Winhawks too Husky for the Owatonna Huskies, swim to a BIG victory.

The combination of swimming & coaching displayed by the Winhawks Tuesday night was something to watch. Everyone pretty much knew what their role was. The unknowns of the evening were, how would Alexandra Zuelke hold up not having been in the water much since her injury, and where would Head Coach Steve Burt plug in Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan to do his squad the most good?

Earlier in the season, Austin had called their line-up correctly and countered the Winhawks entries perfectly to pull off what many thought was an upset.

Tonight, two key events provided all the scoring punch the Winhawks needed to avenge last year’s loss to the Huskies. How close was or could the meet have been? There are twelve total events in a dual meet, nine individual and 3 relays. . Six of the nine individual events scored 9-7, only two for Winona and four for Owatonna. One scored an 8-8 tie. The 200 Medley Relay scored 8-6 for Owatonna, the 200 Free Relay 8-6 for Winona. What two events made the difference? The Freestyles of course but not one of the usual freestyles they sweep.

The 200 Medley Relay was predicted as an indicator of how things would go. I wasn’t right about that. The Winhawks A Relay of Senior Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl, Cotter Junior Alexandra Zuelke, Freshman Reese Galewski and Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek were back together and must have been excited about it as they swam a season’s best 1:57.35 which dropped them to the 4^th fastest Winhawk 200 Medley Relay of all time! But, they were still bested by the Husky team of Lindsey Price, Elise O’Neill, Caitlin Schneider, and Madelyn Thein posting their season best of 1:55.14. The Winhawk B Relay of Cotter 7^th Grader Morgan Whyte, Freshman Greer Kosidowski, Bluffview 7^th Grader Hanna O’Neill, and Senior Taylor Johnson touch out Owatonna B for all important 3^rd place and the rest of the points to keep close. 

Winona          6                      Owatonna     8

The 200 Freestyle looked to be an opportunity for the Winhawks to score some rare 200 Free points and Head Coach Steve Burt took advantage of it. Along with Freshman Haley O’Neill who has been strong here all season, he enters Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan. Owatonna has no challenge for the duo and they place 1-2 in the event. As they finish and our attention turns to the middle of the pool, young Winhawk 7^th Grader Morgan Whyte is ahead and on her way to a personal best by over a second! She touches out Owatonna’s Shaver for 4^th place and the Winhawks score big 12-4!

Winona          18                    Owatonna     12

The 200 IM has been a rough event for the Winhawks all season with Freshman Reese Galewski handling business while Cotter Sophomore Alexandra Zuelke healed up. The two of them team up to go 2-3 (Zuelke, Galewski) to keep the points close 7-9.

Winona          25                    Owatonna     21

The 50 Freestyle, normally a points bonanza for the Winhawks sees the ‘Hawks challenged and the trio of Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek, Jr. Lalita Charungchainanon and Sr. Taylor Johnson place a rare 2-4-5 to score only 7 points. And the Huskies edge closer.

Winona          32                    Owatonna     30

Diving was a low scoring affair, Sophomore Crystal Franzwa takes first with 186.65 points, and Freshman Janelle Mueller takes the final point in 5^th place. After 5 events the Winhawks have won only 2 of them and the score is tied!

Winona          39                    Owatonna     39

The 100 Butterfly was a thing of beauty watching Winhawk Freshman Reese Galewski take first place. The Huskies Standout Senior Caitlin Schneider beat Reese by over 4 ½ seconds at last year’s Section Meet. Any concern the crowd harbored was gone within the first 25. Reese reached the wall first and never looked back. She won in a person best 1:02.18 which moved her up to the #4 Fastest Winhawk Butterfly ever. Sr. Co-Captain Samantha Quandahl finishes 3^rd for the Winhawks' first 9-7 edge in points.

Winona          48                    Owatonna     46

I predicted the 100 Freestyle could be a Winhawk points windfall depending on if Owatonna moved in a big gun from another event. Owatonna goes with their standard line-up and the Winhawk Trio of Sr. Co-Captain Bridget Bawek, Freshman Haley O’Neill,   and Junior Lalita Charungchainanon swept the event 1-2-3 respectively for a whopping 13-3 points differential.  

Winona          61                    Owatonna     49

The 500 Freestyle has been the final nail in the coffin numerous times this season. It appeared going into the meet that a lopsided result may happen again, this time at the hands of Owatonna. Winhawk Head Coach Steve Burt anticipates the significance of the event and decides to inject Cotter Junior MacKenzie Brosnahan into the fray. It is only the second time this season MacKenzie has competed in the distance event and it was a great strategy. MacKenzie speeds to a 5:40 first place breaking up the potential sweep by the more distance oriented Huskies. Instead of a 13-3 deficit, The Winhawks only give up 2 points on the overall score and keep Owatonna at bay.

Winona          68                    Owatonna     58

The 200 Free Relay saw the Winhawk A relay swim to their second fastest time of the season. The relay win helps keep the event total in the Winhawks favor after Owatonna goes 2-3.

Winona          76                    Owatonna     64

The 100 Backstroke was the start of the end for the Winhawks last year against the Huskies. I was right in that the Winhawk contingent including Sr. Co-Captain Sam Quandahl would have none of that this year. Sam teams with Cotter 7^th Grader Morgan Whyte and Cotter Freshman McKenna Marg to place 2-3-5 and an even 8-8 point split with the Huskies.

Winona          84                    Owatonna     72

The 100 Breaststroke would be Owatonna’s last chance to set up the come from behind meet win. Cotter Freshman Alexandra Zuelke having just returned to the pool after injury, along with Sr. Taylor Johnson and Freshman Greer Kosidowski needed to summon up some quality swims to squelch the Huskies’ ambitions. The three girls rise to the occasion with Alexandra swimming a gutty race side by side her nemesis from last year Elise O’Neill. The lack of training from the inury appears to take its toll and she falls off at the end for 2^nd place. Taylor swims her 2^nd fastest race of the year for 3^rd and Greer turns in one of her fastest of the season as well. These 3 Winhawks get the pleasure of being the nail in Owatonna’s coffin this time. The 9-7 split in the Winhawks’ favor puts the swim meet out of reach for the Huskies regardless of what they do in the 400 Free Relay.

Winona          93                    Owatonna     79

As predicted the 400 Freestyle Relay was the Winhawks’ race. The Team of Freshman Haley O’Neill, Freshman Reese Galewski, MacKenzie Brosnahan and Alexandra Zuelke motor to first while Morgan Whyte, Lalita Charungchainanon, McKenna Marg and Hanna O’Neill pull off a great 3^rd place win. It is all for internal satisfaction though as with the meet already in the bag, Winona swims exhibition conceding the 12 points to Owatonna.

Final Scores:

Varsity                        Winona          93                    Owatonna     91

Junior Varsity            Winona          85                    Owatonna     91