12 |
SPORTS
|
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2022 | BRAINERD DISPATCH
BRAINERDDISPATCH.COM
GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING
WARRIORS’ ROSTER FULL AND TALENTED By Jeremy Millsop Brainerd Dispatch Brainerd t’s been a long time since Brainerd Warriors swimming and diving coach Dan Anderson could say he’s got 15 returning seniors and 29 total returning letterwinners on his roster. While the experience is nice, he’s also got talent and a brand new pool to showcase what he believes will be a strong contender for the Central Lakes Conference and Section 8-2A. “It’s a veteran crew and you can’t always say that, but we have a lot of seniors and juniors,” Anderson said. “Even our young kids are experienced. It’s been really nice. At practice, they know what they’re supposed to do. These are the types of years where it’s easier on a coach. There isn’t as much teaching this year and they’re a hardworking, disciplined group. It’s been a pleasure so far.” To say Brainerd’s diving rotation is stacked would be an understatement. Seniors Izzy Olson and Brenna Deason return from last year’s state meet. And while their state finish wasn’t what either wanted, they’ll be regarded as two of the top divers in the section. Throw in senior Megan Wirtz, who advanced to state in gymnastics last winter, senior Evie Helsene who was the No. 3 diver last year and Ella Dirks, one of Brainerd’s top high jumpers during the track and field season, and Brainerd’s divers will score points this year. “We’re absolutely loaded,” Anderson said. “We have six seniors over there and they’re all good. Mary (Streiff) does such a great job over there. I’ve already seen it in practice. I keep looking over there and expecting to see the divers to be done, but they just keep going. They’ve got a lot of hours in over there. “You’ve got the two that have state meet experience and then Evie Helsene was a section finalist and Megan Wirtz was ninth. Then you throw in Ella Dircks who is a very good diver as is Malina Schiller. It’s a good group and they really push each other.” Helsene was seventh in the section meet behind Olson who won the section title and Deason who placed fourth. Wirth finished ninth. Olson also won the CLC title with Deason fourth, Helsene eighth and Witz 13th. We’re very good. The problem is, a lot of our competition is, too. Sophomore Mya Tautges was an all-conference 100yard freestyler and was an honorable mention swimmer in the 50 free. She finished fourth in the 50 at the section 8-2A meet with a time of 25.0. Isabelle Ploof was sixth
I
“We’re pretty strong in the butterfly,” Anderson said. “We have Mariah Alderson back. She’s the second fastest butteflyer in school history. She’s had a good summer and she looks good. In that event, we also have Kaia Iske. This is her second year on the varsity and she looks so much stronger than last year. Then we have Autumn Larson and those three are three of the best in the conference.” The Warriors return freshman Avery Duerr and sophomore Brynn Haapajoki for the breaststroke. Duerr placed sixth in the conference and fourth in the section. Haapajoki collected a 10th in the conference and an eighth in the section. “The two we have are really solid,” Anderson said. “Avery was a section finalist last year and then we have Brynn and those two are very good. We Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch need to find some more depth Izzy Olson and Brenna Deason are returning state divers Thursday, Aug. 25 at Brainerd High behind them, but I think we will.” School. That’s not the case in the backstroke as Brainerd returns “We’re very good. The Vanessa Anderson who was WARRIOR GIRLS problem is, a lot of our 14th in the conference and SWIMMING AND DIVING competition is, too.” 16th in the section. Sophomore Head coach: Dan Anderson, 37th season (30th in Greta Geary also returns. She Brainerd) DAN ANDERSON placed 19th in the conference. Brainerd record: 219-59 “We might see more of Kaia Record at Rock Springs, Wyo.: 66-31-1 Iske in that race this year,” at sections and Alexis Lugo Career record: 283-90-1 Anderson said. “Greta looks placed 11th. 2021 finish: 5-3 CLC, 7-3 overall really strong and then we have In the 100 free, Tautges Returning state entrants: Izzy Olson, Brenna Deason a couple of younger girls that placed fifth, Ploof 11th and Assistant coaches: Ann Stenglein (29th season), Mary will also compete. I think we’ll Gabby Chalupsky was 12th. Anderson Streiff, diving (24th season), Kris Peterson (volunteer, be pretty solid there. Mariah “Mya is just a really good 10th year) is also our best (individual athlete,” Anderson said. “You medley). She was seven in point something out to her the conference and 10th in and she can do it. She can the section. Greta Geary is change what she’s doing in WARRIOR ROSTER also one of our IMers and so a split second. She’s just a Seniors: Haddy Aker, Mariah Alderson, Gabby Chalupsky, Brenna is Brynn. Iske can be in that, very good athlete. She’ll be in Deason, Ella Dircks, Alexis Lugo, Sophie Mattson, Maggie Neptune, too.” the sprint freestyles, which Izzy Olson, Casey Provost, Malina Schiller, Layla Wallace, Megan Wirtz, As for the relays, Anderson will probably be our strength Keyonna Young, Evie Helsene said he can see a few of them because then we have Isabelle Juniors: Vanessa Anderson, Scarlett Anderson, Claire Dano, Autumn in his mind, but said no spot is Larson, Ella Ostrowski, Addison Wirtz Ploof in the 50 and 100. We guaranteed. also might slide Scarlett Sophomores: Greta Geary, Brynn Haapajoki, Libby Lake, Joze Tautges, “We’re very good,” Mya Tautges, Rylie goble, Taya Turcotte, Cleo Weber, Fallon Whirley Anderson into the 50 and 100 Anderson said. “The problem Freshmen: Avery Duerr, Isabelle Ploof, Elizabeth Adamson, Gabriella this year. She’s really solid is, a lot of our competition is, Bratney, Baylee Faschin, Aralyn Marcelo, Ella McCulley, Josie Nailon, there. Then in the 100, we Lauren Yeager too.” have Gabby. We’re four deep Brainerd fans will get to see Eighth grade: Kaia Iske in the 100 and throw in Lexis a lot of that top competition in the 50 and maybe Avery as the Warriors will host Duerr so we’re deep there the Section True Team too.” WARRIOR SCHEDULE meet and the Section 8-2A Chalupsky was 11th in the Thursday, Aug. 30: at Bemidji 6 p.m. Championship courtesy of conference for the 200 free Thursday, Aug. 8: at St. Cloud Apollo 6 p.m. Brainerd High School’s brandahead of Ella Ostrowski in new pool facility. Tuesday, Sept. 13: vs. Willmar 6 p.m. 13th and Sophie Mattson in “It’s huge,” Anderson said. Thursday, Sept. 15: vs. St. Cloud Tech 6 p.m. 15th. Chalupsky was 15th and “It’s so much bigger. Each Saturday, Sept. 17: at West Fargo Invite 9 a.m. Mattson 16th in the section lane is bigger and then you Thursday, Sept. 22: at Alexandria 6 p.m. meet. add two lanes to it and we’re For the 500 free, Mattson Tuesday, Sept. 27: vs. Melrose 6 p.m. just getting so much more placed 10th in the conference. Thursday, Sept. 29: vs. Sauk Rapids 6 p.m. accomplished. We’re actually Autumn Larson 13th and Thursday, Oct. 6: at Rocori 6 p.m. getting through practice Ostrowski 15th. For the section Tuesday, Oct. 11: vs. Sartell 6 p.m. quicker than we used to in the meet, Larson was the top Saturday, Oct. 15: hosts Section True Team 8 a.m. past. Warrior with a 13th-place Tuesday, Oct. 18: at Fergus Falls 6 p.m. “That and the fact that our finish and Mattson was 15th. Saturday, Oct. 29: Central Lakes Conference Championship divers can practice at the same “In the 500, Autumn Larson at Willmar 10 a.m. time as the swimmers are so is our top coming back, Friday, Nov. 11: hosts Section 8-2A prelims 5 p.m. we can have team meetings but Sophie is right there,” Saturday, Nov. 12: hosts Section 8-2A finals noon together. We’re all in the Anderson said. “Sophie battled weight room together. It’s injuries last year and then we really helped that way and we have Ella Ostrowski so we have event so we’re three deep butterfly. Kaia Iske was eighth seem to be much more of a three solid 500 girls. In the in the conference and 13th there.” team.” 200, which is kind of between in the section while Autumn Mariah Alderson placed JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855a sprint and a distance, Sophie Larson placed 13th in the 5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch. fifth in the conference and is in there and Ella is in there conference and 16th in the com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter. and Gabby moves up to that ninth in the section in the 100 section. com/jeremymillsop.
Liz Timothy…
G d Luck Athletes!
a houseSOLD name since 1997. 218-839-7000
liztimothy@edinarealty.com
218.825.7234
Brainerd • 828-4188 northcountryservicesmn.com
7376 Woida Road Baxter, MN 56425
SDPSHUHGSHWVPQ FRP
'RJJ\ 'D\FDUH %HQHILWV 6XSHUYLVHG SOD\ +HOS VHSDUDWLRQ DQ[LHW\ 6RFLDOL]DWLRQ ([HUFLVH PLQG ERG\ (VWDEOLVK 5RXWLQH
Boarding
• Stress free experience • Luxury accommodations • Both Private and Group Play • Spacious Climate Controlled clean and tidy rooms.
,QGXVWULDO 3DUN 5G %D[WHU 01
Good Luck Athletes!
Good Luck Athletes!
GOOD D LUCK ATHLE ATHLETES! on nerati e G d r 3 d -Owne Family Residential / Commercial / Trash and Recycling Collection Proudly Serving the entire Lakes Area:
587-8727 (Pequot Lakes/Pine River) 692-8727 (Crosslake/Fifty Lakes) 824-8727 (Baxter/Brainerd)
www.wastepartnersinc.com
Proud to Transport our Athletes Join our Team www.reichertbus.com/apply
218.829.3597
TannerAuto.Net 620 West Washington, BRAINERD
13540 Ironwood Drive . Brainerd, MN 56401 218-829-6764 . www.shannonsautobody.com
8342 Industrial Indu nd ndustrial d Park Road, Road Baxter, Baxter MN
829-6955