Bemidji鈥檚 season ends at sections with a handful of top-10 finishes

Elle Wille 200 free bemidji.JPG — Elle Wille competes in the 200 freestyle during the Section 8-2A swimming prelims on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at the Brainerd High 歪歪漫画 Aquatic Center.

By Pioneer Staff Report

November 11, 2023 at 11:48 PM

BRAINERD 鈥� The Bemidji girls swimming and diving team had several athletes compete on Saturday in Brainerd in the Section 8AA finals.

While the Lumberjacks were snubbed of state bids, a handful of girls clocked solid times. Merely Ueland, Abby Daman, Naomi Olson and Kylie Donat took sixth place in the 200-yard medley relay at 1:59.53. Donat also took 15th place in the 50 free (26.80) and 14th in the 100 free (58.07).

Daman finished in ninth place in the 100 free at 57.26 seconds. She also took sixth place in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:11.44.

Ryan Gaskins 500 freestyle Bemidji.JPG — Ryan Gaskins competes in the 500 freestyle during the Section 8-2A swimming prelims on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at the Brainerd High 歪歪漫画 Aquatic Center.

Ryan Gaskins (2:04.67, 12th) and Elle Wille (2:05.01, 13th) finished back-to-back in the 200-yard freestyle race. Gaskins also took eighth place in the 500 free in 5:32.03, with Wille not far behind in 10th (5:37.54). Both raced with Molly Matetich and Elena Harmsen in the 400 free relay to a time of 3:58.45. Harmsen also took ninth place in the 50 free (26.11).

Kennedy Olson was Bemidji鈥檚 best diver with an eighth-place score of 316.19. Ridley Hadrava took 12th (301.90).

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By Pioneer Staff Report

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