Swimmers 4th at Park Rapids

By John George

sports@eot.com

The Yellow Jacket swim team knows what it's like to be short on numbers. Fortunately, participation on the team has increased over the last couple of years. Not only are there more swimmers, they are better than ever.

But on Saturday in Park Rapids, the Perham/New York Mills girls were shorthanded once again, this time because of a number of illnesses, and they finished fourth at the Panther Invitational.

Head coach Sheri Ressler said they left eight swimmers behind Saturday for everything from sinus infections and ear infections to bronchitis and good old fashioned colds.

The most significant absence was senior Erika Conlin, who is one of the team's top freestyle swimmers.

Perham still finished with 301 points. Brainerd won the event with 487.50 points. Melrose was second with 481.5, followed by Detroit Lakes in third with 332. The Lakers had the most individual success, winning five events.

The Yellow Jackets won one event, as Kelsy Kratzke took first in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:15.50, more than two full seconds ahead of the runner-up, Raaf Paige of D.L.

Earning medals were Leah Richter, who was third in the 200m Individual Medley (2:34.29), Abby Kratzke, who was third in the 100m butterfly (1:07.38), and Rylie Rothmeyer, who was third in the 500m freestyle (5:59.83). For Rothmeyer, it was the first time she came in below the six-minute mark in the 500 free. She also had a sixth place finish in the 200 free.

In addition to her win in the breaststroke, Kelsey Kratzke was fourth in the 200 I.M. with a time of 2:35.87. Richter came in sixth in the 100 free (1:00.76).

"It was a good meet for us," Ressler said. "It was good seeing teams like Brainerd and Melrose. That was good experience for us."

S-M?Triangular

Tuesday, Perham returned to Staples-Motley for their second triangular meet of the season. The Jackets beat the Cardinals and Sauk Center on Aug. 28. This time, they were looking to come in ahead of S-M, and Mid-State rival Detroit Lakes.

Final results were not available EOT?Illustrated went to press.

Mid-State duals

The Jackets head north again tonight (Sept. 18) for a dual meet with Park Rapids, starting at 6 p.m. Perham beat their Mid-State Conference rivals last year, 105-75, their first dual meet win against Park Rapids.

On Sept. 23, Perham will go up against the Lakers once again, this time in a dual meet at the BTD?Aquatic Center in the Detroit Lakes Community Center. Last year, Perham and D.L. tied, 90-90, despite Perham not getting any points in diving.

Saturday, September 13

Park Rapids Invitational

1. Brainerd 487.5, 2. Melrose 481, 3. Detroit Lakes 332, 4. Perham/NYM 301, 5. Sauk Centre 272, 6. Park Rapids 265, 7. Fosston/Bagley 168.

200 Medley Relay--1. Brainerd 2:01.28, 3. P/NYM (Meyer, K. Kratzke, A. Kratzke, Richter) 2:06.35, 9. P/NYM?(Potts, Carow, Miller, Formanek) 2:12.18.

200 Free--1. Larson (DL) 2:07.84, 7. Rylie Rothmeyer (PNYM) 2:14.40, 13. Maggie Carlson (PNYM) 2:19.99, 25.?Jill Burns (PNYM) 2:35.77, 26. Leah Restad (PNYM) 2:36.70.

200 I.M.--1. Paakh (DL) 2:17.95, 3. Leah Richter (PNYM) 2:34.29, 4. Kelsey Kratzke (PNYM) 2:35.87, 18. Brittany Roberts (PNYM) 2:48.73, 19.?Sara Lee (PNYM) 2:50.94.

50 Free--1. Beste (M) 26.01, 6. Kaila Formanek (PNYM) 28.08, 14. Whitney Carow (PNYM) 29.10, 21.?Laine Miller (PNYM) 30.17, 24.?Lexi Richter (PNYM) 30.95.

Diving--1. Penning (PR) 205.90, 12. Miranda Phelps (PNYM) 120.30, 14. Sierra Lynne (PNYM) 110.60, 19. Tiana Lynne (PNYM) 97.95.

100 Fly--1. Paakh (DL) 1:00.06, 3. Abby Kratzke (PNYM) 1:07.38, 8. Bailey Meyer (PNYM) 1:11.56, 12.?Zoe Potts (PNYM) 1:20.19, 18.?Restad (PNYM) 1:27.29.

100 Free--1. Rieland (SC) 56.67, 6. Richter (PNYM) 1:00.76, 11. Formanek (PNYM) 1:03.49, 16.?Carlson (PNYM) 1:05.07, 22.?Beth Ingebrand (PNYM) 1:11.71.

500 Free--1. Larson (DL) 5:43.28, 3. Rothmeyer ((PNYM) 5:59.83, 18. Miller (PNYM) 6:34.29, 22.?Lexi Richter (PNYM) 6:48.69, 26.?Shelby Mayfield (PNYM) 7:34.32.

200 Free Relay--1. Melrose 1:45.98, 5. PNYM (Richter, A. Kratzke, Carow, K. Kratzke) 1:54.17, 11. PNYM (Carlson, Lee, Roberts, Rothmeyer) 1:59.24.

100?Back--1. Spies (DL) 1:05.99, 11. Meyer (PNYM) 1:14.24, 12. A. Kratzke (PNYM) 1:15.19, 15.?Potts (PNYM) 1:16.58, 19.?Burns (PNYM) 1:23.20.

100 Breast--1. K.Kratzke (PNYM) 1:15.50, 7. Carow (PNYM) 1:20.42, 13. Lee (PNYM) 1:24.47, 21.?Jackie Hanson (PNYM) 1:34.34.

400 Free Relay--1. Melrose 3:55.62, 9. PNYM?(Formanek, Miller, Carlson, Rothmeyer) 4:20.15, 14. PNYM (Pots, Richter, Roberts, Meyr) 4:38.47.

Tuesday, September 16

Staples-Motley Triangular

Results unavailable at press time.