Perham 5th at True Team meet

By news@perhamfocus.com

October 18, 2006 at 11:00 PM

By John George

Although their place finish was the same as a year ago, Perham's fifth place finish at the Section 8A True Team Meet in Park Rapids last week was a huge improvement from 2005. Not only did the Jackets increase their point total from 830.5 last year to 1219 this time around, they did it with increased competition. Last year's meet had seven teams, while this year, nine took part.

"We had a few unfortunate DQ's (disqualifications)," head coach Sheri Ressler said. "But it was a good overall performance by the girls."

The DQ's Ressler is talking about came in two relays. Perham's 'C' relay team in the 200 medley relay was disqualified, as was the D' relay team in the 400 free relay. At the very least, the DQ's cost Perham a chance at overtaking Detroit Lakes for fourth place. If both relay's had placed and earned team points, the Jackets may have threatened Fosston-Bagley for third.

Thief River Falls ran away with the team title, scoring 1519 points. Park Rapids was second with 1300.

In regular meets, points are only awarded to the top-six places. True Team scores every place, from first to last.

Had this been scored as a regular meet, Detroit Lakes would have challenged for the top spot with seven first place finishes. Thief River Falls only had two event champs. Although Perham didn't have any individual winners, their depth kept them in the hunt.

The high point scorer for the Jackets was seventh grader Brooke Mickelson, who set a school record for 11 dives with a score of 285.90, shattering the record of 252.15 set by Betsy Mann in 2003. Also breaking the old record, but finishing in fourth place (Mickelson was third) was Ashley Niemela, who scored a 281.10. Niemela holds the school record for six dives with a 187.75.

All three members of the Kratzke family, Jeanna and her cousins, sisters Abby and Kelsey, all had fourth place finishes for Perham. Jeanna was fourth in the 100 free (1:02.40), just ahead of Sara Formanek in fifth place. Abby was fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:09.25) and her younger sister, seventh grader Kelsey, was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:19.75).

Staying with the family theme, Sara Formanek's younger sister, Kaila, finished fourth in the 50 free (27.75).

Erika Conlin had a pair of top-10 finishes. She placed eighth in the 200 free (2:17.35) and seventh in the 500 free (6:11.77). She was a fraction of a second from breaking Leah Richters school record in the 500 free. Richter had a fifth place finish in the 200 I.M. (2:33.79) and Whitney Carow finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.37).

The Jackets best relay finish came in the final event, the 400 free relay, where the team of Jeanna Kratzke, Abby Kratzke, Sara Formanek and Richter finished third.

Perham will have just one more regular season meet, in Thief River Falls, today (Oct. 19) at 5:30 p.m. They will get two weeks to prepare for the Mid-State Conference Meet in Park Rapids on Oct. 27.

Tuesday Update

Swimmers win at F-B

Perham won their third dual of the season, beating Fosston-Bagley, 155-131

Erika Conlin set a new school record in the 500 free, as did the 400 free relay team.

Perham had a total of seven first place finishes in the win.

Tuesday, October 17

Perham 155, Fosston-Bagley 131

200 Medley Relay--1. Perham (Richter, K. Kratzke, A. Kratzke, S. Formanek) 2:10.12, 4. Perham (Hanson, Carow, K. Formanek, Ressler) 2:18.41.

200 Free--1. Larson (FB) 2:15.59, 2. Erika Conlin (P) 2:16.25, 4. Maggie Carlson (P) 2:21.66.

200 I.M.--1. Jeanna Kratzke (P) 2:36.91, 4. Kelsey Kratzke (P) 2:43.21.

50 Free--1. Leah Richter (P) 28.10, 2. Kaila Formanek (P) 28.33.

100 Fly--2. Abby Kratzke (P) 1:09.09, 4. Danielle Lehman (P) 1:21.90.