Can you cay CLOSE? Can use Say NAIL BITER? Can you say I TOLD YOU SO?

If you missed Thursday night’s dual meet between Winona and Faribault don’t look at me. I told you this was going to be a great meet and it lived up to its billing. This swim meet saw five lead changes, a tie midway, large point swings in both directions, and came to a head with a winner take all final relay.

The 200 Medley Relay telegraphed what was in store for the evening. Back and forth between the “A” Relays, Faribault swims its quickest of the dual season to edge out the Winona “A” relay of Junior Avery Prondzinski, Freshman Cal Dretske, 8^th Grader Kyle Schneider and Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta. The Winona “B” relay of Sr. Co-Captain Gio Borsari, Sophomore Jake Johnson, Freshman Hodd Gorman and Junior Conor Kosidowski takes the second place points.

Winona      6                 Faribault    8

The 200 Freestyle was a great head to head battle, with 2, 3, 4, & 5 all side by side for the first 100 yards. Winhawk Cotter Freshman Hodd Gorman begins to assert himself and pulls away with Faribault 2-3 and Winhawk Joey Kleinow staying right  on their heels.  Going into the final 25 yards Hodd stays in front but Joey pulls up from the rear and blows past the Falcon swimmers to wrestle 2^nd place out of them by 9 one hundredths of a second to take the lead away for the meet!

Winhawks  17               Faribault    13

The 200 IM was a great back and forth race characterized by an event that requires swimming all of the strokes. Each of the swimmers has their strengths and the lead changes as they sequence through the Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle.  For Winona’s Star Freshman Cal Dretske, staying close until the breaststroke is a sure strategy for a win. Winhawk 8^th Grader Kyle Schneider was out front early for his favorite butterfly, then had to try and fend off the Falcons for the rest of the way. The boys take 1-3 respectively to pad the Winhawk lead.

Winona      26               Faribault    20

The 50 Freestyle was loaded heavily by the Falcons, looking to play catch-up. Coach Charlie Fuller’s strategy pays off by finishing 1-2. The Winhawks' Senior Co-Captain Louie La Porta finishes 3^rd getting touched out by 3 one hundredths of a second.

Winona      31               Faribault    31

Diving was a points bonanza as all 3 divers, Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Justin Bublitz, Senior Stan Petkov and Junior Dan Karnick scored personal high scores and finish 1-2-3 for maximum points.

Winona      44               Faribault    33

The 100 Butterfly saw Winhawk 8^th Grader Kyle Schneider gunning for the best Faribault could offer. This is where they decided to plug in their Senior Co-Captain and great all-around swimmer Luke Sadergaski. Kyle gives him a good run and swims a personal best finishing 2^nd. Faribault starts to claw back though.

Winona      49               Faribault    44

The 100 Freestyle was billed as a close race, the Falcons sporting very similar times to that of Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Louie La Porta. Perhaps getting touched out in the 50 inspired the Co-Captain as he puts on a show by shaving seconds off his more recent swims to win easily!

Winona      57               Faribault    52

The 500 Freestyle started out just as predicted. Cotter Freshman Hodd Gorman was side-by-side with the Falcons’ Melton and Vininski for the first 200 yards. Then, earlier than expected, Hodd starts pulling away.   The Cotter Freshman wins going away in yet another personal best time, his ninth in the last ten 500 swims Winhawk Junior Joey Kleinow swimming the 500 for only the second time this year shaves nearly 20 seconds off that to finish in 4^th.   

Winona      64               Faribault    61

The 200 Freestyle Relay was closely contested.  Faribault has the better times coming in and needed all of it as the Winhawks “A” Relay of Juniors Alex Kline and Joey Kleinow, teamed with the Sr. Co-Captains Louie La Porta and Gio Borsari swim their fastest time in a month getting touched out to take second and relinquish the lead.

Winona      68               Faribault    71

The 100 Backstroke is hotly contested as the boys start to sense and heated finish. Winhawk Jr. Avery Prondzinski swims his fastest time of the season to take second while Cotter 9^th Grader Aaron Whyte swims a personal bets time to capture 4^th. Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Gio Borsari takes an important 5^th as every point counts now.

Winona      75               Faribault    80

The 100 Breaststroke was a great race for Winhawk Freshman Cal Dretske. He knew going into the race that Faribault had breaststrokers that could match his times and he was going to have put together a great race to take this one. From the start he was in command and pulled away over the course of the race to win handily just 2 tenths off his fastest time ever! Sophomore Jake Johnson cruises to 3^rd place and Connor Kosidowski swims a personal best to touch out the final Falcon and enough points to re-take the meet lead!

Winona      86               Faribault    85

So the meet came down to the 400 Freestyle relay. The winner of the 400 Free wins the meet. With 8 points for first, 4 for second and 2 for third, it is a win or nothing for both teams.  Faribault has slightly more firepower left to throw at its final relay. Coach Fuller uses two 200 specialists and a 500 specialist banking on their endurance then anchored by one of their best remaining sprinters. Winona coach Steve Burt counters in almost an identical fashion but with two distance and two sprinters. Faribault’s strategy wins out and wins the meet!

Final Scores:

JV

Winona      47               Faribault    30

Varsity

Winona      92               Faribault    93

The Winhawks (3-5, 25) now start their taper as they prepare for the Big 9 Championships on February 12^th followed by the Section 1AA Championships February 24^th & 26^th.