The Gators’ swim team placed first and second in the final event of the night to edge Litchfield in the home opener last Tuesday, 91-89.

The Lakers won five of the 12 events, but none was more important than the final victory in the 400 yard freestyle relay.

The Gators, who were also set to host Montevideo last Thursday in Morris, have just one meet scheduled this week at Albany, Tuesday, Sept. 6.

“It was an amazing night for the Gators!”, coach Sam Oellien said.  “All of our 7th graders made their swimming debuts and rocked it. We made some changes from Willmar in our A relays and I was very impressed with them as well as seeing others step up hoping to get into them. 

“We also had a couple new divers get on the board tonight which is always nice to see, and our veteran divers, Clare Barnstuble and Ella Roering, both improved their scores from the Willmar Invite.  Overall, we were very pleased with the victory.”

at Litchfield Meet

The Gators placed first and second in the final relay for 12 points to give them the 91-89 victory over Litchfield in the home opener at Minnewaska Area High School last Tuesday.

Avery Svec, Serena Mellgren, Melena Longtin and McKenzie Luetmer placed first in the 400 relay with a time of 4:10.71 and the Gators’ second team of Becca Femrite, Mesa Kittelson, Sage Barnstuble and Melena Longtin was second with a time of 4:44.06.

Luetmer also won the 200 freestyle in 2:13.14 and 100 backstroke in 1:11.71, while Clare Barnstuble (184.05 points) and Ella Roering (152.4) were first and second in the diving portion of the meet.

Also winning a title at the meet was the 200 freestyle relay team of Svec, Mellgren, Longtin and Luetmer, which was timed in 1:50.44.

“We had another handful of swimmers make section cuts, including Becca Femrite in the 200 and 100 Free and the 100 Back;  Mesa Kittelson in the 100 Fly; Soffia Stadtherr in the 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke; Mckenzie Luetmer in the 100 Backstroke; and Makena Thoen in the 100 Breaststroke,” coach Oellien said.  “The meet scores were pretty even throughout the meet, but we were able to pull it out because of our second and third place finishes in the 100 breaststroke followed by a first and second place finish in the 400 freestyle relay.  What a way to finish!”.

Gators 91, at Litchfield 89

Individual results (top 4 for Gators):

200 medley relay:  (2) Gators (Becca Femrite, Makena Thoen, Mesa Kittelson, Melena Longtin) 2:11.94  (4) Gators II (Sage Barnstuble, Leslie Murken, Serena Mellgren, Avery Svec) 2:22

200 freestyle:  (1) McKenzie Luetmer 2:13.14  (2) Femrite 2:23.04

200 individual medley:  (2) Soffia Stadtherr 2:40.46  (4) Thoen 2:51.83

50 freestyle:  (3) Mellgren 28.07  (4) Longtin 28.13

Diving:  (1) Clare Barnstuble 184.05  (2) Ella Roering 152.4

100 butterfly:  (2) Kittelson 1:15.45  (4) Lyla Stadtherr 1:27.05

100 freestyle:  (3) S. Barnstuble 1:09.51  (4) Sarah Dougherty 1:14.05

500 freestyle:  (3) Miranda Longtin 7:21.26

200 freestyle relay:  (1) Gators (Avery Svec, Serena Mellgren, Melena Longtin, McKenzie Luetmer) 1:50.44  (4) Gators II (Mesa Kittelson, Lyla Stadtherr, Leslie Murken, Soffia Stadtherr) 2:02.17

100 backstroke:  (1) Luetmer 1:11.71  (3) Femrite 1:14.59

100 breaststroke:  (2) Thoen 1:21.19  (3) Soffia Stadtherr 1:22.94

400 freestyle relay:  (1) Gators (Svec, Mellgren, Longtin, Luetmer) 4:10.71  (2) Gators II (Femrite, Kittelson, S. Barnstuble, Longtin) 4:44.06