Synchronized swimming: Stillwater claims East Section crown

The first step towards what it hopes will become a fourth consecutive state championship, the Stillwater synchronized swimming team delivered an impressive performance while capturing the East Section championship on Saturday, May 18 at Richfield Middle School.

The Ponies, who finished undefeated in the East Metro Conference at 6-0, racked up 214 points to outdistance runner-up Forest Lake (135) in the four-team field.

Stillwater also qualified 23 entries for the state meet, which is reserved for the top four finishers in each category. The state meet was scheduled for May 23-24 at the University of Minnesota’s Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.

The Ponies placed first in all 12 categories.

In the extended division events, Hailey Schmit won the solo with a score of 81.920 and joined sister Paige Schmit to win the duet with a score of 81.140. Annie Gritters and Isana Downing finished third and Stillwater teammates Andelyn Filandrinos and Gabby Lalande followed in fourth to also qualify for state in the extended duet.

Downing, Gritters and Paige Schmit also took top honors in the extended trio with a winning score of 77.540.

Stillwater outscored Forest Lake’s top team 80.080-75.130 in the extended division and also qualified a second team with its third-place showing with a total of 75.080.

Team standings

1. Stillwater 214; 2. Forest Lake 135; 3. Richfield 28; 4. Columbia Heights 24.

Individual results

(Top 4 advance to state)

Solo

Short — 1. Amelia Bonestroo (St) 62.780; 2. Josie Thomasson (FL) 60.460; 3. Renata Medina (Ric) 58.400; 4. Liliam Taly Palma (CH) 54.800.

Long — 1. Gabby Lalande (St) 71.220; 2. Brynn Brady (FL) 67.820; 3. Megan Johnson (St) 67.060; 4. Hannah Dunaway (FL) 64.840.

Extended — 1. Hailey Schmit (St) 81.920; 2. Grace Chatwin (FL) 76.900; 3. Alex Ready (FL) 73.880.

Duet

Short — 1. Amelia Bonestroo-Eleanor Kautzman (St) 61.680; 2. Taylor Vosdingh-Mackenna Young (FL) 58.160; 3. Khaliah Hunt Hollie-Sienna Nordman (St) 57.080; 4. Claire Sullivan-Madeline Hoekstra (FL) 54.360.

Long — 1. Cyra Brazzell-Ava Fox (St) 68.920; 2. Gabbi Chau-Alex Kruse (St) 66.000; 3. Hannah Dunaway-Destiny Schauer (FL) 64.340; 4. Emily Dicks-Jillian Kulzer (St) 64.100.

Extended — 1. Hailey Schmit-Paige Schmit (St) 81.140; 2. Grace Chatwin-Hailey Johnson (FL) 75.680; 3. Annie Gritters-Isana Downing (St) 71.940; 4. Andelyn Filandrinos-Gabby Lalande (St) 70.640.

Trio

Short — 1. Eleanor Kautzman-Mackenzie Kroma-Sienna Nordman (St) 59.540; 2. Jlia Steinle-Josie Thomasson-Taylor Vosdingh (FL) 57.100; 3. Lizzy Ferraro-Diana Ortega Conlin-Yanelle Ortega Conlin (FL) 50.180; 4. Sage Dalzell-Simone Edstrom-Cheirdi McClellan (CH) 48.340.

Long — 1. Alex Kruse-Jillian Kulzer-Audrey Funk (St) 64.520; 2. Audrey Banna-Kayla Crooks-Sienna Cruz (St) 64.220; 3. Ellemae Fahning-Olivia Hoekstra-Grace Olson (FL) 61.400; 4. Jenna Lang-Norah Peterson-Kathryn Toensing (Ric) 61.360.

Extended — 1. Isana Downing-Annie Gritters-Paige Schmit (St) 77.540; 2. Brynn Brady-Hailey Johnson-Alex Ready (FL) 72.660; 3. Andelyn Filandrinos-Kaelynn Grecian-Hanna Wiese (St) 72.520; 4. Kate Jentink-Elaina Lokken-Megan Johnson (St) 72.240.

Team

Short — 1. Stillwater (Amelia Bonestroo, Khaliah Hunt Hollie, Maggie Jones, Eleanor Kautzman, Mackenzie Kroma, Sienna Nordman, Natalie Schmitt and Varya Simochkina) 58.660; 2. Forest Lake, 57.820; 3. Stillwater (Avery Cook, Riley Schmitt, Masha Simochkina and Morgaine Fitzgerald) 54.740; 4. Columbia Heights, 52.290.

Long — 1. Stillwater (Audrey Banna, Freya Borchardt, Averie Charpentier, Sienna Cruz, Claire Haaland, Mariela Rodriguez, Roxy Seeger and Autumn Vang) 62.100.

Extended — 1. Stillwater (Isana Downing, Andelyn Filandrinos, Annie Gritters, Kate Jentink, Megan Johnson, Gabby Lalande, Hailey Schmit and Paige Schmit) 80.080; 2. Forest Lake, 75.130; 3. Stillwater (Cyra Brazzell, Gabbi Chau, Emily Dicks, Ava Fox, Kaelynn Grecian, Jillian Kulzer, Elaina Lokken and Hanna Wiese) 75.080; 4. Richfield, 63.420.