Sports
Visitation Falls Short At True Team State Swimming
Hutchinson passed the Blazers in the final two events of the night
The Visitation girls swimming and diving team battled all night for its first Class A True Team state title since 2007. In the end, Hutchinson was too much.
The Blazers led for much of Thursday’s meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, but by the night’s end Hutchinson’s relays and diving were too potent. The Tigers won the meet with 2,073.5 points, besting Visitation’s 2,004.5 mark.
“We expected to contend, definitely,” coach Nate Linscheid said. “We did what we could, but Hutch was just too good tonight. They moved up in a lot of events.”
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Visitation didn’t win any events on Thursday, but their eight top-5 finishes along with their depth throughout the night kept them in the lead through seven events. In the 200 freestyle relay, however, Hutchinson made its move. The Tigers overtook Visitation by eight points.
With two events remaining, Hutchinson and the Blazers were tied at 1,655 points, but knowing the Tigers had the same number of relays and one more diver than Visitation still competing, Linscheid said Hutchinson had the advantage.
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“Barring a disaster on their part, I knew they had at least one more competitor than we had,” Linscheid said. “In addition their relays swam well, too, and I think they moved up more than we did. That’s the way it goes.”
Visitation’s 200 medley relay (Caroline Gaertner, Kate Hickey, Meg Foster and Michaela O’Brien) finished third, Gaertner took third in the 100 backstroke and Megan Gaylord took second in the 100 breaststroke. Ellie Sostetler, Gaertner, Bailey Brown and Foster took third in the 400 freestyle relay.
Linscheid said Thursday’s meet was a good test run for the final stretch of the season.
“It was the first real test we had all year,” Linscheid said. “If they had any nerves today, when we get to the (Minnesota State High School League) state meet at the end of the year maybe they’ll be not as nervous.”
Check back for an updated photo gallery from Thursday’s True Team state meet.
CLASS A TRUE TEAM RESULTS
1. Hutchinson 2073.5, 2. Visitation 2004.5, 3. Monticello 1981, 4. Northfield 1586, 5. Melrose Area 1584, 6. Breck 1500, 7. Big Lake 1296.5, 8. Mankato West 1269, Blake 1168, 10. Dassel-Cokato 1126, 11. Hibbing 1036, 12. Park Rapids 995.5
