The Minnewaska Area/Morris Area Gators swimming and diving team held its season-ending banquet recently.  The Gators had another great season in 2024, sending six athletes to the state meet while also breaking a number of school records.

The 200 medley relay team of Lyla Stadtherr, Melena Longtin, Becca Femrite and Mesa Kittelson qualified to the state meet this season, while Stadtherr also qualified to state in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke events, Longtin also qualified in the 100 freestyle, and divers Ella Roering and Clare Barnstuble earned state berths in diving.

Stadtherr went on to place 10th overall in the 100 breaststroke, the 200 medley relay team of Stadtherr, Femrite, Kittelson and Longtin placed 13th, Longtin was 21st in the 100 freestyle and Stadtherr was also 18th in the 50 freestyle.

The 200 medley relay team set a new school record time of 1:53.77 at the state meet, breaking the old record of 1:54.27 it set at the section meet, while Stadtherr also lowered her school record in the breaststroke.  Her old record was 1:09.19 set at the section meet and she swam to a time of 1:08.98 in the prelims at state before swimming a time of 1:08.64 in the finals.

The divers also set a number of records as Ella Roering broke both the 6-dive and 11-dive records this season for Minnewaska, while Clare Barnstuble broke the 6-dive and 11-dive records for Morris Area.

A recap and awards

The Gators went 6-2 overall in dual meets this year.  The Gators also placed fifth at the true-team meet and third at the WCC Meet before placing fifth at the Section 8A competition.

Melena Longtin was recognized for earning the “Highest Point Scorer” for the second year in a row, while winning “Golden Guppy” Awards were Ivy Christians from Morris Area, Olivia Erickson from Minnewaska Area and Xareni Cano Nieto from the divers.

Winning the Gator Award (for athletes who show great team spirit, works hard, reaches out to all ages and cheers and support teammates) were Vylet Frank (Morris Area) and Becca Femrite (MAHS).

Earning the Most Improved Swimmer Award for the Gators this season were Ale Vazquez Carmona (varsity, Morris Area), Addison Johnson (varsity, MAHS), Dorothy Redden (JV, Morris Area) and Lilie Tonak (JV, MAHS), while winning the Most Improved Diver honor was Yavonne VanHorn.

Winning the Hardest Worker Swimmer Awards were Aranza Guerrero Lara (varsity, Morris Area) and Phemie Oeltjen (varsity, MAHS), and earning the “Smackers” Award for diving were Adelyn Ferrian, Clare Barnstuble, Ella Roering and Yavonne VanHorn.

•  In addition, the Gators earned a MSHSL Academic Silver Award with a g.p.a. of 3.73 and three members of the team earned MSHSCA Academic Awards (seniors with a 3.75 or higher g.p.a.) — Sarah Dougherty, Melena Longtin and Becca Femrite.

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