Red Wing High Wins Minnesota Girls “A” High School State Champs

MINNEAPOLIS, MN., November 21. JUST like their hockey namesake a few hundred miles to the east in Motor City, Red Wing High proved unstoppable in the Minnesota "A" girls' high school swim championships here this evening.

Red Wing claimed its third-consecutive crown, a 242-169 triumph over Hutchinson, with Inver Grove third (163).

As was the case with Double A champ Burnsville, Red Wing scored heavily in the relays to solidfy its title. R-W was runner-up in the 200 medley (1:52.79-1:51.55 for Minnehaha) but won both other races, splashing to firsts in the 200 free (1:39.53-1:39.74 over Austin) and the 400 (3:36.77 to Simley's 3:43.20).

In both of the latter races Red Wing defended its title from last season

Their only individual winner was sophomore sprinter Beth Kiczula, who moved up from second last year in the 50 free to No. 1 in 24.06, not far off the divisional-record of 23.85. The overall Minnesota record, which she has two more cracks at, is 23.00 by Apple Valley's Jennifer Riggs from the 1998 championship.

There were a pair of doublers, Benilde soph Lauren Bergstrom in the 200 (1:55.13) and 500 (5:09.13) frees; and Hutchinson sophomore Lindsay Wegner, who claimed the 200 IM title (2:12.22) and set a divisional record en route to the 100 fly win (57.16).

Other winners included Shakopee senior Kelly Hyatt in the 100 free (53.18) with Red Wing junior Katie Mettling third; Prior Lake senior Jami Turner in the 100 back (59.74), up from second last season; and Roseau junior Anneliesse Nelson, who also moved up a notch from last season to win the 100 breast (1:08.90). She went a 1:07.68 to win in 2001. Diver Kelly Helland won the 1-meter board (419.95).

Red Wing's winning 3:36.77 for the 400 free relay was more than three seconds faster than the 3:39.99 that got them No. 1 last year, but still shy of Hutchinson's record 3:35.37 from '97. Mettling, who led off the winning 200 sprint relay, also went No. 1 here (54.16) while 50 free champ Kiczula, who led off last season, swam the third leg (53.66).

— Bill Bell

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