25 August 2013

Girls Swimming: A great start

Chelsea Gehrke led off the winning 400 medley relay team (photo by Jim Lindquist)
The Tigers made a big splash in their first meet of the season, out-pointing favored Chanhassen 544-522 to capture the second annual Missota Conference Relays held Friday night in Northfield.

Chaska finished a distant third with 374 points, followed by Shakopee 354, Northfield 322, New Prague 214, Red Wing 206 and Holy Angels 60.

All of the events in the season opener, including the one-meter diving competition, were conducted in relay format and by winning the title The Tigers gave coach Jen Marshall a good idea of the depth on her 2013 team.

"This was a huge meet for us right out of the gate," Marshall said. "Our experienced swimmers performed well but it was the younger girls who really stepped up.

"In most events, both of our relays finished in the top five which is impressive. The divers finishing second and third was also a highlight.  I'm excited to see where we go this season!"

The Tigers claimed two races in the nine-event meet. Chelsea Gehrke, Cora Ruzicka,  Chloe Holton and Kaitlyn O'Reilly took top honors in the 400 (4x100) medley relay and the foursome of Kracke, Ruzicka, Emily Ley and O'Reilly won the 200 backstroke relay.

In addition the champions took second in four other events and scored multiple top five finishes in four more.

Other top five performances:
200 freestyle relay: 5. Katie Aaron, Hanna Sundt, Catherine Gehrke, Caroline Cummings
400 medley relay: 4. Ley, Sara Kintner, Chloe Holton, Hannah Seitzinger
One-meter Diving: 2 and 3. Kendall Novak, Tori Sontag, Nikki Cayard, Kaitlyn Besler, Elizabeth Weber
400 medley relay (4x100): 2. Kristen Kracke, O'Reilly, Ch. Gehrke, Ellie Sundet; 4. Grace Roach, Lexie Bray, Amanda Cavanaugh, Sydney Geiger
850 freestyle relay: 3. Seitzinger, Kintner, Sundet, Ca. Gehrke; 5. Paige Hansen, Geiger, Cummings, Bray
200 butterfly relay: 2. Ch. Gehrke, Holton, Roach, Ruzicka; 5. Aaron, Katie King, Paige LeTourneau, Jessi Witherill
200 breaststroke relay: 2. Kaylee Dahlberg, Allison Kjellberg, Kracke and Kintner
400 freestyle relay:  5.Sundet, Ca. Gehrke, Ley, Seitzinger