Central Minnesota Swimmers and Divers Set too Compete at State Meet
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Central Minnesota will be strongly represented at the State Swimming and Diving meet, taking place Thursday-Saturday, November 13-15, at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. Several schools and individual athletes have qualified, promising a competitive showing from the region.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Leads the Charge
sauk Rapids-Rice Girls Swimming/Diving will send a strong contingent to the state competition. The team qualified in Diving, and the 200 Free Relay team of Ava Erdmann, Madi Miller, Mya Miller, and Olivia Schaap. Ally Lucas and Adalyn Godfrey will also compete in the Backstroke, and the 400 Free Relay team of Ava Erdmann, Madi Miller, Ally Lucas, and Kate Walz will round out their depiction.
Tech Girls Aim for Top Finishes
the Tech Girls swimming/Diving team also secured several spots at the state meet. Kiera Florek and brenna Gruber will compete in Diving. The 200 Medley Relay team, comprised of Maggie Cole, Aliina Gustin, Anja Gustin, and Maren Nelson, also qualified. maggie Cole will compete in both the 200 Free and 500 Free, while Aliina Gustin will race in the 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke, having earned a team record in the latter. Maren Nelson also achieved a team record in the 100 Backstroke and will compete in that event. According to Tech head coach Jennifer Drakkar, “This is probably one of the toughest sections. With the competition, it pushed 7 schools to qualify in the Medley Relay, and all 8 swimmers in the Championship heat of the 100 back made state cuts. Its pretty unreal!”
Sartell-St. Stephen Showcases Depth
Sartell-St. Stephen Girls Swimming/Diving will have a diverse group of athletes competing. Kaylee Meester and Aki Rebeck will participate in the 200 Free and 200 Medley Relays, respectively. Tori Carlson qualified for the 200 Free, 500 Free, 200 Free Relay, and 400 Free Relay. Tess Hovda will compete in the 500 Free, 100 Back, and 400 Free Relay. Kenna Searcy, the Section Champion in the 100 Fly, will also compete in the 100 Back and both the 200 Medley and 400 Free relays. The team also includes Zoe Marushin in the 200 free Relay and 400 Free Relay, and Addison St. Sauver in the 200 Medley Relay. Paige Francois, Kiera Meemken, Mara Segura, and Leah Morris will serve as alternates.
Individual Brilliance and Record-Breaking Performances
Izzy Westling of Cathedral-St. John’s Prep-Apollo is poised for a strong showing, having qualified in both the 200 IM and 100 Free. She broke the section record in the 200 IM and the Sartell pool record in the 100 Free, as well as both Apollo school records in each event. Westling enters the competition as the #2 seed in the IM and the #1 seed in the 100 Free. Her teammates, Lilah Mohs, Madelyn Weekley, and Lucy Heringlake, will join her in the 200 Medley Relay, where they are seeded 14th after breaking the school record.
ROCERS Contenders Emerge
ROCERS will also be well-represented, with Ariana Outhwaite placing 3rd in the 100 Breaststroke and Chelsea Willenbring taking 1st in both the 100 Backstroke and 50 Freestyle. The 200 Medley Relay and 400 Freestyle Relay teams, consisting of Andi Diercks, Jayda Larson, Ariana Outhwaite, and chelsea Willenbring, secured 3rd place in both events. Malea Beler, Sage O’Neal, and Allie Reitmeier will serve as alternates.
The State Swimming and Diving meet promises to be a showcase of talent and determination, with Central Minnesota athletes ready to compete at the highest level.
