Winhawks make it 2-0 on the 2010 season.

Thursday afternoon provided an opportunity for far away Mankato West to come swim against our own Winona Winhawk Girls Swimming & Diving team.

Being early in the season, both the Mankato West Scarlets (0-1) and the Winona Winhawks (1-0) are sorting out their rosters and capabilities. Add that the two teams don’t swim dual meets against each other often, and the coaches are flying in the dark regarding events and match-ups. Suffice it to say Winona’s Head Coach Steve Burt new of Mankato standout Danielle Nack, and Mankato’s Dave Burgess was well aware of MacKenzie Brosnahan and Alexandra Zuelke. I am sure it is a nice feeling for a coach when you come into an away pool and look at the record board to see what is there for the taking. After that, dual meets are about match-ups, and putting your talent where the opponent’s talent isn’t, trying to amass points where they make the biggest impact. You can take 1st in every individual event in swimming and still lose the meet. Both Coaches knew that this would be a” too close to call meet”, and would depend on match-ups and the quality of the swims based on condition and level of rest. Tuesday night, the Winhawks won every event and won handily. This afternoon, the results will be more mixed and the all important middle finishes for points will determine the outcome.

The 200 Medley Relay had the Winhawk JV set the tone going 1&3, won by Sophomore Emily Krause, Senior Melanie Jones McMillan, Sophomore Samantha Johnson, and Freshman Morgan Crowson. In the Varsity Heat, The Winhawks also went 1-3 with a convincing 7 second of margin win by the relay of Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl, Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke, Freshman Reese Galewski and Freshman Hailey O’Neil.

Winona 10 Mankato West 4

The 200 Freestyle started out right with a Winhawk JV win, Freshman Greer Kosidowski won convincingly with a half a pool lead. The Varsity event was a great match-up pitting standout Scarlet Danielle Nack against the Winhawks’ anchor MacKenzie Brosnahan. As suggested earlier, winning isn’t everything and the Winhawks pulled out a point victory taking 2-3-4. Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan was immediately followed in the standings in a rare Freestyle appearance by Freshman Reese Galewski and the astonishing Cotter 7th Grader Morgan Whyte finishing ahead of a Mankato Senior & Junior respectively.

Winona 19 Mankato West 11

The 200 IM was a key win for the Winhawks. Mankato could have caught up to the Winhawks score, but placing Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke in the event for the body length win relegated the Scarlets to 2nd & 3rd. Winona 8th grader McKenzie Porter and Cotter Freshman McKenna Marg added points going 4th & 5th.

Winona 28 Mankato West 18

The 50 Freestyle is a high point and has both swimmers and the fans hyped up in pre-race cheering. The Winona JV set the tone for the Varsity going 1-3-4. Cotter 7th Grader Alexandra Arnold took a convincing win in 29.99 followed by Freshman Morgan Crowson and Junior Samantha Berg. The Varsity event was a head to head race the entire two lengths with the win margin only 0.03 seconds. Taking the majority of the points again, the Winhawks finish 2-3-4 with Senior Co-Captain Bridget Bawek leading Freshman Haley O’Neil and Senior Taylor Johnson to help add to the Winhawk lead.

Winona 37 Mankato West 25

With the Diving being at the Middle School, it was not evident until late in the meet that they too were contributing to the lead. They won both the JV and the Varsity with Sophomore Megan Seeley finishing way ahead of the pack in the JV event and Sophomore Crystal Franzwa and Freshman Janelle Mueller finishing 1-3 respectively in the Varsity event.

Winona 46 Mankato West 32

The 100 Butterfly saw Scarlet speedster Nack reappear. Winhawk Freshman Reese Galewski took chase and finished in a new personal best taking 2nd in 1:03.51 and moving herself up two notches to holding the 5th fastest Winhawk 100 butterfly ever! Right on her heels was Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl to keep the point spread even at 8-8.

Winona 54 Mankato West 40

The 100 Freestyle was again set up by the JV, Cotter Freshman Emily Thurow and Sophomore Samantha Johnson go 1-2 with Junior Kayla Berg bring home a 4th. The Varsity Event was a repeat mach-up of the 50 sprint event. Taking the majority of the points again, the Winhawks finish 2-3-4 with Senior Co-Captain Bridget Bawek leading Freshman Haley O’Neil and Cotter 7th Grader Morgan Whyte.

Winona 63 Mankato West 47

The 500 Freestyle is still a work in progress for the Winhawks. Coach Steve Burt is looking to chisel himself out some distance swimmers from the talented group at his disposal. Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl was tapped on the shoulder again in spite of just having raced the 100 fly, and finished 3rd followed by Freshman Gabby Kleinow in 5th.

Winona 67 Mankato West 59

The Scarlets’ scoring bump in the 500 put added pressure on the 200 Free Relay teams. Would this be the crack in the armor of the Winhawks or would they beat the Scarlets back? The result were swimmers trying to eek out a win and the Winhawk 1st, and Scarlet 2nd & 3rd place relays ALL being disqualified for a swimmer leaving the blocks early in an exchange. The aftermath meant a win for the Winhawk relay of Cotter 7th Grader Morgan Whyte, Cotter Freshman Emily Thurow, Cotter 7th Grader Alex Arnold, and Freshman Gabby Kleinow.

Winona 77 Mankato West 63

The 100 Backstroke had the Winhawk JV going 2-3-4 led by Sophomore Samantha Johnson. The Varsity event saw a neck and neck race with Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan taking a half second lead in the first 50 and maintaining it to the end. Cotter Freshman McKenna Marg brought home 4th place to keep the event point spread at 8-8.

Winona 85 Mankato West 71

The 100 Breaststroke sealed the deal for the Winhawks with Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke winning handily with Senior Taylor Johnson in 2nd and Freshman Greer Kosidowski taking 5th.

Winona 96 Mankato West 76

While the Varsity outcome was wrapped up, the JV was sitting at 82-80 in favor of the Winhawks. The team of Sophomore Samantha Johnson, Junior Kayla Berg, Junior Samantha Berg and 8th Grader Sarah Hunsicker secured the JV win for the Winhawks finishing first. While the deck knew the Winhawks were swimming exhibition, the stands wouldn’t have known it from the race. Senior Co-Captain Bridget Bawek swam the opening leg and was an eyelash behind Mankato but Freshman Reese Galewski made things dead even after two legs. Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan opened up a big lead in the third leg and Mankato pushed hard to make it up in the final leg but was no match for anchor Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke, winning in a time of 3:54.92

Varsity Winona 96 Mankato West 88

Junior Varsity Winona 92 Mankato West 84