Fraasch and Karels Qualify for State

Elijah Fraasch and Will Karels, members of the Milbank Area Lions Swim Team (MALST), swam state qualifying times at the Brookings Last Chance Swim Meet. The meet was held February 3 and February 4, at the Brookings High School.

MALST Head Coach Jodi Street says, “The team added two swimmers to the state team, swam a combined total of 15 state qualifying events, and had multiple personal best swims. The water was a little slow right away and the races were very close together with not much recovery time, but the swimmers competed well and were able to achieve some of our fastest times.”

Fraasch joined the team after the Christmas break and swam his first meet of the winter season at Brookings. He swam three state qualifying events to earn a spot at the State A swim meet in March. “He was our top timecutter with a major time drop of 18.60 seconds in the 200 freestyle from his summer time,” says Street.

Karels punched his ticket to state in the 100 freestyle. “Will achieved his personal goal of breaking one minute in that event,” says Street. “He also took on a new event for the first time in his swimming career and tackled the 200 butterfly.” Karels also dropped 15.74 seconds from his 200 breaststroke time.

“The team also excelled in our distance events at this meet,” Street says. Savanna Osowski cut over six seconds in both her 200 breast and 200 butterfly races. Marion Mischel dropped 6.37 seconds in the 200 freestyle and competed well in her newest event, the 100 butterfly. She added to her state qualifying times in the 200 breast and achieved personal best times in seven of her eight events. Amaya Street cut five seconds off her 200 backstroke, and Max Kuecker added the 200 free and 200 IM events to his state meet lineup.

The Sealions take on one more regular meet in Watertown on February 17-18, before heading to the State Championship meet in March.

Results from the Brookings meet:
Elijah Fraasch (boys 15-16) – 2. 50 free, 24.56; 3. 100 back, 1:07.49; 3. 100 fly, 1:08.47; 3. 200 free, 2:23.27.
Will Karels (boys 13-14) – 8. 50 free, 27.84; 5. 200 breast, 3:14.62; 9. 100 fly, 1:18.89; 10. 200 free, 2:22.59; 8. 100 free, 59.58; 6. 200 fly, 3:13.52; 8. 100 breast, 1:31.46; 9. 200 IM, 2:45.32.
Max Kuecker (boys 13-14) – 2. 100 free, 55.59; 6. 200 IM, 2:27.81.
Marion Mischel (girls 13-14) – 22. 50 free, 33.46; 15. 200 breast, 3:36.01; 18. 100 back, 1:36.78; 19. 100 fly, 1:33.15; 25. 200 free, 2:55.02; 25. 100 free, 1:16.10; 19. 100 breast, 1:38.36; 22. 200 IM, 3:13.72.
Savanna Osowski (girls 13-14) – 12. 50 free, 29.86; 7. 200 breast, 2:58.45; 10. 100 back, 1:18.64; 8. 200 free, 2:23.03; 13. 100 free, 1:04.54; 2. 200 fly, 2:58.34; 11. 100 breast, 1:25.80; 11. 200 IM, 2:43.31.
Amaya Street (girls 13-14) – 2. 200 breast, 2:45.08; 2. 100 back, 1:11.43; 6. 100 fly, 1:13.37; 3. 200 free, 2:11.92; 3. 100 free, 58.72; 3. 200 back, 2:31.92; 4. 100 breast, 1:18.89; 2. 200 IM, 2:27.08.

Photo: Elijah Fraasch (left), Will Karels (right)