Swimmers set for BRC Meet
For more than half the members of the Wildcat girls’ swim team, last Tuesday’s home meet against Rice Lake was the last time this season they would hit the pool.By: Bob Burrows, River Falls Journal
- Shannon Moe
For more than half the members of the Wildcat girls’ swim team, last Tuesday’s home meet against Rice Lake was the last time this season they would hit the pool.
But they went out in style, helping the Cats post a 130-40 victory over the Warriors in the final dual meet of the season.
Up next, 17 varsity swimmers and four divers will represent River Falls in the postseason, beginning Saturday with the Big Rivers Conference meet in Chippewa Falls.
“The day after this last dual meet, the entire team met one more time to discuss and celebrate so many swimmers’ met goals,” head coach Lynn Huiskamp said. “Over the three months of training, we have become well acquainted with the varied personal goals of our teammates. It has been rewarding to witness these goals being broken, and with each person’s personal victory, the strength of our team has grown.
“Now it is up to just 17 remaining swimmers and four divers to represent the spirit of the whole team at conference and sectionals,” she added. “We enter our championship season with a very cohesive and focused team that brings out a huge amount of pride in anyone connected with them.”
Huiskamp pointed to a number of noteworthy performances in last week’s final dual meet with Rice Lake, including senior Lisa Humphrey, who capped her career with a personal best time of 6 minutes, 28.46 seconds in the 500 freestyle to take fourth place.
“Lisa’s high energy and focus helped her hit great personal goals this season,” Huiskamp said.
Maura Watson had a pair of personal best times to take third in both the 200 freestyle (2:25.9) and 100 backstroke (1:16.02).
“This was especially sweet because Maura had to assume the varsity 100 back position at the last minute due to another swimmer’s illness,” Huiskamp said. “I had confidence she’d be able to rise to the occasion, despite not competing in this event all season, swim a great time and get us points.”
Huiskamp said junior Kasey Manche found her best times at every trip to the blocks.
“Her 200 IM time of 2:55.90 and 100 free split time of 1:08.37 exhibited remarkable seasonal time drops,” the coach said. “A huge amount of perseverance and wonderful stubbornness kept Kasey focused on her goals week after week.”
Huiskamp also said the 100 breaststroke swimmers — Laura Barnes, Maddy Durhman, Sarah Weller and Dana Coggio — posted personal best times across the board.
Tags: sports, prep, wildcats, swimming
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