It was an all-time best second place finish for the Becker Bulldog swimming and diving team at the Section meet last week, and in the process, the team qualified a number of athletes for the state swimming and diving meet.

Last Thursday were the prelims for the Section and Becker started it off with a new school record (1:45.24) in the 200 Medley Relay with Laila Cook, Izza Mork, Grace Mork and Mia Suelter setting the new mark.

Grace Mork then had a great encore, setting a new school record in the 200 Freestyle, a record that had stood since 2008 (Katie Coutley).  Then, just for good measure, Grace dropped 12 seconds in her 500 Freestyle race and set the new school record (by five seconds) and pool record (by four seconds)  in the process.  This set her up well for the finals which would come on Saturday.

Izza Mork then secured a pair of top seeds for the finals as she dominated the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.

Becker finished off Thursday with the 400 Free Relay.

“This event has always been tough for us,” Coach Tina Tamm said.  “We spent this season with a little more focus on this particular relay as we had it as a team goal since the beginning of the season.”

The extra work paid off as Becker picked up the first seed for the finals, as Izza Mork, Laila Cook, Kandell Hagen and Grace Mork took care of business.

“We had 17 of our 21 athletes who qualified for Sections move on to Saturday,” Tamm said.  “We had representation in all events on Saturday!”

In addition to the aforementioned performers, additional finals qualifiers included: 200 IM: Kandell Hagen; 50 free: Josie Reckelberg, Alyssa Cowley; Diving: Maggie Graning; 100 butterfly: Laila Cook, Myka Maksimenko, Eiley Kaehler; 100 free: Kandell Hagen, Josie Reckelberg, Alyssa Cowley; 500 Free: Mia Suelter, Harper Kellogg; 200 free relay: Myka Maksimenko, Alyssa Cowley, Josie Reckelberg, Kandell Hagen; 100 Backstroke: Laila Cook, Addison Kasper; 100 breaststroke: Izza Mork, Elin Cook, Clara Pratt; 400 free relay: Izza Mork, Laila Cook, Kandell Hagen, Grace Mork.

On Friday, the divers took to the well for action and Tamm sent Lillian Bonsante, Karli Kirk, Maggie Graning, and Brielle Kuschel to the board. 

“All showed up ready with some tough dive lists,” Tamm said. All four scored in the top 20 to advance to the semifinals, and then they each secured a spot in the top 16, with the top four making it to state.

Maggie Graning held her spot in the top four, finishing in third place and earning another trip to the State Tournament.  

“She had some really good scores on her dives and continues to practice this week to make those scores better,” Tamm said.

Graning will dive at noon on Thursday, Nov 13.

Finals

Last Saturday was the finals and Tamm said the day was filled with excitement, stating: “you either have to finish top two in your event or you have to make the state cut time.”

The 200 medley relay finished third, but made the state cut time so Laila Cook, Izza Mork, Grace Mork, and Mia Suelter will represent the Bulldogs in the big show in that event.

Grace Mork then finished second in the 200 free to qualify for state, while Suelter took a podium appearance in sixth place.

Izza Mork captured a Section 5A championship in the 200 IM (and a state appearance), while Hagen made the podium in seventh place.

In the 100 butterfly, Cook stood on the podium in eighth place, while Hagen took seventh in the 100 free.

Grace Mork then earned a blue Championship medal in the 500 free for yet another state qualification, while Suelter took third.

In the  200 free relay, Myka Maksimenko, Alyssa Cowley, Josie Reckelberg, and Kandell, Hagen finished on the podium in fifth place.

Cook then took seventh in the 100 backstroke.

Izza Mork then claimed another Bulldog Section Title with a win in the 100 breaststroke, while the 400 free relay finished in second to earn a trip to state: Izza Mork, Laila Cook, Kandell Hagen, and Grace Mork.

“We had 21 girls compete in Sections and every one of them helped get that second place finish and all are a part of the first time that has ever happened,” Tamm said.

Re-cap

Maggie Graning (Grade 10) will compete in the State Diving Competition.

State participants: 200 Medley Relay: Laila Cook(Grade 12), Izza Mork(Grade 8), Grace Mork(Grade 10), Mia Suleter(Grade 8). Alternates: Eiley Kaehler (Grade 8), Elin Cook (grade 10), Alyssa Cowley(Grade 8); 400 Freestyle Relay: Izza Mork(Grade 8), Laila Cook(Grade 12), Kandell Hagen(grade 8), Grace Mork(Grade 10). Alternates: Josie Reckelberg (Grade 10), Kailey McGowan (Grade 11), Harper Kellogg(Grade 8). 

Grace Mork (Grade 10- 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle), Izza Mork (Grade 8- 200 Individual Medley, 100 Breaststroke).