The Minnewaska-Morris Gators’ swimming and diving team won three of 11 titles during a 110-71 home loss at to Melrose last Tuesday night at Minnewaska Area High School for Parents’ Night.

The Gators, who fell to 2-2 in dual meets with the loss, were also set to swim at the West Fargo Invitational, Saturday, but results from that competition will be highlighted next week.

Winning titles at Melrose were Clare Barnstuble in the diving competition, Makena Thoen in the 100 breaststroke and the 400 freestyle relay team of Becca Femrite, Melena Longtin, Serena Mellgren and McKenzie Luetmer.

“It was another great meet,” coach Sam Oellien said.  “Melrose is a tough team with a lot of fast swimmers.”

This week, the Gators were set to compete at Sauk Centre, Tuesday (tomorrow) before getting ready for the final two home meets at Minnewaska Area, Oct. 4 and Oct. 6.

Melrose 110, Gators 71

Melrose Area won eight of the 11 titles to beat the Gators at home last Tuesday, 110-71.  The Gators had three individual titles and five runner-up finishes.

Clare Barnstuble continued her strong fall of diving with a title in the diving portion of the meet with a 189.3 total and Ella Roering was fourth with 160.55 points.

Makena Thoen earned first in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.81), while Gabby Schneider was second (1:30.07) and Leslie Murken third (1:32.18) for  13 of the Gators’ 71 total points.

The other first for the Gators came in the 400 freestyle relay where Becca Femrite, Melena Longtin, Serena Mellgren and McKenzie Luetmer placed first with a time of 4:08.59, and the team of Avery Svec, Isabel Guerra, Sarah Dougherty and Soffia Stadtherr was second in 4:41.82 for 12 more points.

The Gators also picked up second-place points by Luetmer in the 200 individual medley (2:37.45) and Femrite in the 100 backstroke (1:11.42), and added thirds by Femrite in the 200 freestyle (2:19.04), Svec in the 50 freestyle (29.31), Melena Longtin in the 100 freestyle (1:01.4) and the 200 medley relay team of Femrite, Thoen, Mesa Kittelson and Melena Longtin (2:11.92).

“Mckenzie Luetmer was able to get second in the 200 IM, her first time swimming it this year, and Clare Barnstuble won first again with a score of 189.3,” coach Oellien said.  “In addition, Soffia Stadtherr swam the 500 for the first time, placing fourth, Becca Femrite place second in the 100 backstroke, Avery Svec swam the 500 free and placed third, the 200 freestyle relay placed second with a time of 1:52.61 and the 400 freestyle relay was first in 4:08.59.”

•  In the JV competition, also won by Melrose by a 109-50 score, Miranda Longtin won the 50-yard freestyle race in a time of 31.13 for six points; Phemie Oeltjen was first (1:39.21), Yavonne Vanhorn was second (1:42.68) and Miranda Longtin was third (1:44.1) in the 100 breaststroke for another 13 points; and the Gators also had the top two place finishers in the 400 yard freestyle relay for 12 additional points as the team of Vanhorn, Berdine Kleindl, Sophie Recker and Violet Frank was first in 6:11.58 and the team of Akayla Werk, Jenna Detko, Aranza Guerrero Lara and Allie Staples was second with a time of 6:18.36.

Melrose 110, at Gators 71

Results (top 4 for Gators):

200 medley relay:  (3) Gators #1 (Becca Femrite, Makena Thoen, Mesa Kittelson, Melena Longtin) 2:11.92

200 freestyle:  (3) Femrite 2:19.04

200 individual medley:  (2) McKenzie Luetmer 2:37.45  (4) Soffia Stadtherr 2:42.75

50 freestyle:  (3) Avery Svec 29.31

Diving:  (1) Clare Barnstuble 189.3  (4) Ella Roering 160.55

100 butterfly:  (3) Serena Mellgren 1:16.61  (4) Kittelson 1:17.01

100 freestyle:  (3) Melena Longtin 1:01.4

500 freestyle:  (4) Soffia Stadtherr 6:31.82

200 freestyle relay:  (2) Gators #1 (Makena Thoen, Melena Longtin, Serena Mellgren, McKenzie Luetmer) 1:52.61  (4) Gators #2 (Avery Svec, Miranda Longtin, Leslie Murken, Lyla Stadtherr) 2:02.31

100 backstroke:  (2) Femrite 1:11.42

100 breaststroke:  (1) Makena Thoen 1:22.81  (2) Gabby Schneider 1:30.07  (3) Leslie Murken 1:32.18

400 freestyle relay:  (1) Gators #1 (Femrite, Melena Longtin, S. Mellgren, Luetmer) 4:08.59  (2) Gators #2 (Svec, Isabel Guerra, Sarah Dougherty, Soffia Stadtherr) 4:41.82