International Falls didn’t accomplish one of its biggest goals of defeating Grand Rapids on Thursday, but it didn’t spoil Parent’s Night at the Falls Natatorium.
“What a nice way to end the season,” Broncos head coach Beth Reed said. “I was really hoping we had a shot at them, but we’re not deep enough.”
Grand Rapids defeated the Broncos 106-77.
The Broncos hung with the Thunderhawks until the 500-yard freestyle, where the Falls had only one competitor. Over the final five events, including the 500, Grand Rapids outscored the Broncos 51-23.
“But we took it to them in the races that count,” Broncos senior Ben Shofner said.
Even Grand Rapids head coach Jerry Casey was impressed, commenting to Reed about the Broncos’ performance.
The highlight was the 200 freestyle relay. Joe Baron made up nearly 1/4 of the length of the pool on the final leg and caught Grand Rapids’ Zach Bjorklund. The first-place finish in 1 minute, 37.95 seconds, was the Broncos’ best time of the season.
Shofner also had a season-best in the 100 butterfly (58.71) and Baron was close to his season-bests in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Shofner and Baron won all three of those races.
“For those guys to swim those times in this pool is unheard of,” Reed said. “This is a slow pool.”
The divers also put on a show in the final meet before sections. Alex Henningson finished first with 197.9 points, Kirdan Wenger was second with 191.65 points and Cody Tatsak finished fourth with 119.65 points. Henningson and Wenger will be seeded in the top five at sections.
“We’re looking good for sections. We’re looking very good,” Shofner said. “I’m excited for that.”
The only other top finish for International Falls was in the 200 medley relay. Ames Bryant, Chevy Arnold, Shofner and Baron finished in 1:52.16.
The Section 4A prelims are Feb. 25, while the finals are Feb. 27 at Sartell-St. Stephen High School.
“We all swam so well and that’s all that really matters, because when we go to sections it’s about times and places,” Shofner said.
Meet notes
• Grand Rapids’ junior varsity team has more members (33) than International Falls’ varsity team (19, according to the meet program).
• The Falls High School band and a group of cheerleaders were on hand to entertain the crowd on Parent’s Night. The band played the national anthem before departing.
• Broncos sophomore Scott Ducharme was in street clothes and missed the meet due to an illness and a shoulder injury. His status for sections is uncertain.
Grand Rapids 106, I. Falls 77
200-yard medley relay — 1, Ames Bryant, Chevy Arnold, Ben Shofner, Joe Baron, 1:52.16; 3, Alex Henningson, Kirdan Wenger, Trevor Plasky, Myles Wolden, 1:55.91.
200 freestyle — 3, Plasky, 2:15.46; 4, Nick Riley, 2:20.48; 6, Wolden, 2:40.96.
200 individual medley — 4, Corin Wenger, 3:07.85.
50 freestyle — 1, Baron, 22.92; 3, Shofner, 25.28; 6, Arnold, 27.53.
Diving — 1, Henningson, 197.9; 2, Kirdan Wenger, 191.65; 4, Cody Tatsak, 119.65.
100 butterfly — 1, Shofner, 58.71; 3, Bryant, 1:03.19; 6, Jeff Klow, 1:18.89.
100 freestyle — 1, Baron, 52.02; 5, Wolden, 1:03.87.
500 freestyle — 3, Riley, 6:30.82.
200 freestyle relay — 1, Shofner, Bryant, Henningson, Baron, 1:37.95; 4, Arnold, Kirdan Wenger, Wolden, Plasky, 1:51.01.
100 backstroke — 4, Corin Wenger, 1:29.98.
100 breaststroke — 3, Kirdan Wenger, 1:15.1; 4, Klow, 1:18.54; 5, Arnold, 1:21.86.
400 freestyle relay — 2, Henningson, Plasky, Wolden, Bryant, 3:59.18; 4, Riley, Ian Ducharme, Joe Toninato, Corin Wenger, 4:40.49.
Junior varsity results — Grand Rapids 111, I. Falls 44.
