Tosa Swordfish have successful meet at Windy City Classic

The Tosa Swordfish, Wauwatosa's age-group competitive swim team, was among 12 teams that participated in the Windy City Classic hosted by the Lake Forest Swim Club in Illinois last weekend.

Swimming against unfamiliar competition did not faze the local squad as more than half of the Swordfish who competed in the meet brought home awards. Even those who did not earn hardware posted personal-best times in at least one of their respective events.

"This is the first time we have swam in this annual meet and I think it was a good experience for our kids to compete against teams that we haven't faced in the past" coach Jackie Jecha said. "Based on our results I think we've proven that we can compete with anyone and, more importantly, we saw almost everyone lower times in a race."

The following athletes finished within the top 16 at the Windy City Classic:

Sam Stolpe finished 14th in the 100-yard individual medley in the 9-10 year-old boys group, while four girls came through in the 11-12 year-old girls.

Elizabeth Peura was third in both the 50 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke and sixth in the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM. Laura Bialozynski was sixth in the 100 IM, eighth in the 50 breaststroke, 10th in the 200 free and 13th in the 200 IM.

Rebecca Lonski was third in the 50 breast, eighth in the 50 butterfly and ninth in the 50 back, while Olivia Lonski was fourth in the 50 back, ninth in the 100 back and 16th in the 50 breast.

One swimmer stood out in the 11-12 year-old boys - Anthony Reis finished fourth in the 200 IM, ninth in the 100 back and 10th in the 50 free.

In the 13-14 year-old group, Erica Kalberer was fifth in the 100 fly, seventh in the 50 breast and 10th in the 100 IM and Megan Krummel was 10th in the 200 breast and 13th in the 50 breast.

Abbey Gifford was ninth in the 1,000 free, Emma Schmidt took 14th in the 50 back and Zoe Hawthrone finished 16th in the 50 breast.

In the 15-and-over group, Muriel Hansen finished 11th in the 50 and 200 breast.

Also competing for the Tosa Swordfish were 9-year-olds Emma Knowlton, Lily Saab, Madison Sveum; 10-year-old Haley Bachar; 11-year-olds Elizabeth Romfoe, Anna Busalacchi, Brianna Stevens, Amaya Ibanez-Baldor; and 12-year-old Kaitlin Stippich and 13-year-old Micheala Lonski.

The Swordfish's next meet is this weekend at the Schroeder Aquatic Center.

For more information on the Swordfish, contact Deb Schmidt, volunteer parent board president, at (414) 305-5904.

- Tom "Sky" Skibosh