It’s another W in the win column for Coach Ben Hanson’s Mound Westonka/Holy Family (MWHF) girls swim and dive team.  The conference dual meet season kicked off Thursday, September 2 when MWHF hosted Marshall.

Coach Hansen had a trifecta with his relay teams against Marshall – taking the top spot in all 3 events.  Jaylyn Storm (JR), Kate Johnson (JR), Catherine Dueck (SO) and Annie Springer (SR, Captain) won the 200 Medley Relay (1:54:97) with teammates Camille Ness (FR), Hannah Hall (SR, Captain), Abigail Ries (SO) and Kathryn Collins (SR, Captain) taking 3rd (2:03:41).  

1st place in the 200 Freestyle Relay went to MWHF’s Kate Johnston (JR), Ellen Ries (SR, Captain), A. Ries and Storm (1:47:89) with 2nd place going to MWHF’s Ka. Collins, Izzy Sullivan (JR), Onna Sullivan (FR) and Annemarie Johnson (FR) (1:49:44).  

The finale event of the evening had the spectators on their feet as the 400 Freestyle Relay team of Johnson, E. Ries, Springer and Dueck took first with a 3:44:64 and teammates Ness, Sullivan, Kr. Collins and Courtney French (JR) battled for 3rd, out touched by Marshall by just 0:0:74 seconds.

Dueck, and E. Ries had perfect evenings in their individual events and relay events.  Dueck won the 200 Freestyle (2:00:57) handily with 10 second lead.  Teammates Ness touched 4th and Johnston 5th.  Dueck won the 100 Butterfly (1:02:56) with A. Ries taking 2nd and Storm in 3rd.  

E. Ries took the top spot in the 200 IM finishing nearly 5 seconds ahead of Marshall with Ka. Collins finishing 3rd and French in 5th.  The 100 Freestyle also went to E. Ries (56:42) with the Collins sisters finishing 2nd and 3rd - Ka. Collins (59.15) Kr. Collins (59.97).   

Johnson had top finishes in her individual events.  She showed her versatility by taking 1st in the shortest sprint race of the meet, 50 Freestyle (26.97) with O. Sullivan in 5th and Peyton Schmidt (FR) in 6th.  She then won the distance event of the evening, the 500 Freestyle with an impressive 5:37:51.  Teammates Springer and A. Ries finished 2nd and 4th.  

Resident back stroker Kr. Collins won the 100 Backstroke (1:06:07) with Springer right on her heels and Storm taking 4th.  Kate Johnston won the 100 Breaststroke (1:10:65) ahead of French who finished 5th.   

MWHF varsity divers Bailey Monette, Sammy Christensen and Callie Brown led the diving points, with 489 points over Marshalls 486.  Former gymnast, Monette (8th grade) took first with a commanding 190.45 points.  The stands were full and attentive during the diving competition as the form, height and lines of the MWHF divers are nothing short of impressive.  

Next meet is at Hutchinson on Thursday, September 9, 2021.