Girls Swimming & Diving: Melrose first at Willmar Invite
WILLMAR -- The Melrose Dutchmen swim and dive team won all three relays plus a pair of individual firsts to capture the team trophy at the Willmar Cardinals Invitational Saturday.
Bemidji was in second place, 109 points back and the host Cardinals were third in the seven-team meet to open the season in the senior high pool.
Willmar posted a pair of second places by Miranda Kuchta (backstroke) and Alyssa Holwerda (breaststroke).
"I'm very pleased with the performance of the girls, especially the younger ones," said Willmar head coach Carl Shuldes. "Many started off by swimming at or near their lifetime bests."
Willmar's all new lineup of first-year divers placed four in the top 15.
"Diving was a big question mark entering the season, but our divers did very well, said Shuldes. "None of the divers dove last year, so I'm very encouraged by their performance."
Bridget Opsahl of the Minnewaska/Morris Gators won both freestyle sprints.
For the first time, the meet allowed unlimited entries leading to 11 heats and 86 swimmers in the 50 free alone.
Team scores
(1) Melrose 570 (2) Bemidji 461 (3) Willmar 412 (4) St. Cloud Tech 353 (5) Sauk Centre 286 (6) Montevideo 133 (7) Minnewaska/Morris 109
Individual results
(1st place ... area results top 12, diving top 15)
200 MEDLEY RELAY - (1) Melrose 1:58.28 .... (3) Willmar: Miranda Kuchta, Alycia Holwerda, Liz Gorans, Rose Jackson; 2:00.55 (7) Willmar: Kennedy Holwerda, Hannah Arnold, Zoe Vossen, Mykaela Henrickson; 2:09.27 (9) Montevideo: Mai Dessureault, Stina Ostlie, Kelsey Quigley, Bayle Pauling: 2:09.76
200 FREESTYLE - (1) Tiana Molitor, SC, 2:07.31 (7) Anna Backes, Wil, 2:17.75 (8) Erika Aaker, Wil, 2:18.17
200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY - (1) Erin Arndt, Bem, 2:27.42 (2) Kelsey Quigley, Mtv, 2:33.0 (4) A. Holwerda, Wil, 2:33.79 (9) Hannah Arnold, Wil, 2:42.66 (10) Brianna Bredeson, Wil, 2:43.04
50 FREESTYLE - (1) Bridget Opdahl, MM, 25.29 (4) Rose Jackson, Wil, 27.02 (5) Baylee Pauling, Mtv, 27.34 (9) Marin Fischer, Wil, 27.86 (10) Liz Gorans, Wil, 27.96 (11) Cassandra Lankenau, Wil, 28.36
DIVING - (1) Kylie Grosfield, Bem, 197.0 (6) Allyssa Parker, Mtv, 150.9 (7) Maddy Lindblad, Wil, 144.9 (9) Julie Helander, MM, 138.85 (12) Elissa Weiler, Wil, 132.0 (13) Haley Mottinger, Wil, 129.25
100 BUTTERFLY - (1) Steph Frey, Bem, 1:00.83 (6) K. Quigley, Mtv, 1:07.42 (8) Kuchta, Wil, 1:10.90 (12) Gorans, Wil, 1:15.13
100 FREESTYLE - (1) B. Opdahl. MM, 55.78 (4) K. Holwerda, Wil, 59.36 (6) Marin Fischer, Wil, 1:01.44
500 FREESTYLE - (1) Rachael Kulzer, Mel, 5:47.78 (9) Bredeson, Wil, 6:27.01 (11) Aaker, Wil, 6:30.16 (12) Ellie Shuldes, Wil, 6:44.09
200 FREESTYLE RELAY - (1) Melrose 1:48.57 (5) Willmar: Fischer, Jackson, Lankenau, Gorans; 1:51.23 (6) Willmar: A. Holwerda, A. Backes, Aaker, K. Holwerda; 1:55.5 (7) Minnewaska/Morris: Helander, Bridgitte Weaver, Halleigh Thompson, Bridget Opdahl; 1:55.39 (9) Montevideo: Racquel Weaver, Stina Ostlie, Kyra Fokken, Pauling; 1:58.55
100 BACKSTROKE - (1) Gabie Sawyer, Mel, 1:06.48 (2) Kuchta, Wil, 1:07.5 (11) Moira Revere, Wil, 1:14.98
100 BREASTSTROKE - (1) Steph Freyl, Bem, 1:11.87 (2) Alycia Holwera, Wil, 1:13.12 (7) Arnold, Wil, 1:22.86 (8) Lexi Quigley, Mtv, 1:24.46
400 FREESTYLE RELAY - (1) Melrose 3:54.10 (4) Willmar: Fischer, Lankenau, Kuchta, K. Holwerda; 4:06.37 (7) Willmar: Henrickson, Jackson, Backes, Aaker; 4:16.65 (8) Minnewaska/Morris: Weaver, Helander, Colleen Rutledge, B. Opdahl; 4:25.31 (10) Montevideo: Pauling, Winters, Dessureault, K. Quigley; 4:27.26
