'Cats drop M8C meet to C-I

The Wildcats are continuing to find out what a grind the Mississippi 8 Conference can be. They took to the pool last week against Cambridge-Isanti, and didn’t make it out with a tally in the team win column.

The ‘Cats got off to a tough start after getting a second place in the 200 medley relay. They had their strongest team in there with Kalli Jo Olson, Dani Barnes, Thomi Lee and Dani Berg hoping to earn a first and start the meet off right. C-I’s top quartet, though, edged CL’s by just over a second. The Bluejackets’ came in at 2:04.48 and the ‘Cats foursome came in at 2:05.81. C-I also grabbed the third place spot, giving them an early six point lead. The 200 free was a wash after Lee breezed through the competition with a 2:04.82. Second place in the event finished in 2:17.18.

The Wildcats were able to keep it within striking distance after the 200 individual medley where Berg, Kristina Audette and Barnes went second, fourth and fifth. But, the 50 free and diving events started to widen C-I’s lead. They got the top two spots in both events, giving them 11 more points onto their lead and stretching it to 18 points. Olson finished second in the 100 fly, but CL still was falling behind, as the Jackets were earning the first place points in nearly all of the events. Even in the events the Wildcats got first place in, they still weren’t making up any ground. Berg finished first in the 100 free, but C-I got the second, third and fourth finishes and the Jackets outscored the ‘Cats 9-7 in the event.

In the 500 free, Lee won it going away with a 5:30.31, but the overall points were even when Bluejacket swimmers finished in second, third and fifth. In the 200 free relay, Olson, Berg, Audette and Lee were out-touched by four-one-hundredths of a second. C-I’s top team finished in 1:51.95 while CL’s team finished in 1:51.99. Olson won the 100 back in 1:09.03, but it would be the last first place finish for the Wildcats. After the Jackets stretched their lead to nearly 40 points after the 100 breast, they swam exhibition for the 400 free relay, making the final score 105-81 in favor of Cambridge-Isanti.