North Dakota Girls State Championships

By Lauren Sampl, Swimming World intern

MANDAN, North Dakota, November 24. DESPITE the graduation of North Dakota high school phenom Dagny Knutson, there were plenty of sizzling times at the North Dakota girls state championships, held Nov. 11th-12th in Mandan. Century High School took home the overall team championship with 368.5 points, while Red River garnered second place with 300 points. Fargo North rounded out the top three teams, earning 251.5 points.

The ladies from Red River kicked off the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay. Jamie Skavlem, Courtney Fisk, Erin Grabanski and Mirna Kojic teamed up for a time of 1:50.56, while Century touched second in 1:52.48, followed by Fargo North (1:54.69).

Central's Ali Church cruised to a five second victory in the 200 free, stopping the clock in 1:52.09. Addy DiCristina of Red River grabbed second place honors in 1:57.14, and Lydia Engberg of Century swam to third in 1:58.83.

Shortly after her team's medley relay win, Red River's Erin Grabanski returned for an individual championship of her own, winning the 200 IM in 2:08.76. Ellie Roche of Fargo North claimed second place in 2:11.27, and Jamestown's Erin Hart wound up third in 2:15.97.

Minot's Courtney Funk won her first state title of the meet, taking the 50 free in a speedy 24.18. Mirna Kojic of Red River stopped the clock in 24.71 for second, and Cassie Walth of Century rounded out the top three with a 24.95.

In the diving well, it was Fargo South's Ashley Kankelfritz who emerged victorious, scoring 385.70 points. Jamestown's Brooke Lukach tallied 364.95 points for second on the podium, while Alex Lind, also of Jamestown, garnerd the final podium spot with 355.50 points.

Three swimmers cracked 1:00 in the 100 fly, led by first place finisher Danica Dutt of West Fargo. She touched in 57.47, and was followed by Emily Roche of Fargo North (59.05) and Dani Bergeson of Century (59.41).

Courtney Funk of Minot returned to the top of the podium with a 52.13 effort in the 100 free. Century's Cassie Walth added to her third place finish in the 50 free with a 53.70, and Mirna Kojic of Red River raced to third in 54.07.

200 free champ Ali Church of Central picked up her second state title of the day, swimming to a time of 5:02.46 in the 500 free. Finishing more than 12 seconds behind her was Addy DiCristina of Red River in 5:15.20. Katie Svendson of Central finished third in 5:17.96.

The quartet of Lydia Engberg, Jarren Fallgatter, McKenzie Jeske and Cassie Walth gave Century its first relay victory of the meet, taking the 200 free relay in 1:41.43. West Fargo swam to second in 1:42.66, and Red River was just behind them in 1:43.08.

Red River's Erin Grabanski, winner of the 200 IM, led a trio of swimmers under 1:00 in the 100 back, taking the title in 57.83. Century's Emily Smallbeck earned second place in 59.70, while Erin Hart of Jamestown picked up a third place medal with a time of 59.92.

Fargo North's Ellie Roche ascended to the top of the podium after her second place finish in the 100 fly, winning the 100 breast in 1:07.05.Veronica Herrmann of Century wound up second in 1:09.32, and Courtney Fisk of Red River swam to third in 1:10.37.

Red River closed out the meet with another relay win, as the tandem of Erin Grabanski, Breanna Schmidt, Addy DiCristina and Mirna Kojic joined forces to win in 3:37.20. The squad from Century raced to second in 3:40.18, and Fargo North rounded out the top three with a 3:41.92 effort.

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