The Tigers went up against the best in Minnesota Saturday, placing 11th in a 12-team field at the 2013 Class AA True Team Championships held Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
The list of qualifying teams read like a Who's Who of high school swim teams in the Gopher State with Wayzta winning the title with 2042 points.
Perennial state power Stillwater ranked second with 2042.5, followed by Eden Prairie 1834, Minnetonka 1804, Edina 1803.5, Mounds View 1600, Centennial 1487.5, Rosemount 1382.5, St. Michael/Albertville 931, Prior Lake 915, Farmington 822 and Blaine 637.
"We had a decent meet considering the point of the season we're in," coach Jen Marshall said. "Many teams suited (wore fast suits) and rested for the meet but we swam right though it without resting or suiting and several girls had some nice time drops. Kendall Novak had her best meet thus far in diving, too."
Kaitlyn O'Reilly came through with the lone top ten finish for the Tigers with a ninth place showing in the 100 backstroke.
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| Section 1AA True Team Champions |
Novak took 14th place in the one-meter diving competition and O'Reilly turned in a 16th place finish in the 200 individual medley.
Kracke placed 17th in the 50 freestyle as did the 200 medley relay foursome of Kracke, O'Reilly, Gehrke and Ruzicka. Gehrke was 19th in the 100 butterfly.
Ruzicka finished 24th in the 200 freestyle and Tori Sontag landed in 25th place on the one-meter board.
Tuesday the Tigers entertain Rochester John Marshall in their final dual meet of the year before heading into what coach Marshall calls "the championship season". That kicks off Saturday with a trip to Shakopee for the Missota Conference Championships.
"Our sights are on the championship season," she said. "That has always been our focus and we won't change our training for the conference, section and state meets.
"It was an honor to be at True Team State as we were able to race with the best in the state. It was a great experience."
