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There is just something about big meets with this team.

Despite swimming in two meets earlier in the week, including one two nights earlier, the Chisago Lakes girls swimming and diving team fought off fatigue, fought off recent troubles, and swam arguably the best race of the season at the section 4A True Team meet. The end result was a second place finish and a shot at the state True Team tournament next week. (All of the section Wildcards will be placed into a computer. The computer will conduct a mock meet. The top two finishers will join the eight section champions at the state tournament).

Milaca finished first, 38 points ahead of the Wildcats.

“Milaca just crushed us on Thursday (the two teams faced off head-to-head in a dual meet. Milaca won 98-83). We really stayed with them on Saturday,” said Ed Wakefield, Chisago Lakes head swimming coach. “We really did a nice job. There are so many points available in a meet like that. To finish 38 points behind them is a lot closer than it looks. I think we really gave them a scare.”

That’s a good way to put it. The Wildcats posted one first place finish in the meet as well as one second, one third and seventh fourth places medals. In addition, Chisago Lakes placed second in all three relays, bringing home a total of 42 medals and a second place team trophy.

Individually, Erica Greene grabbed the ‘Cats only gold, finishing first in diving. Lauren Trudeau followed Greene by placing second, and Molly McGurk finished third in the 100 breaststroke.

“We rocked. We came home with a lot of hardware. Our only first place finish was Erica, but it shows what type of team we have. We got a lot of fourth place finishes, and our relays really came up huge. I think the girls gained a lot of confidence at that meet. They realized that they can complete with the Milaca’s of the world.”

As for what happens next, the ‘Cats true team future is up in the air. The state true team meet invites 10 teams, the eight section champs and two wildcards. In order for Chisago to be invited, they must be one of two wildcards selected. With the majority of the section true team meets taking place this weekend, the ‘Cats won’t know their fate until next week.

“I’m not sure if we’ll make it because I don’t think our section is one of the tougher ones out there,” explained Wakefield. “It would definitely be nice, but whether we make it or not, I’m really happy with the way we swam.”

Section True Team Meet

Team Results-

1. Milaca 979

2. Chisago Lakes 941

3. Foley 757.50

4. Proctor-Hermantown 621

5. Cloquet 533

6. Princeton 522.50

Individual Results- Top 8

(CL only):

200 Medley Relay-

2. Chisago Lakes 2:04.31

Dery, McGurk, Peterson, Merritt

7. Chisago Lakes 2:11.93

Willhite, Nickelson, Waddell, Koch

200 Freestyle-

4. Laura Chelberg 2:11.91

200 Individual Medley:

4. Lauren Koch 2:32.44

50 Freestyle:

4. Emily Stein 27.23

7. Emily Merritt 28.04

Diving:

1. Erica Greene 357.95

2. Lauren Trudeau 317.10

4. Ana Peltier 275.40

100 Butterfly:

4. Steph Peterson 1:09.92

100 Freestyle:

4. Emily Merritt 1:00.99

5. Emily Stein 1:01.33

6. Jessica Tollberg 1:01.72

500 Freestyle:

4. Lauren Koch 5:56.16

6. Laura Chelberg 6:04.42

200 Freestyle Relay:

2. Chisago Lakes 1:50.44

Merritt, Stein, Tollberg, Chelberg

8. Chisago Lakes 1:57.41

Corradi, Peterson, Secord, McGurk

100 Backstroke:

6. Angie Dery 1:11.65

100 Breaststroke:

3. Molly McGurk 1:14.43

7. Andrea Nickelson 1:18.91

8. Caylee Nelson 1:20.71

400 Freestyle Relay:

2. Chisago Lakes 4:03.07

Stein, Koch, Tollberg, Chelberg

8. Chisago Lakes 4:18.66

Cunningham, Secord, Corradi, Willhite

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