Class Act: Senior divers will leave a big splash on the program
Published 9:24 pm Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Austin’s Emma Czarnota swims the backstroke portion of the girls 200 yard medley relay against Winona Tuesday night in Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Alondra Torres Munoz makes one of her dives duringa. dual against Winona Tuesday night at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Alayna Kennedy makes a dive Tuesday night during a dual against Winona at Bud Higgins pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Reese Norton dives during a dual against Winona Tuesday night at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Alondra Torres Munoz, from left, Alayna Kennedy and Reese Norton pose for a picture prior to the start of diving Tuesday night at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Harper Wadding swims the breastroke of the 200 yard individual medley during a dual against Winona Tuesday night at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Gracie Greenman swims the backstroke during the 200 yard individual relay in a dual against Winona Tuesday night at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Gracel Johnson-Merten swims the 200 yard freestyle Tuesday night during a dual against WInona at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Madison Tauger swims the butterfly portion fo the 200 yard medley relay during a dual against Winona Tuesday night at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Eva Taylor swims the breatstroke of the 200 yard medley relay during a dual against Winona Tuesday night at Bud Higgins Pool. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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It was as much a celebration as a swimming and diving meet for the Austin Packer divers as a very special senior trio competed for the final time in Bud Higgins Pool Tuesday.
The Packers lost the dual meet to Winona 97-85, but the spirits of seniors Alayna Kennedy, who took first, Reese Norton, who took second, and Alondra Torres Munoz, who took fourth, couldn’t be dampened.
“I knew this day was coming, but it didn’t really hit me until we were standing on that diving podium for the last time as a group,” Torres Munoz said. “We’ve all been through so much together and we’ve all grown so much from freshman to senior year. We grew up together.”
Austin’s senior divers will leave a tough act to follow as Kennedy has a state championship, two school records and a pool record, and Norton has multiple state appearances. All three divers are also on the National Honor Society.
“We’re always there for each other and we’re laughing if we smack (on the water). I love my team and I’m going to miss the younger kids on the team,” Kennedy said. “Every year leading up to this we’d get to the last meet of the season, knowing we were going to get better for next season. Now we’re here at our last school meet and there is no next season. I’m really going to miss diving with these two.”
Norton said the divers have always treated competitions like a team sport and they’ve always supported each other and learned from each other. She expected the emotions to flood in during the meet, but now she’s realizing they may not hit until the Section 1A meet in a couple of weeks.
“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet that this was my last meet in this pool. I was really expecting to be crying a bunch of tears and I didn’t, which I’m really kind of mad about,” Norton said. “But I guess it’s probably a good thing because I’ve still got some bigger meets left with these two lovely ladies. I’m excited for this.”
AUSTIN RESULTS
200-medley relay: Gracie Greenman, Addison Tobak, Anna Kossman, Alivia Hemry (first, 2:00.09); Emma Czarnota, Eva Taylor, Madison Tauger, Halle Burke (fourth, 2:14.99); Victoria Batalden, Scarlett Davis, Anita Rao, Leah Pischke (fifth, 2:15.10)
200-freestyle: Abbie Boysen (first, 2:06.28); Serenity Flowers (fifth, 2:16.95); Gracelyn Johnson-Merten (sixth, 2:23.91)
200-individual medley: Gracie Greenman (second, 2:19.25); Addison Tobak (third, 2:42.11); Harper Wadding (sixth, 2:47.56)
50-freestyle: Alivia Hemry (second, 27.13); Anna Kossman (fourth, 27.54); Tailynn Krueger (fifth, 27.84)
Diving: Alayna Kennedy (first, 254.60); Reese Norton (second, 227.80); Alondra Torres Munoz (fourth, 154.85)
100-freestyle: Alivia Hemry (third, 1:00.21); Tailynn Krueger (fifth, 1:03.06); Victoria Batalden (sixth, 1:05.45)
500-freestyle: Halle Burke (third, 6:27.42); Gracelyn Johnson-Merten (fifth, 6:32.96); Madellane Hicks (sixth, 6:43.56)
200-freestyle relay: Gracie Greenman, Abbie Boysen, Tailynn Krueger, Alivia Hemry (second, 1:47.39); Serenity Flowers, Eva Taylor, McKenna Donovan, Anna Kossman (third, 1:56.83); Delaney Ferguson, Scarlett Davis, Clara McIntrye, Sherilyn Spear (fourth, 2:03.43)
100-backstroke: Gracie Greenman (first, 1:00.29); Victoria Batalden (fourth, 1:17.05); Serenity Flowers (fifth, 1:17.69)
100-breaststroke: Abbie Boysen (first, 1:19.40); Addison Tobak (second, 1:19.78); Scarlett Davis (third, 1:23.95)
400-freestyle relay: Tailynn Krueger, Leah Pischke, Serenity Flowers, Abbie Boysen (second, 4:08.39); McKenna Donovan, Madison Tauger, Victoria Batalden, Addison Tobak (third, 4:26.32); Halle Burke, Madellane Hicks, Harper Wadding, Anita Rao (fourth, 4:31.83)
