The Bluejay swimmers combined top-level performance with super sportsmanship in Saturday’s WIAA Sectional in the UW-SP pool.
The Jays ranked 12th of 15 teams.
“We had a fantastic final meet of the year,” MHS coach Lisa Siewert said. “Every girl was either within a half-second of their best time or achieved a best time.
“Miranda Janke swam extremely well in her final meet as a Bluejay with best times in everything that she swam: dropping six seconds in the 200 IM, three seconds in the 100 free, two in the 50 breast, and one in the 50 free. Kendyl Pettit also had a great 500 freestyle finish, dropping almost 15 seconds. Stevie Boohers dropped over nine seconds in the 200 freestyle and one second in the 100 backstroke.
“All of our relays dropped significant amount of time as well, and because of this we finished 12th out of 15. This is the highest finish for Merrill at the sectional meet in over 10 years.
“While I was incredibly proud of their displays of athleticism, their sportsmanship toward other athletes and teams was noted not only by me, but by the meet officials and director as well. At the beginning of the meet, while all the teams were circled around the pool, the Bluejays started the wave, macarena and hokey pokey. These activities set the tone for a fun meet and represented Merill well. The girls also congratulated their competitors after each race.”
Jahnke posted the top individual finish with a ninth in the 200 IM (2:35.07), and the 200 free team of Caitlyn Kolehouse, Cohrs, Jahnke and Pettit matched it in 1:53.10.
Pettit swam 11th in the 500 free at 6:02.68, the 400 free group of Morgan Norton, Faith Wheat, Hanna Cohrs and Jahnke placed 13th in 4:32.14, and the 200 medley team of Pettit, Jahnke, Kolehouse and Wheat ranked 14th in 2:11.98.
Other finishes came from: Pettit (21st, 50 free, :27.59); Wheat (23rd, 500 free, 6:37.14); Kolehouse (27th, 50 free, :28.66/27th, 100 free, 1:04.25); Norton (27th, 200 free, 2:29.22/28th, 100 back, 1:23.23); Boohers (29th, 100 back, 1:24.96); and Cohrs (39th, 50 free, :31.19/39th, 100 free, 1:09.07).
Team standings – Tomahawk 313, Ladysmith 310, River Falls 250, Menomonie 207, Lakeland 205, Medford 200, Rice Lake 179, Wittenberg 143, Clintonville 123, Antigo 88, Merrill 48, Rhinelander 42, Colby/Abby 33, New London 26.