The Notre Dame girls swim team celebrated the new year and senior day on Tuesday, Jan. 2, with a tri-meet win over Farmington and Saxony Lutheran at the SEMO Recreation Center.
Three senior swimmers were recognized and mainly took part in the relays. Susan Boyd, Madeline Hendrickson, and Blanca Albuixech-Robinson competed in the 200-yard medley relay together and finished behind the Bulldogs’ top relay but also ahead of Farmington. Albuixech-Robinson also finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:31.72), less than a second behind teammate Kira Langenstein. She was also a part of the winning 200-yard freestyle relay.
“They're very excited,” Notre Dame swim coach Gail Timpe said. “They had several (personal records. They were great at leading our team as they have been all season.”
Junior Hannah Bledsoe won both the 100-yard freestyle (1:05.22) and the 200-yard freestyle (2:21.44). Junior Lydia Strohmeyer won the 100-yard backstroke (1:14.02) and was a part of the winning 200-yard medley relay, and along with Bledsoe, the winning 400-yard freestyle relay.
“Our seniors aren't necessarily our strongest swimmers,” Timpe said. “We have two juniors who are just 10 seconds off (state consideration).”
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Notre Dame won every event in the tri-meet. The Bulldogs (145) virtually doubled Farmington’s point total (74). Saxony Lutheran had only one swimmer and scored 12 points from Annabelle Brandhorst placing third in the 50-yard freestyle (31.99), 100-yard freestyle (1:08.48), and 100-yard backstroke (1:30.44).
This has been an interesting season for Notre Dame, as many of the swimmers are experiencing the sport for the first time. Langenstein won the backstroke and was a part of the medley relay, and fellow freshman Beth Bollinger won the 100-yard breaststroke (1:29.74) and was a key component in the two freestyle relays.
“We have started the season with 11 girls who have never swam before,” Timpe said. “We have a sophomore and a freshman and while they're not at that state level in their time, they've made huge gains throughout the season.”
Notre Dame will compete in the Rec Relays on Jan. 11, as will local powerhouses Jackson and Cape Central.
“So our goal going into that is to do the best that we can for our team,” Timpe said. “I don't think there's a way with the swimmers that we have right now that we're going to ever beat Cape and Jackson at this point, but we're getting closer. Each time we swim them, we’re getting our relays and our swimmers a little more competitive, so that's a good thing and that's what we're going for.”
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