Winona encounters a force called Rochester Century

Going into Tuesday night’s contest, a few, Coach Burt leading them, knew that Century was going to dominate the swim meet. What I observed made me think of a saying, "Adversity doesn't build character…it reveals it".


Tuesday night at the WSHS pool, by the time of the diving break, Century had won the Medley Relay, gone 1-2-3 twice and took 1st and 3rd in the 50 Free. Winona was down 46 – 16. Yet Winhawks were talking to each other, there were smiles, there was encouragement, there was camaraderie. The boys knew that they were building towards goals, and this was one step along the way.

The 200 Medley Relay saw the Winhawks’ entry of Jr. Avery Pro, Freshman Cal Dretske, Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta, and Junior Alex Kline swim tough to a 2nd place finish.

Winona 4 Century 10

The 200 Freestyle had some good signs for the Winhawks. Junior Joey Kleinow picked up where he left off last season. He took 4th but his time this early in the season bettered his end-of-year Big 9 Conference performance of last year.

Winona 7 Century 23

The 200 IM was also a good indicator of building. Winhawk Freshman Cal Dretske swam to 4th place just 5 one hundredths off of his best time from last year’s Sections meet.

Winona 10 Century 36

In the 50 Freestyle, The Winhawks broke the Panther’s sweep streak and Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta swims to a solid 2nd place with Junior Alex Klein just getting touched out for 4th. Junior Conor Kosidowski swimming in his first dual meet varsity event puts in a solid performance at 6th.

Winona 16 Century 46

Diving was conducted over at the Winona Middle School and completed quickly as Rochester Century has no divers. Fortunate for Winona as the 1-2-3 got the Winhawks their biggest point score of the night. Senior Co-Captain Justin Bublitz leads the way with the win. Senior Stan Petkov smashed his personal best score by 23 points to place second with 173.62. Not to be out done, Junior Dan Karnick dives a personal best, bettering his last season high by 23 points as well for 162.22.

Winona 29 Century 46

The 100 Butterfly is a season to season issue for the Winhawks. Arguably the toughest event of the dual meet, there was no one in that slot for the Winhawks at the beginning of the season. Winhawk 8th grader Kyle Schneider was sent to the blocks and swam to a respectable 4th place.

Winona 31 Century 59

The 100 Freestyle was a quality showing for the Winhawks. Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta swims to 3rd place just off his personal best by a half second and Junior Joey Kleinow places 4th swimming a personal best time bettering his Sectionals swim from last year.

Winona 36 Century 70

The 500 Freestyle was, as predicted, a great introduction of Big 9 distance swimming for the Winhawks’ new distance swimmer Hodd Gorman. Century’s State Finalist from last season set a quick pace and Hodd set about working to have a quality swim. The Winhawks’ Hodd Gorman places 3rd swimming a personal best dropping over 13 seconds with a great launch to the dual meet season.

Winona 40 Century 82

The 200 Freestyle Relay started out strong with Junior Avery Pro establishing a lead and Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta adding to it. The Winhawk 200 Free Diver Relay +1 had a respectable showing with Junior Dan Karnick leading them out to 2nd place at the first exchange. But Century had stacked their tail ends and they came storming back. The Winhawks 1st relay touches in 3rd.

Winona 46 Century 90

The 100 Backstroke turned out to be a stroke clinic and Century not only goes 1-2-3 but Panther Sr. Chris Freeman sets a new Winhawk pool record in 54.73. With that, the Rochester coaches invoke the Big 9 tradition of swimming exhibition after the meet is won and score no more points for the duration.

Winona 56 Century 90

The 100 Breaststroke was the next standout Winhawk performance of the night and the only other 1st place finish of the evening for the Winhawks. Freshman Cal Dretske leads wire-to-wire and touches first just under his personal best! Sophomore Jake Johnson has a quality swim to touch 3rd.

Winona 72 Century 90

The 400 Freestyle Relay saw the Winhawks touch 3 -4 but saw some quality swims with Freshman Hodd Gorman just missing out on the Minuteman Club by 9 hundredths with his split along with Alex Klein just missing it as well.

Final Scores

Junior Varsity

Winona 31 Century 84

Varsity

Winona 84 Century 90

Next up for the Winhawks, January 6th, a dual meet in Austin against the Packers.