Swimmers drop conference meet with Medford
The Colby/Abbotsford swimmers are getting faster and faster each week. That speed was apparent last Thursday as the co-op hosted Medford in a Great Northern Conference home dual meet.
The co-op was led by their seniors -Brooklyn Filtzkowski, Thea Fellenz, Lanie Hediger, Morgan Weber and Josie Hoppe - who were recognized afterwards on Senior Night, and congratulated for their perseverance, performances and many years with the program.
Also helping the swim co-op on Thursday was an increase to their numbers, with the co-op nearly operating at full strength now.
The Medford Red Raiders took the Great Northern Conference meeting by a score of 98 to 72 points, but Colby/Abby punched above its weight as the swimmers captured three events.
The conference dual kicked off on Thursday night with the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Thea Fellenz, Olivia Krause, Josie Hoppe and Lilly Graun picked up the first points for the co-op by taking third in 2:33.05.
Brooklyn Filtzkowski captured the first event for the home team, flying to a victory in the 200-yard freestyle race in 2:22.94. Paige Klement impressed with her speed, taking second in a time of 2:25.62.
The co-op had a pair of podium finishes in the third event of the night, the 200yard IM. Morgan Weber swam to second place in 2:38.15 and teammate Lexi White followed in third in 2:41.99.
Three members of the co-op earned points in the 50-yard freestyle. Lanie Hediger was second in 28.43, with Graun taking fourth in 31.90 and Hoppe taking fifth in 33.32.
Weber took home her second runnerup result in the next race, 100-yard butterfl y in 1:16.95. Hoppe earned two points with her fourth place finish in 1:35.46.
Colby/Abby dominated the next race, the 100-yard freestyle. Three runners all scored points as they each finished inside the top five. Lexi White captured the event in her winning time of 1:02.10. Klement took third in 1:06.47 and Graun was fifth in 1:16.08.
Filtzkowski earned her second victory of the evening when she swam to first in the 500-yard freestyle in a season best time of 6:29.03. Zanza Haemer took time off her 500-yard freestyle, earning fifth in 7:02.36.
The co-op took two of the top three spots in the eight race of the night, the 200-yard freestyle relay. Weber, Hediger, Filtzkowski and White were second in 1:54.36 and the team of Klement, Graun, Krause and Haemer was third in 2:05.24.
Hediger had her best race of the night, taking second in 100-yard backstroke in 1:17.51. Haemer was right behind, taking fourth in 1:26.11.
Krause earned another second place result for Colby/Abby as she swam a time of 1:33.31 in the 100-yard breaststroke. Fellenz added more points in the event by taking third in 1:36.45.
The co-op wrapped things up with the 400-yard freestyle relay. Weber, Hediger, White and Filtzkowski were second in 4:23.84 and the team of Klement, Krause, Haemer and Hoppe were fourth in 4:54.00.
The co-op will return to action this Thursday, when they travel to Ladysmith to take on the Ladysmith/Lake Holcombe/ Flambeau Tridents.
The meet is slated to start at 5:30 p.m.
