Who will fly faster, Winhawks or Falcons?

Tuesday night, the Winona Winhawks (6-3. 4-3) will host the Faribault Falcons (7-3, 6-2) in the Winhawks’ last meet prior to the Big 9 Conference Championships. 

Faribault has made the rounds through the Big 9 competing in duals against everyone; Winona is last on their list. Their total roster numbers over 45 but more important 14 of them are Seniors and 9 of them swam in the Section 1AA Finals last year along with Cecelia Hack who is now a Freshman. So they are experienced, they are older, and they have already been through the Big 9 gauntlet. The Winhawks will need to be on their toes, or, more important, on top of the water. 

The 200 Medley Relay will be a good test. Over a month ago the Falcons were quick when they pulled out all the stops going after Rochester JM. Their team of Cecilia Hake, Rachel Nielsen, Ellie Erickson, Tess Burkhartzmeyer swam 1:56.47 so they have shown they can go low. The Winhawk team of Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl, Cotter Junior Alexandra Zuelke, Freshman Reese Galewski and Senior Co-Captain Bridget Bawek has posted a 1:57 and they may have to do it again if they want points here. 

The 200 Freestyle will be a great contest. Faribault has two finalists from last year’s Section meet, Lauren Erickson and Payton Brasseaur capable of 2:07 right now and Ellie Erickson can be right alongside them. Winhawk Freshman Haley O’Neill will be tested once again and could get them worried about what will happen in 10 days. 

The 200 IM could be a good chance for rare IM points if this is where he injects Cotter Jr. MacKenzie Brosnahan. 

The 50 Freestyle – Major toss up! As always it will depend on starts and turns. It will be close up and down the pool.

Diving will once again be at Winona Middle School and it will be a shame. Besides watching our own Winhawk diving contingent, the Falcons bring Chelsea Borwege and Colleen Roach to town with them. Coached by also former Southwest State Alum Charlie Fuller, Borwege will be flying high after breaking the FHS school and pool records by posting a score of 264.25 just a week ago. Otherwise she has been consistently scoring in the 230’s and will be a handful for Winhawk Sophomore Crystal Franzwa. 

The 100 Butterfly may be an opportunity for Winhawk Freshman Reese Galewski to show her stuff to the Faribault pair of Ellie Erickson and Tana Erickson. 

The 100 Freestyle will require Winhawk Senior Co-Captain Bridget Bawek and Junior Lalita Charungchainanon to dig deep to mix up the results and avoid a points deficit.

The 500 Free will again require some help, placing Sr. Co-Captain Sam Quandahl or Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan where they can help Freshman Haley O’Neill may help to make an event with the Falcons. 

This will be some serious muscle flexing! The 200 Free Relay will be the best event of the night. The Winhawks have won every race but one the entire season, (not counting that DQ back before Labor Day). Ironically that one loss was the Winhawks’ fastest time of the season when they swam JM.  The Falcons will be gunning for them and produced a 1:45 when they lost against JM last month. Have your camcorders ready for this one!!!!

The 100 Backstroke will belong to Faribault Freshman phenom Cecilia Hake, sorry. The Winhawks will do well to place 2-3-4 to stay on the positive side of the points total.

The 100 Breaststroke the Falcons’ Rachel Nielsen and Shelby Babcock will try to make life tough for the Winhawks’ Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke and Sr. Taylor Johnson. 

The 400 Free Relay may actually be in play for once. Depending on how the line-ups play out it could come down to these points. If that is in fact the case, the Winhawks can pull off the upset as Junior Lalita Charungchainanon, Freshman Reese Galewski, Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan, and Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke have been quick as of late. 

See you at the pool for a GREAT Big 9 swim meet!