Led by McKenzie Luetmer’s two individual titles and a championship by Clare Barnstuble in diving, the Minnewaska-Morris Gators swimming and diving team placed third at the WCC Swimming and Diving Meet at UM-Morris, Friday.

Melrose Area, which recently won the Section 6A True-Team Meet, also won the WCC title with 668 points, followed by Sauk Centre in second (531.5), the Gators in third (382), Holdingford in fourth (316.5) and Montevideo in fifth (295).

During the regular-season, the Gators beat Montevideo twice and Holdingford once, while also losing to Melrose and Sauk Centre.

Luetmer won the 50 and 100 freestyle races and Barnstuble totaled 353.05 points to win diving, while Becca Femrite was second in the 200 freestyle and two relay teams also placed third for the Gators.

“It was a great night for the Gators,” coach Sam Oellien said.  “We started the day off with Clare Barnstuble winning first in diving, while also earning All-Conference and breaking her school record again for 11 dives, and the swimmers continued the great showing later with three more All-Conference selections by Becca Femrite and McKenzie Luetmer.  Overall, it was a great day.”

Minnewaska-Morris now gets set for the Section 6A Swimming and Diving Meet, set for Nov. 10-12.

WCC Swim Meet

Melrose won six titles and Sauk Centre and Minnewaska-Morris both had three during the WCC Meet at UM-Morris, Friday.  The diving portion of the meet started at 3 p.m. and the swimmers took to the pool at 6 p.m.

Hallie Drossel won the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke for Melrose, while Stella Schirmers won the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly for Sauk Centre.

Also winning two titles was McKenzie Luetmer for the Gators.  Luetmer swam to a time of 25.55 to win the 50 freestyle and also won the 100 freestyle in 56.27.

Adding a third title for the Gators was Clare Barnstuble, who earned 353.05 points to win diving by 13 points over a diver from Melrose.  Ella Roering was fourth in diving with 310.45 points and Makarian Schott was ninth with 235.55 points.

“It was a great day for the divers,” coach Oellien said.  “They started the day off great for us.”

Becca Femrite added a second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:08.99, while the 200 freestyle relay team of Isabel Guerra, Melena Longtin, Serena Mellgren and Luetmer was third in 1:48.89, and the 400 freestyle relay team of Femrite, Longtin, Mellgren and Luetmer was also third with a time of 3:57.6.

“Becca placed second in the 200 freestyle to earn All-Conference and McKenzie also earned All-Conference with first place finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyle events,” coach Oellien said.  “There were a lot of good swims and a lot of personal bests.  Now, we’re excited to prepare for the section meet.” 

Coming through with fifths for the Gators were Lyla Stadtherr in the 200 individual medley (2:36.67) and 100 breaststroke (1:18.79), while placing sixth were Melena Longtin in the 200 individual medley (2:40.18), Femrite in the 100 backstroke (1:10.79) and the 200 medley relay team of Femrite, Lyla Stadtherr, Soffia Stadtherr and Avery Svec.

In addition, the Gators also had several seventh-place finishes as Mellgren was seventh in the 50 freestyle (27.89), Melena Longtin was seventh in the 100 freestyle (1:00.52), Soffia Stadtherr was seventh in the 100 backstroke (1:13.08) and the 400 freestyle relay team of Avery Svec, Sage Barnstuble, Lyla Stadtherr and Soffia Stadtherr was also seventh with a time of 4:25.61.

at WCC Meet

Team scoring:

(1) Melrose 668  (2) Sauk Centre 531.5  (3) Minnewaska-Morris 382  (4) Holdingford 316.5  (5) Montevideo 295

Individual results (First place and top 15 for Gators:

200 medley relay:  (1) Sauk Centre 1:56.7  (6) Gators #1 (Becca Femrite, Lyla Stadtherr, Soffia Stadtherr, Avery Svec) 2:10.72  (10) Gators #2 (Miranda Longtin, Leslie Murken, Mesa Kittelson, Isabel Guerra) 2:23.58

200 freestyle:  (1) Paige Gruber, Melrose 2:07.94  (2) Femrite, Gators 2:08.99  (10) Kittelson, Gators 2:23.84  (15) Sage Barnstuble, Gators 2:27.55

200 individual medley:  (1) Hallie Drossel, Mel 2:14.81  (5) L. Stadtherr 2:36.67  (6) Melena Longtin, Gators 2:40.18

50 freestyle:  (1) McKenzie Luetmer, Gators 25.55  (7) Serena Mellgren, Gators 27.89  (14) Avery Svec, Gators 29.14  (15) Isabel Guerra, Gators 29.18

Diving:  (1) Clare Barnstuble, Gators 353.05  (4) Ella Roering, Gators 310.45  (9) Makarian Schott, Gators 235.55

100 butterfly:  (1) Stella Schirmers, SC 1:03.06  (9) Kittelson, Gators 1:13.7

100 freestyle:  (1) Luetmer, Gators 56.27  (7) Melena Longtin, Gators 1:00.52

500 freestyle:  (1) Jaiden Smith, Mel 5:49.19  (9) Soffia Stadtherr, Gators 6:21.88  (14) Miranda Longtin, Gators 6:45.79

200 freestyle relay:  (1) Melrose 1:46.36  (3) Gators #1 (Guerra, Melena Longtin, Mellgren, Luetmer) 1:48.89  (9) Gators #2 (Jilian Schott, Leslie Murken, S. Barnstuble, Kittelson) 2:04.21

100 backstroke:  (1) Stella Schirmers, SC 1:03.52  (6) Femrite, Gators 1:10.79  (7) S. Stadtherr, Gators 1:13.08  (13) Svec, Gators 1:21.49

100 breaststroke:  (1) Hallie Drossel, Mel 1:08.03  (5) L. Stadtherr, Gators 1:18.79  (14) Murken, Gators 1:26.94

400 freestyle relay:  (1) Melrose 3:55.24  (3) Gators #1 (Femrite, Melena Longtin, Mellgren, Luetmer) 3:57.6  (7) Gators #2 (Svec, S. Barnstuble, L. Stadtherr, S. Stadtherr) 4:25.61