The Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbird swim team hosted the Blue Dolphins from Brillion Saturday, Jan. 22, and came away with a strong win.
“Brillion had a lot of quality younger swimmers, but we had much more quality and depth in the older-age groups,” coach Dick Wright said. “That gives our team a big advantage.”
Brillion brought 46 swimmers to the meet, about the same number as the T-Birds.
“For several years now, our strength has been in our great depth in all age groups and with boys and girls,” Wright said.
Elisabeth Sullivan, Kaitlyn Kostuch, Eli Stevens and Tayler Carlson led the 8-and-under group. Sullivan won the 25-yard free and 25 backstroke events and recorded seconds in the 25 breaststroke, 25 butterfly and 50 freestyle; Kostuch took second in the 25 freestyle and butterfly and placed third in the 25 breaststroke and 50 freestyle; Stevens added a second in the 25 backstroke and a pair of thirds; and Carlson took second in the breaststroke.
Abi Stevens and Nathan Strubble led the 9-10 group. Stevens won the 50 backstroke and butterfly races and the 100 freestyle and took third in the 50 freestyle, while Strubble added thirds in the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 100 individual medley.
Ethan Olson and Katherine Leaf led the 11-12 group. Olson won the 50 freestyle and added three thirds, while Leaf won the 50 breaststroke and butterfly and took second in her IM race.
Zach Shulfer, Ben Gutschow and Morgan Glodowski led the 13-14 group. Shulfer won the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and the IM; Gutschow won the breaststroke and took second in the IM and third in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke; and Glodowski added seconds in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke.
John Faldet, Powers Spees and Robbie Van Zeeland led the 15-18 group. Faldet won the 50 and 100 freestyle and 200 IM and was second in the 100 breaststroke; Spees won the 100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle and was second in the 50 and 100 freestyle; and Van Zeeland won the 100 butterfly and was third in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle races.
“Our kids did another really nice job,” Wright said. “I think they are peaking at just the right time, as we have our two biggest meets the next two weeks.”
Spees and Abi Stevens were the team’s swimmers of the week.
The T-Birds will compete in a large invitational Saturday, Jan. 29, in Stevens Point before wrapping up the season Saturday, Feb. 5, with an invitational in Wittenberg.