The Minnewaska Area-Morris Area Gators swimming and diving team opened up the season with a fifth-place finish at the Willmar Invitational, Friday.  Melrose won the meet, while St. Cloud Tech was second.

The Gators are coached  again this season by Sam Oellien, who is assisted by Kathy Walker (diving coach), Shannon Dougherty, Summer Rydell and Ruth Hovel.

The Gators are set to compete at Litchfield, Tuesday (tomorrow) and host Montevideo at the UM-Morris pool, Thursday.

Oellien is excited about this year’s team despite the loss of eight seniors from last year’s team, including state entrant McKenzie Luetmer.  “We are expecting to see some great swims and dives right away this year. We lost eight seniors last year (seven swimmers and one diver), but we have swimmers ready to step up and fill these spots and we have a couple new divers this year that are off to a wonderful start.”

This year’s Gators’ roster include:  from Minnewaska Area — seniors Soffia Stadtherr, Katie Koenig and Grace Zenk; juniors Melena Longtin, Rebecca Femrite and Reese Randleman; sophomores Lyla Stadtherr, Sophie Recker, Ella Roering, Phemie Oeltjen and Mesa Kittelson; ninth-graders Maria Heidelberger, Tommi Jo Devick, Abbigail Peterson and Ella Aaberg; eighth-graders Ella Larson, Mari Jordahl, Addisen Johnson, Sadie Danielson, Hayden Fadness and Raelyn Williams; and seventh-graders Kyla Butler, Emily Nelson, Tenley Steinhofer and Claire Zenk; and from Morris Area-CA — seniors Sage Barnstuble, Kaia Anderson, Chaeli Zahl and Gabby Schneider; juniors Amy Varga, Cora Garland, Vylet Frank, Lorin Wilts, Sarah Dougherty and Isabel Guerra; sophomores Jillian Schott, Allie Staples and Clare Barnstuble; ninth-graders Berdine Kleindl, Isabelle Emmert and Kendra Steffen; eighth-graders Marissa DeVries, Akayla Werk, Alejandra Garcia Bernabe, Aranza Guerrero Lara, Azul Villagomez Martinez, Yavonne VanHorn, Shelby Hoberg and Anna Demetriou; and seventh-graders Cierra Stefanek, Sydney Gibson, Lizeth Vazquez Carmona and Adelyn Ferrian.

“Swimming and diving is a unique sport that allows us to have both individual goals and team goals,” coach Oellien said.  “We are looking forward to our new section and hoping we can see some top placings and perhaps some state trips, but ultimately the Gators all have wonderful goals set for themselves and the team to work towards this year.”

The Gators are set to compete in Section 8A this year after competing in Section 6A for many years.  Section 8A includes Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Fosston-Bagley-Crookston, Park Rapids Area, Perham-NYM, Thief River Falls and Warroad-BHMR-Roseau.

“We have seven seniors (Gabby Schneider, Sage Barnstuble, Kaia Anderson, Chaeli Zahl, Soffia Stadtherr, Katie Koenig and newcomer Grace Zenk) this year and I look forward to watching them lead the team as well as making improvements in the pool,” coach Oellien said.  “I also look forward to seeing Clare Barnstuble and Ella Roering on the diving board; they both had amazing seasons last year. 

“As for swimmers, there are so many that I am excited to see swim this year, but Becca Femrite and Isabel Guerra are looking strong and determined. A lot of the Gators have put in tremendous work this summer and I think it will show early this season.”

Willmar Invitational

The Gators finished fifth at the Willmar Invitational, which included the very strong swimming programs from Melrose and St. Cloud Tech.

Clare Barnstuble had the top finish for the Gators, placing second in diving, while Melena Longtin placed third in the 50 freestyle (26.1) and was also fourth in the 100 freestyle (59.7), Lyla Stadtherr was fifth in the 50 freestyle (26.61), Ella Roering was sixth in diving, Mesa Kittelson was ninth in the 100 butterfly (1:13.36), and three relay teams also placed among the top 10.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Sage Barnstuble, Soffia and Lyla Stadtherr, and Longtin was fifth in 1:53.14, while the 400 freestyle team of Isabel Guerra, Sage Barnstuble, Soffia Stadtherr and Longtin was sixth in 4:20.63, and the 200 medley relay team of Soffia and Lyla Stadtherr, Kittelson and Guerra placed eighth with a time of 2:11.76.

“What an amazing first meet; the divers especially started out strong,” coach Oellien said.  “Clare and Ella placed second and sixth in diving, making section cuts already, while the swimmers kept the energy going with all three relays team placing high and Melena Longtin earning two finishes in the top four.

“Lots of great swims all over; picking up right where we left off last season.”

at Willmar Invitational

Team scoring:

(1) Melrose 662.5 … (2) St. Cloud Tech 539 … (3) Sauk Centre 402 … (4) Willmar 364.5 … (5) Morris/Minnewaska Gators 183 … (6) Montevideo 174  

Individual results (First place and top Gator finishers):

200 medley relay:  (1) Melrose 1:55.04 . . . (8) Minnewaska-Morris #1 (Soffia Stadtherr, Lyla Stadtherr, Mesa Kittelson, Isabel Guerra) 2:11.76  

200 freestyle:  (1) Maggie Cole, SCT 2:05.03 . . .  (13) Mesa Kittelson, Gators 2:28.99  (15) Sage Barnstuble, Gators 2:30.63  (22) Tommie Devick, Gators 2:59.15

200 individual medley:  (1) Hallie Drossel, Mel 2:16.53 . . . (16) Sydney Gibson, Gators 3:11.25

50 freestyle:  (1) Aubrey Schlueter, Will 25.46 . . . (3) Melena Longtin, Gators 26.1  (5) Lyla Stadtherr, Gators 26.61  (16) Isabel Guerra, Gators 29.57

Diving:  (1) Kendall Dvorak, SCT 19.15  (2) Clare Barnstuble, Gators 186.5  (6) Ella Roering, Gators 164.5

100 butterfly:  (1) Kierstyn Nelson, SCT 1:01.29 . . . (9) Mesa Kittelson, Gators 1:13.36  (18) Sarah Dougherty, Gators 1:35.78

100 freestyle:  (1) Katelyn Siers, SCT 57.48 . . . (4) Melena Longtin, Gators 59.7  (14) Sage Barnstuble, Gators 1:06.6  (20) Abbigail Peterson, Gators 1:20.35  (22) Katie Koenig, Gators 1:50.38

500 freestyle:  (1) Maren Nelson, SCT 5:48.78 . . . (14) Jilian Schott, Gators 7:24.17  (16) Ella Larson, Gators 7:31.65  (17) Tommie Devick, Gators 8:10.29

200 freestyle relay:  (1) Melrose 1:45.88 . . . (5) Minnewaska-Morris (Sage Barnstuble, Soffia Stadtherr, Lyla Stadtherr, Melena Longtin) 1:53.14  (15) Gators #2 (Sydney Gibson, Sarah Dougherty, Isabel Guerra, Mesa Kittelson) 2:09.35

100 backstroke:  (1) tie, Maggie Cole, SCT and Katelyn Siers, SCT, both 1:04.32 . . . (19) Sophie Recker, Gators 1:31.33  (20) Kaia Anderson, Gators 1:32.06  (21) Maria Heidelberger, Gators 1:33.77  (23) Vylet Frank, Gators 1:44.66

100 breaststroke:  (1) Hallie Drossel, Mel 1:08.08 . . . (18) Phemie Oeltjen, Gators 1:33.54  (19) Sydney Gibson, Gators 1:38.6

400 freestyle relay:  (1) SCT 3:51.16 . . . (6) Minnewaska-Morris (Isabel Guerra, Sage Barnstuble, Soffia Stadtherr, Melena Longtin) 4:20.63  (18) Gators #2 (Vylet Frank, Phemie Oeltjen, Sarah Dougherty, Jilian Schott) 5:12.68