The small Merrill girls squad swam big when Wis. Rapids came to town on Thursday. 
“I thought the girls did very well,” MHS coach Lisa Siewert said. “It’s exciting to see them swimming better than they ever have in the past.
“We are only a month away from the end of the season, and the girls are almost done with the hardest part of the season. They will soon begin to taper, which is a loss of yards and more rest during practice. I expect them all to swim very well at the end of the season if they keep practicing hard.”
Rapids pulled out a 123-46 victory, but the Bluejays battled with their crew of nine.
Kendyl Pettit won the 50 free (:27.39) and anchored the first-place 200 free relay (with Caitlyn Kolehouse, Hanna Cohrs, Miranda Jahnke, 1:55.91). Pettit (1:15.28) and Jahnke (1:17.6) went 2-3 in the 100 fly. 
Also placing third were: Faith Wheat (200 free, 2:28.77/500 free 6:8.06); Kolehouse (100 free (1:06.46); Morgan Norton (100 back, 1:23.11); and the 200 medley team (Norton, Jahnke, Pettit, Kolehouse, 2:18.17).
“Faith Wheat was very much a standout as she dropped time in every event that she swam,” Siewert said. “The 200 freestyle relay members all did fairly well. I was very impressed by Miranda Jahnke and Kendyl Pettit’s swims. Alexis Kanitz swam the 500 free for the first time and I am very encouraged by her swim. She will likely be swimming this more often in the future.”