Swimmers swamp Rice Lake

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Wildcat junior Erin Pomeroy swims to a second place finish in the junior varsity portion of the 200 yard individual medley during the Cats’ Big Rivers Conference dual meet against Rice Lake Thursday. Bob Burrows photo

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The Wildcat girls swim team posted first place finishes in all 11 of the evening’s events on its way to a 109-49 win over Rice Lake Thursday at the high school pool.

Senior Hannah Ramquist won two individual events and swam a leg of two of the Cats’ three relay wins while sophomores Lucy Ramquist and Tessa Coggio were involved in three first place finishes each as the Cats won their final home dual meet of the season.

River Falls will host the Big Rivers Conference Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday, Nov. 1, beginning at 10 a.m. at the high school pool.

Head coach Lynn Huiskamp said Thursday’s meet against Rice Lake posed some interesting challenges to the Wildcats.

“Strategically, we outnumbered Rice Lake significantly so it was fairly certain we would add this meet to our win column,” she said. “It was, however, one of the last dual meets of the season and statistics would be vital in determining who swims in our final tournament meets. I gave everyone the opportunity to swim different events and was very pleased that many of them volunteered to do events outside their comfort range. That speaks well to their confidence and versatility.”

Hannah Ramquist won the 50 freestyle in 25.42 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes, 39.12 seconds. She also teamed up with Coggio, sophomore Grace Goblirsch and senior Meghan Kinkaid for a first place time of 2:00.75 in the 200 medley relay and Coggio, Kinkaid and younger sister Lucy for a time of 3:59.61 in the 400 freestyle relay.

“The 500 free was amazingly intimidating with Hannah Ramquist, Grace Goblirsch and Lucy Ramquist going one-two-three,” Huiskamp said. “Sabrina Kelly and Laura Barnes also swam great races, with Barnes lowering her time for the fourth meet in a row.”

Lucy Ramquist won the 200 individual medley in 2:29.05 and Coggio took first in the 100 butterfly in 1:08.32 in addition to their relay finishes while Goblirsch added a first place time of 2:12.90 in the 200 freestyle.

“Our entire 200 free lineup, JV through varsity, was very strong with the field of eight going 2:12.90 through 2:25.71,” Huiskamp said. “This included Grace, Chelsey Morrow, Marla Probst, Katie Yelken, Lisa Humphrey, Sophia Carlson, Nara Tashjian and Jenessa Humphrey.”

Probst took first in the 100 freestyle in 1:01.19 and Morrow won the 100 backstroke in 1:11.82 while Katie Kidd took first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:24.01. Morrow, Probst, Lucy Ramquist and Kinkaid combined for a first place time of 1:51.37 in the 200 freestyle relay.

Huiskamp said the team is focused on performing well down the stretch.

“The intensity has increased in practices, but the girls remain focused and positive,” she said. “They know to be a top-flight team, we must be mentally ready to race despite any fatigue.”

Tags: bob, burrows, swimming, wildcats, girls