Swim team looks like biggest fish in Madison

Waukesha South/Mukwonago swimming coach Blaine Carlson isn't ready to acknowledge that his team may have just become the favorite to win the state championship next week.

But after his team won the sectional in the South pool, amassing 396 points while perennial heavyweight Arrowhead took second with 357, it's easy to see why some might make that jump.

South/Mukwonago pushed 21 entries through to the state meet, which accepts winners at each of the six sectionals and the next 18 fastest times in each Division 1 event. By comparison, Arrowhead sent 18 through, and no matter who is considered the favorite, it seems unlikely anyone other than one of those programs will emerge from the University of Wisconsin Natatorium on Saturday with a state title.

Kayla Skenandore will look to defend her state title in the butterfly. The senior swam 56.06 last year and qualifies this year as the overwhelming favorite to repeat with her time of 54.92 on Saturday - seeded nearly two seconds faster than second place.

She'll also have one eye on Brookfield East's Sarah Wanezek, who set the state record (54.55) in 1999.

The team also demonstrated its strength in the relays, winning all three at the sectional with the state's top times, and the 500-yard freestyle, qualifying five entrants for the state meet in the day's longest event.