Winona Winhawks set to leave the Faribault Falcons in their wake.

The Winona Winhawks (1-1) travel to Faribault to swim against the Falcons (1-5).

Look for the Winhawks to open strong with Sr. Ryan Whalen., Sr. Santino LaPorta. 8th gr. Roger Brosnahan., and Jr. Louie LaPorta bring home a first in the 200 Medley Relay.

Winhawk Sr. Josh Danzinger should secure a 1st in the 200 Freestyle and So. Joey Kleinow, if he swims inspired, could inch out Faribault for 2nd.

Faribault may take the 200IM, but Winhawk 8th grader Cal Dretske will dog him most of the way keeping him honest.

The 50 Freestyle is owned by Winhawk Sr. Ryan Whalen. Fresh off recording the pool record at the Austin Invitational, he will win the 50 free if he swims it.

Diving will be a great match-up between Winhawk Jr. Justin Bublitz and Faribault’s Luke Spartz. The Winhawks will get some much needed extra points from Winhawk Jr. Stan Petkov and So. Dan Karnick.

The 100 Butterfly will prove a challenge for the Winhawks. Faribault’s Adam Kluge is swimming a 1:06 so Winhawk Senior Matt Bagshaw will need to dig deep or perhaps Winhawk 8th gr. Roger Brosnahan will get plugged in to keep some bigger points flowing to the Winhawk total.

In the 100 Freestyle I predict the Winhawks will use Winhawk Sr. Captain Ryan Whalen here to score points. Look for Winhawk Jr. Louie LaPorta to steal 3rd place and Winhawk So. Joey Kleinow to come up big and edge out Faribault for 4th.

The 500 Freestyle will be Winhawk Sr. Josh Danzinger’s to win if he chooses to swim it.

The Winhawk “A” 200 Free Relay will look to score a first and should if they swim as they did last Saturday. Look for the Winhawk “B: Relay to pull it together and bring home the 3rd place points.

In the 100 Backstroke, if the Winhawks use Whalen earlier as I suspect, Winhawk Jr. Louie LaPorta will have to fill the lead slot and could possibly edge out Faribault for eth win. The same goes for Winhawk So. Avery Prondzinski who could break into the higher points with a big swim.

The 100 Breaststroke will offer Winhawk Sr. Santino LaPorta a chance to shine and score those necessary 6 first place points. Winhawk 8th Gr. Cal Dretske has the opportunity to follow right behind him and help pad the Winhawks point total with a second place finish.

The meet may very well come down to the 400 Free Relay and the Winhawks need to throw the “A” relay at the Falcons. The line-up has been juggled a few times this season but both combinations of Josh D., Joey K., Louie L., Ryan W and Roger B., Joey K., Ryan W., Cal D have swam fast enough to score 1st place.