The MHS Girls Swim Team had a busy week last week covering four meets in 10 days.
Starting off on Thursday, Oct 1. facing a strong Wausau-East team, despite a 49-117 loss, Bluejay swimmers brought home several first place finishes.
Erin Kanitz sprinted to first in the 100m freestyle just out-touching Wausau-East’s Alison Gilles. Then in the 500m freestyle event, Amber Winter took first place by over 30 seconds. Kanitz and Winter also had strong second place finishes in their individual events ;Kanitz in the 50 free and Winter in the 200 Free.
Merrill also took second in the 200m Medley relay with a team of Caitlyn Pehlke, Winter, Kanitz and Laney Zuelsdorff. Then they came back to finish the meet strong with a first place finish in the 400m freestyle relay with a team of Kanitz, Zuelsdorff, Emma Pajtash.
“We had some great swims against Wausau East but with our small team it is difficult to compete in the team score area” commented coach Kristie Winter.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 Merrill Hosted Marshfield at home (PRMS Pool); Marshfield 120-Merrill 36.
Top swims were posted by Winter taking 1st place in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 100m breaststroke event. Tanya Pillai also took 2nd in the 500 Free. The Bluejays were able to post 2nd place swims in both the 200 medley and 200 free relays with a team of Winter, Pehlke, Pillai and Pajtash.
Thursday, Oct.8 Merrill @ Wisconsin Rapids: Wisconsin Rapids 85-Merrill 56
The small Bluejay team captured top spots in five of 11 events. First place finishes were recorded by Pajtash in the 200m free and Winter in the 50m and 100m Free events; winning the 100 free by more than 10 seconds. The Bluejay relays also finished strong in the top spot in the 200m and 400m free relays of Pajtash, Pehlke, Pillai and Winter. Pajtash also finished a strong second place finish in the 100m Fly.
Saturday, Oct. 10 Merrill @ D.C Everest; DCE 126-Merrill 38
Winter again posted a first place finish in the 200m Free and a strong second in the 100m Breaststroke. The team also welcomed back Mya Wilde from quarantine; finishing 2nd in the 100m Back.
“A large portion of the Merrill team had been quarantined as a precaution due to possible contact at their jobs, including captains Kanitz and Zuelsdorff,” Winter explains.
“We only had five swimmers for the week, the other teams also had missing swimmers as well but we were hit particularly hard with our small team. The remaining girls battled hard and focused on self improvement, knowing the team score would be impossible to win. We look forward to having most of the roster back this week as we have another busy schedule facing East again Thursday.”