Young Winhawks shine as improvement brings home a win.

Wow, what a great swim meet. I knew it would be close. Close enough that, with no scoreboard, I kept score myself during the meet so I would have an idea as it came down to the last events.

Actually, I could have just taken my pre-meet analysis and changed “could swim” to “did swim”, as the event winners were as I predicted. It was the 2-3-4 finishes that determined this outcome and those fell the way the Winhawks needed them to!

The 200 Medley Relay was all Winona. Junior Avery Prondzinski led the guys out in Backstroke handing Freshman Cal Dretske a significant lead. Cal extended it and 8^th Grader Kyle Schneider came out with an exceptionally strong butterfly. All that was left was for Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta to swim the freestyle leg and the Winhawks carded the quickest 200 Medley Relay of the season. Contributing to the meet starting out right, the Winhawk “B” relay of Cotter Freshman Aaron Whyte, Sophomore Jake Johnson, Freshman Hodd Gorman and Junior Conor Kosidowski were only a second behind Austin taking the 3^rd place points.

Winona      10               Austin        4

The 200 Freestyle saw Winhawk Joey Kleinow chasing Austin’s Nick Brehmer to swim his best time of the season and only a half second off his all time low. Sophomore Jake Johnson shaved 8 seconds off his prior lowest time to score 5^th place points. Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Gio Borsari had a bit of an equipment malfunction and DQ’ed out of the race.

Winhawks  15               Austin        13

The 200 IM was Austin’s Senior IMer’s to win and he did. The Winhawk youth fared very well in the IM and gave positive indications for the future. Freshman Cal Dretske swam a hard race taking 2^nd just 4 tenths off his personal best. Freshman Hodd Gorman set another IM personal best in placing 3^rd for Winona and 8^th Grader Kyle Schneider swimming the IM for the first time collected the points for 5^th place.

Winona      23               Austin        21

The 50 Freestyle added some necessary margin before the diving break. Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta, as expected, swam to 1^st place. Winhawk Junior Alex Kline rose to the occasion and swam a personal best to leapfrog over the favored Austin swimmer and take 2^nd. Finally Winhawk Junior Avery Prondzinski swimming the 50 for the first time in a dual this year and only the second time ever also sets a new personal best to take 4^th. The solid 1-2-4 finish pads the Winhawk lead.

Winona      35               Austin        25

Diving was DURING the meet as we were in Austin and we got to watch a good performance by the Winhawk Divers. Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Justin Bublitz took the win with his high point total of the season. Winhawk Sr. Stan Petkov placed 2^nd and Junior Dan Karnick scored the point for 4^th.Their points extend the Winhawk lead at an opportune time as the next few races will show.

Winona      46               Austin        30

The 100 Butterfly was pre-determined to be Austin’s win. Winhawk 8^th Grader Kyle Schneider was VERY impressive dropping 2 ½ seconds to establish a new personal best while landing 2^nd place points. Junior Alex Kline competing in the 100 Fly for the first time finishing 3^rd a full second ahead of the next Austin swimmer.

Winona      53               Austin        39

The 100 Freestyle saw Winhawks laying it all out to try and keep the momentum going. Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta swam just a tenth of a second off his all time low in taking 2^nd place while Junior Joey Kleinow does set a new personal best in taking 3^rd place. Sr. Co-Captain Gio Borsari dropped below a minute for the first time this season in securing the 5^th place score.

Winona      61               Austin        47

The 500 Freestyle saw Winhawk Freshman Hodd Gorman win his first Varsity Event while smashing his previous best time by over 12 seconds! Winhawk 7^th Grader Tyler Suman and Sr. Danjeer Presson combined to score what would prove to be important points for 4-5 respectively. 

Winona      70               Austin        54

The 200 Freestyle Relay was Austin’s as predicted but the Winhawk “A” Relay of Juniors Avery Prondzinski, Joey Kleinow, and Alex Kline anchored by Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta not only win 2^nd but the “B” Relay of Sr. Co-Captain Gio Borsari, Jr. Conor Kosidowski, Senior Dan Karnick and Jr. Kory  McDonald take the remaining point sin 3^rd!

Winona      76               Austin        62

With Austin slowly climbing back into the meet over the last 4 events the Winhawks needed some exceptional swims. Winhawk Jr. Avery Prondzinski was favored and he carried through swimming his quickest back of the year. The two of the one-two punch was Cotter Freshman Aaron Whyte swimming a personal best by dropping 2 seconds to finish 2^nd behind Avery!

Winona      86               Austin        68

The 100 Breaststroke secured the win by putting the Winhawks out of reach of the Packers. Winhawk Freshman Cal Dretske swims to first place in a season low that is only 4 tenths off his all time low. Sophomore Jake Johnson cruises to 4^th place swimming his second personal best time of the evening.

Winona      94               Austin        76

The 400 Freestyle relay was expected to go to Austin and the Winhawks did not need it. The “A” Relay of Kline, Kleinow, Gorman and Dretske is exhibitioned and the relay of McDonald, Whyte, Kosidowski, and Bublitz is scored in 3^rd place.

Final Scores:

JV

Winona      40               Austin        87

Varsity

Winona      96               Austin        88