Chisago Lakes learning Mississippi 8 is tough group

Princeton Relays
Although the Chisago Lakes girls swimming and diving team routinely swims at the Princeton Relays, this year was a bit different in that some of the competitors this year are conference opponents. Two of those teams -- Cambridge-Isanti and Princeton -- finished ahead of the Wildcats in their early season tune up. The meet is a non-traditional one that has events that aren’t featured the rest of the year. It’s more of a warm up, but can also give teams a gauge as to where they stand. The ‘Cats earned a second place in the 4x200 medley relay. The team of Kalli Jo Olson, Dani Barnes, Thomi Lee and Lauren Johnson finished in 2:06.97, just two seconds off the winning pace.

In the 3x200 free relay, Hannah Emeott, Annie Harwell and Kristen Smith teamed up for a third place finish. The ‘Cats grabbed their last high finish for a while in the 4x400 individual medley relay. Barnes, Lily Meierhoff, Kristina Audette and Lee finished in 5:01.29 in second place. Lee, the Wildcats’ defending state champion in the 500 freestyle, was back at it in the 4x400 freestyle relay, kicking off the second place team with a fast opening leg. The foursome, also featuring Lauren Johnson, Emeott and Danielle Smythe finished in 4:23.90. When all the points were tallied for the non-traditional events, CL came in fourth. Cambridge-Isanti won the meet with 274 points, Milaca had 224 points in second place and Princeton had 214 points in third place. Chisago Lakes was in fourth with 210 points and they were without one of their top swimmers in Dani Berg who was just making her way back from a broken toe suffered over the summer. Head Coach Ed Wakefield thought the girls only swam OK at the season-opening meet, but with Berg out and it being early on, it wasn’t anything he was fretting about.

Monticello 101, Chisago Lakes 80
Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, they had to open their Mississippi 8 season against the ultra-fast Monticello Magic. From the get-go, it was a domination from Monti. They were up by 24 points only four events into the meet and eventually stretched it to 46 points before swimming exhibition. Bright spots were dotted around the meet, however. Olson, Barnes, Lee and Berg teamed up for a second place finish in the 200 medley relay. Lee was her typical fast self. Besides helping that quartet to a second place finish, she was also first in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle. She also anchored the 200 free relay team that finished second. Joining her on that team were Olson, Lindsey Albrecht and Berg.

Payton Nelson finished in second place in diving with a 155.10. Olson came in second in the 100 fly with a 1:09.85 and the freshman also finished in second in the 100 back with a time of 1:10.82. The ‘Cats take on another very tough M8C foe this week in Cambridge-Isanti. CL hosts the Bluejackets Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. They also have a non-conference match up with old North Suburban Conference foe Spring Lake Park on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. The Panthers upset CL last year early in the season, so the Wildcats will have a bit of vengeance in their mind for that match up.