5 high school girls swimming stars of the week: Aug. 28 edition (2024)

The State Journal/WiscNews will recognize the accomplishments of five girls swimming athletes from our coverage area each week.

The efforts may not be the greatest statistically but are notable. We then invite readers to vote for the the Supernova, the performance that most stood out to you.

Here are this week’s honorees.

Payton Flowers expands reach in DeForest record book

Payton Flowers alreadyhad broken four school records in her first three seasons on the DeForest girls swim team.

The senior Iowa women’s swimming commit didn’t take long adding her name to the team’s record book this season, breaking a pair of pool records during the team’s season-opening Norski Invite.

Flowers broke the pool record in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke in the five-team invitational that was broken into three divisions of difficulty — blue, red and white.

“I knew she had it in her,” DeForest coach Courtney Butler said. “She just keeps getting stronger— mentally and physically.”

It showed early in the meet as Flowers won the Blue Division’s 50 freestyle. Flowers won by more than 2 seconds in a winning time of 23.22 seconds, which broke the previous pool record set in 1991.

She later won the 100 backstroke in a pool-record time of 57.21, again winning comfortably by nearly 3 seconds to help the Norskies finish runner-up in the Blue Division.

“It was incredibleto be able to start my senior year with two records,” Flowers said. “I never imagined that would happen, and I'm so thankful for the opportunities and work I’ve put in to get these achievements.”

Added Butler: “Payton puts her heart and soul into each and every practice and her drive, sportsmanship and positivity is unmatched. She is definitely approaching this season with more confidence and aggression.”

Sun Prairie West’s Lydia Zenobi opens with pool record

Flowers wasn’tthe only swimmer from the area to set a pool record to open the season.

Lydia Zenobi followed suit for Sun Prairie West while helping the Wolves roll past Janesville Parker in their Big Eight Conference dual meet opener.

Zenobi won the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:01.47, setting a pool record to help punctuate the Wolves’ 131-38 win over the Vikings.

“To see that time on the board and to realize it was a pool record was a great feeling,” Zenobi said. “I’ve been training a lot this summer and that time is a good starting point.”

The senior also took second in the 200 individual medley (2:27.99) behind teammate Sophie Diers and was part of the Wolves’ winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Zenobi also helped the Wolves capture the Eau Claire Memorial Relays title, the program’s first invitational title in its short history.

She was part of West’s winning 300 butterfly and 400 freestyle relays as the Wolves' 110 points to edge out rivals Sun Prairie East (106) and Madison Memorial (102).

Brynn Sundell helps Middleton start title defense with splash

Brynn Sundell, who played an important role inMiddleton’sfourth WIAA Division 1 state title last season, helped get the Cardinals’ push for a second consecutive title underway with a splash.

The sophom*ore won a pair of individual events and was part of two winning relays as Middleton cruised to a 132-38 win over Madison Memorial in a Big Eight Conference opening dual meet.

Sundell opened her night swimming the butterfly leg of the Cardinals’ winning 200 medley relay and capped her night anchoring the winning 400 freestyle relay. She picked up a pair of individual eventwins between the relay wins.

First she won the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:10.06 before winning the 100 butterfly (58.45) in the opening event out of the break.

“Brynn got her season off to a great start, picking up right where she left off last year,” Middleton coach RJ Lieferman said. “We are looking forward to continuing to see her swim fast through the season.”

Lodi tri-op’s Marley Lagerman leads program

Lodi/Wisconsin Heights/River Valley also captured its first team invitational title, winning the Milton Tom Lieder Invitational.

Marley Lagerman played a major role in the Lodi tri-op’s 446 points to edge out host Red Hawks (431) in the 10-team invitational.

Lagerman finished in the top three in all of her events, including the Blue Devils’ lone individual event win of the day as she took first in the 200 free with a time of 2:12.95.

The sophom*ore also took third in the 100 free (1:01.27) and led off the team’s winning 400 free relay (4:00.45). She anchored the Blue Devils’ runner-up 200 free relay (1:48.99).

“She trained hard last season and continued with that momentum in the offseason and throughout the summer,” Lodi coach Natalie Price said. “She's impressing all of us and hasn't even hit her groove yet.”

Taylor Borchardt-Wilson helps Sun Prairie East make early splash

Sun Prairie East got its season off to a strong start last week thanks in part to Taylor Borchardt-Wilson.

The junior won the 500 freestyle in a time of 6:03.99 and took third in the 100 backstroke (1:07.66) as the Cardinals cruised to a 134-36 win over Janesville Craig in their first Big Eight dual meet. She also anchored the team’s winning 400 freestyle relay.

Borchardt-Wilson also played a big role in Sun Prairie East’s runner-up finish at the Eau Claire Memorial Relays. She was part of the Cardinals’ first-place 400 medley (4:32.29) and 300 backstroke (3:15.09) relays, as well as the team’s runner-up 800 free relay.

The Cardinals finished four points behind rival Sun Prairie West for the team title.

Supernova voting

Vote for your favorite performance to be the State Journal/WiscNews supernova below. Check back next week to find out who won.