D.C. Everest beats SPASH again, keeps hold on Wisconsin Valley boys swim lead

WESTON - D.C. Everest had an inaugural victory over Stevens Point Area Senior High in December, and Thursday's rematch put the Evergreens in position to capture another program-first this winter. 

The D.C. Everest boys swim team secured its hold on first-place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference with a 99-71 win over the Panthers and remained the only program without a loss in the conference. Everest (6-0 WVC), which handed SPASH its first WVC dual meet loss in six years earlier this season and could be the first team outside of the Panthers to win the conference title since 2011.

Everest finished second in the WVC overall last year, the highest finish in the program's history. 

"(SPASH) has always been the powerhouse (in the WVC) but now we are in the driver's seat," Everest sophomore Payton Rudeen said. "We're getting excited for (the opportunity)."

Rudeen and Brennan Neitzel both won two individual events and were part of the first-place 200 yard medley relay team for the Evergreens, who won six events and clinched at least a share of first place in the dual meet portion of the WVC season. The conference meet is scheduled for Feb. 1 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 

Chad Franz and Drew Harris both won two individual events and were part of the first-place 400 free relay for a SPASH team which fell to 5-2 in conference duals and sits in second place in the WVC. The loss means that SPASH needs a dominant performance on Feb. 1 to keep its streak of WVC championships alive. 

"I don't think anything is a done deal," SPASH first-year coach Courtney McMurrain said of the conference race. "We have a pretty good group (of swimmers) here and I just dont think anything is over until it is over."

Both squads had to make adjustments to their lineups as Everest's Lance Chandler and SPASH's Marco Kurzynski both missed the meet due to illness. Everest's overall depth proved to be a difference, however. 

"We had to change our lineup and have guys swim different events (than normal) wth Lance being sick, but we pulled through," Rudeen said. "When it comes to depth (on the team), we've got a lot."

D.C. EVEREST 99, SPASH 71

Events: 200 yard medley relay: 1. DCE (Brennan Neitzel, Payton Rudeen, Ben Halambeck, Zach Rahn), 1:44.33. 200 free: 1. Brennan Neitzel, DCE, 1:54.01. 200 IM: 1. Chad Franz SP, 2:06.76. 50 free: 1. Payton Rudeen, DCE, 23.26. 100 fly: 1. Brennan Neitzel, DCE, 53.93. 100 free: 1. Chad Franz, SP, 54.78. 500 free: 1. Drew Harris, SP, 5:09.04. 200 free relay: 1. DCE (Jack Tegart, Isaiah Winowiski, Zach Rahn, Ben Halambeck), 1:41.50. 100 back: 1. Drew Harris, SP, 58.34. 100 breast: 1. Payton Rudeen, DCE, 1:09.71. 400 free relay: 1. SP (Drew Harris, Jared Kort, Keppany Bodor, Chad Franz), 3:37.80