By Rich Palzewic, Correspondent
SUAMICO – The Lady Pirates swim team has won so many Fox River Classic Conference titles since 2010, that’s it’s become the norm.
Don’t expect that reign to end this year, either.
Bay Port has won three FRCC titles in a row – and six of the last seven – and has a roster filled with talent in its quest for another championship.
The Pirates finished 7-0 in conference dual action in 2016 and won the conference meet over Ashwaubenon.
“We have really good depth on our team,” said Bay Port head coach Meghan Wood, who is entering her sixth year with the team. “Other teams have good swimmers, too, but the number of talented swimmers we have always puts us in a good spot when it comes to the race for conference. We are hoping to continue (the tradition) this year and win another title. Last year we only had three seniors, so almost everyone is back and we have another big group of freshmen to pick up the slack from those we lost.”
Things start with sophomore Emma Lasecki, the FRCC swimmer of the year. Lasecki will be gunning for a state title in the 100 Butterfly after finishing third at the WIAA D1 state meet in Madison as a freshman. She’ll have her work cut out because the top two swimmers in the event from a year ago also return. She also took home a fifth place in the 200 Individual Medley.
“(Emma) is a very talented swimmer, so hopefully she can repeat what she did last year or better,” Wood said. “She’s very versatile.”
Lasecki was also a member of the fifth-place 200 Medley Relay team along with junior Riley Melendy, and seniors Erin Samels and Sophia Thibert.
Other swimmers who got points at the state meet were Melendy in the 200 IM (15th) and 100 Backstroke (11th), Samels in the 100 Breaststroke (15th) and the 400 Freestyle Relay team of Melendy, Thibert, sophomore Shae Gustafson and Lasecki which finished 16th.
The Lady Pirates also have a strong contingent of divers returning, led by senior Brightyn Zuelke, who placed 20th at the state meet and was the FRCC diver of the year.
Other divers back are underclassmen Ella Thibert (second-team) and Sasha Sliwinski (honorable mention).
The Pirates finished 11th in Madison with 70 points, but look to improve on that placing.
“Doing what we did last year was great,” added Wood. “That was the best we’ve done since probably the early 2000’s. It would be nice to move up in the standings and send three relay teams and some more individuals, along with a few more divers.”
Wood said Ashwaubenon, De Pere and Green Bay United should give the team their most competition.
Bay Port hosts the FRCC relays (swim and dive) on August 24 and also their own dive meet on September 30. The conference meet is scheduled for October 28 at Ashwaubenon.
Notes: for a full schedule, visit www.foxriverclassicconference.com and click on the Bay Port link… the Pirates home meets are at the Lineville Community Pool.