The Minnewaska Area-Morris Area swimming and diving Gators picked up another win last week over Litchfield.  The Lakers won 11 of the 12 events on the way to winning the dual meet, 120-65.

Leading the way were Melena Longtin, Becca Femrite, Mesa Kittelson and Lyla Stadtherr, who combined for nine of those titles, while Jillian Schott also won the 500 freestyle and Clare Barnstuble earned first in diving.

“It  was another great night to be a Gator,” coach Sam Oellien said.  “I am so proud of the Gators! I can see the hard work they are putting in and I see the results of that hard work every meet.”

The Gators have two meets scheduled this week beginning with a home meet against Montevideo, Tuesday in the MAHS pool and continuing with the Fergus Falls Invitational, Saturday.

Gators 120, Litchfield 65 

The Gators continued their great season this fall by routing Litchfield in a dual meet last Tuesday at Litchfield. Melena Longtin, Mesa Kittelson and Becca Femrite had four firsts each for the Gators.

Longtin won the 50 free (25.55), 100 free (56.33), 200 freestyle relay (1:48.41) and 400 freestyle relay (4:04.6) with Lyla Stadtherr, Becca Femrite and Mesa Kittelson.

“Melena Longtin swam a 56.33, seeing her first 56 of the season,” coach Oellien said.  “Isabel Guerra was second, dropping her time from the last meet and only .46 away from her personal best and Sydney Gibson rounded us off placing third.”

Kittelson also won the 200 individual medley (2:40.34) and 100 butterfly (1:10.65), while Femrite also won the 100 backstroke (1:10.72) and 200 freestyle (2:09.51).

“Mesa Kittelson swam a new personal best in the 200 IM with a time of 2:40.34 and placed first,” coach Oellien highlighted.  “The Gators 50 freestylers were also on fire this evening. JV had Sadie Daniels in first and Shelby Hoberg in second, both with new personal bests, and varsity swimmers Melena Longtin, Lyla Stadtherr and Sydney Gibson took 1st, 2nd and 3rd with great swims for all of them.   All the swimmers know there is not much room for error in the 50 free and those girls show up week after week and put up good times, and score us points.

“Becca Femrite made her debut in the 100 backstroke for the season placing first with a time of 1:10.72, only .76 away from her personal best.

“Becca also blew the competition away in the 200 freestyle, finishing first with a two-second drop from last meet and only one second away from her personal best.  Isabel Guerra dropped time and is so close to the section’s qualifying time.  Vylet Frank swam the 200 last year against Litchfield with a time of 2:59.95; this year, she swam a 2:37.99 dropping 21.96 seconds; that is what hard work can get you folks.” 

The Gators also got a first by Clare Barnstuble in diving (212.95) with Ella Roering placing second (198.8) and Adelyn Ferrian third (137.7), while Jillian Schott was first in the 500 freestyle (6:59) and Stadtherr won the 100 breaststroke (1:15.81).

“The varsity divers were fantastic as usual,” coach Oellien said.  “Ella (Roering) saw a new personal best tonight by 5.25 points.

“In addition, I can honestly tell you I was not prepared for the 500 swimmers to go out and impress me the way they did. For JV, Mari DeVries came in second, dropping 12.57 seconds and getting a new personal best with a time of 7:40.91. Hayden Fadness was third with another time drop of 18.34 seconds and a time of 7:45.46. 

“Varsity swimmer Jillian Schott swam it for the first time this year dropping below the seven-minute mark with a new personal best of 6:59.00. Vylet Frank continued the time dropping with another new personal best of 7:01.01 and Abby Peterson swam the 500 for the first time ever and had a fantastic time of 7:28.04.  I am also so happy to have Gators willing to step in the 500 when needed and even asking to swim it.  The 500 can be an intimidating event but I always remind the Gators we swim a lot more than that in practice.”

•  The Gators also won the JV meet by a wide margin, 133-46.

Winning titles for the Gators were  the 200 yard medley relay of Mari Jordahl, Hayden Fadness, Tenley Steinhofer and Ivy Christians in 2:42.99, Emily Nelson in the 100 individual medley (1:25.88), Sadie Daniels in the 50 freestyle (31.06), Yavonne Vanhorn in diving (124.1 points), Tenley Steinhofer in the 50 butterfly (40.37), Aranza Guerrero Lara in the 100 freestyle (1:14.84), the 200 freestyle relay team of Kendra Steffen, Mari Jordahl, Addisen Johnson and Ivy Christians (2:20.87), Mari Jordahl in the 100 backstroke (1:34.45), Shelby Hoberg in the 100 breaststroke (1:39.45) and the 400 yard freestyle relay team of Claire Zenk, Kendra Steffen, Ivy Christians and Lilie Tonak (5:26.65).

Gators 120, at Litchfield 65

Individual results (winner and top-4 Gators):

200 medley relay:  (1) Litchfield 2:16.82  (2) Gators #1 (Jillian Schott, Phemie Oeltjen, Vylet Frank, Berdine Kleindl) 2:24.26  (4) Gators #2 (Lizeth Vazquez Carmona, Shelby Hoberg, Alejandra Garcia Bernabe, Sarah Dougherty) 2:30.53

200 freestyle:  (1) Becca Femrite, Gators 2:09.51  (2) Isabel Guerra 2:26.72

200 individual medley:  (1) Mesa Kittelson, Gators 2:40.34

50 freestyle:  (1) Melena Longtin, Gators 25.55  (2) Lyla Stadtherr 26.47  (3) Sydney Gibson 27.82

Diving:  (1) Clare Barnstuble, Gators 212.95  (2) Ella Roering 198.8  (3) Adelyn Ferrian 137.7

100 butterfly:  (1) Kittelson, Gators 1:10.65  (4) Alejandra Garcia Bernabe 1:31.42

100 freestyle:  (1) Longtin, Gators 56.33  (2) Guerra 1:03.93  (3) Gibson 1:05.23

500 freestyle:  (1) Schott, Gators 6:59  (2) Vylet Frank 7:01.01  (4) Abbigail Peterson 7:28.04

200 freestyle relay:  (1) Gators #1 (Stadtherr, Kittelson, Femrite, Longtin) 1:48.41  (2) Gators #2 (Kleindl, Carmona Vazquez, Guerra, Gibson) 2:00.2  (4) Gators #3 (Hoberg, Sadie Daniels, Dougherty, Lilie Tonak) 2:12.15

100 backstroke:  (1) Femrite, Gators 1:10.72 (4) Vazquez Carmona 1:24.71

100 breaststroke:  (1) Stadtherr, Gators 1:15.81  (3) Oeltjen 1:29.13

400 freestyle relay:  (1) Gators #1 (Kittelson, Stadtherr, Femrite, Longtin) 4:04.6  (3) Gators #2 (Kleindl, Schott, Guerra, Gibson) 4:30.54  (4) Gators #3 (Daniels, Guerrero Lara, Frank, Peterson) 4:57.93