International Falls swam into some tough competition this week, and now they hit the road today for a weekend trip to Litchfield and Watertown.
After losing Tuesday to Section 4A power Virginia, the Broncos lost Thursday 113-72 to Section 7AA power Duluth East at the Falls Natatorium.
Broncos captain Joe Baron doesn’t mind the team loss, however, especially against a superior opponent.
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said. “I just see it as having fun and I don’t care if you win or lose. Just try your hardest.”
The junior does take individual races as a personal challenge, though.
“(Winning) shows all the hard work you’re doing is playing off,” Baron said.
Baron notched two of the Broncos’ three top finishes Thursday with quality times in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle. He finished the 50 in 23.26 seconds and the 100 in 53.18 seconds. Ames Bryant had the other first-place finish in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:12.84.
Broncos head coach Beth Reed noted there was only one season-best time — Corin Wenger in the 100 butterfly (1:21.74) — but everyone finished within a second of their usual times.
“Which is good for this pool,” she said.
The Broncos hit the road today for a meet at Litchfield. Saturday they are at Watertown-Mayer.
“It’s fun. I like going to Litchfield,” Baron said. “Something different than a duel meet after school.”
Duluth East 113,
I. Falls 73
200-yard medley relay — 2, Ames Bryant, Chevy Arnold, Ben Shofner, Joe Baron, 1:56.72; 5, Alex Henningson, Kirdan Wenger, Corin Wenger, Joseph Toninato, 2:16.33.
200 freestyle — 3, Trevor Plasky, 2:16.13; 5, Nick Riley, 2:26.95; 6, Scott Ducharme, 2:31.63.
200 individual medley — 2, Jeff Klow, 2:46.98.
50 freestyle — 1, Baron, 23.26; 3, Shofner, 25.54; 5, Chevy Arnold, 28.0.
Diving — 2, Henningson, 175.45; 3, Kirdan Wenger, 164.85; 4, Cody Tatsak, 106.2.
100 butterfly — 2, Shofner, 1:00.73; 3, Bryant, 1:07.75; 6, Corin Wenger, 1:21.74.
100 freestyle — 1, Baron, 53.18; 4, Plasky, 1:00.15; 6, Ian Ducharme, 1:10.82.
500 freestyle — 4, Riley, 6:45.02; 5, Scott Ducharme, 7:17.25; 6, Myles Wolden, 7:48.83.
200 freestyle relay — 2, Bryant, Shofner, Plasky, Baron, 1:41.63; 5, Kirdan Wenger, Arnold, Klow, Scott Ducharme, 1:58.59.
100 backstroke — 1, Bryant, 1:12.84; 4, Henningson, 1:18.02; 6, Corin Wenger, 1:27.63.
100 breaststroke — 2, K. Wenger, 1:20.19; 3, Klow, 1:21.19; 4, Arnold, 1:22.08.
400 freestyle relay — 3, Plasky, Riley, Ian Ducharme, Henningson, 4:25.25; 5, Scott Ducharme, Wolden, Toninato, Corin Wenger, 4:57.03.
