Swimming: Broncos notch school record in 200-yard freestyle relay

“We were close to state. It was really exciting looking at the board and seeing the time,” West said.

West admitted to being disappointed when the first thing she saw was the third-place finish (only the top two finishers qualify for state), but her spirits were lifted when the time was well below the previous school record of 1 minute, 47.76 seconds, set in 1999 by Brittany Spotts, Stephanie Johnson, Laurie Lucachick and Sara Sandbeck.

Shofner, West, Herzig and Adams finished in 1:46.38, behind Grand Rapids (1:44.14) and Hibbing (1:44.77). The Broncos posted the second-best time in prelims.

“I was kind of in shock, didn’t know what to think,” West said. “And then it was ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, we broke the record.’”

The same foursome finished third in the 200 medley relay in 2:00.31. Hibbing won at 1:55.37 and Grand Rapids was second at 1:58.76. The school record, set by Lucy Nevanen, Sara Lindberg, Nikki Krueger and Erika Mitchell in 2007, is 1:59.99.

“It was pretty intense,” said West, who was one of four Broncos with Adams, Shofner and Herzig to earn four medals.

West was third (1:07.86) and Morgan Bruess fourth (1:08.74) in the 100 backstroke. The duo trailed Eveleth-Gilbert’s Emily Bombich, who finished runner-up at 1:07.3. Hibbing’s Michelle Patregnani won the event by touching in 1:07.23. West added an eighth place in the 200 individual medley (2:36.81).

Adams finished sixth (26.6) and Shofner was close behind in seventh (26.87) in the 50 freestyle, Herzig was eighth in the 100 breaststroke (1:20.53) and Therese Youso, Shofner, Herzig and Adams finished sixth in the 400 freestyle relay.

In the consolation finals, Ashley Hasbargen finished 11th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:19.87, Bruess was 14th in the 200 freestyle (2:18.15) and Abby Oveson was 15th in the 100 freestyle (1:03.68).

In diving, Clara Wenger finished eighth with 204.25 points, Carolin Roehl was 10th with 152.65 and Jessica Hell finished 11th with 149.

Hibbing finished with the highest team ranking with 581 points. Grand Rapids was runner-up with 371, followed by Two Harbors/Silver Bay (272), Eveleth-Gilbert (236), International Falls (203), Mesabi East (172), Virginia (131), Babbitt-Ely-Tower Aquatics (106) and Chisholm (77).

West, Herzig, Sarah Manka and Tamera Stouffer were the seniors on the 2010 squad.

“We had a really good season, and it’s going to be weird not swimming next year,” West said. “You know, it’s always ‘We’ll get them next year, we’ll get them next year,’ but there won’t be a next year.”

Finals notes

• Grand Rapids freshman Solveig Viren registered the section and pool record in the 100 freestyle, touching in 53.25. She had just posted the section and pool records in the 50 and 100 Thursday in prelims.

• Lindberg was the last Bronco swimmer to participate at the state meet back in 2005. This year’s state meet runs Nov. 18-20 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Section 7A Finals

@ Hibbing High School

Team results:

1, Hibbing, 581; 2, Grand Rapids, 371; 3, Two Harbors/Silver Bay, 272; 4, Eveleth-Gilbert, 236; 5, I. Falls, 203; 6, Mesabi East, 172; 7, Virginia, 131; 8, Babbitt-Ely-Tower Aquatics, 106; 9, Chisholm, 77.

Bronco results:

200-yard medley relay — 3, Maggie West, Paige Herzig, Breanna Shofner, Rachel Adams, 2:00.31.

200 freestyle — 14, Morgan Bruess, 2:18.15.

200 individual medley — 8, West, 2:36.81.

50 freestyle — 6, Adams, 26.6; 7, Shofner, 26.87.

Diving — 8, Clara Wenger, 204.25; 10, Carolin Roehl, 152.65; 11, Jessica Hell, 149.

100 butterfly — No Bronco finalists.

100 freestyle — 15, Abby Oveson, 1:03.68.

500 freestyle — No Bronco finalists.

200 freestyle relay — 3, Shofner, West, Herzig, Adams, 1:46.38.

100 backstroke — 3, West, 1:07.86; 4, Bruess, 1:08.74.

100 breaststroke — 8, Herzig, 1:20.53; 11, Ashley Hasbargen, 1:19.87.

400 freestyle relay — 6, Therese Youso, Shofner, Herzig, Adams, 4:11.97.