Swimmers swamp Cardinals

The Wildcats rode first place finishes in 10 of 11 events to post a 104-66 win over Chippewa Falls in a Big Rivers Conference dual swim meet Thursday at the high school pool.

Grace Goblirsch and Marlayna Probst each had a hand in four Wildcat victories while Tessa Coggio played a role in three first place finishes and Sofia Carlson two.

“Our team found great opportunities to match head to head with many Chippewa swimmers,” head coach Lynn Huiskamp said. “In most instances, our Wildcat swimmers were able to edge out Chippewa, which made for a rallying build-up of adrenaline and confidence.”

The meet opened with the Wildcat 200 yard medley relay team of Madison Probst, Katie Kidd, Coggio and Marlayna Probst combining for a first place time of 2 minutes, 1.75 seconds.

Goblirsch followed by winning the 200 freestyle in 2:06.86 with teammate Emma Langer third in 2:26.09. Coggio the won the 200 individual medley in 2:26.09 with Madison Probst third in 2:36.0.

Marlayna Probst took first in the 50 freestyle in 27.34 seconds and Mandy Hedeen was third in 27.78. The Cats then swept the top two spots in the 100 butterfly, with Sofia Carlson first in 1:11.50 and Shannon Moe second in 1:13.94.

Marlayna Probst picked up her second individual win, and third of the night, with a first place time of 58.69 seconds in the 100 freestyle. Hedeen was third in 1:02.11.

Goblirsch posted her second individual win of the night in the 500 free with a time of 5:49.35, with Langer third in 6:20.59.

In the 200 freestyle relay, Coggio, Carlson, Goblirsch and Marlayna Probst teamed up for a first place time of 1:47.79.

The Cardinals’ only win came in the 100 backstroke, where Coggio took second for the Wildcats with a time of 1:06.78, just three-tenths behind the first place finisher.

Kidd picked up a win in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:18.35, before the team of Goblirsch, Moe, Hedeen and Madison Probst ended the night with a first place time of 4:09.85 in the 400 freestyle relay.

Huiskamp said there were a number of impressive performances in the meet.

“Putting Grace Goblirsch in her old standby event of 200 free against a very formidable Chippewa swimmer, Grace’s steady strength came through as she swam lifetime best swims and earned first places in both the 200 free and 500 free,” Huiskamp said. “Sofia Carlson’s 100 fly race earned her a lifetime best swim and a first place. Sofia went after her events that night with more determination than I’ve ever seen from her. Sofia had a smile on her face all night.”

Huiskamp said the Cats’ 200 freestyle relay teams are getting close to pre-tournament goals.

“I really like seeing that at this point in the season,” she said. “We need to keep focusing that kind of all-out swimming in order for times to get where we need them.”

The Cats will compete at the Eau Claire North Invite on Saturday. They return home to host Eau Claire North for a dual meet on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m.

Tags: river falls, sports, prep, swimming