The Madison area continued to be a hotbed for some of the top high school girls swimmers across the state this fall.
Madison Edgewood again ruled Division 2, winning an eighth consecutive WIAA state title, while Middleton and Verona finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in Division 1.
Baraboo finished closely behind the Crusaders in fourth place among Division 2 teams, while Madison West, Oregon, Monona Grove and Madison Memorial recorded top-15 team finishes in a deep Division 1 field.
Teams combined for 34 podium finishes, including seven titles.
Here is our area team of the year.
Swimmer of the Year
Izzy Enz, sr., Madison Edgewood — A four-year star for the Crusaders, Enz cemented herself as one of program’s most decorated swimmers. For the third straight season, the senior distance swimmer came away with four gold medals at the WIAA Division 2 state meet in helping lead the Crusaders to an eighth straight team championship.
People are also reading…
The University of Wisconsin commit and two-time reigning area swimmer of the year swept the distance events for the third straight season, winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 47.64 seconds, breaking her state record set last year. She later won the 500 with a time of 4:49.97 and was far from finished. Enz anchored Edgewood’s state record-setting 200 freestyle relay (1:34.05) and led off the first-place 400 freestyle relay (3:26.55).
With her four first-place finishes, Enz ends her career with 16 podium finishes, including 14 gold medals, one silver and one bronze, as well as being a member of four state championship teams.
Coach of the Year
Emily Schwabe, Madison Edgewood — Since taking over in 2013, Schwabe has elevated the Crusaders to new heights. She directed Edgewood to a state-record eighth consecutive Division 2 title as the Crusaders scored 350 points to dwarf runner-up Whitefish Bay (167) and third-place Ashwaubenon (166).
Edgewood won six of 12 events, including sweeping all three relays, and had three other top-three finishers. The Crusaders broke their 200 freestyle relay record from last season, while Enz re-broke her state record in the 200 freestyle by one-hundredth of a second.
Top swimmers by event
Diving — Avery Potrzebowski, so., Middleton; Annika Rufenacht, jr., Verona.
200-yard medley relay — Madison Edgewood (Izzy Bloom, so.; Katie McClure, so.; Sylvia Thompson, so.; Sophie Reed, sr.), Middleton (Lily Mair, jr.; Natalie Charles, sr.; Isabell Frommlet, soph.; Piper Garcia-Hall, jr.)
200 freestyle — Izzy Enz, sr., Madison Edgewood; Brynn Stacey, sr., Madison Edgewood.
200 individual medley — Izzy Bloom, so., Madison Edgewood; Annika Curran, fr., Verona.
50 freestyle — Alyse Block, fr., Oregon; Jillian Holler, soph., Madison Memorial.
100 butterfly — Ellen Osthelder, sr., Madison West; Isabella Gnewuch, jr., Verona.
100 freestyle — Brynn Stacey, sr., Madison Edgewood; Alyse Block, fr., Oregon.
500 freestyle — Izzy Enz, sr., Madison Edgewood; Kaitlin Haag, jr., Middleton.
200 freestyle relay — Madison Edgewood (Brynn Stacey, sr.; Sophie Reed, sr.; Katie McClure, so.; Izzy Enz, sr.), Middleton (Sulia Miller, fr.; Abby Ensenberger, sr.; Kaitlin Haag, jr.; Piper Garcia-Hall, jr.)
100 backstroke — Savannah Acker, jr., Sauk Prairie; Violet McCullough, soph., Madison West.
100 breaststroke — Cheyenne Burroughs, fr., Stoughton; Annika Curran, fr., Verona.
400 freestyle relay — Madison Edgewood (Izzy Enz, sr.; Izzy Bloom, so.; Sylvia Thompson, so.; Brynn Stacey, sr.), Middleton (Lily Mair, jr.; Sophie Benson, sr.; Kaitlin Haag, jr.; Natalie Charles, sr.)
Editor’s note: The Wisconsin State Journal’s high school coverage area includes the following schools: Madison Memorial, Middleton, Verona, Madison La Follette, Sun Prairie East, Sun Prairie West, Madison West, Madison East, DeForest, Waunakee, Mount Horeb, Stoughton, Monona Grove, Oregon, Madison Edgewood, McFarland, Madison Abundant Life, Madison Country Day, St. Ambrose, Lodi and Sauk Prairie.
Photos: Action from the WIAA Division 1 state girls swimming and diving championships
Middleton's Sophie Benson competes during the 200-yard freestyle in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Waunakee's Grace Blitz takes a breath during the butterfly leg of the 200-yard medley relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Oregon's Izzy Block competes during the 200-yard freestyle relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Middleton's Nattlie Charles takes a stroke during the breaststroke leg of the 200-yard medley relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Madison Memorial's Olivia Christianson takes a breath during the leadoff leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Oregon's Kennedy Faris takes a breath during the 100-yard butterfly in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
DeForest's Payton Flowers takes a breath during the 100-yard freestyle in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Middleton's Piper Garcia-Hall takes a breath during the 100-yard freestyle in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Monona Grove's Morgan Heilman takes a stroke during the 100-yard backstroke in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Madison Memorial's Jillian Holler dives off the blocks for her heat of the 100-yard freestyle in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Verona's Lauren Konarske takes a breath during the 100-yard breaststroke in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Waunakee's Ellie Lake competes during the 400-yard freestyle relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Sun Prairie West's Brielle Laube competes during the 100-yard freestyle in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Middleton's Hannah Machleidt takes a breath during the 500-yard freestyle in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Madison Memorial's Clare McDermott takes a breath during the 100-yard butterfly in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Monona Grove's Kelley Ryan takes a stroke during the backstroke leg of the 200-yard medley relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Waunakee's Alaina Sautebin takes a stroke during the 100-yard backstroke in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Oregon freshman Alyse Block takes a breath during the breaststroke leg of the 200-yard medley relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Verona freshman Annika Curran takes a breath during her 100-yard breaststroke heat Saturday.
Verona junior Isabella Gnewuch takes a breath during her heat in the 100-yard butterfly at Saturday's WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium.
Madison West's Amalia Shields takes a breath during her heat of the 200-yard freestyle in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Verona's Emily Spielman takes a breath during the 100-yard butterfly in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Madison West's Zeynep Yapici takes a breath during the anchor leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Madison West senior Ellen Osthelder takes a breath during her 100-yard butterfly heat in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships Saturday at the Waukesha South Natatorium.
Oregon freshman Alyse Block takes a breath during her final leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Middleton junior Kaitlin Haag takes a breath during the final heat of the 500-yard freestyle Saturday.
Middleton junior Lily Mair takes a breath during her heat of the 100-yard butterfly in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
Madison West sophomore Violet McCullough smiles as she talkes with coach Amanda Ellmaker following her 100-yard backstroke heat in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championships at the Waukesha South Natatorium on Saturday.
