She also helped the 200 medlay and 400 freestyle relay teams earn first places. Bender believes the way women have been winning medals at the Olympics will inspire girls. He hopes it will have an effect on girls coming out for swim team in the future. Right now, with only 16 swimmers, Sauk Prairie pits quality against quantity. Against a large team they lack depth and cannot put points on the board because they cannot place swimmers in events.
Swimming is a rugged sport.
Note that the 500 freestyle event is followed by the 200 freestyle relay. Sauk's Alison Horne swam in both events. Each team had girls swimming back to back events. There are fingernail finishes. Lauren Breunig took a first in 100 freestyle with 53.86, beating the second place Edgewood swimmer who finished in 54.66.