The Greenfield/Greendale co-op swim team snuck up on opponents at the Division 1 state meet to end last season.

To begin this season, they are rolling over opponents instead.

Impressive wins in the month of December include both a relay and invitational triumph over a two-week period. Led by seniors Jack Lennertz and Matt Jungers, this PantherHawks squad is far different than the version that came out of nowhere to finish third in the state last season.

"I do have two swimmers that finished first and second in the 100 fly at state last year," head coach Dale Schrank said. "Beyond that though we have a number of other swimmers that are doing extremely well, as evidence at (the Dec. 18) Elhkorn Invitational.

"You have to have that kind of depth to pull that kind of meet off."

Lennertz remained a star and leader winning both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly in the PantherHawks' title at the Elkhorn Invitational but he had some back up. The Greenfield/Greendale depth includes three freshman, all playing a role and scoring points in the close victory over the host Elks.

"We have three incoming freshman that have done extremely well. Adam Fleischhacker went sub 24 seconds in the 50 free, we have Ross Rybakowicz, who we are hoping is a state qualifier, and we have Shawn Lucchesi," Schrank said. "These kids are doing really well.

"Andrew Staszak is a possible state qualifier so we have a lot of guys that are doing some really special things."

Those special things include setting a new conference relay record in the 300 backstroke en route to winning the Woodland Conference Relays over rival Shorewood on Dec. 8. Zach Hogan joined Lennertz, Jungers and Fleischhacker in setting the record in 2 minutes, 43.83 seconds.

In the 200 medley it was Tom Miller coming together with Stasak, Rybakowicz and Fleischhacker to take the event with the parade of standouts continuing for the PantherHawks. Jeff Jacobs and Devin Patterson got involved with Lucchesi and Jungers to win the 500 free. All together Greenfield/Greendale took four events during the conference meet.

During the holiday break, the co-op was at it again, taking fourth at the 15-team Metro Swim Officials Invitational at Homestead on Tuesday. Jungers won the 400 individual medley in 4:18.88 and Lennertz claimed the 50 free in 22.29.

Certainly the depth of the PantherHawks is beginning to show and with big tests looming coach Schrank plans on relying on it.

"We almost took second in the state meet with only three swimmers and I don't think other coaches in the conference are aware of the improvements as well as our incoming freshman," Schrank said. "In the end it comes down to those 27 entries you put together for that conference meet (Feb. 5) and I'm hoping we have 27 entries that all score.

"If that's the case it should be a really good battle for the championship."