Wolves place in three events at state

By Gary Larson
Posted 11/20/02

Milaca, scoring in three of the four events in which it had entries, totaled 20 points to finish in a tie with Roseau for 27th place at the 2002 Class A State Swimming and Diving Meet Friday and Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

Last year Milaca placed 30th with 15 points.

"We had hoped to do better," said Milaca Coach Joe Wildman. "Going into the meet we felt we could break into the top eight in some of the events.

"But, the state meet gets tougher and more competitive each season and that was true again this season. We have a great season to look back at."

Wildman wasnít able to watch all of Saturdayís finals after suffering whatís thought to be food poisoning Friday night after Milacaís state delegation went out to eat.

"Thatís about as sick as Iíve been in quite a while," said Wildman. "I made it through the first few events Saturday but then I had to leave."

Milacaís four state swimmers were also affected. Sophomore Jenna Zimmer became ill during Saturdayís consolation finals while seniors Chrissy Dee and Kelly Doty and junior Janelle Packard were stricken just after the meet concluded.

"I donít know if they wouldíve been able to swim Saturday if they wouldíve gotten sick before the events started," said Wildman.

Zimmer, Doty, Packard and Dee teamed up to placed 11th and earn 12 team points in the 200-yard medley relay. They posted a time of 1:55.23. That group set a Section 4A record with a time of 1:54.55 Nov. 8 at St. Cloud Tech.

Blake/Minnehaha Academy was the Class A state champion with a time of 1:51.55. Sauk Rapids, which placed second behind Milaca at the section meet, finished 10th at the state meet in 1:55.20.

Packard placed 12th and earned five team points in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:02.57. She had placed first at the Section 4A Meet with a 4A record time of 1:01.88.

Last year, Packard placed 13th at the state meet with a time of 1:03.3 and in 2000 she finished 12th with a time of 1:03.30.

Sophomore Lindsay Wegner of Hutchinson won the 2002 state butterfly title with a time of 58.98 seconds.

Doty also earned three team points by placing 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:12.14.

Junior Anneliesse Nelson of Roseau won the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.90.

Zimmer, Doty, Packard and Dee were also entered in the 200 freestyle relay but they didn't reach Fridayís final events.

Red Wing won its third straight Class A state title by scoring 242 points. Hutchinson was second at 169 while Simley placed third at 163 and Austin was fourth at 159.

Chisago Lakes, the Section 4A champion, placed 22nd with 28 points. The Wildcats, led by fifth-place finisher Amanda Zacher, scored 18 points in diving.

Sauk Rapids finished in a tie for 26th with 21 points while Princeton finished in a tie for 31st with 15 points.