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Often overmatched by larger schools, Northeast Range/Ely finally met a similar- sized school last week and came up with its first high school girls swimming victory of the season.
The Nighthawks rode two individual wins by Via DeBeltz and solo victories by Tuuli Koivisto and Anna Larson to a 42-36 decision over Chisholm in a Sept. 19 event at Babbitt.
The victory came after NRE had run up against deeper competition earlier in the season, and with continued improvement in the water by the young Nighthawks.
NRE also gained a relay win, securing the meet victory and Debeltz and Koivisto teamed with Anna Larson and Brynn Larson to take the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1:58.95 - blowing away their Chisholm competition by roughly 14 seconds.
Earlier, DeBeltz cruised to decisive firsts in both the 200 (2:19.26) and 500 (6:20.25) freestyle races.
Anna Larson won the 50 freestyle in 27.64 seconds, beating her sister Brynn by about three seconds.
Koivisto swam uncontested in the individual medley and picked up first-place points in 2:54.38.
Other point-scorers were:
• 200 medley relay 2. Madison Jonas, Jorden Borchert, Raegan Borchert, Sabrah Hart, 2:34; 3. Lindsay Israel, Maddie Johnson, Ivy Ohlhauser, Moon Vetos- Keen, 2:43.45;
• 200 freestyle - 3. Ohlhauser, 2:38.08;
• 100 butterfly - 2. Anna Larson, 1:11.40; 3. Hart, 1:32.34;
• 100 freestyle - 2. Brynn Larson, 1:07.08; 3. Ohlhauser, 1:09.64;
• 200 freestyle relay - 3. Jorden Borchert, Raegan Borchert, Israel, Isla Carlson, 2:14.19;
• 100 backstroke - 2. Hart, 1:31.76.
NRE also won the junior varsity meet 56-13, with Carlson bagging individual wins in the 200 and 300 freestyles. Other winners were Lucy Luthens (100 freestyle), Raegen Borchert (100 individual medley), Israel (50 butterfly), Johnson (100 breaststroke) and Vetos-Keen (100 backstroke).
Two Harbors 53, NER 39 Tuesday’s home meet in Babbitt was also competitive, with the visiting Agates prevailing by 14.
Two Harbors got firsts in the opening four events until Anna Larson turned the tide and won the 100 butterfly going away, cruising in 1:10.74.
The Nighthawks’ only other firsts came after Two Harbors swam exhibition, with Jorden Borchert winning the 100 breaststroke (1:28.39) and NER gaining first in the 400 freestyle relay with Anna Larson, Brynn Larson, Ohlhauser and De-Beltz (4:25.94).
Individual seconds went to DeBeltz (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Anna Larson (50 freestyle), Alyssa Ice (100 freestyle) and Koivisto (100 breaststroke).
The 200 freestyle relay was decided by about a second with NRE’s Anna Larson, Brynn Larson, Koivisto and DeBeltz in second (1:58.46.)
Two Harbors won the JV event 51-38 with NRE firsts going to to Ohlhauser (50 freestyle) and the 400 freestyle relay combination of Avery Bee, Nicole Freking, Bela Moskowitz and Vetos-Keen.
“These two teams always have so much fun together, cheering and supporting each other,” said NRE Head Coach Cheri DeBeltz. “They even posed for one group team photo when we were done! Such great sportsmanship on both teams!”
