The girls swimming season is coming to an end all too quickly. The Hawks have had a competitive couple of weeks, most notably taking on Carver County rivals Chanhassen and Waconia.
The Chaska-Chanhassen meet is highly anticipated by both teams as friends and neighbors compete for bragging rights in the pool. Chanhassen won the meet, 115-68, on Oct. 2. Senior Claire Hendrickson won the diving competition. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of junior Morgan Kramer, seventh grader Olivia Herzog, freshman Eily Lemmon and eighth grader Eila Hanish took first place.
Four swimmers recorded six personal-best times at the meet: eighth grader Harper Totman in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke; junior Mari Parish in the 100-yard backstroke; freshman Harper Higgins in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle and eighth grader Raleigh Metzger in the 500-yard freestyle.
After a competitive meet, both teams and their coaches gathered in the pool for mutual cheers and some fun in the water.
Chaska and Waconia met on Oct. 8, with Waconia outswimming Chaska, 112-74. Totman won the 100-yard breaststroke and Hendrickson won the diving competition. Six swimmers recorded seven season-best performances that evening: sophomore Abby Buckentine in the 500-yard freestyle; seventh grader Laney Parish in the 500-yard freestyle; Hanish in the 200-yard individual medley; Herzog in the 400-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly; Metzger in the 100-yard freestyle; and sophomore Nia Ward in the 100-yard freestyle.
A big part of any swimming meet is the diving competition. High school divers use a one-meter diving board and each team can enter three varsity and three junior varsity divers in a meet.
Tamara Hodgins has coached diving for the boys and girls teams at both Chaska and Chanhassen for the better part of the past 17 years.
“We’re like the special teams in football,” Hodgins explained when asked how diving fits in with swimming. “They are very much a part of the team in terms of camaraderie and friendships, but the work is different. They have a separate part of the pool, and most swimmers don’t dive and most divers don’t swim.”
When asked what makes a good diver, Hodgins explained, “Bravery is important. A diver has to be able to make mistakes and have everyone see them make the mistake. It takes a resilient person to deal with that. Good body awareness is important, too, in terms of being able to execute what you want to do off the board. We have a mix of divers who are new to diving and some who have been doing it for years. Claire Hendrickson was a gymnast and took to diving very well.”
Asked about the challenges of helping divers perform well at each meet, Hodgins emphasized. “Treat each dive one at a time. Most people watch a dive and look at the twists and turns and hitting the water. It’s really all in the approach, the bounce and the work off the board that sets a diver up for the right moves and hitting the water. That is a lot to remember and do, and mistakes happen. They need to just get back to what they’ve practiced and let muscle memory take over.”
Coaches Togstad and Smith shared their enthusiasm for the final stretch of the season. “We’re excited to finish the last few meets strong and ready ourselves for sections.”
Coach Smith added, “All of our swimmers have worked on their results over the year. We’ve grown at each meet and been competitive.”
Coach Togstad noted that improvements in some events can take several seasons as swimmers work to shave important seconds off their times. “It’s starting to pay off in some key events that we’ve focused on, like sprints.”
Team captain Abby O’Hara emphasized the importance of teamwork and dedication. “Our team support and work ethic keep us going. Everyone works so hard in practice, and we really pull for each other no matter the outcome. It keeps us going.” Fellow captain Claire Hendrickson added, “it’s our communication, we all cheer each other and help out where we can. It keeps things so positive.”
The Hawks host Benilde-St. Margaret’s on Oct. 14 and Bloomington Jefferson on Oct. 21 to wrap up the regular season. The section meet is scheduled for Nov. 11-13.
