By: Theodore Tollefson

The Hastings Raiders Girls Swim and Dive had two competitions this last week and kept their hot streak on the season going, winning their first meet on Thursday, September 9 against Mahtomedi winning ten of 12 events.

The Raiders had won all three relay events against Mahtomedi and senior Claire Meier and freshman Josey Larson were awarded as swimmers of the meet. Meier had dropped time in all four events she had participated in, dropping nine seconds from her previous time in the 200 freestyle and five seconds in the 100 fly. Diver of the meet was seventh grader Chloe Aarness. Aarness had achieved her best score on the season by a shattering 26 points and took second overall in the diving event.

On Saturday, September 11, the Raiders hosted their annual Hastings Swim and Dive Invite which hosted multiple schools in the east metro area. The Raiders finished second overall in their home swim and dive invite finishing second behind Woodbury.

The swimmers of the meet for Hastings were freshman Izzy Green and seventh grader Sofia Kovalenko. Green had a season best for times in all of her events, taking fifth place in the 200 freestyle and sixth place in the 500 freestyle overall. Green also placed fifth and sixth overall in two of the team relays she had participated in. Kovalenko, like Green, had season best times in her events while on the home turf finishing sixth in the 200 individual medley and fifth place in the 100 breaststroke.

“This season is going really well so far and the girls are really coming together this season. So far we have not really had any unexpected challenges,” said Raiders Girls Swimming head coach Katie McAlpin on the season so far. “Week five (this week) is usually the hardest. The girls are tired from hard work and school starting and they have been positive and lifting each other up. This week we are looking forward to our meeting on Thursday. It is against Two Rivers. They have a new pool we get to visit for the first time. It will be a fun meet!”

This week, the Raiders Girls Swim and Dive team only have one meet which takes place today at Two Rivers High School against the Two Rivers Warriors. The meet takes place at 6:00 p.m. and will be the Raiders third conference meet on the season so far.

With all of the divers for Hastings being in seventh grade, there will certainly be growing pains, but the future looks bright with this talented group of young ladies. Chloe Aarness looks to lead the Raider divers group for the foreseeable future. Photo by Bruce Karnick