Makayla Suominen Swims to a 2nd and 3rd at State

Dwight Cadwell – NSO

Makayla Suominen of Cloquet – Esko – Carlton girls swim team saw her dreams of a back to back state championship fall Saturday at the Aquatic center in Minneapolis as Grace Hansen of Hutchinson edged Makayla by two tenths of a second to capture the 50 yard freestyle title. Suominen who finished 2bd a year ago in the 100 yard freestyle had to settle for a third place finish this year.

Visitation of Mendota Heights won its fifth consecutive title with 247.5 points. This was the ninth overall title for the Blazers. In addition to the past five years, they also four consecutive championships between 2005-08. Hutchinson placed second with 241 points. The Delano Tigers were third at 183 points.

Visitation did not win a single event on its way to the championship. But, sophomore Kali Fischer placed second in the 200 individual medley and also anchored the second-place 400 freestyle team.

Senior Jordyn Wentzel of Delano and junior Madison Potter of Blake won two titles apiece. Wentzel won the 500 freestyle in 4:56.75 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.74. Potter won her consecutive title in both the 200 individual medley (2:03.76) and the 100 butterfly (54.63).

Saylor Hawkins, a junior at Breck School of Golden Valley, was the only other individual to successfully defend her 2016 title. She won her second diving championship with 439.60 points.

Hutchinson set the only record Class A record at this year’s meet. The Tigers won their second consecutive title in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:29.03.

Class AA

In the Class AA team competition, Edina claimed its second consecutive title and 15th overall. The Hornets won previously in 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Edina finished with 382.5 points this year. Minnetonka was second with 281.5 points and Wayzata placed third with 133 points.

Senior Kelli McCarthy led Edina with two first-place finishes. She won the 200 freestyle (1:48.31) and also won her third consecutive crown in the 500 freestyle (4:52.83). Megan Phillip, a sophomore, won her second title in diving. She finished with 476.05 points.

Edina’s final title came in the 400 freestyle relay. The Hornets won their third consecutive championship with a time of 3:24.72.

Sophomore Isabelle Stadden of Blaine was the only other individual to win multiple titles. She claimed her second consecutive championship in the 200 individual relay while setting a Class AA record of 2:00.49. Stadden also won top honors in the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.78.

Emma Lezer, a junior from St. Michael-Albertville, was the final competitor to defend her 2016 title. She won her second consecutive crown in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.92.

The Minnetonka Skippers won two of the relay events. They finished the 200 medley relay in 1:42.94 and the 200 freestyle in 1:34.10.