The Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbird swim team continued its winning ways Saturday by topping Marathon and Medford at the Iola-Scandinavia Community Fitness & Aquatic Center.
The team also placed third out of 13 teams June 18 at the Friday Night 50s in Green Bay.
“The teams from Medford and Marathon were not quite as big as I hoped,” coach Dick Wright said. “Our kids still swam well even though they weren’t pushed too hard.”
Mackenzie Kielblock and Kaitlyn Kostuch led the 8-and-under group. Kielblock won five events – 25 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 100 freestyle and 100 individual medley – and Kostuch added two seconds and three thirds.
“We have 17 kids 8 and under this summer,” Wright said. “Some of them are as young as 4 years old and these little swimmers have all really worked hard.”
Marcus Glodowski, Jessica Gutschow and Dylan Kostuch led the 9-10 group. Glodowski won the 50 and 100 freestyle, 50 backstroke and breaststroke and 100 IM; Gutschow placed second in five events; and Kostuch added four thirds.
Mitch Glodowski, Ben Gutschow and Jessica Faldet led the 11-12 group. Glodowski tipped the field in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 50 breaststroke and butterfly and 100 IM; Gutchow won the 50 backstroke and added four seconds; and Faldet chipped in with four thirds.
Zach Shulfer, Morgan Glodowski and Katie Makovec paced the 13-14 contingent. Shulfer won the 100 freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and the 200 IM; Glodowski won the 50 and 200 freestyle and added a pair of thirds; and Makovec won the 50 butterfly, took second in the 200 IM and placed third in two other races.
John Faldet and Krista Mortenson led the 15-18 group. Faldet won the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke; and Mortenson won the 100 IM and added two thirds.
The T-Birds also won most of the relay events at the meet.
“We have a big team with some very good swimmers at all age groups,” Wright said. “That depth gives us a big advantage. Plus, we have a lot of boys on our team and many of the teams don’t have the numbers we have.”
Swimmers of the week were Kielblock and Ana Holder, who swam at the Badger State Games, for the girls and Faldet for the boys.
The format for the Green Bay meet was different than in the past, as swimmers swim in only 50-yard events (25 yards for ages 8 and under).
“Once again, our kids swam really well at Green Bay,” Wright said. “This meet always seems to bring out the best in our kids. There are a lot of bigger city swim teams and they provide some great competition.”
Green Bay YMCA finished first, while Fox Cities placed second and only 50 points in front of the T-Birds. I-S finished ahead of Oshkosh Y, Marinette-Menominee, Stevens Point, Wittenberg, Ashwaubenon, Marquette County (Mich.), Clintonville, Delta County (Mich.) and Delta County Y (Mich.).
Kielblock and Holder teamed up to lead the 8-and-under swimmers by finishing second and third overall in their age group of 27 girls. Kielblock recorded seconds in the breaststroke and IM, a third in the backstroke, a fourth in the freestyle and a fifth in the butterfly, while Holder took second in the backstroke, placed third in two other races and took fourth and fifth in two others.
“These two girls really swam well,” Wright said. “They were the highest individual overall placers we’ve had.”
Abigail Stevens, Jessica Gutschow, Marcus Glodowski and Dylan Kostuch led the 9-10 group. Gutschow and Kostuch had three top-10 finishes; Glodowski finished fifth in his age group of 26 swimmers after placing third in the breaststroke, fourth in the freestyle and in the top seven in three other events.
Mitch Glodowski, Ben Gutschow, Jakob Struble and Jessica Faldet led the 11-12 group. Glodowski finished fourth in his group of 20 boys and record fourths in the freestyle and butterfly, fifth in the backstroke and IM and sixth in the breaststroke; Gutschow had five top-seven finishes; and Struble recorded five personal-best times.
Zach Shulfer, Katie Makovec and Morgan Glodowski led the 13-14 group. Shulfer finished sixth in his group of 24 swimmers after placing sixth in the butterfly, IM and breaststroke and sevenths in the freestyle and backstroke. Makovec and Glodowski added three top-10 finishes each.
Tyler Faldet, John Faldet, Teresa Sprangers and Krista Mortenson led the 15-18 group. Tyler Faldet had five top-10 finishes; John Had four personal-best times; and Sprangers and Mortenson chipped in with three personal bests.
“This was a fun format,” Wright said. “With all these sprint races, it went fast, even with about 250 swimmers involved. Our kids enjoyed the meet and did really well.”
Swimmers of the week honors went to Stevens for the girls and Struble for the boys.
The T-Birds’ next meet is an eight-team invitational Saturday, July 10, in Medford.