Feb 9 2026
Following conference meets, teams gear up for sectional and state meets. Sectionals are held this Friday and Saturday, with the state meets held the following weekend at Waukesha South.
Who competes where? (AKA, why do we have to drive to...)
The WIAA assigns teams based on enrollment. The top 60% of teams compete in D1, while the bottom 40% compete in D2 (for now...changes coming in 2026-27!)
Here is the sectional meet schedule. Diving is held on Friday, and swimming on Saturday. Parents and swim fans may want to note the time the pools open to fans; some sectional sites have limited seating available.
How Does It Work?
For the sectional meet, each team is limited to 18 individual entries and one entry per relay event. Unlike many conference meets or regular-season invites, there are no B relays at sectionals -- only a team's best relays swim in the relay events.
There are nine individual events at sectionals: eight swimming events and diving. The 18 individual entries average 2 per event, but there are no restrictions on how a team uses them. Some teams will choose to "load up" events they are strong in. For example, it's not unusual to see teams strong in distance swimming enter three or four swimmers in the longer races.
Swimmers (and divers) are limited to two individual events and four events total, including relays. They can participate in any two individual events, and coaches can enter the same competitor in diving and in one individual swim event (it’s been done).
Another option is for a swimmer to take part in three relays and just one individual event.
Sectional PSYCH SHEETS will be posted to the WIAA website sometime on Tuesday afternoon (the entry deadline is 12:00 Noon on Tuesday)
How do I make it to state? (There aren't time standards?!?)
WIAA sectionals are a high-stakes meet. Performances at the sectional meets are the ONLY way to qualify for the state meet.
The sectional champions in each event (individual and relays) at each of the sectional meets qualify for state - no matter their time or dive score. If you win, you're in!
In D1, there are six sectional sites. The six sectional winners, along with the next 18 fastest non-winners, qualify, bringing the total to 24 qualifiers per event.
In D2, there are four sectional sites. The four sectional winners, along with the next 12 fastest non-winners, qualify to make 16 qualifiers in each event.
The WIAA posts sectional results on Saturday evening. In addition, the WIAA will post a qualifying times list (the final time/score that qualifies for state) on its website on Saturday, so competitors (and coaches and parents) can quickly see if a time/score qualifies for state.
Lane assignments for the state meet are posted by the WIAA sometime late Saturday or Sunday on its website.
Finally, a somewhat obscure relay rule: the team qualifies for state, but not necessarily the four swimmers that participated at sectionals! In other words, coaches are free to change their relay lineups between sectionals and state, and often do —coaches will try to get all three relays to state, then switch things around to build up two stronger relays. Any swimmer on a team is eligible to swim on a state-qualifying relay; the swimmer is not required to have otherwise qualified for state in some manner.
Occasionally, you see an empty lane at the state meet, which is a scratch. The WIAA does not use alternates at the state meet.
Any questions? Post in the comments section, and we'll try to track down an answer.
Good luck to all competitors! (And parents, coaches, fans, and meet officials as well.)