Melena Longtin, Ella Roering and Mesa Kittelson all placed first for the Minnewaska-Morris Gators during a dual meet at Litchfield last Tuesday, but it still wasn’t enough as the host Dragons edged the Gators 55-43.

The Gators, coached  again this season by Sam Oellien, who is assisted by Kathy Walker (diving coach), Shannon Dougherty, Summer Rydell and Ruth Hovel, were also set to host Montevideo at the UM-Morris pool, Thursday, but results of that competition were not in time for the early Labor Day deadline.

Coming up this week is another home meet, Tuesday (tomorrow) at the Minnewaska Area High School pool against Albany.

This year’s Gators’ roster includes:  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 Jilian 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.

Willmar Invitational

The Gators earned four firsts in the 12 varsity competitions and all three relay teams placed second.

Melena Longtin had two firsts for the Gators, winning the 50 freestyle (26.57) and 100 freestyle (58.66) events.  Ella Roering won the diving competition with 168.8 points, while Mesa Kittelson earned a fourth title for the Gators with a time of 1:11.7 in the 100 butterfly to place first.

Earning seconds were Becca Femrite in the 200 freestyle (2:19.06) and 100 backstroke (1:13.8), Jilian Schott in the 500 freestyle (7:20.75), Lyla Stadtherr in the 100 breaststroke (1:17.51), Soffia Stadtherr in the 200 medley (2:48.82) and the three relays.

Soffia Stadtherr, Lyla Stadtherr, Kittelson and Femrite placed second in the 200 medley (2:09.16), the team of Longtin, Femrite and Soffia and Lyla Stadtherr was also second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:48.36), and the team of Sage Barnstuble, Isabel Guerra, Soffia Stadtherr and Longtin was second in the 400 freestyle relay (4:19.9).

“There were lots of great swims and dives, especially for it being the first dual meet of the season,” coach Oellien said.  “I’m proud of the girls for their effort and performance.”

•  In the JV competition, Litchfield also won, 61-33.  Earning the lone title for the JV team were Isabelle Emmert in the 200 yard freestyle (2:42.41).

at Litchfield 55, Gators 43

Individual results:

200 medley relay:  (1) Litchfield 2:00.04  (2) Gators #1 (Soffia Stadtherr, Lyla Stadtherr, Mesa Kittelson, Becca Femrite) 2:09.16

200 freestyle:  (1) Bruning, Litchfield 2:10.65  (2) Becca Femrite, Gators 2:19.06  (3) Mesa Kittelson, Gators 2:23.67

200 individual medley:  (1) Schmidt, Litch 2:42.32  (2) Soffia Stadtherr, Gators 2:48.82  (4) Phemie Oeltjen, Gators 3:09.24

50 freestyle:  (1) Melena Longtin, Gators 26.57  (3) Lyla Stadtherr, Gators 27.11

Diving:  (1) Ella Roering, Gators 168.8

100 butterfly:  (1) Kittelson, Gators 1:11.7  (4) Sarah Dougherty, Gators 1:35.17

100 freestyle:  (1) Longtin, Gators 58.66  (4) Sage Barnstuble, Gators 1:06.22

500 freestyle:  (1) Czink, Litch 6:40.91  (2) Jilian Schott, Gators 7:20.75  (4) Ella Larson, Gators 7:29.46

200 freestyle relay:  (1) Litchfield 1:47.83  (2) Gators #1 (Femrite, S. Stadtherr, L. Stadtherr, Longtin) 1:48.36  (3) Gators #2 (S. Barnstuble, Isabel Guerra, Schott, Kittelson) 2:02.71

100 backstroke:  (1) Lundin, Litch 1:08.29  (2) Femrite, Gators 1:13.8  (4) Sophie Recker, Gators 1:34.75

100 breaststroke:  (1) Petersen, Litch 1:16.43  (2) L. Stadtherr, Gators 1:17.51  (4) Gabby Schneider, Gators 1:29.86

400 freestyle relay:  (1) Litchfield 4:12.93  (2) Gators #1 (S. Barnstuble, Guerra, S. Stadtherr, Longtin) 4:19.9  (4) Gators #2 (Isabelle Emmert, Schneider, Dougherty, Schott) 4:57.87