In the movie Wall Street, the actor Hal Holbrook (Lou), says to Charlie Sheen (Bud) just before he finds out he is being arrested, “When a Man Stares Into the Abyss and sees
nothing but darkness, this is the time that he finds his character. And it is
his character, that keeps him from falling into the abyss.”
The Winona Winhawks (4-4-0), (3-2-0) had all day, an hour long bus
ride and another hour long warm-up to contemplate one thing. They were going to
swim against Rochester JM (7-0-0) (7-0-0) and they were very likely going to
lose. The unknown was how bad. Faced with such a situation, many many
competitors since the dawn of time have crumbled, succumb to poor attitudes, given
up. The Winhawk squad I saw on deck was up-beat, supportive and in good
spirits. They looked like winners. Their leaders had led the team down the path
of learning to grow, swimming for team, and representing their team and their
school with honor.
The Rockets played a
little switch-up, but for the most part threw the A team at the Winhawks.
The 200 Medley Relay was a great race, the Winhawks were in
it to the end. Both A AND B relays were touched out by a about a second.
Rockets 10 Winona 4
The 200 Freestyle saw JM throw the kitchen sink at Winhawk
Jr. Haley o’Neill. Two of their best swimmers, teamed up on both sides of Haley
but she stuck close with Morgan Whyte AND Greer Kosidowski all having solid
times.
Rockets 22 Winona 8
The 200 IM brought JM’s Taylor Bass to the blocks, but the
Winhawks stayed focused on their goals and Fr. Alex Arnold swam to a convincing
2nd place with So. McKenzie Porter adding the fourth place points.
Rockets 31 Winona 15
The 50 Freestyle was another character builder, as JM record
holder Allison Schumacher waited at the blocks for Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Alex Zuelke
to take stride up. In the end Alex touches 14 hundredths out in 2nd
place with Jr. Emily Thurow right behind her scoring a very necesary 3rd.
Rockets 40 Winona 22
Diving was another opportunity for the Winhawks to shine and
the view was blinding. Sr. Co-Captain Crystal Franzwa, not really comfortable
with the board offered, leads first splash to last. Her fourth round Forward 1
ss with 2 ½ twists insured the victory scoring 5 & 5 ½’s. In the same
round, Janelle Mueller looking as sharp as I have seen her, moves into 2nd
place for good with an Inward 1 ½ ss scoring 5 & 5 ½’s. Not to be left
behind, Sarah Scherbring added points for her 4th place finish and the
Winhawks have the highest point total of the night with 12 and get the Winhawks
right back into it!
Rockets 44 Winona 34
The 100 Butterfly was next in line for the Winhawk highlight
reel. As far ahead as Crystal was in points, Jr. Reese Galewski was in time. The
Rockets had no counter punch for Reese and she cruised to a 2+ second victory.
Fr. Hanna O’Neill added scoring in 5th place.
Rockets 53 Winona 41
The 100 Freestyle was up next and Jr. Team Leader Haley O’Neill walked to the blocks determined. At the start she went straight to the lead and never looked back scoring
the Winhawks’ third 1st place finish in a row! Fr. Alex Arnold is
right behind going sub-minute for the first time this year in the event and scores in 3rd. The
Winhawks pull back to within 10 points.
Rockets 60 Winona 50
Winhawk Coach Steve Burt knew what was coming. Kinda like a crazed
freight train the 500 Freestyle was blowing its whistle. Even using some off swimmers,
JM has great depth at distance. The Rockets take 1-2-3 with Winhawk Jr. Razil Campbell
swimming a gutty race, digging to the last stroke and almost breaking up the sweep. The
10 point differential will prove to be the lid sealer to the Winhawks, a
deficit they would not be able to overcome.
Rockets 73 Winona 53
The 200 Free Relay was the last stand for the Winhawks,
their biggest chance to get back into the meet. The relay of Haley O’Neill,
Morgan Whyte, Emily Thurow and Alex Zuelke gave it everything they had. Quality
splits by all of them, Alex had a half body length to make up in the last 50.
Nearly even by the 25, she continues to inch closer and with another 5 yards
may have pulled it out but the Winhawks touch 2nd, just 2 tenths off
the win.
Rockets 83 Winona 57
The 100 Backstroke had Fr. Morgan Whyte and Jr. McKenna Marg
finish 2-3 with very respectable swims.
Rockets 92 Winona 64
The 100 Breaststroke was a great race if not THE race of evening.
Coach Paul Bachman knew he had a challenge with Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Alex
Zuelke coming into his pool. He went to his Sr. Co-Captain Lauren Kalwasinski and
the two team leaders battled it out. Alex Z had been warned after her 50 Free
start that she was nearly DQ’ed, and it may have affected her here. JM was out
in front after the start with Alex catching her by the wall. Alex inched ahead
over the next length, and they came off the final wall side by side for
the home stretch. Kalwasinski gained the slight edge with less than 10 yards to
go and touches out Alex by 36 hundredths to deny her the win. Jr. Greer
Kosidowski swims a solid time to add points for Winona, but the cumulative damage
has been done. JM has put the meet away.
Rockets 98 Winona 71
JM still has some muscle to throw around while Winona was
pretty well spent. JM takes 1-2 barely touching out the Winhawk relay of H. O’Neill,
Arnold, Galewski and Marg. JM exhibitions their relays and the Winhawks take
the points.
FINAL SCORE
Rochester JM Rockets 98 Winona Winhawks 83
Next up, from the abyss into the driver’s seat, the Winhawks
host the Packers of Austin Thursday night!
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