By Becky Walz,
To kick off the winter season, the Decorah boys swim team traveled to Waterloo Central to compete in a double dual Tuesday, Nov. 28, then faced stiff competition at the Dubuque Hempstead Saturday.
Ram Relays
Getting back in the water with just a few days between competitions, the Vikings competed in the Ram Relays in Dubuque Saturday, finishing the day with 46 points in fifth place. Cedar Falls took the team title with 87 in the all-relays meet.
“I am proud of how hard the boys are working this season. We have increased the yardage this season, increased the intensity in practice and chosen to compete against the best teams in the state in the early part of the season,” said Coach Loran Storts. “Yes, we have some fast swimmers back from last season’s team, yet 14 of our 30 swimmers are new to the team with a few individuals new to the sport of swimming. Quite simply, our goal for this season is to put in the work, take care of our health (rest, recovery, nutrition), trust the process…and good things will happen!”
The day’s top finish was in the first relay of the day — the 200-yard medley relay. The quartet of Isaac Knaack, Mason Cote, Simon Kutz and Dylan Hogan posted a combined time of 1:43.26. In the 400-yard relay, the same foursome took bronze in 3:28.40.
Varsity race results
200 medley relay – 2. Isaac Knaack, Mason Cote, Simon Kutz, Dylan Hogan, 1:43.26
600 free relay – 4. Dom Bigalk, Cote, Max Grimstad, 6:12.12
400 medley relay – 6. Will Robinson, Keaton Vobr, 5:22.95
200 free – 4. Bigalk, Kutz, Reid Kuehner, Hogan, 1:34.93
300 fly – 4. Kutz, Dalton Elickson, Nathaniel Roberts, 3:29.26
1000 free – 4. Bigalk, Grimstad, 11:57.41
300 back – 5. Knaack, Ethan Casper, Cote, 3:08.38
300 breast – 6. Kuehner, Robinson, Andrew Olson, 3:51.50
400 free relay – 3. Knaack, Kutz, Cote, Hogan, 3:28.40
Catching up
Tuesday, Nov. 28, Decorah came up against some top competitors in the pool, competing against Cedar Falls and Dubuque Hempstead in a double dual.
Three events picked up silver medals, while three others won bronze at the event. Knaack, Cote, Kutz and Hogan put together a time of 1:43.90 in the 200-yard medley relay for a runner-up finish. That same quartet touched the wall in 1:34.38 in the 200-yard freestyle relay, good for third.
Individually, Knaack took second in the 100-yard backstroke in 57.04 seconds and took third in 51.22 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle. Cote won silver in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:06.69.
Bringing home third in the 400-yard relay were Dom Bigalk, Kutz, Hogan and Reid Kuehner. They posted a time of 3:36.72.
Varsity race results
200 medley relay – 2. Knaack, Cote, Kutz, Hogan, 1:43.90; 6. Vobr, Kuehner, Roberts, Giddings, 1:56.84
200 free – 6. Bigalk 1:59.71; 8. Oliver Brummell 2:34.98
200 IM – 7. Kuehner 2:24.69; 8. Grimstad 2:30.29
50 free – 4. Hogan 23.84; 6. Giddings 25.06
100 fly – 4. Kutz 1:00.33; 7. Roberts 1:07.20
100 free – 3. Knaack 51.22; 5. Cote 53.92
500 free – 8. Bigalk 5:50.58; 9. Kuehner 6:16.35
200 free relay – 3. Knaack, Cote, Kutz, Hogan, 1:34.38; 6. Giddings, Ellickson, Eli Sassaman, Kyle Pattison 1:51.50
100 back – 2. Knaack, 57.04; 8. Jack Sovern 1:21.72
100 breast – 2. Cote 1:06.69; 7. Robinson 1:14.63
400 free relay – 3. Bigalk, Kutz, Hogan, Kuehner, 3:36.72; 7. Grimstad, Tommy Hammell, Robinson Roberts, 4:08.87
Next competition
Decorah will be at the Marcussen Invite Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Holmes Junior High School in Cedar Falls at 11:30 a.m.
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