Hey Joe, you better come over here and pay some attention, they’re taking this serious.

Last year’s Winhawk (2-2, 1-2) versus Huskie (2-3, 2-2) dual was the Winhawks’ meet by the time the 100 Breaststroke was completed.  This year, they will be wishing for that. Graduation can have dire effects on the Big 9 rivalries and this one is no exception. The notch in the win column tends to go back and forth with these two depending on graduation, youth and the sick call sheet. I quit trying to predict entries and match-ups in these pre-meet posts as it is just too hard to predict. The coaches put a lot of analysis into where to plug there swimmers in to count what their adversary may do. My conjecture of what the match-ups may be is just a lot of useless typing.

The Huskies this season have shown some fortitude, including upending Faribault in a dual for the first time in 19 years. Their kids believe in themselves. 

Date	Opponent	Site	Score
9/1/2011	Northfield  (1A)	Owatonna H.S.	87-99	L
9/6/2011	Faribault (1A)	Owatonna H.S.	91-87	W
9/8/2011	Albert Lea  (1A)	Albert Lea H.S.	95-91	W
9/15/2011	Rochester Century  (1AA)	Owatonna H.S.	90-96	L
9/17/2011	Panther Relays	Lakeville Kenwood Trail Junior H.S.	11th
9/20/2011	Rochester Mayo  (1AA)	Rochester Mayo H.S.	76.5-105.5	L

The 200 Medley Relay will be hotly contested and should set a great tone for the rest of the meet. Owatonna has carded a 1:57 this year; the Winhawks best is a hair under that. 

The 200 Freestyle may need some bolstering up for the Winhawks, Senior Husky Lindsey Price has swum a 2:06, 8^th Grader Mattie Shaver a 2:10.

The 200 IM has been a big boost for the Winhawks this year and they will need to keep it up. Owatonna Lindsey Price has a 2:26.37 under her belt, Junior Madelyn Thein a 2:28.78.

The 50 Freestyle, I know I always say is a coin flip. This meet it may just be the Winhawks’ first big chance to score some point differential. Starts and turns will tell the tale in the end. 

This meet is at Owatonna Middle School so we ALL KNOW what that means, YOU GET TO WATCH DIVING!!!! (I am sorry to say I will not get to take it in. I will be refereeing in Rochester Tuesday night helping out a friend) but, those of you that are there will get to see great competition. Husky Senior diver Kiana Leer has a 208.50 to her credit and Junior Ashley Kniefel a 169.05. They will give Crystal and Janelle a great test.

The 100 Butterfly can also be some points for the Winhawks. A deciding factor numerous times already this year, the middle swims will tell. The Huskies have two swimmers in the 1:09, 1:11 area that could either neutralize the Winhawks' Reese Galewski win or fall victim to an awesome performance from a Winhawk up and comer. 

The 100 Freestyle will be a tough race and the Winhawks will have to buckle down to not yield any advantage they have built by now. 

The 500 Freestyle too may well be the Huskies point bonanza unless Coach Burt applies one of his big guns yielding points elsewhere. Owatonna 8^th Grader Mattie Shaver has a 5:50.32to brag about and Senior Elise O'Neill has a 5:46 in the books.  

The 200 Freestyle Relay may well be the Winhawks’ if everyone is healthy and shows up. If the Winhawk “B” Relay can put 4 swims together they may help build up some point differential. 

The 100 Backstroke may be a major challenge for the Winhawks. The Huskies have some quality backstrokers leading with Price’s 1:02.34 she swam against Century. 

The 100 Breaststroke should once again feature the Winhawks’ Alexandra Zuelke versus the Huskies’ Elise O’Neill. An annual match-up that will come to a close this year, (O’Neill is a Senior), and she is swimming in the 1:13’s so Alex should be able to win this episode. 

The 400 Freestyle Relay is always the guessing game of which coach left enough swimmers in the tank to take it if necessary. Owatonna has carded a really QUICK 3:58 this year so if it comes down to the end, the Winhawks will have their hands full.

The meet is at 6PM at Owatonna MIDDLE School for all you away meet rookies. I always drive to the North side of town on I-35 Take exit 43, County 34/NW 26^th Street. Take that over to St. Paul Road and take a right (south) for a ½ mile, it’s on the left.