The Minnewaska-Morris swimming and diving team opened up the season at the Willmar Invitational, Friday, Aug. 23, placing fifth among six top area teams.

Leading the way for the Gators were Melena Longtin, Lyla Stadtherr, Becca Femrite, Ella Roering, Isabel Guerra, Sydney Gibson and Mesa Kittelson.

The Gators had a great season in 2023, finishing 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference.  Highlighting last season were state berths by Lyla Stadtherr in the 100 breaststroke and by the 400 yard freestyle relay team of Lyla Stadtherr, Melena Longtin, Becca Femrite and Soffia Stadtherr.

The opening home meet for the Gators is set for Tuesday, Sept. 10 at UM-Morris followed by the first meet at the Minnewaska Area pool, Tuesday, Sept. 17 against Montevideo.

Back to lead the team this year is head coach Sam Oellien, who will be in her third year as head coach of the Gators.  Helping out Oellien this year on the coaching staff are Kathy Walker (diving coach), Summer Rydell and Morgan Ball.

“The Gators did a fantastic job at Willmar tonight, taking fifth place overall just behind fourth-place Willmar and third-place Sauk Centre,” coach Oellien said.

Seniors lost to graduation from last year’s team were Soffia Stadtherr, Katie Koenig, Grace Zenk, Sage Barnstuble, Kaia Anderson, Chaeli Zahl and Gabby Schneider.

Willmar Invitational 

Melena Longtin came home with the only first place finish at the opening Willmar Invitational, Friday.  Melrose dominated the meet, winning with 713.5 points with St. Cloud Tech placing second with 418 and the Gators earning fifth with 300 points.

Longtin won the 50 freestyle race with a personal best of 25.36, while Lyla Stadtherr was third (26.72), Sydney Gibson was ninth (27.79) and Isabel Guerra placed 12th (28.36).

Stadtherr added a second in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.38), while Longtin was also third in the 100 free (57.11) and both swimmers also led the Gators to strong performances in the relays.

The team of Stadtherr, Guerra, Becca Femrite and Longtin was second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:50.02) and the same team was third in the 400 freestyle relay (4:06.68).

Femrite added a fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:11.43) and fourth in the 500 freestyle (6:06.3), while Mesa Kittelson was seventh in the 200 individual medley (2:43.52) and sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:09.3), Gibson was seventh in the 100 freestyle (1:02.4) and Ella Roering earned third in diving (176.2 points).

“Ella Roering and Adelyn Ferrian started us off strong, placing third and eighth in diving with Ella also making section cuts with a score of 176.2,” coach Oellien said.  “We tried some new strokes for some Gators in the medley relay and a lot of the younger Gators really showed off today.  

“There were so many great swims and dives today; a lot of Gators started off the year with a section cuts, personal bests or close to it.  The swimmers have been working very hard these first few weeks and the divers have been busy learning new dives. I am extremely proud of all the performances today.”

at Willmar Invitational

Team scoring:  (1) Melrose 713.5  (2) St. Cloud Tech 418  (3) Sauk Centre 368  (4) Willmar 302  (5) Morris Area-Minnewaska Area Gators 300  (6) Montevideo 223.5

Individual winners (and top-12 Gators):

200 medley relay:  (1) SC Tech 1:58.3 . . . (12) Gators (Jillian Schott, Phemie Oeltjen, Mesa Kittelson, Vylet Frank) 2:19

200 freestyle:  (1) Reed, Melrose 2:04.77 . . . (4) Becca Femrite, Gators 2:11.43

200 individual medley:  (1) Bromenshenkel, SC 2:28.06 . . . (7) Kittelson, Gators 2:43.52

50 freestyle:  (1) Melena Longtin, Gators 25.36  (3) Lyla Stadtherr, Gators 26.72  (9) Sydney Gibson, Gators 27.79  (12) Isabel Guerra, Gators 28.36

Diving:  (1) Dovorak, SC Tech 188.1  (3) Ella Roering, Gators 176.2  (8) Adelyn Ferrian, Gators 127.35

100 butterfly:  (1) Kraemer, Melrose 1:05.05 . . . (6) Kittelson, Gators 1:09.3

100 freestyle:  (1) Gustin, SC Tech 56.17  (3) Longtin, Gators 57.11  (7) Gibson, Gators 1:02.4

500 freestyle:  (1) Reed, Melrose 5:44.63  (4) Femrite, Gators 6:06.3  

200 freestyle relay:  (1) Sauk Centre 1:47.45  (2) Gators (Stadtherr, Guerra, Femrite, Longtin) 1:50.02  (8) Gators #2 (Kittelson, Schott, Gibson, Lixeth Vazquez Carmona) 1:59

100 backstroke:  (1) Cole, SC Tech 1:03.34 

100 breaststroke:  (1) Gustin, SC Tech 1:11.55  (2) Stadtherr, Gators 1:14.38

400 freestyle relay:  (1) SC Tech 3:54.59  (3) Gators (Stadtherr, Guerra, Femrite, Longtin) 4:06.68  (12) Gators #2 (Frank, Abbigail Peterson, Schott, Gibson) 4:46.77