By Bruce Karnick

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The Hastings Raiders girls swim team had an amazing season. They won the conference title with an undefeated conference season and nabbed second place in the section meet. During sections, they had all three relays not only earn a state birth, but all three relays won their races for the first time since the late 90’s. Add the individuals that made it to state, and the season becomes even more successful for the team.

The girls brought Kendal Jenkins (12), Lauren Jenkins (10), Ava Mc-Namara (11), Josey Larson (9), Ashtyn Stewart (10), Ireland Zaruba (12), and Kira Aarness (9) to the state meet with alternate swimmers Izzy Green, Sofia Kovalenko and Clara Birken.

Practices became much more individualized once the section meet was over. Only the 10 going to state went to practice where the coaching team worked to keep the practices fun to alleviate the stress of a state competition.

“We had fun every day at practice and reminded them that they have earned their place there just as much as everyone else,” explained Head Coach Katie McAlpin.

That message held when they arrived at the meet when McAlpin spoke to the girls just before the meet, “We made it, let’s go out, have fun and enjoy this moment.”

For the preliminary round, the top 16 times in each event proceeded to Saturday. Saturday’s events each consisted of a consolation race and a championship race. Thursday was the diving preliminaries where Hastings missed sending a diver by just four points at sections. Friday had the swimming prelims and Saturday the finals. Of the seven events Hastings participated in, only a three missed the cut to swim Saturday.

Ashtyn Stewart swam the 50-yard freestyle in 24.86 seconds, missing the top 16 by just .25 of a second. .24 would have tied her with the swimmer that grabbed 16th place.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team of McNamara, Lauren Jenkins, Ireland Zaruba and Kira Aarness had a time of 1:41.91 to finish 18th, missing the cut by almost two seconds.

McNamara competed in the 100-yard breaststroke finishing 17th with a time of 1:06.97. 16th place was 1:05.85.

On Saturday, Hastings had swimmers in two relays, the 200 Medley Relay and the 400 freestyle. They also had swimmers in the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke During the prelims, the 200-yard medley relay finished in 12th with a time of 1:50.35. Kendal Jenkins led off in the backstroke, Mc- Namara the breaststroke, Larson they butterfly, and Stewart anchored the relay with the freestyle. On Saturday, the same team, same order finished in the same spot, 12th, and almost the same time, 1:50.46. First place went to Minnetonka with a time of 1:42.97 In the 100-yard backstroke, senior Kendal Jenkins qualified with a 58.88 on Friday tied with the swimmer from Eastview, Hanna Dubbe, for 14th. On Saturday, both Jenkins and Dubbe improved their times to move up the list and a few that were ahead of them fell down the list. This time, Jenkins edged Dubbe with a time of 58.59. First place went to freshman Grace Rabb of Andover with a time of 54.46.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay started off with Ashtyn Stweart into Kendal Jenkins, then Ireland Zaruba and finally Kira Aarness. In the preliminary round, the relay had a time of 3:39.37. For the finals, they knocked almost a second off their time to finish 12th with 3:38.55. Minnetonka finished in first with 3:27.88 The races are listed a little out of order to save the best finish for last. Junior Ava Mc-Namara against Wayzata’s Claire Reinke, also a Junior, in the 100 Butterfly. In the prelims, Reinke edged Mc-Namara by 1.5 seconds. Reinke finished with 54.85 for the Trojans and McNamara 56.34 for the Raiders. After the race, McNamara felt she did not have her best race. See SWIM TEAM Page 11 That setup an exciting race for the finals on Saturday. After the first lap, Reinke had the lead by 1.14 seconds and Mc-Namara was unable to overcome that deficit, finishing with a time of 55.62, 1.64 seconds behind Reinke. McNamara brought home a second-place finish at state for the Raiders.

From a team standpoint, Hastings finished 15th overall with a score of 43. Minnetonka took first with 381 and Edina second with 223.

Sadly, the state meet means it’s the last time in a Raider swim uniform for some of the girls, McAlpin discussed the seniors from the state team. “Kendal Jenkins and Ireland Zaruba we’re the seniors from out state team. They have both been a part of our program for five plus years. They have been leaders and had a huge positive impact on our team. They will be missed next year! It has been an honor to watch them grow into beautiful, strong young women.”

The coaching staff is also proud of this year’s team and the way they made it to state McAlpin explained. “This is the first time in almost 25 years we have made three relays to the state meet and several years since we have scored team points.”

The coaching team has a week off before they start the boy’s season where McAlpin and assistant coach Gerry Rupp will switch positions. Rupp is the head coach of the boys and McAlpin is the assistant. The first practice for the boys is scheduled for November 29 and the first meet is December 9 at The Grove for Conference Relays.

What will the coaches do with their free time? McAlpin laughed, “One whole week off! Sleep, clean, spend time with my kids, put up Xmas decorations, and visit my dad.”

Along with being a busy mom, working, and being a crazy busy swim coach, McAlpin and her family have been dealing with her father being in the hospital after a motorcycle accident late this summer. Chris Roosen, a former Marine and recently retired Marathon employee, spent a considerable time in the ICU after a serious accident left him paralyzed at least from the waist down and severely limited the use of his hands. According to the GoFundMe page, he is currently working his way through rehab hoping to, at a minimum, regain the full use of his hands and arms, and maybe even his legs. Next time you sit down and send that positive energy out there, make sure to include Chris in that.

Despite all the stress of seeing her father go through the pain he has, McAlpin has kept her positive attitude with the help of her family, friends and extended family of swimmers and coaches at her side.

McAlpin ended on this note. “This year has been one to remember. Lots of ups and downs. Everyone came together as a team and did their part for us to succeed. I am so proud of my team and their accomplishments this year.”

Junior Ava McNamara had the best solo performance for the Raiders at the state swim meet placing second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 55.62. Photo by Bruce Karnick

The girls of the 400-freestyle relay react to qualifying for the final night of the state swim meet. L to R: Kira Aarness, Ireland Zaruba and Kendal Jenkins. (Ashtyn Stewart is behind Zaruba). Photo by Bruce Karnick