Stave takes aim on second state title

Greenfield - Rachel Stave of Whitnall seems to be set up well for a repeat of her WIAA Division 1 diving championship this weekend in Madison.

The junior racked up 454.75 points to claim a sectional crown on Friday at Kenosha Tremper. She finished a whopping 146 points ahead of second-place Leah Fraleigh of New Berlin Eisenhower, who also qualified for state.

Her total puts her 75 points ahead of the next qualifier at state, Taylor Knuth of Plymouth (379.35 at her sectional).

Nothing for granted

Stave, though, is taking nothing for granted heading into the competition on Friday night at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Natatorium.

"I am excited about it, but I just prefer not to think about it (the title)," Stave said. "Anything can go wrong. I am just trying to take a cautious attitude."

Stave was the state runner-up as a freshman, losing the title by a scant 5.1 points to Kristin Capcik of Milwaukee Lutheran. She rebounded last season to run away with the crown at a school-record 470.2 points, 99.9 ahead of runnerup Sierra Becker of River Falls.

Becker is back at state and posted 355.95 points in her sectional to rate fourth in the seeding, behind Hayley Seitz of Port Washington (356.05).

When looking at the state field, Stave also notices Kaitlyn Zarem of Grafton (354.0) and Sheridan Hearn of Madison Edgewood (340.05).

She is hoping to hold off all those challengers and claim her second title.

"That would be amazing," she said. "It is my goal, and I am working toward it."

Others flying for Falcons

The Falcons have two other state qualifiers: senior Laura Sullivan in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 medley relay team of junior Sarah Arteaga, Sullivan, junior Lauren Zurowski and senior Danika Johnson.

In Saturday's sectional at Cudahy, Sullivan placed third in the breaststroke (1 minute, 10.68 seconds) and the medley relay unit captured fifth (1:56.5).

Sullivan, Arteaga, Johnson and Zurowski all competed in last year's state meet.

Taking top-eight spots at the sectional but not qualifying for state were Arteaga, fifth in the breaststroke (1:12.56); the 200 freestyle relay team of Elizabeth Streim, Jill Kolasinski, Rebecca Wigington and Leah Jenk, sixth (1:50.98); the 400 freestyle unit of Zurowski, Johnson, Sullivan and Arteaga, sixth (3:51.32); Maddie Vokovitch, seventh in the 200 freestyle (2:04.31) and the 100 breaststroke (1:13.67); and Zurowski in the 50 freestyle, eighth (25.96 seconds).

The Falcons tallied 238 points for fourth place in the sectional, which was won by Fort Atkinson (346).