HJ Sports Blog

By Stephen Wiblemo
Sports Editor
MINNEAPOLIS – The hard work put in by four Dassel-Cokato girls swimmers was paid back in full Friday when Larinda Norgren, Kristen Haider, Victoria Tormanen, and Brooke Danielson made their first trip to the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center for the Class A State Swimming and Diving Tournament.
The four girls went together as DC’s qualifying 200-yard medley relay team. Tormanen also competed individually in the 100-yard breaststroke.
For DC fans who wanted to see the girls swim, hopefully they didn’t arrive late as the Charger girls swam in the first heat of the first event. Although that meant three of the girls would be done early for the day, they actually liked going first.
“It was cool being the first ones swimming, because I wasn’t nervous at all. I just got in and did it,” Norgren said.
“I liked it because I didn’t have time to psyche myself out, or get nervous,” Danielson said.
The four girls took 23rd place out of 28 teams at state with a time of 1:57.41, which was slightly slower than their seed time of 1:56.33. Even though they were a little slower, they still managed to improve their standings from where they were seeded, and even defeated Wright County Conference rivals Litchfield.
The Litchfield team, which was made up of Kjerstin Meyer, Hannah Walsh, Marissa Warren, and Kaytlin Borg came in with a seed time of 1:55.72. They took 24th at state with a time of 1:57.49.
Although the medley relay was done quickly, Tormanen still had to wait for her individual event, which was nearly two hours later. She did not appreciate the wait.
“I liked having the first event right away, but I hate waiting, because I’m very impatient,” she said. “And you can think about all the ways you won’t succeed, and you have to get that out of your mind.”
Despite the long wait, Tormanen performed well. She took 23rd place out of 30, and had a time of 1:11.56. That time was slightly slower than her seed time of 1:11.15, but not much.
Making it to the state tournament was a goal each of these girls had their eyes set on at the start of the year. Some of them have even been looking wanting it for longer than that.
Norgren has been to the state tournament to watch her cousins swim in the past, and last year she came to watch teammate Kate Kaiser swim in the 200-yard individual medley. Watching the state tournament from the stands made her want to be down on the deck even more, she says.
“I was kind of mad I didn’t make it last year, but I’m glad I made this year, and I’m here,” she said.
Haider also says she watched Kaiser swim last year, and wanted to make it to state herself even more.
“Watching her swim, and seeing the whole environment, made me want to swim in this pool, and come to state,” Haider said.
Although the moment only lasted a short while, about 30 seconds for each of them, they still enjoyed the experience.
“You are swimming at the U of M, and it is just an amazing environment to be swimming in,” Haider said. “The water makes you feel fast no matter what.”
“It makes you faster,” Danielson said. “The water even felt different from warmups to when we actually swam. It didn’t feel like the same pool at all. I think it is the mind set.”
Although they achieved this goal, the story they are writing is far from over.
Unlike Kaiser, who achieved her first trip to state as a senior, these four girls are all eligible to return next year. Having made it to state already, the girls will be looking for more next season.
“That is the biggest thing about the state tournament,” DC head coach Erin Tormanen said. “For girls that haven’t been here before, their whole goal of the season is to get to the state tournament. Once they make it to state, it’s like, now what do we do? Well, now you go to state and you swim.
“But, with them coming back (next year), our goal won’t just be making it to state, and having a good time. It will be, how far in state can we go.”
By making it state earlier in their careers, the girls have raised the stakes on themselves, but they are eager to meet the challenge.
The four members of this medley relay team hope to come back to state next year, and also qualify for some individual events.
“I think our medley relay will get here next year, because none of us our leaving as seniors,” Danielson said. “I think we’ll do fine next year, at least, and I hope to go individually.”
“It feels really good. I’m glad I went this year so when I come back next year, I have more experience and can do better,” Tormanen said. “I want to get in a final, and hopefully get in the top eight so I can medal. I know that will be tough, but I think I can do it.”
More Class A state notes
Section 3A champion Hutchinson took second place as a team at the state tournament with 207 points. Sartell-St. Stephens was first with 236 points.
Marshall, which was the Section 3A runners-up, took seventh overall with 109 points.
WCC team champion Orono also took 10th place with 109 points.
Hutchinson’s 200-yard medley relay team of Kaylee Kucera, Abbey Machtemes, Rebecca Lauer, and Aspen Billiet took first place in the finals with a time of 1:48.25.
Hutchinson’s 400-yard freestyle relay team also took first with a time of 3:32.14, and Audrey Kumm of Hutchinson took first in the 100-yard butterfly (55.81).
The champion of the 100-yard breaststroke was Megan Ostrom of St. Louis Park with a time of 1:05.82.