PREP SWIMMING: Jenson swims qualifying time for Stingrays in MPLS

MINNEAPOLIS — This season, Cameron Jenson has proven that he can hold his own against the best swimmers in the region.

On Saturday, when the Worthington YMCA Stingrays swim team competed at the Blaisdell YMCA in Minneapolis, Jenson proved that he has the ability to compete — and win — against competition in the most populous part of the state.

Jenson won all three of his individual events on Saturday — the boys’ 12 & under 100-yard individual medley, the boys’ 12 & under 500-yard freestyle and the boys’ 12 & under 50-yard breaststroke.

His time in the individual medley qualified him for the regional meet in the event — the fifth event he has qualified in for the regional meet.

Coach Donna Damm said that competing up in Minneapolis was a chance for her swimmers to gain invaluable experience, since both the regional meet and state meet will take place in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

“The Stingrays do not get many chances to compete against swimmers outside of our section, and the new competition gives an advance view at what may be in store for those making it to the State Meet in February,” Damm said.

Jenson was also a member of the winning team in the boys’ 12 & under 200-yard medley relay, swimming the butterfly leg. The other members of the team were Alex Baustian (backstroke), Kyle Janssen (breaststroke) and Eli Gaul (freestyle).

Two other Stingrays won all three of their individual events.

Justin Paulzine won the boys’ 12 & under 200-yard, 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events, and Oliver Wolyniec won the boys’ 14 & under 200-yard freestyle, the boys’ 14 & under 50-yard freestyle and the boys’ 14 & under 100-yard breaststroke.

Gaul won the boys’ 12 & under 50-yard backstroke and the boys’ 12 & under 50-yard butterfly, and Janssen won the boys’ 10 & under 50-yard freestyle.

Brittany Saulsgiver won both the girls’ 18 & under 50-yard freestyle and the girls’ 18 & under 100-yard backstroke, and was a member of the winning team in the girls’ 18 & under freestyle relay along with Sarah Janssen and Rebecca Christensen.

Christensen was also the winner in the girls’ 14 & under 100-yard freestyle.

Matt Sorensen won the boys’ 18 & under 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events, and Ben Doeden won the boys’ 14 & under 200-yard individual medley and the boys’ 14 & under 100-yard butterfly.

Sorensen and Doeden were joined by Dillon Pedersen and David Etzel to win the boys’ 18 & under 200-yard medley relay, and Sorensen, Pedersen, Etzel and Wolyniec teamed up to win the boys’ 18 & under 200-yard freestyle relay.

Individually, Pedersen won the boys’ 18 & under 100-yard breaststroke.

Sophie Wietzema won the girls’ eight & under 25-yard backstroke, and Maddy Shriner won the girls’ eight & under 25-yard breaststroke.

Kyle Janssen joined with Max Langerud, Sammy Farra and Anwar Farra to win the boys’ 10 & under 200-yard freestyle relay.

Sammy Farra won the boys’ eight & under 25-yard backstroke.

Rachel Koller rounded out the list of Stingrays winning individual events, placing first in the girls’ 12 & under 50-yard breaststroke.

A total of only 24 out of 53 swimmers competed for the Stingrays on Saturday, with the rest of the team members unable to attend.

The Stingrays will be hosting a make-up meet at the Worthington YMCA on Dec. 28 against Spencer, Iowa. The original meet was scheduled for Dec. 10, but was cancelled due to the blizzard that happened on the same day.

Tags: sports, prep, swimming, stingrays