The strong Hatchet swim team visited the Bluejays last Tuesday and left with a ??? victory. Then Tomahawk improved to 4-0 in the GNC with Thursday’s 131-50 triumph over Colby.
Tomahawk won each event in the Merrill meet, but the Bluejays managed eight runner-up finishes.
“I was really pleased with the girls swimming,” THS coach Theresa L’Esperance. “We changed a lot of swimmers up just to see what everyone could do.
“We also sat Lauren (Hilt) and (Katherine) Russell one event, they needed the rest. (Karli) Cecil swam a great butterfly, breaking the 1:08 mark.
“The surprise of the night was (Morgan) Weber and (Mikhayla) Kleich in the backstroke. Both were swimming the event for the first time, and broke into the (THS) top-ten all-time 100 backstroke. We have been battling sinus (issues) and colds. We hope to clear everyone up soon.”
The Hatchet swept the backstroke with Weber (1:08.85), Kleich (111.45) and Jackie Elliot (1:14.29), and went 1-2 in 100 fly with Cecil (1:07.97) and Weber (1:12.79) and the 400 free relay with Cecil, Baylee Dallman, Kleich, Weber (4:04.53) and Jamie Sterr, Elliott, Maddy McPherson and Emily Zurfluh (4:27.53).
Tomahawk swam 1st and 3rd in the: 200 free (Dallman, 2:15.95/Michaela Galganski, 2:24.36); 50 free (Russell, :27.83/Taylor Hansen, :28.76); 100 free (Kleich , 1:01.15/Zurfluh, 1:06.60); 500 free (Dallman, 6:05.88/McPherson, 6:38.68); 100 brea (Galganski, 1:19.40/Quinn Casey, 1:28.32); the 200 medley relay (Russell, Weber, Cecil, Hilt, 2:01.82/Elliott, Sterr, Kleich, Hansen, 2:14.18); and the 200 free relay (Hilt, Cecil, Dallman, Russell, 1:51.17/Galganski, Hansen, Sterr, McPherson, 1:57.12). Hilt also won the 200 IM (2:27.25).
The Bluejays ranked 2-3 in the 200 IM with Jennica Jahnke (2:39.00) and Miranda Jahnke (2:46.09). They also earned second-place finishes with: Kendyl Pettit (50 free, :28.16/500 free, 6:24.25); Taylor LaBorde (200 free, 2:24.18); Robin Opshal (100 free, 1:05.81); J. Jahnke (100 brea (1:20.23); the 200 medley team (Pettit, J. Jahnke, Opsahl, M. Jahnke, 2:12.70); and the 200 free squad (J. Jhanke, Opsahl, M. Jahnke, Pettit, 1:55.12).
Other thirds were turned in by: M. Jahnke (100 fly, 1:18.79) and the 400 free team (LaBorde, Morgan Norton, Courtney Grieser, Madi Dillinger, 4:43.09).
“The new team members are really beginning to show progress as the meet against Tomahawk marked the half-way point of the season” MHS coach Lisa Siewert said. “Freshman Morgan Bloch had an outstanding meet with best times in both the 100 breast and 50 free. Sophomore Hannah Adsit and freshman Shailee Myers won JV events in the 100 free and 500, respectively; while capturing the best times in the process. Freshman Caitlyn Kolehouse dropped over 5 seconds in the 100 free, which is a remarkable accomplishment.
“The veterans are also continuing to improve. Senior Jennica Jahnke swam a competitive race in the 100 breaststroke and dropped a second from her previous season-best time. Seniors Taylor LaBorde and Courtney Greiser are specializing in distance events, but are showing much improvement in their sprinting abilities with best times in the 50 free. Junior Morgan Norton had two fabulous swims in the 100 back, dropping 6 seconds, and the 400 freestyle relay, dropping 7 seconds in her 100 freestyle leg.”
Slicing the cheese
Hilt broke the THS 100 back record with a 1:02.48 breaking the mark set by Kristin Kuber in 2003. M. Kleich (1st), swam the second fastest time in school history in 500 freestyle in 5:53.38
“Another win, 4-0 in conference,” L’Esperance said. “Setting personal bests were Sarah Bartz, Quinn Casey, Katherine Russell, and swimming a great 100 free individual and closing the ‘B’ 400 Relay was Jackie Elliott with two personals!”
Sweeps came in the: 200 free (Weber, 2:13.60/Cecil,2:13.81/Elliott, 2:28.06); 200 IM (Dallman, 2:35.84/Hansen, 2:47.73/McPherson, 2:49.81); 100 brea (Russell, 1:25.55/Sterr, 1:25.66/Casey, 1:27.44); and 400 free realy (Weber, Kleich, Dallman, Hilt, 4:00.08)/Cecil, Galganski, McPherson, Elliott, 4:20.46/Hannah Consolver, Camryn Swan, Sarah Bartz, Zurfluh, 4:49.44).
Tomahawk 1-2 in the 500 free (Kleich, 5:53.38/Zurfluh, 6:47.45), 100 back (Hilt, 1:02.48/McPherson, 1:14.26); and the 200 free (Weber, Dallman, Russell, Kleich, 1:50.13/Hansen, Elliott, Cecil, Sterr, 1:56.92). THS ranked 1st and 3rd in the: 50 free (Hilt, :25.21/Kleich, :27.71); 100 fly (Russell, 1:07.33/Galganski, 1:18.35); 100 free (Weber, :58.33/Elliott, 1:05.97); and 200 medley relay (Hilt, Galganski, Russell, Dallman, 2:03.78/McPherson, Sterr, Hansen, Zurfluh, 2:17.09). Annaluz Fox was second in diving (145.90 points).