PantherHawks Sending Big Group to State After Winning Sectional

The annual tradition of the Greenfield/Greendale co-op boys swimming team having an impact on the state scene will continue Saturday in Madison.

The PantherHawks won their sectional at Greenfield on Saturday and qualified swimmers in eight events for Saturday’s WIAA State Division 1 Meet at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium.

Leading the way is varsity newcomer Rick Perez, a standout freshman who was a three-time sectional winner.

Perez won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 46.93 seconds. He also won the 100 backstroke in 54.77, nearly a full second faster than Racine Case junior John Freidheim (55.71).

The freshman star also teamed with Shaun Lucchesi, Shaun Fleischhacker and Andrew Staszak for victory in the 400 free relay in 3:20.38, one-tenth of a second faster than a team from Racine Case.

Ross Rybakowicz, the Fleischhackers and Lucchesi also posted a win in the 200 free relay in 1:31.42, edging a team from Franklin.

The PantherHawks were runners-up in the 200 medley relay where Zach Hogan, Rybakowicz, Andrew Staszak and Adam Fleischhacker finished in 1:43.19, and Rybakowicz swam second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.11

Rybakowicz also qualifed for state in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:01.24, which was good for fourth at the sectional, and Staszak earned a state nod in the 500 free in 5:00.58, which was the third-fastest time at the sectional.

Greenfield/Greendale won the 11-team meet with 360 points; Racine Case was second in 327. Last winter, the local co-op swam eighth at the D1 state meet.

This year's meet begins with diving at 10 a.m. followed by swimming at 3 p.m., will be broadcast live online by the FOX Sports Prepzone.