Stingrays wrap up summer season at 'Bird Bath' invitational

APPLETON, Wis. — Fifteen members of the M&M Stingrays swimming team took part in the 25th annual Bird Bath Invitational at Erb Park over the weekend.

Hot and humid temperatures alongside a field of over 800 swimmers made for a challenging three days of competition, but the Stingrays proved they were up to the task.

The Stingrays collected seven top-ten finishes, 13 top-20 finishes and posted 40 new personal-best times in the process.

Sadie Betzinger (14) led the way with a pair of first-place swims in both the 100-backstroke (1:12.90) and the 100-fly (1:11.66).

Tucker Peterson (6) authored the best finish for the Stingray boys after taking 11th in the 50-fly with a time of 1:26.21.

Natalie Dessart (12) knocked off an astonishing 52.03 seconds off her prior P.R. in the 100-breaststroke, finishing the event in 2:16.02 to place 98th overall.

Hailey Sieminski (11) also saw massive improvements in her 50 and 100-freestyles, shaving 25.52 seconds (1:09.18) in the 100 and another 19.59 seconds (51.90) in the 50.

2024 Bird Bath Invitational results

Boys

Ethan Howarth (17) — 31. 100 back, 1:18.45; 55. 50 free, 30.77

Tucker Peterson (6) — 11. 50 fly, 1:26.21; 19. 50 back, 1:11.40; 21. 100 free, 2:02.55

Daniel Possi (12) — 14. 50 breast, 49.42; 22. 100 breast, 1:48.51; 34. 50 back, 50.89; 42. 50 free, 42.44; 61. 100 free, 1:42.93

Nick Schetter (28) — 23. 50 back, 58.55; 27. 100 breast, 2:20.47; 31. 50 breast, 59.98; 68. 50 free, 49.41

Girls

Sadie Betzinger (14) — 1. 100 back, 1:12.90; 1. 100 fly, 1:11.66; 3. 50 fly, 32.29; 6. 200 back, 2:50.56; 8. 200 IM, 2:51.87; 26. 50 free, 31.78

Natalie Dessart (12) — 94. 50 fly, 55.62; 98. 100 breast, 2:16.02; 98. 100 free, 1:31.59

Bailee Drees (11) — 62. 50 back, 48.91; 64. 100 back, 1:53.92; 87. 50 free, 44.69; 120. 100 free, 1:41.32

Mary Mayhew (18) — 27. 100 back, 1:19.86; 48. 50 free, 32.40

Julika Mercer (13) — 10. 200 back, 2:55.02; 11. 100 breast, 1:30.39

Tsvetelina Mercer (11) — 99. 50 fly, 56.79; 106. 100 free, 1:34.17

Annabelle Neumeier (19) — 21. 200 IM, 3:06.30; 29. 50 back, 40.16; 41. 100 back, 1:23.89; 54. 100 free, 1;14.89; 65. 50 free, 33.75

Irene Neumeier (16) — 16. 400 free, 5:30.24; 21. 50 fly, 33.96; 23. 200 free, 2:34.17; 31. 100 free, 1:10.62; 36. 100 back, 1:22.47; 46. 50 free, 32.36

Elizabeth Possi (9) — 10. 100 back, 1:43.37; 14. 50 back, 47.64; 26. 50 free, 42.25; 27. 100 free, 1:35.51; 31. 50 breast, 1:03.73; 31. 50 fly, 56.01

Hailey Sieminski (11) — 80. 100 back, 2:16.64; 88. 50 breast, 1:09.18; 93. 50 back, 58.75; 104. 50 free, 51.90; 112. 50 fly, 1:16.51; 145. 100 free, 2:14.07

Audrey Worthan (10) — 26. 50 back, 51.73; 36. 100 back, 1:58.66; 68. 50 free, 53.46