TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Merrill Girls Swim Team traveled to Horace Mann Middle School in Wausau on Thursday, Oct. 14, where they faced off against Wausau East for their last dual meet of the season.
Head Coach Kristie Winter described the Wausau East Girls as a strong team and said Merrill and Wausau East went into the meet “tied for third in the Wisconsin Valley Conference, both teams only having losses to DC Everest and Stevens Point.”
“Merrill battled hard after a disappointing DQ for the B 200 Medley Relay [team] in the first event but won 8 of 11 events overall,” Winter said.
“Top swims were reported by Senior Grace Schultz in both the 100 fly and 100 backstroke, just missing the pool record by .5 in the backstroke; by Junior Amber Winter in the 200 IM and 100 breast; by Senior Claire Schultz in the 50 free; and by Freshman Olivia Pajtash in the 500 free,” she said.
“Merrill also took the top spot in both the 200 Medley (Megan Miles, Amber Winter, Grace Schultz and Claire Schultz) and 200 Free Relays (Claire Schultz, Bailee Sommer, Amber Winter and Grace Schultz),” Winter said.
“The girls really had some great swims tonight, she added. “They have been training very hard, and we saw many season/personal best times tonight.” The highest scores for Merrill in each of the events were as follows:
Event 2 – 1st place in the Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay team of: Grace Schultz, Amber Winter, Claire Schultz, and Megan Miles (1:55.93)
Event 4 – 2nd place in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle: Olivia Pajtash (2:14.23)
Event 6 – 1st place in the Girls 200 Yard IM: Amber Winter (2:20.09)
Event 8 – 1st place in the Girls 50 Yard Freestyle: Claire Schultz (25.96)
Event 10 – 1st place in the Girls 100 Yard Butterfly: Grace Schultz (1:00.96)
Event 12 – 2nd place in the Girls 100 Yard Freestyle: Claire Schultz (57.81)
Event 14 – 1st place in the Girls 500 Yard Freestyle: Olivia Pajtash (5:57.81)
Event 16 – 1st place in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Grace Schultz, Amber Winter, Bailee Sommer, and Claire Schultz (1:48.36)
Event 18 – 1st place in the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke: Grace Schultz (59.81)
Event 20 – 1st place in the Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke: Amber Winter (1:09.97)
Event 22 – 2nd place in the Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: Megan Miles, Olivia Pajtash, and Bailey Orzech, Bailey Sommer (4:12.76)
Box Score
Merrill 90 @ Wausau East 80
The team finishes their regular season with a 4-2 record in the Valley, taking third place.
They get a week off before heading to Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday, Oct 28., for their Conference meet, Winter said.