Swimmers hold post-season banquet

Section 1AA Academic Champions

The Tigers swimmers and divers took time to celebrate another successful year at the post-season awards banquet  held last Wednesday night.

Thirty athletes received varsity letters for the efforts during the 2012 season, including five seniors: Maddie Alexander, Melanie Brothers, Robin Ellis Vivian Jasinski and Megan Maniaci.

"The senior class was a great group of individuals with varying backgrounds that came together and led this team in a positive manner," coach Jen Marshall said.

Other letterwinners:
Juniors: Katie Aaron, Nikki Cayard, Sydney Geiger, Chloe Holton, Abby Kampa, Sara Kintner, Courtney L'Heureux, Kaitlyn O'Reilly, Cora Ruzicka and Hannah Seitzinger;
Sophomores: Katie King, Kirsten Kracke, Kendall Novak, Ellie Sundet and Hanna Sundet;
Freshmen: Kaylee Dahlberg, Chelsea Gehrke, Emily Ley and Tori Sontag;
Eighth-graders: Amanda Davenport and Emily Korrk
Seventh-graders: Lexie Bray, Caroline Cummings, Catherin Gehrke and Grace Roach

Kaitlyn O'Reilly MVP, all-state, Section 1 Swimmer of the Year, all-conference (photo by Jim Lindquist)

O'Reilly had a brilliant junior season, earning all-state honors in two events after becoming the first Farmington swimmer ever to be named Section 1AA Swimmer of the Year. She was the team's Most Valuable Player and also earned all-Missota Conference distinction.

Chelsea Gehrke, Kracke and Ruzicka joined O'Reilly on the all-Missota squad while Ellis and Sundet each earned all-league honorable mention.

Ellis took home the Tiger Award and Holton was named the team's hardest worker. Kracke won the Most Improved award and Ley and Catherine Gehrke shared Rookie of the Year honors.

Coach Marshall said there were nothing but positives to take away from the season, putting O'Reilly's individual accomplishments, the Section 1AA academic team championship (first time in school history ) and five state meet qualifiers at the top of the list.

"This season was a success in and out of the water," Marshall said. "We had a hard-working group who earned everything they received."

The Tiger coach also said she feels good about her team's chances in 2013.

"We'll have a strong nucleus with big meet experience returning ," she said.

At the banquet, Aaron, Cayard, Geiger, Holton and O'Reilly were named as captains for the 2013 team.