Wisconsin Rapids Swim Club competes for the first time in Eau Claire

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Kraken Swim Club continued their winter season with a swim meet on Jan. 10 in Eau Claire. The meet was hosted by the Eau Claire Gator Aquatic Club and took place at Eau Claire North High School. The Kraken had thirty swimmers attending with many returning seniors and first-time athletes. The swim clubs at the meet, representing the Central Wisconsin Swim Conference, were Bayfield, Black River Falls, Bloomer, Rice Lake, Ladysmith and Tomahawk.
“Wisconsin Rapids is the newest team to join the CWSC with this being the start of our third year,” said Head Coach Dave Kontz. “The Kraken continues to grow and remains very competitive.”
Anna Gumz continued her road to the state championships by placing first in the 25-yard freestyle, 100-yard individual medley, 100-yard freestyle and 25-yard backstroke. Brycen Henslin placed first in the 50-yard butterfly and 100-yard individual medley, with a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle.
Tretton Delaney took first place and set new club records in the 50-yard and 100-yard breaststroke. He also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle. Finally, Claire Jennings placed first in the 50-yard butterfly. Jennings also placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke, fourth place in the 100-yard freestyle and fifth in the 50-yard freestyle.
The second-place winners started with Vivian Zacher in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle. Zacher’s swim in the 100-free set a new club record. She also got third in the 50-yard freestyle. Mya Marquard placed second in the 200-yard backstroke. Marquard also had a pair of third places in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle. Finally, AJ Plummer placed second in the 50-yard butterfly with a third in the 50-yard freestyle.

Willow Devine placed third in the 100-yard individual medley. Devine also placed sixth in the 50-yard backstroke and ninth in the 50-yard butterfly.
Other top finishers include Payton Kraklow with a fourth place in the 100-yard individual medley, a fifth place in the 100-yard backstroke and a sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke. Gavin Bernette had a pair of fifth places in the 50-yard freestyle and 50-yard backstroke. Aubrey Knoll finished fifth in the 100-yard backstroke and sixth in the 100-yard individual medley. Kensington Lercher placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle. Nola Woller had a pair of fifth place wins in the 100-yard individual medley and 50-yard backstroke. Mackenzie Miloch placed sixth in the 50-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley. Finally, Janessa Rucinski placed sixth in the 100-yard individual medley, 50-yard and 100-yard breaststroke.
The most exciting race of the day was the come-from-behind win and new club record by the Kraken middle school girls in the 200-yard medley relay. Swimming for the Kraken was Nola Woller, Mya Marquard, Claira Jennings and Janessa Rucinski. The senior girls had a first in the 200-yard freestyle relay and a fifth in the 200-yard medley relay. Swimming for the Kraken in the freestyle relay was Machenzie Miloch, Willow Devine, Vivian Zacher and Payton Kraklow. The medley relay was Machenzie Miloch, Willow Devine, Vivian Zacher and Kali Bennette. The Kraken age group girls swam to third place and shattered the club record in the 100-yard freestyle relay. Swimming for Rapids was Emma Knoll, Emily Beckett, Anna Gumz and Ophelia Curry. Swimming to a fifth place win in the 200-yard freestyle relay was Kyleiah Anderson, Aubrey Knoll, Stella Spees and Kensington Lercher.
The senior boys placed first and shattered the club record, in both the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard medley relays. Swimming for Rapids in both relays were Brycen Henslin, Tretton Delaney, AJ Plummer and Jameson Bernette.
The Kraken always honors those swimmers that continue to improve each week. Swimmers with new personal records include Kenna Anderson, Gavin Bernette, Kali Bernette, Ryan Besasie, Noah Grosskopf, Wyatt Hamilton, Emma Kay, Emma Knoll and Stella Spees. A special honor goes to the first-time swims by Ky Anderson and Ophelia Curry.