The Minnewaska Area/Morris Area Gators competed at the Section True-Team Meet at Detroit Lakes last Saturday, Oct. 15.  The Gators placed fifth of nine teams in the meet won by Park Rapids.

Earning the lone first for the Gators was the 400 freestyle relay team of Lyla Stadtherr, Becca Femrite, Soffia Stadtherr and Melena Longtin.  Longtin was also second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 50 freestyle.

“This was a great meet for the Gators.  Going into the meet, we were interested in seeing our new section and where we would place with them,” coach Sam Oellien said.  “I am extremely proud of the Gators and am excited to see what we can do at sections.”

The Gators, who are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference, did not have any meets last week as they prepare for the WCC Meet at Montevideo, set for Friday, Oct. 27.

Also coming up is the Section 8A Swimming and Diving Meet, set for Nov. 10-11 at Detroit Lakes.

Section True-Team Meet

Park Rapids Area placed first with 1641 points and Fergus Falls was second with 1515 during the 9-team Section True-Team Meet, Saturday, Oct. 15 at Detroit Lakes.

The Gators, who were fifth with 1103 points, had one victory, one second and three thirds during the competition.

“The Gators had a wonderful weekend at the true-team meet,” coach Oellien said.  “Coming in fifth place against our new section teams, we were happy with our finish and we saw a lot of amazing swims and dives.”

In the final race of the night, the Gators won the 400 yard freestyle relay by .05 with a time of 3:54.15.  Racing for the Gators were Lyla Stadtherr, Becca Femrite, Soffia Stadtherr and Melena Longtin.

“The Gators finished the meet with an amazing first-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay,” coach Oellien said.  “Lyla, Soffia, Becca and Melena were able to drop 10.26 seconds from their entry time and swim a 3:54.15.  The B relay team of Berdine Kleindl, Ella Larson, Isabel Guerra and Sage Barnstuble also placed 12th.”

Earning seconds for the Gators was Melena Longtin in the 100 freestyle (56.55), while placing third were Longtin in the 50 freestyle (25.73), Lyla Stadtherr in the 100 breaststroke (1:16.36) and the 200 freestyle relay team of Lyla Stadtherr, Isabel Guerra, Becca Femrite and Longtin (1:48.46).

The Gators also picked up major points with a fourth by Femrite in the 200 freestyle (2:10.13), fifths by Lyla Stadtherr in the 50 freestyle (26.55), Femrite in the 500 freestyle (6:05.71) and Ella Roering in the diving competition (275.6 points), while Soffia Stadtherr added a sixth in the 100 backstroke (1:08.65) and Mesa Kittelson was seventh in the 100 butterfly (1:09.38).

“We had a few swimmers that didn’t feel the greatest, but they still stepped up and performed,” coach Oellien said.  “I am happy to see them dropping a little time here and there or maintaining their times.  Before we taper we love to see them get to a time and maintain.”

at Section True-Team Meet

Team scoring:  (1) Park Rapids 1641  (2) Fergus Falls 1515  (3) Alexandria 1306.5  (4) Detroit Lakes 1256  (5) Minnewaska/Morris Gators 1103  (6) Perham-NYM 904  (7) Thief River Falls 895.5  (8) Fosston-Bagley-Crookston 481  (9) Warroad-Roseau-Greenbush 466

Individual results (winner and top-15 Gators):

200 medley relay:  (1) Alexandria 1:59.86  (9) Gators #1 (Soffia Stadtherr, Gabby Schneider, Mesa Kittelson, Isabel Guerra) 2:09.15

200 freestyle:  (1) VerSteeg, FF 2:04.28  (4) Becca Femrite, Gators 2:10.13  (14) Sage Barnstuble, Gators 2:22

200 individual medley:  (1) Haskemp, Alex 2:17.53  (15) Mesa Kittelson, Gators 2:45.46  

50 freestyle:  (1) Ziemke, P/NYM 25.6  (3) Melena Longtin, Gators 25.73  (5) Lyla Stadtherr, Gators 26.55

Diving:  (1) Johnson, Alex 392.25  (5) Ella Roering, Gators 275.6 

100 butterfly:  (1) Friborg, Fosston 1:02.5  (7) Kittelson, Gators 1:09.38

100 freestyle:  (1) Schueller, PR 56.15  (2) Longtin, Gators 56.55  

500 freestyle:  (1) VerSteeg, FF 5:38.44  (5) Femrite, Gators 6:05.71

200 freestyle relay:  (1) Fergus Falls 1:45.03  (3) Gators #1 (Lyla Stadtherr, Isabel Guerra, Becca Femrite, Melena Longtin) 1:48.46  (15) Gators #2 (Kittelson, Sadie Daniels, Sarah Dougherty, S. Barnstuble) 2:02.58

100 backstroke:  (1) Urke, Alex 1:03.67  (6) S. Stadtherr, Gators 1:08.65  

100 breaststroke:  (1) Peterson, FF 1:15.72  (3) L. Stadtherr, Gators 1:16.36

400 freestyle relay:  (1) Gators #1 (L. Stadtherr, S. Stadtherr, Femrite, Longtin) 3:54.15  (12) Gators #2 (Berdine Kleindl, Ella Larson, Guerra, S. Barnstuble) 4:30.75