News Summary

Drew Gaerthofner, a senior swimmer from Neenah High School, shone at the WIAA Division 1 state swimming championships, earning top spots in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke. He finished second in both events, showcasing remarkable improvement from previous years. Gaerthofner is set to join the University of Wisconsin’s swim team and has secured a spot in the upcoming U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. As Neenah’s team clinched ninth place overall, all eyes are on Gaerthofner as he strives for greater achievements in the future.

Neenah Swimmer Drew Gaerthofner Dazzles at State Championships, Eyes Olympic Trials

Residents of Neenah are buzzing with pride after local swimmer Drew Gaerthofner’s fantastic performances at the recent WIAA Division 1 state swimming championships. The talented senior from Neenah High School made quite a splash, finishing in the top spots in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke events, while also counting on his teammates to help put Neenah on the swimming map.

A Splash in the Freestyle

In the highly competitive 50-yard freestyle, Gaerthofner clinched second place with a personal best time of 20.29 seconds. Just a heartbeat away from first, he was outpaced by Middleton’s Caden Van Buren, who won the race in an impressive 20.24 seconds. It’s safe to say that this nail-biting finish kept fans on the edge of their seats!

Breaststroke Brilliance

Switching gears, Gaerthofner also showcased his strength in the 100-yard breaststroke where he once again finished in second place, clocking in at 54.37 seconds. Unfortunately, he found himself behind Middleton’s Sam Wolf, who not only took the gold but set a new Division 1 state meet record with a time of 53.07 seconds. Although he felt a bit disappointed, Gaerthofner kept his spirits high, acknowledging that it was still a *really good meet* overall.

Relay Races

The excitement didn’t stop there as Gaerthofner also played an essential role in Neenah’s relay teams. The 200 medley relay squad finished in fourth place with a time of 1:33.96, and they followed that with a solid fifth-place finish in the 200 freestyle, completing the race in 1:25.98. That’s some excellent teamwork! Teammate Tanner Trustem also contributed, finishing eighth in the breaststroke with a time of 57.62 seconds.

With all these stellar performances, Neenah’s team managed to snag ninth place at the state competition, scoring a total of 113 points. Meanwhile, the Middleton team took home the championship title with a whopping 273 points.

Looking Ahead to the Big Stage

As if the state championships weren’t enough, Gaerthofner’s swimming journey is about to take an exciting turn. He has already verbally committed to swim for the University of Wisconsin this coming year, choosing Madison over other strong contenders like Ohio State and North Carolina State. He liked the city and the friendly team culture at UW-Madison.

On top of that, Gaerthofner’s recent performance at the Jack Pettinger Invite at UW-Madison secured him a spot in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, thanks to his qualifying time of 1:02.14 in the 100-meter breaststroke. The Olympic Trials will take place at the iconic Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on June 15, right at 10 a.m., with all swimmers aiming to impress before the June 3 qualifying deadline!

The Journey So Far

Reflecting on his journey, Gaerthofner previously earned third place in the 100-yard breaststroke at this year’s WIAA state championships with a time of 55.78 seconds. He came into the meet seeded third in breaststroke and fifth in freestyle. Last year, he finished tenth in the 50 freestyle and third in the breaststroke, but this year, he seems to have leveled up, showing remarkable improvement.

With his eager spirit and determination, it’s clear that Gaerthofner is not just making waves at the local level; he’s preparing for much, much more. All eyes will be on him as he continues to chase his Olympic dreams!

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