The Westonka-Holy Family (WHF) Girls Swim & Dive team had an impressive showing in front of their home crowd, defeating Watertown-Mayer in dual-meet action.
The 200-yard medley relay team of Izzy Starr, Rachel Betts, Mia Dongoske, and Claire Patterson captured first place to set the tone for the evening. Later, the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Laney Hendrickson, Angela Navidad, Callie Gadtke, and Bridget Treacy added another victory to keep momentum strong.
Individual races showcased the team’s depth and talent. Junior Rachel Betts turned in a dominant performance, taking first place in both the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. Junior Laney Hendrickson secured first in the 200-yard individual medley, while senior and captain Izzy Starr sprinted to the wall first in the 50-yard freestyle.
On the boards, diving captain Erica Johnson captured first place, while sophomore Ashlynn Koehler followed with a strong second-place finish. Together, the divers added critical points to round out WHF’s well-balanced win.
The victory reflects the team’s growing strength early in the season and sets a confident tone heading into their upcoming meets, where WHF will look to continue building momentum and showcasing both leadership and depth across the roster.
Westonka-Holy Family Girls Swim & Dive Falls to Orono
The Westonka-Holy Family (WHF) Girls Swim & Dive team faced their first setback of the season on Tuesday night, finishing second to a strong Orono Girls Swim & Dive squad.
WHF put up a fight in the relays, with the 200-yard freestyle team of M. Dongoske, R. Betts, J. Juras, and L. Hendrickson narrowly took second place in one of the evening’s closest races. The team finished the meet on a high note when B. Treacy, I. Starr, R. Betts, and L. Hendrickson captured first place in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
In diving, Bailey Monette and captain Erica Johnson delivered a strong one-two finish, securing first and second place for varsity. The swimming lineup also saw standout performances, as junior Rachel Betts raced to victory in both the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke.
Although the overall score favored Orono, WHF showed grit and depth across events. The meet provided valuable competition against a tough opponent and highlighted the team’s ability to rally in big moments. The girls will look to bounce back in their next contest, building on these performances as they continue through the season.
Westonka-Holy Family Girls Swim & Dive Defeats Litchfield at Home
WHF bounced back in front of their home crowd Thursday night, earning a decisive win over Litchfield Swim & Dive.
The meet opened with momentum as the 200-yard medley relay team of M. Dongoske, K. Quandt, L. Hendrickson, and C. Gadtke captured first place. Freshman Bridget Treacy added to the point total with a strong swim to win the 200-yard freestyle, while senior captain Kayla Quandt followed with a victory in the 200-yard individual medley.
WHF continued its dominance in the middle events. Junior Jaylen Juras secured first in the 100-yard butterfly, freshman Anastasia Venikova sprinted to a win in the 100-yard freestyle, and sophomore Ava Dominguez claimed the 500-yard freestyle with a steady performance.
The night also featured a historic moment on the boards, as captain Erica Johnson set a new Westonka diving record with a score of 251.10. It was an impressive performance for the senior, and her record-breaking dive added to the excitement of the evening.
The meet closed on a high note when all of WHF’s 400-yard freestyle relay teams broke the four-minute mark, a challenge set by the coaching staff. The accomplishment was met with cheers and the reward of no practice on Friday evening giving the girls even more reason to celebrate the victory.
The win not only marked a strong rebound after Tuesday’s loss to Orono, but also highlighted the balance of veteran leadership and emerging talent on the roster. WHF now turns its focus to the next stretch of competition, looking to carry this momentum forward through the season.
