TWIN CITY — The Worthington YMCA Stingrays took seventh place at the Minnesota YMCA State Championships held Feb. 18 at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center.
The Stingrays' total team score was 1,110, and their seventh-place finish matched their performance at last year's state swim meet. Of the team's total scores, the Stingrays placed second in her 8-and-under boys team score and in her 15-and-over boys team score.
Medals were awarded to the top eight individuals and relay teams in each event, with many Stingray athletes winning medals.
The Stingrays recorded multiple first-place finishes at state. One was in the girls 8 and under 25 yard freestyle where her 8 year old Annabelle Kramer clocked her 17.31 seconds. She also won gold in the 50-yard freestyle by a whopping 2.5 seconds, marking her first of two first-place finishes.
Worthington's next first place finish was in the men's 15-yard and 200-plus freestyle relays by the team of Evan Hunsberger, Keegan Spittle, Wyatt Kirchner and Gerrett Larson, who won by 1.5 seconds.
In the girls' 15-plus 100-yard breaststroke, senior Roselyn Hartshorn won the gold medal in 1:18.40, winning the state title by just 0.09 seconds.
In addition to these first-place finishes, the Stingrays have had numerous other athletes finish in the top three in numerous competitions.
Larson placed second in the boys' 8 yards and under 100 yards medley relay and the boys' 15 and 200 yards medley relay, and also competed as an individual in the boys' 13-14 year old 50-yard freestyle.
Third place went to the men's 8-100 yards freestyle relay and the men's 11-12 games 200-yard freestyle relay, followed by Hartshorn in the women's 15-200 yards medley and Olivia Almodovar in the women's 15-200 yards backstroke. The player won the prize. As an individual, I started with Spittle in the men's 15 and 100 yard backstroke.
Next up is another meet for the Worthington Stingrays as the swimmers qualified for regionals based on their state results.
Swimmers who qualified for the Worthington regional meet include Hartshorne in three events, Hannah McNabb, Emily Dahlquist, Liam Gordon and Hercules Dora in two events, and Spittle, Larson and Shameli Dora in one event. It is an event.
The Midwest Regional Swim Meet will be held March 23rd and 24th at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center. There, the Stingrays who qualify will compete against swimmers from up to 11 states in the region.
