Badger North Conference title when the Eagles compete at the annual Badger North Conference tournament hosted by Baraboo on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.   Jan. 28 Verona/Mount Horeb 129, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights 41 200-yard medley relay — 1, Verona/Mount Horeb (Bennin, Rozeboom, Hoppe, Piscitelli), 1:41.73; 3 Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘A’ (Ryan Godwin, Jordan Chao, Zach Guentherman, Adam Stecker), 1:52.00; 4, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘B’ (Jackson Shavlik, Daniel Bakhchevnikov, Alec Buss, Sam King), 1:52.28; 5, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘C’ (Austin Kaukl, Jack Boerger, Mason Gassman, Casey Vande Hey), 2:03.42. 200 freestyle — 1, Arneson, V/MH, 1:53.41; 4, Chao, SP/WH, 1:59.95; 5, Godwin, SP/WH, 2:02.43; 6, Stecker, SP/WH, 2:03.25. 200 individual medley — 1, Wellnitz, VMH, 2:06.88; 4, Matthew Loy, SP/WH, 2:13.07; 5, Bakhchevnikov, SP/WH, 2:18.11; 6, Shavlik, SP/WH, 2:20.78. 50 freestyle — 1, Piscitelli, V/MH, :23.61; 3, King, SP/WH, :24.10; 5, Sam Beattie, SP/WH, :24.81; 6, Evan Leece, SP/WH, :24.99. 100 butterfly — 1, tie, Rothamer, V/MH, 1, tie, Hoppe, V/MH, :56.42; 4, A. Buss, SP/WH, 1:04.50; 5, Shavlik, SP/WH, 1:06.02; 6, Gassman, SP/WH, 1:11.45. 100 freestyle — 1, McCartney, V/MH, :52.01; 3, Stecker, SP/WH; :54.53; 4, Guentherman, SP/WH, :55.02; 6, Bakhchevnikov, SP/WH, :55.87. 500 freestyle — 1, Wellnitz, V/MH, 5:04.59; 3, Loy, SP/WH, 5:15.86; 5, Godwin, SP/WH, 5:24.16; 6, Leece, SP/WH, 5:45.14. 200 freestyle relay — 1, Verona/Mount Horeb (Hoppe, Rozeboom, Arneson, McCartney), 1:34.52; 2, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘A’ (King, Beattie, Leece, Loy), 1:37.22; 4, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘B’ (Vande Hey, Shavlik, Kaukl, A. Buss), 1:46.76; 5, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘C’ (Alex Dunning, Carter Buss, Boerger, Phillip Geiselman), 1:51.96. 100 backstroke — 1, Bennin, V/MH, :56.07; 4, King, SP/WH, 1:09.36; 5, Vande Hey, SP/WH, 1:09.47; 6, Kaukl, SP/WH, 1:10.99. 100 breaststroke — 1, Rozeboom, V/MH, 1:03.62; 3, Chao, SP/WH, 1:08.74; 5, Beattie, SP/WH, 1:11.72; 6, Guentherman, SP/WH, 1:11.80. 400 freestyle relay — 1, Verona/Mount Horeb (Wellnitz, Lofts, McCartney, Arneson), 3:29.67; 2, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘B’ (Godwin, Stecker, Beattie, Chao), 3:35.38; 3, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘A’ (Loy, Bakhchevnikov, Leece, Guentherman), 3:36.19; 5, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘C’ (Geiselman, Mason Breunig, Gassman, Sam Juckett), 4:07.36.   Feb. 1 Battle on the Rock Team scores: 1, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights 498; 2, Hononegah (Ill.), 371.5; 3, Beloit Memorial, 356.5; 4, Madison East, 306; 5, Boylan Catholic (Ill.), 286.5; 6, Freeport (Ill.), 188.5; 7, Rockford East (Ill.), 111. 200-yard medley relay — 1, Beloit Memorial, 1:43.90; 4, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘A’ (Zach Guentherman, Sam King, Adam Stecker, Sam Beattie), 1:49.84; 6, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘B’  (Alec Buss, Casey Vande Hey, Evan Leece, David Heck), 1:54.91.  200 freestyle — 1, Hellenbrand, ME, 1:50.57; 4, Ryan Godwin, SP/WH, 1:58.87; 8, Leece, SP/WH, 2:02.47; 12, Sam Juckett, SP/WH, 2:10.80. 200 individual medley — 1, Jacobson, BM, 2:03.46; 3, Matthew Loy, SP/WH, 2:12.42; 4, Jordan Chao, SP/WH, 2:13.03; 7, Daniel Bakhchevnikov, SP/WH, 2:18.36; 8, A. Buss, SP/WH, 2:20.22. 50 freestyle — 1, Tran, Free, :23.71; 5, Stecker, SP/WH, :24.73; 10, Guentherman, SP/WH, :25.30; 12, Heck, SP/WH, :25.52; 16, Vande Hey, SP/WH, :26.01. 100 butterfly — 1, Helenbrand, ME, :54.84; 4, Loy, SP/WH, :59.02; 9, Guentherman, SP/WH, 1:02.86; 10,  Beattie, SP/WH, 1:03.16; 14, Dunning, SP/WH, 1:06.28. 100 freestyle — 1, Connor, ME, :50.43; 8, King, SP/WH, :53.57; 12, Jackson Shavlik, SP/WH, :54.97; 13, Heck, SP/WH, :56.03; 19, Kaukl, SP/WH, :58.34. 500 freestyle — 1, Stimes, HC, 5:15.86; 3, Godwin, SP/WH, 5:26.53; 4, Stecker, SP/WH, 5:30.27; 6, Leece, SP/WH, 5:40.22; 9, Juckett, SP/WH, 5:55.78. 200 freestyle relay — 1, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘A’ (Loy, Chao, King, Bakhchevnikov), 1:33.97; 5, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘B’ (Heck, Shavlik, Vande Hey, Godwin), 1:40.50; 10, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘C’ (Dunning, Geiselman, Boerger, Kaukl), 1:46.17. 100 backstroke — 1, Smith, ME, :55.98; 4, Chao, SP/WH, 1:00.42; 6, A. Buss, SP/WH, 1:03.54; 7, Shavlik, SP/WH, 1:04.43; 8, Beattie, SP/WH, 1:04.53. 100 breaststroke — 1, Jacobson, BM, 1:03.45; 3, Bakhchevnikov, SP/WH, 1:07.98; 5 Vande Hey, SP/WH, 1:11.89; 7, Boerger, SP/WH, 1:14.23; 15, Frost, SP/WH, 1:18.29 400 freestyle relay — 1, Beloit Memorial (Saladar, Light, Sill, Jacobson), 3:27.62;  3, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘A’ (Chao, Stecker, Beattie, Loy), 3:30.75;  5, Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights ‘B’ (Leece, Guentherman, Godwin, Bakhchevnikov), 3:37.87.     WRESTLING Sauk Prairie ended the regular season with its fourth straight victory in Badger North Conference action when the Eagles edged host Portage, 36-33, last Friday night. Marcus Hankins (182 pounds), Nolan Vils (195), Austin Rider (285), Dawson Enge (120) and Luis Elizondo (132) all recorded pins for the Eagles (4-3 Badger North). But the match came down to the final duel at 160 pounds where senior Sam Vils earned a 5-0 decision over Spencer Andrews to snap a 33-33 tie and secure Sauk Prairie’s 15th straight dual victory over Portage (3-4). “After the Baraboo dual, I told the guys we had the potential to win the rest of our conference duals and finish with a winning record,” said Sauk Prairie coach Matt Gaffney, a Portage native. “We did just that. But this one means a lot more.” Sauk Prairie jumped out to a 33-15 lead with four weight classes remaining. But Portage recorded three of its four pins to tie the match at 33-33 all. Sam Vils got a first-period takedown for a 2-0 lead. He notched another takedown in the closing seconds of the second period and received a final point in the third period when Andrews was penalized a point for stalling. “We got the bonus points we needed and our upper weight guys came through again,” Gaffney said. “I knew it was going to be close. This gives us some momentum heading into the conference tournament.” • On deck: Sauk Prairie heads to Watertown to compete in the annual Badger Conference tournament on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m.   Jan. 31 Sauk Prairie 36, Portage 33 170: James Anderson, P, won by forfeit; 182: Marcus Hankins, SP, pinned Anthony Trujillo, 1:02; 195: Nolan Vils, SP, pinned Jack Callen, 1:52; 220: Simon Patterson, SP, dec. Shane Steines, 5-0; 285: Austin Rider, SP, pinned Andrew Salazar, 0:25; 106: Double forfeit; 113: Chase Beckett, P, pinned Colton Uselman, SP, 1:45; 120: Dawson Enge, SP, pinned Jeffry Jones, 1:28; 126: Riley Hibner, P, dec. Dylan Breunig, 8-2; 132: Luis Elizondo, SP, pinned Garret Crawford, 5:46; 138: Seth Williams, P, pinned Grant Sorg, 1:52; 145: Jessie Tijerina, P, pinned Alex Katers, 0:46; 152: Lowell Arnold, P, pinned Carson Saladis, 1:38; 160: Sam Vils, SP, dec. Spencer Andrews, 5-0.     GYMNASTICS Junior Heidi Kuhnau continued her breakout season finishing second in the all-around to pace Sauk Prairie, which lost to Reedsburg 120.025-119.0 in a Badger North Conference dual at Grand Avenue Elementary School on Jan. 28.  Kuhnau then placed third in the all-around at the Spartan Invitational hosted by Madison Memorial last Saturday. The Eagles placed seventh out of eight teams with a score of 118.075. Against Reedsburg, Kuhnau finished first in the floor exercise (8.9), second in the vault (8.55) and posted a score of 33.4 in the all-around. Ava Putnam was third in the floor exercise (8.05) and Kylie Wilson and Carina Meixelsperger tied for third in the vault (7.975). “Heidi finished only .025 out of first-place in the all-around and took first on floor,” Sauk Prairie coach Justine Anderson said. “Unfortunately, Carina (Meixelsperger) hurt her elbow on a fall on the beam, so we did not get to use her beam or floor score. “But Rachel (Endthoff) stepped up and went in on varsity floor and got a (personal-best) of 7.55. The judges were impressed enough to announce her achievement at the end of the meet, and although it wasn’t the highest score, it was her highest score and she did it when it mattered.” Anderson said Putnam also had a solid night. “Ava is becoming a more consistent competitor just at the right time,” Anderson said. “She had to go on beam right after her teammate and friend fell and got hurt, but stuck her routine for the first time this season and received all of her difficulty/bonuses.” Anderson was also pleased with the Eagles’ performance at the highly competitive Spartan Invitational. “Heidi had an incredible meet with the highlight being a first place win on floor,” Anderson said of Kuhnau’s top score of 8.9. “Ava even made the podium in 10th place on floor. “This was a much tougher competition, and we knew that going into it. But the girls looked the best they have at an invite yet.”  • On deck: Sauk Prairie will compete in a dual at Milton on Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. The Eagles then host Watertown in a dual on Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.   Jan. 28 Reedsburg 120.025, Sauk Prairie 119.0 Balance beam: 1, Lutter, R, 8.725; 2, Rickert, R, 8.525; 3, Heidi Kuhnau, SP, 8.35. Sauk Prairie – Ava Putnam, 7.975; Addie Desroches, 6.85; Kylie Wilson, 6.75; Carina Meixelsperger, 6.0..  Floor exercise: 1, Kuhnau, SP, 8.9; 2, Rickert, R, 8.25; 3, Putnam, SP, 8.05. Sauk Prairie – Desroches, 7.85; Rachel Endthoff, 7.55; Wilson, 7.3.  Uneven bars: 1, tie, Lutter, R, 8.1; 1, tie, Rickert, R, 8.1; 3, Kuhnau, SP, 7.6. Sauk Prairie – Putnam, 6.35; Meixelsperger, 5.5; Emily Herbrand, 5.25; Desroches, 5.05.  Vault: 1, Lutter, R, 8.65; 2, Kuhnau, SP, 8.55; 3, tie, Meixelsperger, SP, 7.975; Wilson, SP, 7.975. Sauk Prairie – Desroches, 7.525; Putnam, 7.5.  All-around: 1, Lutter, R, 33.425; 2, Kuhnau, SP, 33.40; 3, Rickert, R, 32.325; 4, Putnam, SP, 29.875; 5, Desroches, SP, 27.275.    Feb. 1 Madison Memorial Invitational White Division Team scores: 1, Waunakee/DeForest 131.775; 2, Madison West 128.3; 3, Eau Claire Memorial co-op 128; 4, Janesville Craig 125.2; 5, Waterford 124.5; 6, Madison East/La Follette 121.6; 7, Sauk Prairie 118.075; 8, Janesville Parker 112.35. Balance beam: 1, Bender, MEL, 8.95; 9, tie, Heidi Kuhnau, SP, 8.1; 29, tie, Addie Desroches, SP, 6.85; 31, Ava Putnam, SP, 6.7; 38, Kylie Wilson, 6.4; 40, Rachel Endthoff, 6.0.  Floor exercise: 1, Kuhnau, SP, 8.9; 10, Putnam, SP, 20, tie, Wilson, SP, 7.9; 20, tie, Desroches, 7.9; 35, Endthoff, SP, 7.0. Uneven bars: 1, Bender, MEL, 8.875; 4, Kuhnau, SP, 8.2; 29, Putnam, SP, 6.45; 34, Desroches, 5.55; 35, Endthoff, SP, 5.15; 40, Emily Herbrand, SP, 4.35.  Vault: 1, Weber, EC, 8.85; 11, Kuhnau, SP, 8.375; 23, tie, Wilson, SP, 8.1; 36, Putnam, SP, 7.7; 38, Endthoff, SP, 7.5; 39, Desroches, SP, 7.25.  All-around: 1, DeGarmo, JC, 33.65; 2, Loen, EC, 33.6; 3, Kuhnau, SP, 33.575; 16, Putnam, SP, 29.15; 21, Desroches, SP, 27.55; 22, Endthoff, SP, 25.65.