Indians swim team battles through illness, uses depth to defend own invite title

There's something to be said about depth and something about getting a nice surprise in the middle of a dreary winter.

And Menomonee Falls/Germantown/Hamilton boys swim coach Jim Weitzer knows something about both, as the Indians stunned the field in defending their championship at their own invitational on Saturday.

"I remember being surprised last year when we won," Weitzer said. "So they're both surprises, isn't that something. But what helps, is that I think we have a good corps of people, some nice depth. I didn't look at the heat sheets beforehand but I told the guys that it's a longer meet, that they had to keep going and keep the pressure on.

"And for the most part we did, our younger guys really came through."

The local co-op, which will have its annual parents' night dual against Marquette at 6 p.m. Thursday, scored 446 points for their title in the nine-school event while Bay Port was second with 372 and Janesville Craig third with 351.

The Indians did indeed win with depth, as John Seiler took the only individual title for the co-op with a 22.91 second time in the 50 free. He was also second in what Weitzer thought was an impressive time drop in the 100 butterfly (56.54).

Also taking seconds for the Indians were Ryan Thomann in diving (368.3 points), Matt Ciolkosz in the 200 individual medley (2:06.14) and the 200 medley relay team of Ciolkosz, Paul Porter, Seiler and Ryan Litzau (season best 1:46.41).

Thirds were taken by Litzau in the 50 (23.24) and 100 frees (52.9), the 200 free relay team of Litzau, Sam Piette, Sam Green and Michael Spankowski (1:35.99) and the 400 free relay team of Spankowski, Green, Ciolkosz and Seiler (3:30.52).

Weitzer said that Ciolkosz and Litzau both had pretty good meets and was pleased that the Indians persevered despite some illness running through the team.

"We had quite a few sick kids," he said, "but they powered through it anyway. Everyone stepped it up as much as they could. Our team really pulls together well and does whatever it can (to succeed)."

Other top 10 finishes by event included the following: 200 medley relay: Brad Kruppe, Nick Siebenaller, Lucas Runingen and Piette, fifth (1:54.96); 200 free: Green, seventh (2:00.48); Spankowski, ninth (2:02.13); and Sam Neale, 10th (2:02.59): 200 individual medley: Paul Porter, eighth (2:19.7); Cal Weber, ninth (2:19.85); 50 free: Piette, 10th (25.23); 100 butterfly: Evan Foht, ninth (1:03.24); 100 free: Spankowski, fourth (53.48); Kruppe, sixth (55.19); Piette, eighth (56.14); 500 free: Neale, seventh (5:31.53); 100 backstroke: Ciolkosz, fifth (59.82); Green, eighth (1:02.85): 100 breast stroke: Porter, fourth (1:08.87); Siebenaller, sixth (1:11.12); Foht, ninth (1:13.84); and 400 free relay: Kruppe, Sam Petruzates, Weber and Neale, eighth (3:48.99).