Sea Lions Take Spirit Award at Swimming Championship

MALST swimmers ended their summer with a splash! The Sea Lions brought home the third-place team trophy from the seasonal championship meet by racking up 947 points on Friday and Saturday, July 30-31, at Webster. The Milbank Area swimmers also received the Wayne Stillson Spirit Award and trophy for the second year in a row. Coach Jodi Street said, “Our athletes and parents definitely brought the best team spirit to this meet, it was a fun atmosphere and great to see so many get involved.”   

Street continued, “Overall, the team had their best meet of the season. They set 15 new MALST records and 11 seasonal champs records. All of our swimmers had multiple personal best swims and significant time cuts.”  The team’s top time cutter was Hope Karels. She dropped 45 seconds in the 500-meter freestyle. Karels was also presented with the Seasonal Swimmer Coaches Award. All the coaches at the meet voted to decide the winner. 

Swimmers who set new seasonal championship meet records included: Liam Street — 100 and 200-meter backstroke, 200IM, 500-meter freestyle and 200-meter breaststroke  Tylynn Wellnitz — 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke Hope Karels — 500 and 1000-meter freestyle Maurina Street — 50-meter freestyle  Zayda Townsend — 500-meter freestyle  

The eight swimmers with the most points in each age group were named the High Point winners. They included:  Girls 7-8 Tylynn Wellnitz — 1st place Hannah Pauli — 6th place Stella Pulling and Zoe Schwenn — tied for 8th place Boys 7-8 Ryan Steffan — 1st place, Mason Pauli — 6th place Girls 9-10 Adrienne Korth — 1st place Bailee Hendricks — 2nd place Jada Leigh Wellnitz — 3rd place Timbree Spors — 4th Kylynn Schwandt — 5th place

Boys 9-10 Logan Dexter — 1st place Boys 11-12 Liam Street –1st place Thomas Bass — 7th place Jacob Overby  — 8th place 

Girls 13-14 Jacy Dexter — 6th place Girls 15-16 Maurina Street — 1st place Hope Karels — 2nd placeRylie Overby — 7th place 

The MALST 12 & Under Swimmer of the Meet was Ryan Steffen. Coach Street said, “Ryan had a fantastic meet as the top eight-year-old boy. He achieved four first-place finishes and was a member of the eight-and-under medley and freestyle relay team that captured first place in both. Ryan has worked really hard at his flip turns in practice and was able to complete them all at this meet, also had significant time cuts in all of his races.”   

The MALST 13 & Over Swimmer of the Meet was Maurina Street. Coach Street said, “Maurina’s hard work and dedication came through with her best meet of the season. She achieved first place in all seven individual events with personal best swims in all.  She set two new MALST records, and her seasonal record in the 200-meter backstroke included a 19-second time cut.” M. Street was also a member of the 15 & over relay that captured second place, achieved the most individual points, and was awarded the Champion Swimmer of the Meet trophy. 

Photo: Maurina Street and Ryan Steffen