A predator with no predators huh, we’ll just see about that.

 Thursday evening the Albert Lea Tigers (4-4, 3-4) come prowling around the Winona Winhawks’ (4-3, 3-3) pool. Wikipedia describes a tiger as being an Apex Predator, meaning it is at the top of the food chain with no known predators. While that may well be the case in the wild, around the pool there may be a little more mutual respect going on. 
 

The Winhawks’ record meet-by-meet is what we call a saw tooth waveform in engineering. It reads W-L-W-L-W-L-W so while a poor predictor, the Winhawks will be looking to break this streak right here and notch another win. The unknown factors that may take issue with their plans are fatigue (work outs have been TOUGH), illness (always happens at this time of year as bodies wear down) and injury (see prior two explanations). 

This is going to be a GREAT meet with two pretty evenly matched teams. The victor may be the team that REALLY gets up for this. Every event should be contested, including diving which the swimming parents and I WON’T get to watch as it takes place at the Middle School.

The 200 Medley Relay will kick things off right as both squads look quite even. The Winhawks have been very consistent with their high and low times of the season only varying by 1.7 seconds. The Tigers’ last few swims are just one second off the Winhawk average.  The battle for 2^nd & 3^rd will be tell tale for how the rest of the meet may go. The Winhawk “B” Relay will have to go 2:06 or better to assure the extra points.

The 200 Freestyle could tip Albert Lea’s hand as to if they are pacing themselves or throwing the kitchen sink at the Winhawks early. Tiger Senior Galen Schulz has been interjected when a 2 minute very low was necessary. Otherwise Tiger 8^th Grader Anna Anderson has been doing sub 2:10’s that could cause the Winhawks some headache. Winhawk Sophomore Haley O’Neill may get called upon to dig really deep, or Cotter Senior Mackenzie Brosnahan‘s number will be called. Either way, the Winhawks need to secure some high points.

The 200 IM will likely feature Cotter Junior Alexandra Zuelke and the Tigers do not have a counter unless they inject their star Lindsey Horesji. If that happens Winona needs to throw in some quality swims from the other 2 Winhawks to balance out points.

The 50 Freestyle will be unbelievably evenly matched. Both squads have a host of 25 & 26 second swimmers. They will splash their down and back as one massive wave and the winner will be the best finishers.

Diving will be a great competition and I sure wish we could watch it!! The Winhawks should do well in points, as Winhawks Janelle Mueller and Sara Scherbring sit well if they perform to expectations. The real contest will be for first place. Winhawk Junior Crystal Franzwa and Tiger Karli Kriewall season scores match up very well and this will be a great diving contest. 

The 100 Butterfly will feature Winhawk Sophomore Reese Galewski, literally. She should have this race well in hand.  As happens many times, the following races for 2-3-4 will be the best. Winhawk 8^th grader Hanna O’Neill, a potential star of the future, can send a message to that effect right here.  If Ashlen Haines can dig deep, the Winhawks can put a major hurt on the Tigers. 

The 100 Freestyle should be a repeat of the 50. We’ll watch an entire pool of evenly matched swimmers moving a wave of water looking for the final wall. Haley O’Neill, Cotter Sophomore and Emily Thurow will have to be focused and wired to come out on top. 

The 500 Freestyle should be hotly contested as well. Barring interjection of a star by either coach, the field should be pretty even with 6 swimmers in the 6 to 6:20 range. Tiger 8^th Grader Haley Simon just broke the 6 minute mark last week and Sophomore Madeline Dahl swims a 6:10.

The 200 Free Relay, I hate to say it again, will be an awesome race. The Winhawks’ and Tigers’ times are close with a slight edge to the Winhawks. This will be one of those meets where the 2 points for 3^rd may very well make the difference. The “B” relays will be big in this meet.

The 100 Backstroke will see great competition between Cotter Sophomore McKenna Marg and BOTH Tigers Bailey Sandon and Kemma Bergland. They can and very likely will be shoulder to shoulder for four lengths of the pool. If Cotter Freshman Morgan Whyte and Winhawk Sophomore Abbey Quandahl ever felt like throwing down a monster time, this would be the meet to do it!

The 100 Breaststroke fittingly is the last individual event of the day and like many race tracks should feature a great race. Tiger star 8^th Grader Lindsey Horesji set two pool records recently swimming a 1:07/1:08 respectively and Tiger Morgan Field was right behind her. They will both push Cotter Junior Alexandra Zuelke to her limit.  

If this comes down to the 400 Free Relay, it will be a crap shoot. Based on who was used up earlier and which coach kept some freestylers in reserve, either team could come out big. Albert Lea has a 3:58 under their belt. The Winhawks best is a 4:00, but rarely have they had a meet come down to the end and needed to pull it out. This could be a great opportunity for the Winhawks to see what they are made of; one of a season’s defining moments!