Page 12 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, March 14, 2013

OpiniOn

Wilton waves help propel Muscatine F

or three years, the Muscatine boys swim team has been blazing quite a trail through the water! The Muskies have won three state swimming titles in-a-row and Wilton athletes namely Travis Greenwald and Alex Walton have been a big part of their success. Muscatine cemented its third straight title Feb. 9 in Marshalltown. The meet began the same way it had in each of the last two years, with the Muskies taking gold in the 200-meter medley relay. Greenwald and Walton were both on the relay team to help propel Muscatine to a winning start in the meet. It was really big to start that good. Weve won the medley all three years, said Greenwald, a senior that has won several events at the state meet during Musatines three-year Taking it all inMembers of the 2013 Muscatine boys' swim team were invited to the Capitol in Des Moines to meet Gov. Terry run. Branstad. Above, Branstad (middle seated) and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds (standing behind Gov. Branstad) met with some of the MuskGreenwald said the Muskies came into ies. Travis Greenwald (front row second from left) and Alex Walton (back row second from right) were part of the contingent. the meet with a target on our back, but they Contributed photo continued to deliver as theyve not lost a dual meet for three years, he said. Branstad (see photo). The dominance continued with the 200-meSuccess doesnt come without a price for ter IM, a grueling race where all four strokes our Wilton swimmers, which also included (freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and back- AJ Koch and Ricky Creamer this season. stroke) are used. The Muskies finished 1, 2, 3 They practice six days per week (when they in the event! dont have Saturday meets) The Muscatine sweep usually with a minimum marked just the fourth time of three morning practices in history that a school had worked in as well. swept an event in the state While Walton still atswim meet. The feat hadnt tends Wilton High School, been done since 1981 (divGreenwald open-enrolled ing) or 1976 (in the pool). to Muscatine for his senior Greenwald didnt know By Derek Sawvell year, a decision he admits until the last minute that was tough socially but right hed be swimming in the logistically. event, but coach Judd Anderson was confident Theres a lot more class selection I had he would finish second. He did. Haden Calegan to drive there already anyway for practices. It won the event while Greenwald finished second worked out so much better, said Greenwald, and Walton finished third. who has signed to swim for the University of It goes to show how much work our team Denver. has put into that event, said Greenwald. We For Walton, the state meet didnt mark the swim against each other all year so we have end of his season. He kept training and comeach other to push in that event. peted at USA state swimming in Waukesha, Travis Greenwald of Muscatine High School (formerly of Wilton High School) is shown It was really nice to know we had the top Wis., during the last week in February, where above competing in the 100-meter breaststroke at the state meet. The senior won three in an event, said Walton. And for it he won three individual championships and the title in the event, capping a run of three straight 100-meter breaststroke state being the 200 IM, I dont think it will happen beat a couple of (Iowa) Hawkeyes in the championships. Photos courtesy of the Muscatine Journal again. Its never been done before. Its tough process. because it includes every stroke. Walton and Greenwald will both take a The Muskies swam to a second place fin- bit of a breather before training for the USA ish in the 200-meter freestyle relay. Dubuque Swimming Junior National Meet in Irvine, Senior won the title but the amazing stat was Calif., in August. that both Dubuque Senior and Muscatine broke As for the future of Muscatine swimming, the state record in the event! Walton says that while this year the Muskies The Muskies took state titles in two more knew we had it from the beginning, next year events as Greenwald won his third consecutive they wont have the depth but there will be individual title in the 100-meter breaststroke individuals, including himself, looking to make and Walton, a sophomore, won his first state runs at the state meet. title in the 100-meter backstroke. We all knew it was the end of an era, said Of his third title in the breaststroke, Green- Walton. The whole team has known each other wald said the competition has gotten stronger since we were eight years old. Its nice to have each year. We sealed the meet with that event. that bond. I couldnt ask for anything else after that, said Weve had guys step up (each year). I think Greenwald. Alex will be able to lead the team to a good Walton is now in the same position as season next year, said Greenwald. Greenwald. He has won his first title in the Well be watching! backstroke as a sophomore and will have a Again its wonderful for these schools to chance to win three in-a-row with hard work work together to provide opportunities for our and determination. Wilton and Durant area students who want to At state you always want to have your partake in activities not offered by our smaller Muscatine's Alex Walton is shown above competing in the 200-meter IM at the state best times usually we crush our best times highs schools. Kudos to Greenwald, Walton, swim meet in Marshalltown Feb. 9. The Wilton High School sophomore finished third at state, said Walton, who set a school record Koch and Creamer for putting in the time, efin the event and later won the title in the 100-meter backstroke, one of four event during the state meet in the 100-meter back- fort and miles both in the pool and on the victories for the Muskies, who won their third straight state swimming title. stroke. He also set the pool record in the 200 roads! IM and was a member of the pool record breaking 200-meter medley relay and 400-meter freestyle relay in the conference/district meet prior to state held in Muscatine. This has been a magical run to watch from As we rehearse and perform, all of us are maple-glazed pork loin or parmesan-crusted afar and thanks to a sharing agreement between Editor: Since early January, some of your friends thinking of another important goal that tilapia. The cost for dinner and performance is Muscatine and Wilton high schools, Greenwald has been an intricate part of three state titles and neighbors have been meeting several times the Fine Arts Guild turns a profit with dinner only $20.00, and there are still seats available while Walton has contributed in the last two. a week to prepare the annual Wilton Dinner theatre so we can give back to our community for all performances. Call 732-2323 right now We did so much better than I thought we Theatre for mid-March productions. If youve schools with scholarships and sponsorship of to reserve seats for March 15, 16, 17 (matinee), 22 or 23. could, said Greenwald while looking back ever come to one of the more than 30 years art, music and theater events. Dancers, actors, stage folk and Wilton Fine Dinner Theatre Committee on his four year career in the pool for MHS. of dinner theater performances, you know Marci Sherwood Without that agreement, we may not have these talented folks take these rehearsals and Arts Board members would all love to see old preparation meetings very seriously. Menus and new faces in the audience! Perhaps you Sherry Linder won these state titles. Daniele Busher The teams accomplishments have been are planned, staging is built, lines are learned, havent been to one of our performances since Connie Hoekstra getting well-deserved attention around the dance moves and vocalization is fine-tuned weve moved to the Community Center. If you Connie Fratzke state. Shortly after winning their third straight all done with the idea that we bring fine havent, this is the year to try it! The venue is title, the Muskies were invited to the Capitol entertainment to our guests for a reasonable perfect, with a lot more room, better acoustics and ambiance to spare! Our dinner choices are building in Des Moines to meet Gov. Terry price!

Case in Point

'We bring fine entertainment to our guests'