Just like his older brother once did, Tremper’s Andrew Griffey hopes to close out his high school swimming days with a couple medals around his neck.

Griffey is one of the favorites in the 100-yard backstroke and somewhat of a sleeper in the 50 freestyle heading into the 85th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships today at the University of Wisconsin’s Natatorium in Madison.

The event begins with diving at 10 a.m., while the swim competition starts at 3 p.m.

Griffey’s brother Josh was the last Trojan to claim a State title in winning the 200 individual medley in 2005. Currently a senior captain on the University of Minnesota swim team, Josh Griffey also placed second that year in the 100 backstroke.

Andrew Griffey has a realistic shot at becoming Tremper’s next State champ. The senior is seeded third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.13 seconds and 13th in the 50 freestyle (22.11).

The top six finishers in each event medal, while the top-16 competitors score points.

“Our goal is for Andrew to medal in both events,” Tremper coach Mike McKay said. “As good of a shot as he has in the backstroke, it’s just as good in the 50 freestyle.”

The top seed in the 100 backstroke is New Berlin West-Eisenhower’s Byron Butler (51.04), while the No. 2 seed is Greenfield-Greendale’s Matt Jungers (52.34). Griffey, who took sixth in the event at State last year, was out-touched by Jungers at last week’s sectional and lost twice to Butler at the Wauwatosa Invitational and Marquette Invitational earlier this season. However, Griffey edged Butler by 0.31 second at last year’s State meet.

“It’s going to be a tight race between those three guys,” McKay said. “If (Griffey) continues on the path he’s been on, he’ll be right there with them. He’ll need a good first 50 (yards), he has to hit his turns and needs some good breakouts.”

Griffey competes in the second of three heats in the 50 freestyle. While the champion rarely comes out of the second heat, Griffey’s seed time is somewhat deceiving.

“He had kind of a sloppy 50 freestyle at the sectional,” McKay said. “His best time of the year would have him seeded third.”

Bradford and Tremper will be well-represented at the meet with each school sending seven individuals in five events.

Ryan Schmidt, the Trojans’ lone sectional champion, is seeded 21st in the 500 freestyle (4:58.12). Tremper’s 400 freestyle relay of Griffey, Drake Koster, Ron Schaefer and Riley Seebeck is seeded 23rd (3:22.39), while the Trojans 200 medley relay of Griffey, Aubrey Langley, Alex Lopez and Seebeck is the 24th and final seed (1:42.71).

Bradford’s best hope lies in John DeVroy. The junior is seeded 11th in the 200 individual medley (2:00.03) and is 14th in the 100 backstroke (54.73).

The Red Devils’ 200 medley relay of Joe DeVroy, Andrew Heuser, John DeVroy and Patrick Stephens is seeded 20th (1:42.23). Stephens, Johnas Lohse, John Stuligross and John DeVroy are seeded 22nd in the 200 freestyle relay (1:42.23). Bradford’s Lee Anderson was one of six sectional champions in diving. The sophomore is the second of 24 divers competing based on a random draw.

“This is the most kids we’ve ever sent to the State meet,” Bradford coach Franz Feldmeier said. “We have a lot of depth and a little bit of talent. We’re going into this meet with the idea to improve our times. Realistically, I’ll be happy if we can score 15 to 20 points and that probably won’t even rank us in the top 25. You never know though. When you go to this meet, anything can happen.”

Last year, Bradford didn’t qualify a single individual at State for the first time in more than a decade. Tremper is coming off a 28th-place finish.