The Bluejay swimmers wrapped up another season at Saturday’s WIAA Hudson Sectional, placing 13th of 13 teams with 36 points.
“Many of the girls swam personal best times and had a great end to the season,” MHS coach Allie Thut said. “This was a great meet for them to learn and grow from and to experience high level competition. The team competed well and left everything they had in the pool. Overall it was a very successful season with incredible time drops and improvements.”
Kendyl Pettit placed 11th in the 100 free in a PR :59.12 for Merrill’s top individual finish and the 200 free team of Jennica Jahnke, Miranda Jahnke, Robin Opsahl and Pettit matched with a time of 1:52.08.
The 200 meldey squad of Taylor LaBorde, J. Jahnke, Opsahl and Pettit ranked 12th in 2:08.30, a 1-1/2 second improvement. The 400 free group of LaBorde, Olivia Wilmink, Madison Dillinger, and M. Jahnke was 13th in 4:20.73.
The Jennica and Miranda ranked 19th (1:18.50) and 20th (1:19.06) in the 100 brea. Miranda rated 20th in the 50 free in :28.20. Pettit swam 23rd in the 500 free (6:07.73).
Eau Claire Memorial (368), Hudson (307), Wausau East (234), SPASH (217) and Holmen (196) grabbed the top five spots. Rapids (98) edged Marshfield (96) for 11th.
The meet closed out Thut’s first year with the squad.
“The team has come a long way from when I first met them on the first day of practice,” Thut said. “All of their improvements come from their hard work in the pool this season and positive attitudes. Not only did they each personally improve so much they grew together as a team and had great team camaraderie.
“Over the course of the season, each meet was a stepping stone for the team and a chance to get better. We had some incredible meets this season where the attitude and atmosphere of the pool created a fun and competitive place to be. The team proved that hard work does pay off and that you can achieve what you set your mind to. Overall this season was full of joyous memories and new experiences. I am looking forward to what next year’s season has in store for us! With more training and stroke technique work they will continue to improve along with off season training. We are only losing two seniors, so we will be returning majority of the team and hopefully getting new up-and-coming freshman and girls from other grades as well!”
Wilmink and Emily Gessler were the team’s two seniors.