Thursday night, two schools looking for a dual meet win, and
along with that a little respect, met up in the pool at WSHS.
The Winona Winhawks (1-5) hosted the Albert Lea Tigers (0-7)
in the closest match-up each will see this swim season.
They are very similar
programs with very similar scenarios. Albert Lea is the smallest city in the
Big 9; they are a powerhouse wrestling town, and the other mainline sports (B-Ball,
Hockey) suck up a good share of the remaining air. Winona, comparable in size to the bottom half
of the Big 9, also suffer from attention deficit after B-Ball and Hockey.
Winless
so far this season, the Winhawks have experienced the elation of winning in
prior seasons. The Tigers on the other hand have gone 6 years without a dual
meet win, a great bunch of kids that work hard, but suffer from low numbers and
depth. Thursday night, someone would be celebrating, the other, continued
frustration.
The 200 Medley flashed a sign of what kind of evening it was
going to be. The Winhawk A Relay of Whyte, Johnson, Schneider and Kohner, led
wire to wire. Junior Aaron White opened up handing a slight edge to Senior Jake
Johnson who opened up a HUGE gap. Sophomore Kyle Schneider just returning from
a prolonged illness swam a respectable fly leg maintaining the lead out and
Sophomore EJ Kohner maintained it as well to being home the unquestioned
victory. The Winhawk B Relay of Klein, Wolner, Magana, and Suman, scored the 3rd
place points.
Winona 10 AL 4
The 200 Freestyle was a plus in points for the Winhawks as
well with Johnson taking 2nd, Freshman Tyler Suman was right behind
him for 3rd and Jr. Cooper McCormick scoring in 5th.
Winona 18 AL 12
The 200 IM was nearly a 1-2-3 for the Winhawks but a False
Start reduced the scoring Winhawk count to 2 swimmers. The win was the first of
his career for Young 7th grade standout Griffin Wolner, a full 13
seconds faster than his swim back in the first meet of the season. Touching
right behind Grif was Winhawk Senior Ryan Magana.
Winona 27 AL 15
The 50 Freestyle “Dash & Splash” was predictably the
first hotly contested event of the evening. Lanes 3 & 4 were side-by-side
from start to finish with EJ Kohner taking the win by a 4 one hundredths of a
second margin! Also scoring for the
Winhawks were Jr. Hudson Echelard in 4th and Sr. Co-Captain Mic
Borasari in 5th.
Winona 36 AL 22
The diving was held over at the Winona Middle School.
Winhawks Derrik Prenot and Joe Fish took 2-3.
Winona 43 AL 28
The 100 Butterfly saw a rare fly performance (I’ve seen it
once before myself) from usual distance Winhawk Jr. Hodd Gorman. Hodd brought
home the 2nd place finish with Magana taking 4th.
Winona 49 AL 38
The 100 Freestyle was another point windfall for the
Winhawks. Sophomore Kyle Schneider brings home the win in a season quick time,
adding to his win in the Medley Relay. Junior Alex Miller finishes in 3rd
with plenty of room to spare and Echelard adds to the total by scoring in 5th
place.
Winona 59 AL 44
The 500 Freestyle showed the Winhawk future in action. With
Gorman swimming off events, the youngsters strutted their stuff and then some.
7th grader Griffin Wolner showed that his time from Section True
Team was no fluke, repeating it to place 2nd. Right behind him was
Freshman Tyler Suman in 3rd and 7th grader Brady Kline was
right on his heels placing 4th.
Winona 68 AL 51
The 200 Freestyle Relay was a barn burner, with the two
squads plying opposite tactics. AL put their strength at the beginning and end,
while the Winhawks had a stead drop in times from lead-off to finish. Echelard
led off keeping the AL speedster within striking distance. Sophomore Kyle
Schneider, looking for his 3rd win of the night reeled in AL by over
a half a second. Sophomore EJ Kohner also looking to go 2 for 2 in relays
chased down his AL counterpart with a monster split bringing the Winhawks to
within tenths of a second of the leaders. Junior Winhawk workhorse Hodd Gorman, “formerly”
a distance standout, catches the Tiger next to him and takes the race to the
wall touching out AL by 6 one hundredths of a second!!! Helping the cause, Magana, Joseph Koll,
McCormick and Alex Miller add the points for 3rd and the meet is
getting out of reach for the Tigers.
Winona 78 AL 55
The 100 Backstroke saw Gorman stride back up to the blocks
for ANOTHER off stroke swim. With just a few minutes rest after his gutty
performance in the 4x50 relay, he takes to the water again and pulls off
another touch out, winning the 100 back by
16 hundredths of a second. Finishing in 4th is Junior Alex Vaslow
and adding to the scoring effort in 5th is 7th grader
Brady Kline. The 1-4-5 virtually puts the meet out of reach of the Tigers and
the Winhawks start to breathe easier.
Winona 88 AL 62
The 100 Breaststroke put the topper on the evening for the Winhawks.
With two time State Qualifying Cal Dretske not in attendance, Sr. Jake Johnson was
in the spot light and he blew away the field taking first with an 8 second margin
of victory. Fortunately for the Winhawks that next head popping up was also a Winhawk,
Sophomore EJ Kohner taking 2nd in a tenth of a second touch out!
Usual Backstroker Junior Arron Whyte added 5th place to the scoring
but the Winhawks exhibitioned his points, having the meet win locked up.
Winona 98 AL 68
The 400 Freestyle relay had no bearing on the results as the
Winhawks all swam exhibition, yet that didn’t stop the team of Suman, Whyte,
Johnson and Schneider from swimming one of the fastest times of the year and securing
First place. Right behind them was the team of Gorman, Miller, McCormick and Echelard
placing 2nd.
Final Score
Winona Winhawks 98 Albert Lea Tigers 80
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