Winona Winhawks are close but not quite there yet, fall to Rochester Century 97-89.

I expect to see the following on the Marquee out in front of WSHS shortly.

Wanted - IM’ers and Distance swimmers. Occasional relay work possible but not required. Apply WSHS Pool 6AM & 4 PM daily.

Not that Steve Burt’s Winhawk team doesn’t have any IM'ers, he does. It is just that not many swim it willingly and could be used productively in other events. Same goes for the distance event, 500FR. Winona has some up and coming talent, but for the immediate future it is a problem. Both events are an Achilles heel for the Winhawks. Those two events were huge in determining tonight’s outcome.

Century was missing a few swimmers which hampered Coach Magnuson’s style. Also factoring in his lineup, he has some cross town foes (Mayo & JM) to deal with later in October and he would prefer to not show his entire hand this early in the season.

As predicted, all three relays were great races to watch with the 200’s being very close and the Winhawks pulling out the 400Fr.

The 200 Medley relay of Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl, Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke, Freshman Reese Galewski and Freshman Hailey O’Neil gave it the good fight. Sam’s opening 100 back got the Winhawks a narrow 0.4 second lead. Alex was able to mostly hold off State Finalist Senior Claire Anderson surrendering 0.17 seconds. Reese went next and she too had a State Finalist swimmer to content with and it proved to be too much. Century’s Senior Jennifer Storm over took the lead by a mere 0.11seconds. The final leg was the battle of freshman and Haley swam the team’s second best anchor leg of the season but finished 2^nd by 0.12 seconds in 1:58.46.

Winona          4          Century  10

The 200 Freestyle, a sprint for some, mid-distance for many and distance for a few provided the crowd with two excellent races. The JV event was a back and forth affair with Freshman Greer Kosidowski taking the lead away from Century’s Claire Heins at the 50 and hanging onto it through the 75 only to be touched out by a tenth of a second. Her 2:19.91 was a nearly 4 second drop from her previous best time. The Varsity event featured standout Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan against Century’s Senior State Finalist Jennifer Storm. MacKenzie went out like she was on a mission turning a 3 tenths lead at the 50 into a 2 second lead by the 100 and continued to distance herself. She finished first in 2:00.19, 7 full seconds ahead of her competitor and a new season best by 2 seconds. Winhawk Freshman Reese Galewski swam her season best to bring home another point in 5^th place.

Winona          11        Century  19

The 200IM was the first scoring stumbling block for the young Winhawks. Winona Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke swam her season best, but up against State Finalist Claire Anderson it was good for 2^nd place. The youngest swimmer in the event, 8^th Grader McKenzie Porter scored an additional point in 5^th for the Winhawks.

Winona          16        Century  30

The 50 Freestyle was also close as predicted. A quick up and back in the pool makes for a tough prediction and some results that could have easily been turned around. Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek was out touched by 2 one-hundredths to take 3^rd and Haley O’Neil improved on her season’s best to take 4^th.

 Winona         21        Century  41

At this point things were starting to look bleak. Had the Winhawk swimmers known what was going on at the Middle School, they would have perked up quicker. While the Winhawks used the Diving break to re-group their attitude, the divers were getting down to business. Winhawk Sophomore Crystal Franzwa scored another 1^st place racking up 192.15 points. Backing her up, Freshman Janelle Mueller was scoring her high of the season for 3^rdand Sophomore Megan Seeley finished right behind her in 4^th to help get the Winhawks right back in the meet.

Winona          32        Century  46

The 100 Fly was evidence that the Winhawks did indeed muster up some determination during the break. Facing Rochester’s Section Champ Claire Anderson, Winhawk Freshman Reese Galewski went out hard making up time on Anderson in the second 50 to finish 2^nd in 1:04.22. Sr. Co-Captain Sam Quandahl finished right behind her in 3^rd and young Bluffview 7^th Grader Hannah O’Neil rounded out the scoring in 5^th inching ever closer to Rochester.

Winona          40        Century  54

As tough as the 50 was to swallow for the Winhawks ( only 5 points) the 100 was a major reversal. Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan and Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek went 1-2 and newcomer Lalita Charungchainanon brought home 4^th place for 12 huge points and the Panthers were in sight.

Winona          52        Century  58

Just as they were getting their spirits up, the 500 hit the Winhawks like a brick wall. A season weak spot, Coach Burt calls on Winhawk Freshman Haley O’Neil who swam her heart out improving her season best by 11 seconds that is good for 3^rd place. Cotter Freshman Emily Thurow swims a first time 500 Free in 6:31.79 good for 5^th place and Century’s lead extends again.

Winona          56        Century  70

The Winhawk 200 Free Relay lived up to its billing. Sensing they needed to try and bury the Winhawks, Century pulled together its best relay of the season. With Century leading by a mere 1 second after the first three legs, the anchors pitted against each other were Century’s Senior standout Claire Anderson against The Cotter/Winhawks go-to swimmer MacKenzie Brosnahan. MacKenzie makes up the second and then some against the Century Senior and the Winhawks win by 13 hundredths in 1:46.02. Century takes 3^rd as well.

Winona          64        Century  76

 The 100 Backstroke was Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl's turn to take a run at one of the Century State Finalists. Pitted against Jennifer Storm, Sam gave it her all. Nearly surfacing AFTER the 15 meter mark and getting DQ’ed, she conceded ground early and them clawed back in the final 50 to take 2^nd in a season best 1:07.98. Behind her in 4^th was Cotter 7^th Grader Morgan Whyte besting the Century veteran Senior Hocraffer and swimming the 3^rd fastest  Winhawk 100 back this season.

Winona          70        Century  86

Where the IM and distance appear to have voids, the 100 Breaststroke looks to be a strong suit. The JV event saw all three Winhawks swim well. Freshman Greer Kosidowski won with Sr. Melanie Jones-McMillan bettering her season best followed by Cotter 7^th Grader Alex Arnold.  The Varsity Event featured Standout Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke winning with Sr. Taylor Johnson taking 3^rd and Lalita Charungchainanon placing 4^th for an 11-5 point edge. The 1-3-4 proved to be a great result too late as Century's 5 points put the meet just out of reach for the Winhawks. Even a 1-2 finish in the 400 Free relay would not score enough unless Rochester DQ’ed which was unlikely.

Winona          81        Century  91

Regardless of their destiny, the Winhawk A relay of Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek, Freshman Reese Galewski, Cotter Jr. MacKenzie Brosnahan and Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke took their race out like the meet was on the line. Their winning time of 3:53.16 was good enough to enter the Winhawk record books as 8^th fastest ever!

Final Score

Winona(3-1, 2-1)          89        Century (3-0, 3-0)  97