Austin is one of the Big 9 competitors that gets tested weekly. They are a Class A school in a conference with lots of Class AA competition. Unafraid, Coach Lynn Gulbrandson actually started his season off swimming a double dual against both Lakeville South and Lakeville North on the same night. Follow that with dual meets against Owatonna, Faribault and Rochester Century. Lastly, go to the Lakeville Relays with half the field being AA teams and finish in the middle of the pack and second among Class A schools. Consequently, although they are 0-5 already, they are all the tougher for the higher level of competition and not to be taken lightly.
Austin has about 45 swimmers & divers and the high school grades evenly covered with 8-10 swimmers per grade so they are deep and seasoned. Maybe to Winona’s advantage, Austin is keeping up their hectic pace and will be hosting Northfield (5-1) on Tuesday prior to hosting the Winhawks Thursday.
The 200 Medley Relay will be a good barometer of how the evening will shake out. With the loss of Alexandra Zuelke, the Winhawks A Relay of Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl, Sr. Taylor Johnson, Freshman Reese Galewski and Freshman Hailey O’Neil will have to be on their A game. The Packer Medley Relay was the Section 1A champion last year and has 3 on that relay returning. Brooke Johnson, Kelli Bednar, Averi Splinter, and Lauren Edwards have posted a 1:57 this season.
The 200 Freestyle should showcase an awesome race between Austin’s Sophomore Helen Heimark and the Winhawks’ Freshman Haley O’Neill. This race could go head to head the entire 8 lengths.
The 200 IM will most likely feature Austin’s standout Senior swimmer Averi Splinter (6th at Class A State 100 Fly last year). She has been posting 2:25’s and Steve Burt may have to counter with Winona’s standout, Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan to make it a race.
As has been the case all season, look for the Winhawks to try and monopolize the 50 Freestyle with Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek and Sr. Taylor Johnson. They have a good chance of going 1-2.
You know what an away meet means, WE GET TO WATCH DIVING! We should be in for a treat. It could be a great contest between Austin’s Freshman Autumn Laury and Winona’s Sophomore Crystal Franzwa depending on how consistent Laury is. Crystal is coming off a big 1st place finish in the Apple Valley Invite and should be inspired.
The 100 Fly will be an awesome contest between Austin’s Senior State Finalist Averi Splinter and the Winhawks’ Freshman sensation Reese Galewski. Both have posted 1:02’s recently and may very well go wire to wire.
The 500 Freestyle will be a quandary for Winona Coach Steve Burt. Always trying to figure out whom to pull from a strong event to plug into the 500, he will have to counter Austin’s Sophomore Helen Heimark and Freshman Meredith Fritz. Both can post just under and just over 6 minute times respectively. So the Winhawks will have to counter with someone capable. Perhaps the call will go to Freshman Haley O’Neill or Sr. Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl again, very possibly both.
The 200 Free Relay should go to the Winhawks with a deeper sprinter field than the Packers to draw from.
The 100 Backstroke will most likely see Austin’s State Qualifier Senior Brooke Johnson. With how she has been performing Coach Steve Burt may have to counter with Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan and Cotter 7th Grader Morgan Whyte following behind her.
The 100 Breaststroke means Austin’s Senior Kelli Bednar will be in the water. She has swum a 1:14 this season so Winhawk Sr. Taylor Johnson will have to summon up a great swim to lead the Winhawks on a high note into the final relay.
The 400 Freestyle Relay should go to the Winhawks for the same reason as the 200FR Relay. Too much speed deep into the line-up, but hopefully they will have the meet sewn up by then and won’t need to take it.
Have fun Thursday night watching a great meet between two programs with rich histories.
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