Sometimes you just gotta hit the road to clear your head,
re-group, re-focus. The Winona Winhawks did just that Tuesday night making the
long trek to Owatonna. Home meets are different, where the swimmers &
divers filter in from different post school directions and there is a
disjointed hum about preparations and warm-up. A long away meet trip gets the kids
together, in a group, to talk, to think, to become cohesive in the task before
them, like out swimming & diving the Huskies.
The Winona Winhawks (3-2, 2-2) made their 2nd
longest trek of the 2011 season Tuesday night, leaving their final school period
early to head out for a dual meet against the Huskies of Owatonna (2-4, 2-3). It
was a trip filled with trepidation. The Huskies have been hot as of late,
swimming some decent individual times as well as placing relays. They beat
Faribault and Albert Lea, fought Rochester Century really tough. The Winhawk
Coaches knew they had a tough meet ahead of them, maybe their closest match of
the season. There were a few empty seats on the bus. Mid-season illness is a
common occurrence in swimming & diving. School work, activities, family
life and swimming/diving can often combine to drag a system down and be
susceptible to colds and flu. No, this was not going to be a walk in the park.
The 200 Medley Relay had the potential to start the meet off
with a nail biter. Coach Burt not wanting to try and second guess Owatonna
leads out with his “go to” relay of Cotter Senior Mackenzie Brosnahan, Cotter
Junior Alexandra Zuelke, paired with Winhawk Sophomores Reese Galewski and Haley
O’Neill. Owatonna pulls a fast one and concedes the event with a lighter
line-up, saving heavy guns for later. The mighty Winhawk “A” Relay wins by a pool length. The Winhawk “B”
relay gets DQ’ed and the Winhawks have a slight edge in points.
Winona 8 Owatonna 6
The 200 Freestyle was another battle of the line-ups with
the coaches guessing who the other coach will throw at them. Coach Burt sticks
with his lead 200 swimmer Sophomore Haley O’Neill and she produces her best time
of the 2011 season for the win. Following behind in 3rd is Cotter Sophomore McKenna
Marg and Winhawk Sophomore Greer Kosidowski 4th and swims her best time of the season
for a huge 11-5 point differential.
Winona 19 Owatonna 11
The 200 IM is where Coach Burt decides to strategically
place Brosnahan for her second swim of the evening and it tips the scales for
the Winhawks as she takes the win easily by ½ a pool length. The big bonus is Galewski who swims her
fastest IM of 2011 and swings the points spread in Winona’s favor.
Winona 28 Owatonna 18
The 50 Freestyle was a great match-up that wasn’t supposed to
happen till later. Zuelke and O’Neill were supposed to have a showdown in the
100 Breast but as they approached the blocks for the 50 they realized Act one
was about to take place. 26 seconds later Zuelke wins this first duel with
tenths to spare. The great show came right on their heels. Cotter Sophomore Emily
Thurow swims a new personal best to secure 3rd place and provide the Winhawks
their 4th straight event points win.
Winona 37 Owatonna 25
Diving was both exciting and in front of everyone. I don’t
have list details but Winhawk Junior Crystal Franzwa emerges the victor with
Sophomore Janelle Mueller scoring but just missing 4th place by 2
points.
Winona 44 Owatonna 34
The 100 Butterfly was predicted to be the Reese Galewski
show and she wins going away by a pool length in her fastest time of the season.
Again the middle swimming Winhawks make the big difference and Winhawk Junior
Ashlen Haines swims a new personal best time to easily take 3rd and the
Winhawks take their 9-7 differential to the bank!
Winona 53 Owatonna 41
The 100 Freestyle was another major step up to the plate and
deliver moment for the Winhawks. Sophomore Haley O’Neill smokes the competition
winning the sprint in over 2 ½ seconds. Not wanting to yield ground, Thurow
swims a new personal best for 4th place and the Winhawks score the event
8-8.
Winona 61 Owatonna 49
The 500 Freestyle was the next place for Winona Coach Burt
to short circuit the Huskies’ plans. Possessing 2 sub 6 minute swimmers;
Owatonna looked to start a comeback. Enter Winona Cotter star MacKenzie
Brosnahan swimming the 500 for the first time in 2011 and taking the win only 2
seconds off her all time personal best. Winhawk Freshman McKenzie Porter adds
to the Winhawk score finishing 5th.
Winona 68 Owatonna 58
The 200 Freestyle Relay saw the Winhawks favored and they
lived up to their billing. Zuelke, Thurow, O’Neill and Brosnahan win with room
to spare.
Winona 76 Owatonna 64
The 100 Backstroke was expected to go to Senior Lindsey Price
of the Huskies but Cotter Sophomore McKenna Marg was inspired and followed
behind in 2nd in a new personal best time. On her heels was Cotter 8th
Grader Morgan Whyte and Winhawk Sophomore Abbey Quandahl. The 2-3-4 finish
outscores the Huskies and all but puts the meet out of reach.
Winona 85 Owatonna 71
The 100 Breaststroke was round two but the featured event of
the Zuelke/O’Neill match-up. Alexandra takes the race out strong and is a half
second up at the 50. From there the Cotter Junior out muscled her opponent and
takes the win with a full 2 seconds to spare. But, it was the middle swims that
again made the difference. Winhawk Sophomore Greer Kosidowski swims her season
best time followed by Cotter 8th Grader Alexandra Arnold and their
4-5 finishes ice the meet putting it out of reach for the Huskies.
Winona 94 Owatonna 78
The 400 Freestyle Relay was a moot point. The Winhawks had
used up their “A” swimmer entries to secure the win. The Winhawks' "A" relay swims tough to
take second place but their exhibition entry yield’s the 12 points to Owatonna.
Final Scores
Junior Varsity
Winona 71 Owatonna 102
Varsity
Winona 94 Owatonna 90
Next up, the Winhawks’ second home meet of the year, Oct 4th
at WSHS, 6PM.
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