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Chisago Lakes 99, Robbinsdale Cooper 75

After two straight heart-pounding meets -- a 93-93 tie with Fridley and a 92-91 loss to Spring Lake Park -- the Wildcats were able to breath a sigh of relief with an easy win over North Suburban Conference rival Robbinsdale Cooper.

"It's nice to have a meet like this where the guys can try some different events and not have to worry about the score," Head Coach Mark Nordby said after the victory. "In many events we scored one-two-three finishes. It's a credit to this young team to be able to swim off events and still have a commanding lead throughout the meet."

The Wildcats started out with a bang with their top two relay teams in the 200-yard medley relay sweeping the top spots. Ryan Smith, Avery Turman, Mitch Gebauer and Alex Vitalis swam a 1:55.83 in the event to take first place by almost 10 seconds.

"The medley turned in the fastest time of the season with 1:55.83. Smith lead off in his best time in the back of 29.9," Nordby said.

Sam Engel, Alex Vrudny, Nathan Braski and James Falkowski grabbed that second place finish with a 2:05.36.

In the second event, the Wildcats earned what would be their first of six one-two-three sweeps on the night. Matt Mattson, Eric Barnes and Rob Bjornson claimed the top three spots in the 200-yard freestyle.

Smith and Turman earned the top two spots in the 200-yard individual medley, and by the end of the third event, the 'Cats had a 37-9 lead in the team tally. Those two, and Braski, who came in fourth in the event, all had personal bests in the event.

The second sweep of the nigth occured in the 50-yard freestyle. Vitalis, Konnor Doble and Joey Eikens took the top three spots in the event, and CL stretch their lead to 50-12.

Gebauer won the diving event, scoring a 201.85, and in the race for second, seventh grader Jake Doble was just barely edged by Paul Wanamaker of Cooper 158.30 to 153.60. "Jake is now diving in the mid 100's which is fantastic for a first year diver," Nordby explained. "He really shows no fear on the board and has caught on very quickly."

The 'Cats didn't swim particularily well in the next two events, but they were still able to get a first place finish in each one. Vrudny finished the 100-yard butterfly in first with a 1:10.39 and Gebauer finished first in the 100-yard freestyle with a 54.15.

"Mitch has really shown what a great sprinter and diver he is by winning the 100 free in 54.15 and also winning the diving with his personal best of 201.85," Nordby said proudly. "Because of his diving, he spends most of his time on the board during practice so to have him show that type of speed is great. That will really help the 400 free relay down the road."

Mattson, Barnes and Bjornson earned another sweep for the Wildcats when the took first, second and third place in the 500-yard freestyle.

After a first place by the quartet of Gebauer, Konnor Doble, Barnes and Mattson in the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 'Cats enjoyed a 99-37 lead with only three events left. They went into exhibition mode for the three races, swimming and diving's version of the mercy rule. Although Nordby still sent the same lineup out to get times in, they wouldn't be recording points for the 'Cats.

It's a good thing they didn't, or this could've been one of the most lopsided victories of the season.

In the 100-yard backstroke, Vitalis, Smith and Engel went one-two-three, and in the 100-yard breaststroke, Turman, Falkowski and Beau Hawkinson went one-two-four, and in the finale, the 400-yard freestyle, Mattson, Barnes, Smith and Turman earned first place honors and Bjornson, Engel, Jake Ewert and Ethan Engstrom finished second.

"We train all strokes throughout the week in practice while also training in their specialty strokes. We start every practice together and usually do the first set on a stroke," Nordby said of his team's versatility. "Then they split up into their specialty strokes, sprints or distance. It helps them become well rounded swimmers, but also gives time to focus on their main stroke. It's nice that guys can swim some off events and still do well."

This week, the Wildcats have their first two-meet week in a while as they take on NSC foe Irondale in a five-lane pool with no diving. "It changes the strategies of a meet because now a first place finish gets five points and second and third combine for only five points," Nordby noted. "It favors a team with a couple All-star swimmers rather than a team with depth like ours. We'll have to be mentally and physically ready for Irondale as they have one of the top sprinters in the conference in Clint Stroeing."

The meet is tonight at 6 p.m. at Irondale.

After the conference tussle, the 'Cats venture out of NSC territory to Cambridge-Isanti High School for the C-I Invite. Nordby said he was excited to see how his team matches up against some of the teams they'll see in sections. The invite takes place over at Cambridge-Isanti at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

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