The Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbird swim team hosted an open meet Saturday, Jan. 8, that also included a special invitational to the Marathon Manta Rays.
“This was a good meet for us after the holiday break,” coach Dick Wright said. “It was a low-key, family-oriented meet, which was great preparation for the rest of our season.”
The T-Birds will travel to Rhinelander Saturday, Jan. 15, for a 10-team invitational and have two other big invitationals in the following three weeks.
“Our kids have been working really hard this year and I think we are really ready to do well in these next for weeks in the upcoming big meets,” Wright said.
The open meet featured the T-Birds and Manta Rays as well as parents, family members, coaches and community members. There were about 70 team swimmers, plus another 25 family members and coaches.
Kaitlyn Kostuch, Elisabeth Sullivan, Eli Stevens, Matthew Glodowski and Tayler Carlson turned in top performances in the 8-and-under group; Ana Holder, Mackenzie Kielblock, Abigail Stevens and Dylan Kostuch led the 9-10 group; Katherine Leaf, Ethan Olson and Daniel parks led the 11- and 12-year-olds; Ben Gutschow, Jessica Faldet and Morgan Glodowski topped the field for the 13-14 group; and Kierstan Leaf, Ryan Parks and Robbie Van Zeeland turned in top times for the 15-18 group.
Matthew Glodowski and Sullivan were named swimmers of the week.
“Our open meet has become a very fun event for the swimmers and their families,” Wright said. “This year, we were fortunate to have the Marathon swimmers and some of their family members join us. I think this was a good way for us to get ready for our big meets this month.”