It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. – Vince Lombardi

First off, it was nice to see that the WDN gleaned from Coach Schulz’s highlights that there were some great races like the 200 Free Relay. Sadly, I find it disheartening that a Newspaper Sports department (the experts so-to-speak) would not be aware of the fact that all MN HS swimming is done in yards and not meters. 

But I digress.

Secondly, it was GREAT to see the large crowd at the WSHS competition pool.  The stands were full but with not  just parents but student body and some of the Winona club swimmers there to see their older “teammates” compete for their town. I know the guys and the Winhawk coaches appreciated the support and I hope to see the attendance stay high!

The Winona Winhawks (0-2-0), (0-2-0) gave it a good try Thursday night but the Owatonna Huskies ( 2-3-1), (2-3-1) had been denied too many times this season and were not going home empty handed. 

The 200 Medley Relay went pretty much as expected, the Huskies had too good of a line-up for the Winhawks to handle. Winhawks Sophomore Hodd Gorman swam the opening backstroke leg for what might be the first time ever and swam the quickest split of the season.

Winona                6              Owatonna           8

Next up was the 200 Freestyle and it may have been a little too soon for Winhawk Hodd Gorman. Having just swam the 200 MR, he fought hard and took a solid 2^nd.  Winhawk Senior Co-Captain Joey Kleinow took a very close race and dug deep to pull away at the end to place 3^rd.

Winona                12           Owatonna           17

The 200 IM was a fun race to watch.  Winhawk Sophomore Cal Dretske was neck-n-neck after the fly, fell behind in the backstroke ( Owatonna swimmers specialty) then made most of it back up during the breaststroke ( Cal’s specialty). In the end Cal didn’t have enough gas left after closing the gap and placed a strong second. Winhawk Kyle Schneider placed 4^th and Cotter Sophomore Aaron Whyte set a new personal best finishing out the Winhawk entries. 

Winona                18           Owatonna           27

The 50 Freestyle was all Cotter Sophomore Roger Brosnahan swimming a season low for the win. Winhawk Alex Kline also set his season low scoring for the Winhawks behind Brosnahan. 

Winona                24           Owatonna           36

Diving was a great event, missed by most of us as it was at the Middle School. Cotter Senior Dan Karnick and his Owatonna rival both scored season high marks but Dan out dueled his competition and took 1^st place! Unfortunately, having only one diver the Huskies took the remainder of the places and more importantly the points. 

Winona                30           Owatonna           45

The 100 Butterfly was a morale bright spot for the Winhawks. All 3 competitors set season low times with Freshman Alex Vaslow setting another personal best. Kyle Schneider shaved a full second off his previous and was a hair off a personal best himself placing 2nd. Senior Alex Kline also established a season low following behind Schneider for 3^rd. 

Winona                37           Owatonna           54

The 100 Freestyle got the Winhawks some much needed points when Roger Brosnahan took first going away and Sr. Captain Joey Kleinow placed 3^rd. 

Winona                46           Owatonna           61

The 500 Freestyle was the race of the evening and was a nail biter from start to finish. Owatonna interjected one of the utility swimmers to throw a 1-2 punch at Winona’s Hodd Gorman. Hodd, rested after his 200 Free earlier, gave them all they could handle. Staying side-by-side with the Huskies’ plug-in, the two of them traded strokes and eventually buried the other Husky that had been thought to be Hodd’s main competition.  In the end, it was the 350 – 450 yard span that allowed the Husky to gain a slight one second + edge. Hodd out sprinted him in the final 50, but could only gain back a half a second taking second place and setting a new season low.  

Winona                51           Owatonna           72

The 200 Freestyle Relay was a back and forth affair with speedsters salted with in the two teams’ relays rather than as anchors as usual. The Huskies sent their stud 2^nd while the Winhawks sent Brosnahan 3^rd. The Winhawks had a hair of a lead when the two anchors jumped side-by-side. Winhawks Sophomore Cal Dretske swam a new personal best 50 split was touched out by his counterpart, the difference being 12 one hundredths of a second. 

Winona                55           Owatonna           82

The 100 Backstroke was another bright morale spot for the young Winhawks. Cotter Sophomore Aaron Whyte set his second personal best time of the night dropping 2 ½ seconds to place 2^nd and First year Junior Swimmer Ryan Magana scored in 5^th place setting a new personal best as well improving by seven full seconds. 

Winona                60           Owatonna           93

The 100 Breaststroke was the great race it was predicted to be.  Owatonna’s Junior Breaststroker Glynn muscled a mere 4 tenths lead on Winona’s Sophomore Cal Drestske at the 50, then over powered him going away with Cal taking a strong second. Winhawks Jake Johnson and Connor Kosidowski BOTH set personal best times for their efforts.

Winona                73           Owatonna           93

The 400 Freestyle relay is a sad familiar story, with lower numbers the Winhawks lack depth for the final event. Having thrown the kitchen sink at Owatonna earlier, the Winhawks place a solid 2^nd place.

Winona                85           Owatonna           93