Winhawks soar against Falcons.

The Winona Winhawk Girl Swimmer & Divers soar to their first dual win against Faribault in over seventeen years! This was a great meet to watch! Hiawatha Broadband was there last night to record the meet for re-broadcast. Watch for it!

There was a feeling in the air, a determined manner about the usually light hearted Winhawks. They were sending a signal, answering the question who will fly faster, the Winona Winhawks (7-3, 5-3) sent a resounding “we will” through WSHS Tuesday night! 

The Winhawks hosted the Faribault Falcons (7-4, 6-3) Tuesday night in their last dual meet show down prior to the run-up to Big 9 Conference.  

Faribault had swum everyone in the Big 9 except Winona coming into the meet. Their only conference losses were to the Rochester Dynamic Duo JM and Century. Their roster included 15 Seniors, 9 of them swam or dove in the Section 1AA Finals last year along with Cecelia Hack who is now a Freshman. They are experienced and seasoned, two attributes that a younger team like the Winhawks might find hard to overcome if the meet is tight.  

As it turned out Winona led wire-to-wire, never flustered, never appeared nervous, just focused and determined. Last Thursday’s meet with OHA was for fun, tonight was serious business. 

The 200 Medley Relay was a great start for the Winhawks. The Winhawk A Relay of Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl, Cotter Junior Alexandra Zuelke, Freshman Reese Galewski and Junior Lalita Charungchainanon swim to a 1 second victory.  

Winona     10                        Faribault        4

The 200 Freestyle was the first big coaching move by Winhawks Head Coach Steve Burt. Now that Alexandra Zuelke is back in the line-up, he is freed up to do more with the universal talent of Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan. Coach turns her loose on the 200 Free field, but puts her out in Lane 6 to just motor on her own. Winhawk Freshman Haley O’Neill is in Lane 4, bracketed by two Falcons. Coach calls it right as Brosnahan wins with the Falcons digging deep to take 2-3 and O’Neill is 4^th with Cotter 7^th Grader Morgan Whyte scoring the all important final point in 5^th place. From the start you could tell ever point mattered tonight. 

Winona     19                        Faribault        11

The 200 IM appeared to be another good test of where Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke's conditioning  was at in her return to the water. She was doing dry land training the whole time her heels were on the mend, but still no substitute for pool work. She was pitted against Falcon Sr. Ellie Erickson. It is a close see-saw battle; Zuelke takes 2^nd in a time that was comparable to her  pre-injury swims. 

Winona     27                        Faribault        19

The 50 Freestyle was another big win for Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek. She makes the up and back with the lead intact and touches 8 one-hundredths in front of the Falcon Freshman Cecilia Hake. Winhawk Junior Lalita Charungchainanon literally copies her Captain and out touches the Falcon Senior Peyton Brasseaur by 8 one-hundredths of a second for 3^rd. 

Winona     36                        Faribault        26

Diving was the first event that the Winhawks were on the short end of the points total. Winhawk Sophomore Crystal Franzwa takes second behind the talented Sr. from Faribault Chelsea Borwege and Faribault closes the gap getting as close to the lead as they have all night.

Winona     41                        Faribault        37

The 100 Butterfly was an awesome show.  Winhawk Freshman Reese Galewski led from the start. She had a 7 one-hundredths margin at the 50 and  managed to ever so slightly extend her lead to touch out her opponent Faribault’s Ellie Erickson by 4 tenths of a second.  Sr. Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl made short work of the rest of the field scoring 3^rd with plenty of room to spare. 

Winona     50                        Faribault        44

The 100 Freestyle was the next place for Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan to surface. She wins with Winhawk Senior Co-Captain Bridget Bawek swimming her quickest time of the season to place 2^nd. With Sr. Taylor Johnson raking in 5^th place the points for 1-2-5 help extend the Winhawk lead. 

Winona     61                        Faribault        49

The 500 Freestyle had Winhawk Freshman Haley O’Neill joined by Cotter Sophomore Grace Ell and with 8^th Grader McKenzie Porter out of the line-up for grades and illness, Freshman Razil Campbell get her first shot at Varsity action. The three some take 2-5-6 with Razil swimming her fastest 500 yet. Still Faribault is right back in it. 

Winona     66                        Faribault        60

The 200 Free Relay was not the race I thought it would be. The Winhawk relay of Junior Lalita Charungchainanon, Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek, Freshman Haley O’Neill and Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan swim to their 2^nd fastest time of the season and finish 3 body lengths ahead of the Falcons. 

Winona     74                        Faribault        66

The 100 Backstroke did belong to Faribault Freshman phenom Cecilia Hake. Unphased, Sr. Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl, and Cotter swimmers 7^th Grader Morgan Whyte and Freshman McKenna Marg finish 2-3-4 respectively to stay on the high side of the point total 9-7.

Winona     83                        Faribault        73

The 100 Breaststroke saw Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke and Winhawk Sr. Taylor Johnson take it to the Falcons. Alexandra led start to finish and Taylor came from behind to steal away second place and assured the Winhawks of a victory. 

Winona     93                        Faribault        79

The 400 Free Relay was not in play but was still a great race. The Winhawk A relay wins but Winona concedes the place to Faribault to keep the score under 100. 

Final Scores:

Varsity                        Winona          97        Faribault        89

Junior Varsity           Winona          87.5    Faribault        97.5