River dwellers go to lake country in search of their first win

The Winona Winhawks headed across the border Thursday night in search of their first win. A non-conference foe, the Menomonie Mustangs looking to rebuild wanted to deny the Winhawks that opportunity. 

With a full roster for the first time this season, the Winhawks hit the water hard from the first start and never looked back. 

The 200 Medley Relay of Morgan Whyte, Greer Kosidowski, Reese Galewski and Haley O’Neil showed good form taking the lead early and not looking back swimming to first place. They were followed by teammates McKenna Marg, Emily Thurow, Hanna O’Neil and Abbey Quandahl scoring in 3^rd.   

Winona             10        Menomonie       4

The 200 Free extended the lead with solid performances from off event swimmers.  Sr. Co-Captain Reese Galewski set a personal best in touching 2^nd, right behind her was Hanna O’Neil in 3^rd and 8^th Grader Alexa Lofgren, while slashing 12 seconds off her previous best, dug deep to out touch her Mustang opponent and secure 4^th place. 

Winona             19        Menomonie       11

The 200 IM was the second foray into unchartered waters for a Winhawk. Sr. Emily Thurow took the win in an event it appears she has never swum in high school which makes it a personal best in touching out her Mustang opponent by a full second. In 5^th place was Kailey Kronebusch swimming her second ever 200IM and also swimming to a personal best!

Winona             26        Menomonie       20

The 50 Freestyle was another rare sprint for the Sr. Co-Captain Haley O’Neil, recuperating but wanting to keep some racing edge. Entered in the splash-n-dash only once all last year, she showed good form handily swimming to 1^st and a personal best.  Behind her in 3^rd and 5^th respectively were Seniors Greer Kosidowski and Razil Campbell, also swimming the event for the first time in recent memory. 

Winona             36        Menomonie       26

The Diving was also a Winhawk scoring event and featured a breakout performance by Jr. Sarah Scherbring, winning the event in a new personal best. Behind her in 3^rd was Sr. Co-Captain Janelle Mueller and So. Emilee Degnan scored in 5^th also raising her bar and scoring a personal best!

Winona             47        Menomonie       31

The 100 Butterfly was all Winhawk Sr. Co-Captain Reese Galewski, out distancing the field she won handily. In 2^nd place was Fr. Hanna O’Neil showing good early season form and scoring in 5^th was Kailey Kronebusch nearly equaling her taper produced PB of last season. 

Winona             58        Menomonie       36

The 100 Freestyle was a sweep for the Winhawks, and perhaps an indication of great things ahead. Leading the way was young 8^th grader Alexa Lofgren, matching her standout performance of Tuesday! In 2^nd place was the smiling Abbey Quandahl swimming a rare if not first 100 free sprint nearly netting herself a Minuteman T Shirt. Behind her in 3rd place was 7^th Grader Morgan Drazkowski continuing to dazzle in her first high school season just missing out on adding the Minuteman Club to her quickly growing resume. 

Winona             71        Menomonie       38

The 500 Free saw, well more of the same, Winhawks swimming rare events. So. Morgan Whyte in her first distance event since 2010 swam to a personal best 2^nd place. Sr. McKenna Marg giving it a whirl since early last season also sets a personal best securing 4^th. Sr. Razil Campbell rounded out the scoring in 5^th. 

Winona             78        Menomonie       47

The 200 Free Relay was a showcase for the Winhawks as they swam to a 1-2 finish with room to spare.

Winona             90        Menomonie       49

The 100 Backstroke had So. Morgan Whyte displaying her specialty swimming to 1^st in a time close to her best of last season. Sr. McKenna Marg swam to a 3^rd place finish and rounding out the scoring was Jr. McKenzie Porter equaling her mid-season form of last year and placing 4^th.  

Winona             101       Menomonie       54

The 100 Breaststroke was a Winhawk show featuring Sr. Greer Kosidowski taking first handily and setting a new un-tapered personal best in the process. Continuing the off event theme, Sr. Emily Thurow displayed her new depth tying for 2^nd in an event she has only swum a handful of times. Touching with her was So. Alex Arnold showing good form as she gets back into the water from a delayed start to the season. 

Winona             114       Menomonie       57

The 400 Freestyle Relays placed 2-3-4 but scored the event as exhibition with the win well in hand. 

Final Score

Winona             114       Menomonie       69

The Winona Winhawks return to home meet action on Tuesday September 10^th swimming against the Holmen Onalaska High School team, at 6PM in the WSHS pool.