2023-24 Westonka boys swim team
The Westonka boys swim team had an impressive day in their home pool for True Team Sections against Breck/Blake, Orono, Benilde St. Margaret's, Bloomington Kennedy and St. Anthony. True Team meets are focused on the power of the team; every swimmer, regardless of placement, scores points. The White Hawks finished the day with a team total of 259.5 points.
Leading the White Hawks in individual points was senior captain Bryce Helms with a total of 46 points. Helms' first swim of the day was the 50-yard freestyle, where he took second place in a very competitive heat and scored 23 points. Next for Helms was the 100-yard freestyle, where he also took second for 23 points in another very extremely competitive heat.
Sophomore Sean Dolder was the team's second leading point earner with 37 individual points. Dolder’s first event was the 200-yard freestyle, where he came in ninth in a tight race with a personal best time and scored 16 points. Next up for Dolder was the 500-freestyle. Dolder swam against some of the state’s top swimmers in this event and finished in fourth place for 21 points.
Sophomore Wyatt Helms scored 28 individual points for the team. Helms dove in on the 50 freestyle, coming in with a personal best time and taking 11th place and 14 points for the team. Next up for Helms was another personal best in the 100 freestyle, where he took 11th place and scored 14 points.
Eighth grader Connor Shaw earned the team 19.5 total points. Shaw swam the 50 freestyle, coming in 15th place with a personal best time and earning 9.5 points. Shaw earned another PBT on the 500 freestyle, taking 15th place earning the team 10 points.
Eighth grader Brody Helms swam the 200 IM, coming in 16th place and earning nine points. Next up for Helms was the 100 Breast, where he placed 17th and scored eight points.
Freshman Tyler Finley swam the 200 Free, placing 19th with a personal best time and scoring the team six points. The 100-yard backstroke was next for Finley. He finished in 19th place for six points.
Freshman Niles Senn earned the team 10 individual points on the day. Senn swam the 100 Free, coming in 22nd place and earning three points. Senn then had a PBT in the 100 backstroke to earn 18th place and seven team points.
The White Hawks relay teams had a great day in the pool. First up was the 200 Medley relay swum by Niles Senn (back), Brody Helms (breast), Wyatt Helms (fly) and Tyler Finley (free). This relay squad came in at 15th place and scored the team 20 points. Next up was the 200 Free relay where Niles Senn, Sean Dolder, Connor Shaw and Bryce Helms finished in ninth place to score the team 32 points. The pinnacle event was the 400 Free relay in which Sean Dolder, Wyatt Helms, Connor Shaw and Bryce Helms took sixth place and earned the team 38 points.
Westonka wants to congratulate its Orono teammates for taking first place at True Team Sections, punching their ticket to True Team State! Next up for the White Hawks is a home meet versus Bloomington Jefferson on Thursday, Jan. 18.
