The Westonka boys swim team delivered an impressive performance at the Section 2A meet this past Friday, showcasing grit and determination in what is widely considered the most challenging section in class A. Despite competing against teams three times their size, the small but mighty team of just seven swimmers made their presence felt in a big way, with every athlete achieving personal best times across all races.

The meet kicked off with the two-medley relay, where the Westonka team of junior Sean Dolder (backstroke), ninth grader Brody Helms (breaststroke), junior Eren Alemdar (butterfly) and sophomore Niles Senn (freestyle) led the charge. The quartet swam their hearts out, finishing fifth in the section with a time of 1:54.72, marking a strong start to an exciting evening.

Next up, Dolder and junior Wyatt Helms took to the water for the 200-yard freestyle, where both swimmers posted personal bests. Dolder clocked in at 1:59.68, securing 13th place, while Helms finished with a time of 1:53.38, placing fourth.

The 50-yard freestyle proved to be the fastest race of the evening, and Westonka swimmers gave it their all. Ninth grader Connor Shaw sprinted to a 12th-place finish with a personal best of 24.89 seconds, while Senn also earned a personal best, touching the wall in 25.28 seconds for a 16th-place finish.

In the 100-yard butterfly, Alemdar had an outstanding swim, finishing eighth with a personal best time of 59.14 seconds, a testament to his skill and determination.

The 100-yard freestyle saw more personal records, with an impressive swim from Wyatt Helms, who finished sixth with a time of 51.90 seconds, while Shaw earned 14th with a time of 54.71 seconds.

Dolder also excelled in the grueling, highly competitive 500-yard freestyle, posting yet another personal best with a time of 5:19.91, earning him 12th place.

The Westonka boys then teamed up in the 200-yard freestyle relay, with Senn, Shaw, Brody Helms, and Wyatt Helms finishing sixth in a time of 1:40.65, bringing in yet another strong showing.

In the 100-yard backstroke, Alemdar posted another personal best, touching in 1:00.43 and securing seventh place. Brody Helms followed up with an excellent performance in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing 13th with a time of 1:12.81.

The final event of the night, the 400-yard freestyle relay, saw the Westonka A relay team of Alemdar, Shaw, Dolder and Wyatt Helms finish strong, securing sixth place with a team personal best time of 3:37.43.

At the end of the competition, the Westonka boys swim team tied with Bloomington Kennedy for fifth place in the section, an impressive finish given the size and depth of the competition.

The Westonka boys swim team would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors, whose continued support helped make this season possible. Special thanks go to the coaches, parents, and swim fans for their unwavering encouragement throughout the season. With such a stellar performance at Sections, the team is already eager to dive back in and make next season even more memorable!