The Perham/New York Mills swimmers had one fantastic event after another last Saturday. 

Several girls placed in the top 8, the team set 22 season or all-time PR’s and the team also had a few substantial time cuts. And after taking fourth place early in the meet, the Yellowjackets were just able to stave off the larger team from Thief River Falls as they crept up on us toward the end of the meet, coming in ahead of fifth by just 9.5 points.

The meet started with diving in the morning. At championship meets, divers compete in 11 rounds instead of 6. And at the end of 11 rounds, sophomore Brittney Lorentz came out on top, beating her best 11-dive score by 20 points. In second place, sophomore Avery McAllister set a new PR by a whopping 84 points. And senior Madison Ruther gained 11 points to take fifth.

Perham/NY Mills’ A relays gravitated toward fifth place. The medley relay consisting of freshman Elle McDonald, senior Irene Mursu, eighth grader Taylor Ziemke and junior Lucy Schultz took fifth place with their fastest swim of the season. Schultz, junior Lucie Meyer, junior Kaydi Mursu and Ziemke took fifth in the 200 free relay. And coming in fifth in the 400 free relay were K. Mursu, freshman Molly Meyer, L. Meyer and I. Mursu.

During the swimming portion of the meet, the Yellowjackets had a handful of individuals place for medals. Irene Mursu took fourth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 fly. Taylor Ziemke took third in the 100 fly and eighth in the 100 breast. Elle McDonald took sixth in the 100 back.

As far as cutting time goes, one swimmer definitely stuck out. Sophomore Madeleine Lamb set new PR’s in all four of her swims. Her relay splits were significantly faster,and she dropped 12 seconds in the 200 free and 13 seconds in the 500 free.

The girls will compete at the Midstate Conference meet in Park Rapids on Thursday, Oct. 28, before preparing for the section meet.

1. Park Rapids – 1390.5

2. Detroit Lakes – 1305

3. Fergus Falls – 1254

4. Perham/New York Mills – 900

5. Thief River Falls – 890.5

6. Warroad/Roseau/Greenbush/Middle River – 776

7. Fosston-Bagley – 531

8. Crookston – 488

200 Medley Relay: 5. Elle McDonald, Irene Mursu, Taylor Ziemke, Lucy Schultz 2:05.53 12. Molly Meyer, Katelyn Kratzke, Maggie Vickmark, Jasmyn Olson 2:21.76 19. Madison Lohse, Madeleine Lamb, Megan Galbrecht, Jaelyn Rodewald 2:49.14 

200 Freestyle: 10. Kaydi Mursu 2:26.16 13. Lucie Meyer 2:29.56 21. Josi Mindermann 2:44.22 24. Madeleine Lamb 2:47.90

200 IM: 10. Elle McDonald 2:43.51 12. Maggie Vickmark 2:46.63 23. Megan Galbrecht 3:06.90 24. Jasmyn Olson 3:08.07

50 Freestyle: 4. Irene Mursu 27.28 26. Katelyn Kratzke 34.29 28. Jaelyn Rodewald 34.96 30. Madison Lohse 37.02

Diving: 1. Brittney Lorentz 377.85 2. Avery McAllister 372.80 5. 318.20 

100 Butterfly: 3. Taylor Ziemke 1:10.14 6. Irene Mursu 1:11.78 9. Lucy Schultz 1:14.55 12. Maggie Vickmark 1:18.94

100 Freestyle: 13. Molly Meyer 1:07.14 19. Josi Mindermann 1:14.29 27. Madison Lohse 1:26.27

500 Freestyle: 9. Kaydi Mursu 6:37.20 20. Madeleine Lamb 7:31.10 21. Jaelyn Rodewald 7:39.84

200 Freestyle Relay: 5. Lucy Schultz, Lucie Meyer, Kaydi Mursu, Taylor Ziemke 1:55.10 17. Josi Mindermann, Megan Galbrecht, Jaelyn Rodewald, Maggie Vickmark 2:15.69

100 Backstroke: 6. Elle McDonald 1:13.66 16. Lucie Meyer 1:18.94 17. Molly Meyer 1:19.66 24. Jasmyn Olson 1:24.62 

100 Breaststroke: 8. Taylor Ziemke 1:20.74 14. Lucy Schultz 1:26.15 15. Katelyn Kratzke 1:27.66 23. Megan Galbrecht 1:37.25

400 Freestyle Relay: 5. Kaydi Mursu, Molly Meyer, Lucie Meyer, Irene Mursu 4:23.40 15. Jasmyn Olson, Josi Mindermann, Madeleine Lamb, Elle McDonald 5:01.48