The Westonka boys swim team dove in at the Maroon and Gold Invitational on Jan. 6. It was the first time that the Westonka team had competed in the Maroon division, which is comprised of larger schools than Westonka from all over Minnesota and Wisconsin. The White Hawks swam against Lakeville South, East Ridge, Sartell St. Stephen, Rochester Century, St. Thomas Academy, Orono, Hudson (WI),  Lakeville North, Stillwater, Eau Claire (WI), St. Cloud Apollo and Anoka.  

Leading the team with individual points was senior captain Bryce Helms with a total of 37 individual  points, placing third out of 43 swimmers in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 49:51 and earning the team 20 points. Bryce Helms also placed sixth in the 50-yard freestyle out of 43 swimmers with a  personal best time of 22:40, earning the team 17 points.  

Sophomore Sean Dolder earned the team nine individual points. Dolder came in with a personal best in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:27:59, taking 15th place out of 36 swimmers while earning the team six  points. Dolder also swam the 200 freestyle, coming in at 18th place out of 41 swimmers with a personal best time of 2:02:12 and earning the team three points. 

Helms and Dolder were back in the pool for the 400 freestyle relay. Bryce Helms led off, followed by Dolder, sophomore Wyatt Helms and sophomore Eren Alemdar. They came in at 16th place out of 34 relay teams with a team best time of 3:40:92, earning the team 10  points.

Next up was the 200 medley relay led off by Alemdar (backstroke), followed by Dolder (breaststroke), Bryce Helms (fly) and Wyatt Helms (freestyle). They finished with a team best time of 1:55:65, earning two points and taking 20th place out of 37 relay teams.  

Alemdar swam the 100 Fly with a personal best time of 1:06:17 for 25th place. Alemdar next splashed in on the 100 backstroke with a personal best time of 1:03:91, taking 22nd place.  

Wyatt Helms dove in on the 200 individual medley, swimming a personal best time of 2:28:72 and coming in at 30th place. Helms also dove in on the 100 Back, coming in with another personal best  time of 1:09:04 and taking 32nd place.  

Eighth grader Connor Shaw swam the 200 freestyle for the team, coming in with a personal best time of  2:17:27 and taking 36th place. Shaw earned another personal best time in the 100 backstroke, coming in with a time of 1:14:91 and taking 35th place. 

Eighth grader Brody Helms also had an impressive day in the pool, swimming the 200 freestyle with a personal best time of 2:24:31 and coming in at 37th place. Next up for Helms was the 100 breaststroke, where he earned another personal best (1:20:84) and took 35th place.

Ninth grader Niles Senn swam the 50 freestyle for the team, coming in with a personal best time of 27:98 for 36th place. Next up for Senn was the 100 freestyle, coming in with another personal best time of 1:05:97, taking 37th place.

Ninth grader Tyler Finley swam the 50 freestyle, coming in with his personal best time of 34:76 and taking 40th place. Finley earned another personal best time in the 100 freestyle, coming in at 1:15:49 and taking 39th place. 

Westonka’s B relay team swam the 200-medley relay led off by Finley (backstroke), Brody Helms (breaststroke), Shaw (fly) and Senn (freestyle). They came in with a team best time of 2:22:41, taking 36th place. Next up for this relay squad was the 200-freestyle relay led off by Brody Helms and followed by Senn, Finley and Shaw. They earned a team best  time 1:57:95 and 31st place.  

Come cheer on the White Hawks at True Team Sections, which are being held at the team's home pool at Orono Middle School on Saturday, Jan. 13. The White Hawks would like to congratulate their Orono Spartans teammates for their sixth overall place at this year's Maroon and Gold Invitational. They would also like to thank their sponsors and swim fans for their continued support.

GO WHITE HAWKS!