William Karels Earns a First-Place at Brookings Last Chance Meet

Four Milbank Area Lions Swim Team (MALST) members attended the Brookings Last Chance Meet on February 5-6. Coach Emily Bjordahl said, “Each swimmer gave it their all, and we came home with several personal best and state-qualifying times.”

William Karels placed first in the 500-meter freestyle competition. He also placed fifth in the 50-meter freestyle event with a personal best and state-qualifying time of 25.89 seconds. W. Karels added to his win list with a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke and a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle. He also came in seventh in the 100-meter freestyle, fifth in the 100-meter butterfly, and fifth in the 100-meter breaststroke.

Hope Karels, who competes in the15-16 year old division, placed sixth in the 50-meter freestyle event and qualified for State with a time of 30.52. She also placed sixth in the 100-meter backstroke, fourth in the 200-meter freestyle, and second in the 500-meter freestyle. H. Karels recorded a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter freestyle, a second-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly, and a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter individual medley (IM). She earned second place in the 1000-yard freestyle.

Coach Bjordahl said, “Adrienne Korth, who swims in the 11-12 year old division, swam a great 50-meter freestyle. She dropped two seconds from her personal best score to punch her ticket to the state meet in Pierre. She qualified with a time of 33.40.” Korth also placed ninth in the 200 IM and 10th in the 200-meter freestyle. She shaved over four seconds off her 100-meter freestyle time and dropped time in her 100 IM, and 50-meter butterfly. 

Ryan Steffen, who swims in the 9-10 year-old division, earned a personal best score in his 50-meter freestyle with a time of 43.58. He also took seventh and posted a state-qualifying time in the 100-meter backstroke. Coach Bjordahl said, “He cut 12 seconds off of his 200-meter freestyle to secure a state-qualifying time and placed sixth. He also trimmed over six seconds from his 100-meter freestyle event and dropped time in the 100 IM.”