Like the Highlander, “There can be only one”.

The WInhawks were victorious in Austin on Tuesday night. I will re-cap that meet when I get results, in the mean time, I will preview the meet for Thursday night.


The Big 9 Conference is TOUGH, so tough there are actually 10 teams rather than 9. Besides that most of those teams have multiple state qualifiers, and there are some national level swimmers, Olympic Trials swimmers and even some international experience.

So when you have a Big 9 win and can possibly pair it with another Big 9 win, you want it bad. So goes the course for BOTH Winona and Owatonna on Thursday. Both victorious Tuesday, both wanting to make it two in a row. But in the end, there can be only one with consecutive victories.

Last year, the Winhawks were the victors 93 – 88 and essentially have the same team back. Owatonna was hit harder by graduation, but is filling in nicely. These teams finished side by side last year in the Big 9 meet results and are projected to do the same this year. The end result is what appears to be a GREAT Big 9 match-up that should have the Winona SHS Pool rocking!

For Owatonna, defending Big Nine Conference diving champion Kalley Schwab is back, along with All-conference sophomore sprinter Matalin Shaver. Include senior Madison Eggermont and junior Ana Moe, both captains along with Schwab. After them the Huskies have just nine combined juniors and seniors.


Significant Owatonna times of note this season:

200-yard MR Lydia Anez, Maria Versteeg, Mattie Shaver and Anna Moe, 1:59.88

Matalin Shaver 100 freestyle 55.99, 200 IM 2:22.23; 100 fly 1:03.97, 50 Free  24.46, 200 freestyle 2:05.79

Maria Versteeg 100 breaststroke 1:12

Kalley Schwab diving scores of 218.20 and 223.90

Hannah Roberts 500 free, 5:45.12

400 freestyle relay Shaver, Madison Eggermont, Lydia Anez, Roberts in 3:59.64.

Winhawk preview – Offense is the best defense

"Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many;…………….” said the philosopher Socrates. The Austin Packers Girls’ Swim & Dive Team (1-6-0) (1-3-0) may just fall under that old idiom. 

Last year the Austin Packers were 3-8 in dual meets. They finished ninth in the Big Nine Conference Meet. BUT, they are a Class A school in a Class AA dominated Conference. They finished fifth in the Section 1A Meet and went on to place 24th in the Class A state meet qualifying all three of their relays and 3 individuals. Lastly, Head Coach Lynn Gulbrandson has been at this a long time and knows how to make the most of a line up for dual meet competition.

They have over a dozen returning letter winners and six seniors. Senior Autumn Laury was third in the Class A state in diving in 2012. Senior Merideth Fritz and junior Maddie Kinney were part of the 400 freestyle relay that placed 16th at state. The duo was also part of the 200 medley relay which was 24th. Fritz also competed in the 200 freestyle relay at state (17th) and the 100 butterfly (23rd). 

The Packers strength lies in diving and sprinting right now. This is one of those meets where the races that matter will not be in lanes 3&4, or 4 & 5, but between the outside lanes. The Packers' high performers will be giving the Winhawks all they can handle, but who touches and scores in 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th will matter the most. 

Basically, It’s the Winhawks of the future that will determine the outcome of this meet. Austin got their first Big 9 win last week, they most likely enjoyed it and will be looking for more.  

Notable times from the season for Austin:

200-medley relay: Emma Kleis, Maddie Kinney, Hannah Schemmler, Mikayla Finney (second, 2:06.04); 

200-freestyle: Merideth Fritz (first, 2:11.57); Kristina Thorson (third,2:21.98); 

200-individual medley: Madie Kinney (second, 2:29.28); 

50-freestyle: Heather Johnson (first, 27.05); Abby Gogolewski (second, 27.59); Mikayla Finney (third, 27.77)

Diving: Autumn Laury (first, 200.95); Bailey Corey (third, 149.00); 

100-butterfly: Merideth Fritz (first, 1:04.65); Hannah Schwemmler (third, 1:09.70); Katelyn Hillson (fourth, 1:13.29)

100-freestyle: Heather Johnson (first, 59.01); Mikayla Finney (second, 1:00.99); 

500-freestyle: Kristina Thorson (second, 6:05.68); Paige Sunderman (fifth, 6:37.54); 

200-freestyle relay: Merideth Fritz, Heather Johnson, Hannah Schwemmler, Mikayla Finney (first, 1:46.98); Abby Gogolewski, Hannah Burkhart, Kristina Thorson, Paige Sunderman (fifth, 1:57.15)

100-backstroke: Maddie Kinney (first, 1:07.01); Emma Kleis (second, 1:09.30); Katelyn Hillson (sixth, 1:20.51)

400-freestyle relay: Merideth Fritz, Maddie Kinney, Heather Johnson, Mikayla Finney (second, 3:56.36)

Sometimes, it just DOESN’T matter, who is in the other lanes. What matters is what happens in your lane.

There will always be a “Mayo”; no matter how good you are, even if you are Mayo. Only ONE team, at one moment in time, can say there isn’t anyone ahead of them. Everyone else is just doing the best they can. Measuring up to the only standard that matters, the one they hold themselves to.

The Winona Winhawks (2-3-0), 0-3-0) went to swim and dive against the Rochester Mayo Spartans (3-0-0), (3-0-0) tonight, knowing that they were going to get beat. They were pretty upbeat out of the chute, got a little down by diving, and then appeared to have had a little attitude adjustment. They finished out the meet swimming as hard as they did to start the meet, and they were all the better for it.

The 200 Medley Relay had the Winhawks swimming hard out of the gate. The A relay of Whyte, Kosidowski, Galewski, and O’Neill were just 16 hundredths off their season low which had tied for the 9th fastest 200MR on record. Alas it was only good for 2nd behind by a mere 3 tenths!

The 200 Freestyle saw So. Morgan Whyte, swimming tenths off her season low from last Saturday took 3rd. Sr. Emily Thurow did the long sprint for the first time in 3 years and posted a personal best scoring in 5th .

The 200 IM Featured Sr. Co-Captain Reese Galewski swimming the medley for the second time this year within hundredths of her last splash and taking 3rd. Alex Arnold scored in 5th.

The 50 Free was a fight all the way with Sr. Co-Captain Haley O’Neill giving an inch at the start, and another inch at the turn and then scratching it all back down the stretch to touch out her opponent for the win! Sr. McKenna Marg swam a first ever 50 Freestyle event and touched handily in 4th. Winhawk 8th grader Alexa Lofgren was right off her scoring in 5th.

Springboard Diving was performed right in front of us (one of the reasons we attend away meets). Sr. Co-Captain Janelle Mueller placed 2nd on the strength of her Back, Reverse and inward 1 ½ ss DD’s. Right behind her in 3rd was Emily Degnan scoring a personal best high overall score after hitting her back dive straight and front 2 ss well. Rounding out the scoring was Sarah Scherbring in 5th.

The 100 Fly came next and the girls seemed in a better place. Sr. Co-Captain Reese Galewski hung really close for 75 yards, and then gave an arm length that she could not re-gain. She touched second in her 3rd fastest time of the season. Scoring in 5th was Sophomore Hanna O’Neill.

The 100 Freestyle was test number 2 for Sr. Co-Captain Haley O’Neill. She was pushed hard tonight and pushed right back making the Spartans earn every point. Here she stayed right together with her opponent. Giving an inch on the start and at each turn and then clawing it back with each lap. In the end, she touches second by 16 hundredths, Sr. Greer Kosidowski makes her 2nd EVER 100 Free appearance, (the prior being the 2010 season  JV Big 9 meet) and she rocks the house with a sub-minute finish scoring 4th. The 7th Grader Winhawk Morgan Drazkowski continues to score points in her first season placing 5th.

The 500 Freestyle was maybe the toughest psychologically. The three girls knew that their opponents were quicker than them. In a race that lasts five and a half to six and a half minutes, they would finish long before the Winhawks, accentuating the difference in programs. The girls huddled together behind the blocks, appearing to say, “Hey, just go out and swim your swim. “ That they did with Sr. Razil Campbell and Jr. McKenzie Porter trying their best and swimming standard times for them. Porter even attempted some drafting as the quickest Spartan went by her at length 14 & 15 but the Spartan would have none of that and moved to the other side of the lane! Razil finished 4th and Porter scored in 5th to help the team cause!

The 200 Free Relay saw the Winhawks down by almost 40 points but they looked determined. Sr. Emily Thurow led off and brought the Winhawks a dead heat to start the second leg. Sr. Greer Kosidowski who found her sprinting legs this year turned a strong second and delivered a lead to her team mate young 8th grader Alexa Lofgren. Alexa hadn’t raced for nearly 45 minutes at this point and yielded a slight edge to the Spartans. Sr. Co-Captain Haley O’Neill, in her 4th meat grinder of the night, turns an amazing split, gaining ground up to and through the turn, catching Alfred mid-pool and touching he rout by 24 hundredths at the finish! What an AWESOME night for the co-captain!

The 100 Backstroke was another highlight with So. Morgan Whyte leading wire –to-wire to take the win in her second fastest time of the season. Sr. McKenna Marg took 5th in her 2nd fastest time of the season as well.

The 100 Breaststroke was another hard fought battle. Sr. Greer Kosidowski had her dual meet unbeaten streak on the line and defended it with honor. Grinding away she maintained through the 25 and nearly through the 50. She seemed to gain strength as she closed in on the 75 but was an arm length back. Going into the close, she slipped ground a hair more and touched second only 6 one hundredths off her season low. Right behind her, Sr. Emily Thurow swam a new personal best, her second of the evening to score in 4th!

The 400 Free Relay was swum with Mayo scoring exhibition and the Winhawk team of Lofgren, Galewski, Whyte and Thurow placed 2nd but scoring first.

Final Score

Winhawks           84           Spartans              97

Nest up – The Winhawks travel to Austin to take on the Packers, Tuesday the 24th at 6PM.

More seasoning will make things MUCH hotter

On Tuesday The Winona Winhawks (2-2-0), (0-2-0) travel to Rochester to meet up with the Mayo Spartans. 

Last year’s contest was a tie 93-93, this contest might be a harder battle. Mayo finished off the season placing third in the Big Nine Conference Meet and also finished third at the Section 1AA meet. They went on to finish 16th in the state at the Class AA state meet.

Their power core is back, Hannah Baratz, Michelle Campeau, Olivia Cook, and Shavonne Chen. They were only sophomores, so as juniors they are experienced and even more prepared. Campeau was the section champion in the 200 freestyle, she went on to finish 9th at State. Freshman Anna Cook (IM, Free) was also all-conference a year ago as an 8th grader. 

Notable Swims at State:

200 FREE             Michelle Campeau

200 IM                 Olivia Cook

50 Free                Hannah Baratz

100 Fly                 Olivia Cook

100 Free              Hannah Baratz    Michelle Campeau

200 Free Relay     Michelle Campeau, Shavonne Chen, Olivia Cook, Hannah Baratz

400 Free Relay     Michelle Campeau, Shavonne Chen, Olivia Cook, Hannah Baratz

The WInhawks started last year taking 1-3 in the Medley Relay and they will need to again. The one thing Winona may have on its side is depth. With 40 plus swimmers, they outnumber the Spartans and if enough swimmers step up, they may just place enough in the middle positions to help the headliner Winhawks score enough points. 

Bottom line, the Winhawks will have their hands full in every event.

Tuesday night, Rochester Mayo Pool, 6PM.

The Winhawks find the Northern Suburbs to their liking!

The Winona Winhawks Girls Swim & Dive Team headed north through Minneapolis up to Coon Rapids. There they swam against the North Suburban, East Suburban and a few further north commuter sites. The list of attending teams included, Blaine, Anoka, Champlin Park, Park Center, Centennial, Andover, Mounds View, Eden Prairie, and Saint Michael-Albertville. A couple of these were powerhouses, so it was expected to be some tough racing!
 

The Meet was scored through 16^th place, but teams could only score certain entries, so in some cases the scoring went deeper than 16^th place. 

The 200 Medley Relay had two Winona Relays scoring,  The Winhawks B Relay of Abbey Quandahl, Alexandra Arnold, Hanna O'Neill, Alexa Lofgren, placed 18^th and the Winhawk A Relay of Whyte, Morgan Greer Kosidowski, Reese Galewski, Haley O'Neill placed 8^th.

The 200 Freestyle had two scoring Winhawks. Sr. Greer Kosidowski placed 15^th and So. Morgan Whyte turned her 15^th seed into an 11^th place finish!

The 200 IM had one lone scoring Winhawks. So. Alexandra Arnold converted her 17^th seed in to a 14^th place finish.

The 50 Freestyle has three Winhawks scoring points. Seniors Abbey Quandahl and Emily Thurow place 14^th and 15 respectively, while Sr. Co-Captain Haley O’Neill enters seeded 3^rd but move up placing 2^nd overall!

1 Meter diving – Here two Winhawks also scored. Sr. Co-Captain Janelle Mueller placed 9^th overall and Sophomore Emilee Degnan made it to her first Championship Final scoring in 14^th place!

The 100 Butterfly resulted in Sophomore Hanna O’Neill scoring in 13^th place and Sr. Co-Captain Reese Galewski Finished in 2^nd place as she was seeded!

The 100 Freestyle was big for the Winhawks with 3 of them scoring. Sr. Emily Thurow placed 16th and 7^th Grader Alexa Lofgren placed 14^th. In the Final heat, Sr. Co-Captain Haley O’Neill was seeded first. She never trailed as she built a half second lead going into the 50 turn and then added to it in the home stretch to take the victory. 

The 500 Freestyle was perhaps the most productive of the day performance wise rather than points wise. Sr. Razil Campbell cut 8 full seconds off of her seed time and Sr. Co-Captain Reese Galewski slashed a full 5 seconds off her seed time for a new personal best and also scoring. 

The 200 Free Relay had two of the three entries scoring. The foursome of Hanna O'Neill, Alana Everitt, Morgan Drazkowski, and Kennedy Kolaas score in 18th place. The Relay of Emily Thurow, Abbey Quandahl, Greer Kosidowski, and Haley O'Neill secure the points for 7th place. 

The 100 Backstroke scores Sophomore Morgan Whyte in 10th place. 

The 100 Breaststroke also has a lone scorer; Senior Greer Kosidowski converts her 14th seed into a 12th place finish. 

The 400 Freestyle Relay had two relays in the points. The B Relay of Hanna O'Neill, McKenzie Porter, Raizl Campbell, and Morgan Drazkowski, place 18th and the Winhawk A Relay of Emily Thurow, Alexa Lofgren, Morgan Whyte, and Reese Galewski score in 8th place. 

Final Scores:

1. Eden Prairie                                  615

2. Centennial                                    415

3. St. Michael/Albertville                    405

4. Andover                                        207

5. Winona/Winona Cotter                  193

6. Blaine Bengals                             188

7. Anoka High School                       165

8. Champlin Park                                88

9. Mounds View High School               49

Next up: Winona Travels to Rochester Mayo to take on the Spartans! Tuesday September 17th.